by Larry Alexander
September 11, 2025
Venturing back to the heyday of hip-hop, the era between the pulsating mid-1980s and the culture-shaking mid-1990s, we find the origins and the meteoric rise of hip-hop: rap, breakdancing, graffiti art, and deejaying. Fast forward to today, and Chicago-based indie record label, Closed Sessions, is raising eyebrows with its third hip-hop compilation in a decade. Could this be the genesis of a new golden age in hip-hop?
Delving into articles by Ogden Payne, Tara C. Mahadevan, Jack Riedy, and Mark Braboy, we discover how Closed Sessions has been the driving force behind Chicago’s hip-hop scene since its inception in 2009, providing a pivotal platform for creative content and album releases.
In Ogden Payne’s 2016 article in Forbes, he unravels the origins of the label’s name—stemming from closed video sessions that founders Alex Fruchter and Michael Kolar held with budding hip-hop talents. Picture this: artists, new to the Chicago scene, being introduced to the city’s eateries by co-owner Alex Fruchter, only to later lay down tracks at Soundscape Studios, guided by chief audio engineer and co-owner Michael Kolar. These recordings would soon catapult into breakout projects for these rising stars (Payne).
Soundscape Studios acts as a nurturing ground for emcees, aiding them in their breakout projects, while Fruchter takes on the role of a promoter, organizing live shows at local venues. Their philosophy? It’s all about supporting new talent while imparting crucial lessons about the music industry’s inner workings. As Kolar emphasizes, “I’ve seen some [artists] get lost in the major label system; I’ve seen some get lost and then climb their way to priority, but we [at Closed Sessions] don’t want to take anything on that we don’t think we can put our effort into” (Payne).
The core of Closed Sessions’ artist-friendly business model lies in grassroots marketing, steadily building a fan base, and refusing to cut corners. Payne sheds light on this model, revealing that Closed Sessions’ artists retain 100% ownership of their master recordings—a stark contrast to the typical arrangement where the record company holds this asset, paying artists a mere 10-15% in royalties (Payne).
Shifting the spotlight to Tara C. Mahadevan’s exploration in 2019, we get an intimate look into what inspired Fruchter and Kolar to launch a Chicago indie hip-hop label. The piece showcases various artists under the Closed Sessions umbrella, providing captivating music samples from the likes of Jack Larsen, Jamila Woods, Femdot, and Kweku Collins. Dive into the link for a musical journey through Chicago’s hip-hop heartbeat: A Guide to Chicago’s Closed Sessions Label.
Jack Riedy’s 2020 Block Club Chicago article dissects Closed Sessions’ third hip-hop compilation in a decade. In response to external labels attempting to define Chicago hip-hop, Alex Fruchter designed the first two Closed Sessions compilations to intertwine prominent artists like Raekwon, Freddie Gibbs, and Action Bronson with Chicago’s homegrown talents like GLC and Sir Michael Rocks (Riedy).
In this 2019 compilation, we witness BoatHouse at the production helm, with contributions from artists like Kemba, Curtis Roach, Khary, Ajani Jones, ShowYouSuck, and the dynamic duo Mother Nature—all converging to create a magnetic soundscape. And in the lead single, “Whiskey And Push-Ups,” we find Los Angeles rapper Open Mike Eagle, originally hailing from Chicago, leaving an indelible mark (Riedy).
One artist, Ajani Jones, stands out, crediting Closed Sessions for refocusing his trajectory towards long-term success. In his own words, “They helped me by showing me the ropes in the industry, and how it works, and what it really takes to garner the attention that you’re seeking…Before I just kept putting music out because that’s what I love to do, but I think I became a lot more aware of what my music does and what effect it can have on people” (Riedy).
In this symphony of talent, innovation, and mentorship, Closed Sessions seems to be not only shaping artists but potentially steering hip-hop towards another golden era. Stay tuned, for the beat goes on.
https://daily.bandcamp.com/label-profile/a-guide-to-chicagos-closed-sessions-label
For additional information about the Closed Sessions record label, visit their website at:
https://www.closedsessions.com/
Also, Val Warner profiles Michel Kolar of Soundscape Studios in this 2020 ABC7Chicago video. You can see it here:
https://abc7chicago.com/coronavirus-music-studio-chicago/6094898/
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Works Cited
“Closed Sessions.” Closed Sessions, https://www.closedsessions.com/.
Mahadevan, Tara C. “A Guide to Chicago’s Closed Sessions Label.” Bandcamp Daily, 13, November 2019.
Payne, Ogden. “Closed Sessions: The Independent Record Label Restoring Chicago Hip-Hop.” Forbes, 13 May 2016.
Riedy, Jack. “Indie Label Closed Sessions Releases Its 3rd Hip-Hop Compilation Album In 10 Years.” Block Club Chicago, 31 Jan. 2020.
Warner, Val. “Chicago Recording Studio Helps Local Musicians Create Music, Make Money amid COVID-19.” ABC7 Chicago, 11 Apr. 2020.
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