Milo

Calls home: Chicago, IL

Latest release: Things That Happen At Day/Things That Happen At Night

Why You Should Listen: We’ve been fans of Milo since the fall of 2011, when we got hipped to his I Wish My Brother Rob Was Here EP. He’s evolved and developed as an artist in the ensuing months and his finest work to date dropped this past New Year’s Day in Things That Happen At Day/Things That Happen At Night. The companion EPs reveal the work of an artist clearly in his own lane, and it’s one defined by clever pop culture references, intellectual observations, and the most intriguing of hooks. I mean, did you ever imagine a rapper would choose to cover the Wallflowers (“folk-metaphysics”) and succeed in doing so? Me neither.

Like his mentor Open Mike Eagle, Milo’s flow is organic, sometimes stream of consciousness, and weaves its way into your brain with a sing-songy touch. Perhaps that’s why he feels comfortable noting that “Sometimes I rap like Latyrx/Sometimes I rap like Rick Ross and ’em.” But maybe not. Milo’s aforementioned stream of consciousness is simultaneously light and heavy, allowing you to casually listen and pick up on his nostalgic rhymes without feeling like you’re missing a beat. But when you really sit down and engage yourself with his music, you’re thrown into the depths of a philosophy student with a lot to say and, more importantly, a strong voice and vision to do so.—Andrew Martin