Alex Wiley

Chicago rapper Alex Wiley emerged in the 2013-14 period through a run of well-received mixtapes that aligned him with the indie and underground scenes alongside Action Bronson while still supplying hooks aimed at radio play. A dedicated hip-hop listener for years, he first picked up the mic in 2011 and took his initial step forward in 2012 by contributing a guest verse to Kembe X’s “Don’t Quit.” Momentum built quickly around his skill, leading to the 2013 arrival of his debut mixtape Club Wiley, which included appearances from Freddie Gibbs, Chance the Rapper, Action Bronson, and additional underground figures. The follow-up, Village Party, arrived in 2014 and returned the focus to local talent by limiting its featured artists to Chicago rappers Mick Jenkins and Kembe X, highlighted by the popular single “Vibration.”