The Sun-Times offices are next door to the massive Merchandise Mart, a Pentagon-sized behemoth on the riverbank, all strangely placed shops and looooong corridors. Yesterday, two young men were stopping people outside the food court — actually collaring people and making a case for their ... hip-hop. Who does that anymore? Who did that ever? They're called Villian. Their pitch: they want to raise enough money to go to Atlanta and produce a record. So of course I forked over five bucks for their CD EP, which is pretty all right (listen here). Surely there's a Chicago producer that could give some hard-workin' boys some love?

Here's a little slow-burn Villian freestyle ...