Episode-239 East of the Ryan

·31 min·2 clips

How did five Chicago artists create a hit song by writing verses live in the studio with no rehearsals?

This episode of Roddus Live focuses on a specific studio session, song, and live performance from host Roddus's past in the Chicago music scene. Host Roddus recounts the creation and performance of the track "Infamous Shots" from the *Chicago Sleepers Mixtape Vol. 1*. He details the collaborative effort involving artists from different neighborhoods across the city. The episode centers on the recording session for "Infamous Shots," which featured artists Farron, Jermaine, Sonny Bats, Literature, and Roddus himself. The song was produced by Literature, who created the instrumental by reversing a track he initially disliked. They recorded at Blue Hair Run Studios in LaGrange, Illinois, with engineer and owner Gary, who had worked with artists like Kanye West and Prince. Each artist wrote their verse on the spot during the session, with Farron (from "the village") performing first, followed by Jermaine (from Englewood), who referenced his newborn son in his lyrics. Sonny Bats, associated with the group Wild Wild Records, delivered a high-energy verse about life in "the hundreds." A key moment was the subsequent live performance of the song at the East of the Ryan venue on 79th Street in Chicago. The artists had never rehearsed the song together live before that night. During the performance, each MC took the spotlight for their verse while the others handled ad-libs in the background, creating a spontaneous and cohesive show. The venue itself is described as a safe and popular club despite its location on a notorious street, with several Jamaican jerk food spots nearby like Uncle Joe's. Roddus emphasizes the significance of finding a neutral studio location where all artists felt comfortable, given Chicago's neighborhood dynamics. He shares that the session was memorable because the artists fed off each other's energy, raising the creative bar consecutively. The episode also gives a shout-out to the group AMN (Any Means Necessary), who performed their song "Get On Get On" at the same East of the Ryan event. The tone is highly conversational, nostalgic, and enthusiastic, as Roddus reflects on a formative creative period. The style is anecdotal, blending music commentary with personal history and local Chicago geography. Listeners interested in underground hip-hop history, Chicago's local music scene, and the creative process behind collaborative recordings would enjoy this episode. Those seeking highly structured interviews or discussions on current events might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A Chicago session recap built on performance, local scene memory, and live-room energy.

Roddus Live turns a Chicago studio memory into a scene by scene recap of the Infamous Shots session for the Chicago Sleepers mixtape album. He names who was there, Farron, Jermaine, Sonny Bats, Literature, and himself, and keeps pulling the track back to East of the Ryan, the…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want Chicago rap history told by someone in the room, press play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Rodes Live