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Top 5 Chicago Radio Stations for Hip Hop
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5: 103.5 KissFM Chicago: The KissFM in Chicago is just like any other KissFM out there. You'll get your fair share of mainstream hip hop from the likes of T.I., Lil' Wayne, and our homeboy Kanye West, but for every one time you hear "Homecoming", you'll hear "I Kissed A Girl" or "Disturbia" five more times.
4. V103 - 102.7: Probably the least known radio station of the group, V103 plays a lot more R&B than hip hop. In fact, it's almost all R&B, dating back to Prince and Michael Jackson as well as today's flavor of artists like Alicia Keys and Usher. As you all know, R&B and Hip Hop are like close cousins so you'll be sure to hear the common hip hop-inspired R&B track. And finally, any time a radio station can work in the classic "I'll Be There / You're All I Need To Get By" by Mary J. Blige & Method Man, then that earns a spot somewhere on this list.
3. B96 - 96.3: B96 is Chicago's hits for hip hop, but again focuses on mainstream hip hop like it's major counterpart - 103.5 KissFM. Unlike KissFM, you won't hear any rock, but you're going to be treated to every club banger with little lyrical depth that litters the radio and inspires drivers to invest in an iPod dock for their car.
2. Power92 - 92.3: Power92 is the beginning of the heavyweights for hip hop in Chicago. You'll mainly be hearing hip hop, mainstream AND some real hip hop tracks that are not quite dumbed down enough for B96 & KissFM. On top of that, you got some R&B as well as energetic DJs who bring some discussion into the radio, but to me, it's all about the music and that's why Power92 is second place to...
1. WGCI - 107.5: WGCI is hands-down the best radio station in Chicago. All the latest in today's hip hop and R&B and like Power92, it has more variety in the selection of songs compared to the two mainstream heavyweights. No dumbed down club bangers here and it's very hard to surf the radio and not hear a song playing on WGCI. It's hard to hear a commercial and instead, you are treated to anyone in hip hop from Common to some modern R&B like Trey Songz, but what really separates it from the pack: hip hop from local Chicago cats that have been known to get some airplay during non-peak hours. So set your presets now -- I already gave you the numbers.
