Andrew Barber

Andrew Barber is the owner/creator of Fake Shore Drive, a Chicago-based media, management and events company founded in 2007. Andrew is also a playlist curator, published music journalist, artist manager, brand and record label consultant and media personality. Andrew currently sits as Governor of The Recording Academy’s Grammy board. His radio show, The Drive on Shade 45, airs weekly on SiriusXM, and has been on air for over six years. He has also hosted programming on MTV and one of Chicago’s top radio stations, 107.5 WGCI-FM. As a journalist, Andrew has been published in publications such as VICE, Complex, Fader, XXL, Mass Appeal and more. Andrew’s company, Fake Shore Drive, has been instrumental in the rise of Chicago’s hip-hop scene, having helped cultivate the careers of Chance the Rapper, Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Vic Mensa and the many other gold- and platinum-selling artists.

Stories

Story

Uncommon Journey

The music industry can be fickle. The players change, the sounds shift and time marches on. Many artists are fortunate to enjoy a five-year career; a few might stay relevant for a decade. Musicians who thrive for 30 years stand as rare exceptions to the rule.

Story

From Iceberg to Hitmaka

Hitmaka’s career seems more like a fictional novel or movie than real life. Starting his journey as a rap-obsessed teen in Chicago, the artist born Christian Ward found himself rubbing elbows with the likes of future Grammy winners Kanye West, No I.D. and Lupe Fiasco before he could legally drive. He even snagged beats from Kanye and No I.D. for his demo tape, which triggered a bidding war between DMX and Jay-Z.

Story

Danny Brown’s Cinematic Universe

Danny Brown’s “Greatest Rapper Ever” sounded like nothing else when it came out in 2010. While Detroit always had its own sound, fashion and slang, Danny brought something fresh. Raw and unfiltered, his blue-collar style offered unique insight into the city’s scene. I needed to hear more, so I downloaded everything available at the time. Many listeners felt the same way; Danny soon became a fixture on music blogs, in magazines and on websites.

Story

Ain’t No 401k for a Hustler

Houston, TX, is on intimate terms with rap culture. From the emergence of the Geto Boys and Rap-A-Lot Records in the late ‘80s to the groundbreaking sounds of DJ Screw, the city’s impact on hip-hop cannot be overstated. Houston currently boasts some of the hottest artists in the biz: Travis Scott, Lizzo and Megan Thee Stallion included. And it remains the home of Paul Wall, a native son who has been representing the city for nearly 20 years.

Story

Hypnotizing Minds

Emerging from Memphis, TN, in the early ‘90s, Three 6 Mafia built the foundation for most contemporary rap. From its distinct sonics to unique flow, the group pioneered what became known as crunk music and came of age just as southern rap began to break through on a national level.

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Independent Currents

Curren$y is a survivor. Having emerged in an era when music was still consumed on compact discs and video budgets were six figures or better, he made his debut as part of the 504 Boyz on Master P’s No Limit Records. But Curren$y joined the roster in 2002, just as the label’s tank started running low. After appearing on the second 504 Boyz album and several Master P album cuts, he left the label without ever dropping a solo project.

Story

From Another Planet

Legends. Pioneers. Trendsetters. Disruptors. The Cool Kids are known by these labels and more, and their influence only continues to grow. Having met in the mid-2000s via the early social media platform Myspace, the Chicago-based duo of Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks (now Sir Michael Rocks) bonded over a left-of-center approach to music production and formed a hip-hop group.

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Taking the Stairs

When it comes to career paths, Freddie Gibbs took the stairs. His trajectory follows a long and arduous journey, but the groundwork he’s laid for well more than a decade is finally paying off in spades. At 38 years old, Freddie Gibbs is one of the most popular and revered rappers of his generation.

Story

Balancing Act

Log on to social media on any given day, and you’ll likely see Lupe Fiasco’s name cited in some kind of debate surrounding “who is the greatest hip-hop lyricist of all time?” Music lovers have pitted him against the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Andre 3000 (Outkast) and Black Thought (the Roots) — a very elite class. But after listening to Lupe’s work, even a casual listener will understand why he is held in such a high regard, and why conversations about his abilities often go viral.

Playlist

Common ‘Story to Tell’ Playlist

Common’s catalog — more than a dozen LPs, most featuring cutting-edge production — is nearly without precedent in hip-hop. Andrew Barber serves as your expert tour guide with this annotated playlist.

Playlist

Hitmaka ‘Story to Tell’ Playlist

As a rapper and producer, Hitmaka is connected to records that have cumulatively sold more than 74 million copies worldwide. Andrew Barber surveys the highlights with this annotated playlist.

Playlist

Danny Brown 'Story to Tell' Playlist

Since emerging in the late ‘00s, Danny Brown has refused to take the same approach twice. Andrew Barber guides you through the highlights of the Detroit rapper’s growing catalog with this annotated playlist.

Playlist

Paul Wall 'Story to Tell' Playlist

Spanning solo work to collaborations with Kanye West, Nelly and more, Paul Wall’s catalog runs deep. Andrew Barber guides you through the highlights with this annotated playlist.

Playlist

DJ Paul 'Story to Tell' Playlist

Andrew Barber provides track-by-track commentary to a definitive playlist that helps put DJ Paul's diverse projects and achievements in perspective.

Playlist

Curren$y 'Story to Tell' Playlist

Curren$y is nothing if not prolific, as evidenced by this career-spanning playlist, complete with commentary by Andrew Barber.

Playlist

The Cool Kids 'Story to Tell' Playlist

A track-by-track look at the Cool Kids' career, with commentary by Andrew Barber.

Playlist

Freddie Gibbs 'Story to Tell' Playlist

A track-by-track run through Freddie's career, with commentary by Andrew Barber.

Playlist

Lupe Fiasco 'Story to Tell' Playlist

A track-by-track look at Lupe's career, with commentary by Andrew Barber.