Closed Sessions is a label but more than that it’s the organic collaboration between two Chicago hip-hop lifers and a tight-knit community of like minded artists and creatives. With its eclectic roster of Kweku Collins, Jamila Woods, Webster X, Boathouse, Ajani Jones, Jack Larsen, Femdot, and more, the label is a reflection of Chicago hip-hop’s current moment but where it’s going. It was founded in 2009 by Alexander Fruchter, a longtime music blogger and hip-hop DJ, along with Michael Kolar, a veteran recording engineer and owner of SoundScape Studios. Together, their initial partnerships took the form of compilation mixtapes and short-form documentaries of prominent rappers making songs in Chicago, with artists like Raekwon, Curren$y, Action Bronson, Vic Mensa, Rockie Fresh, Young Chop, Wyclef Jean, Bun B, and more signing on. In 2013, Closed Sessions completed its transition into becoming a full-fledged label, putting out releases like 2016 highlights Jamila Woods’ Heavn and Kweku Collins' Nat Love, albums that have received universal acclaim from outlets like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and more. Closed Sessions prides itself on its all-encompassing grassroots philosophy surrounding artist incubation and artist development with signees getting free studio time at Soundscape and Kolar’s decades of engineer experience to hone their sound. It’s this patient and details-oriented strategy that explains Closed Sessions longevity, valuing sustained growth over rushing things. Because of their workmanlike mentality and fiercely independent artist-friendly philosophy, Closed Sessions has become intertwined with Chicago’s hip-hop community with almost every prominent local rapper has coming through its doors.

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