Glue

Glue emerged as a standout among the many alternative indie rap groups of the 2000s, thanks to their relentless self-reliant approach. The group's leader, New Hampshire-born Adeem—whose real name is Adam Arnone—assembled the Chicago trio after stepping away from competitive rhyming following his second victory at Scribble Jam's freestyle event in 2001. During a 2000 performance in Chicago, Adeem crossed paths with local underground producer Maker, born Marco Jacobo, and the pair formed an immediate bond. Maker even lent his talents to Adeem's solo album Sweet Talking Your Brain, released in 2002. That same year, at a Cincinnati concert, DJ DQ—real name Dan Hargraves—along with his group Animal Crackers, performed as the opening act for Adeem. Impressed by the DJ's unique combination of turntable scratches and percussion, Adeem suggested they collaborate on music. Not long after, DJ DQ arrived unannounced at Adeem's home in Keene, New Hampshire, bringing along his gear and belongings; a subsequent call to Maker sealed the formation of Glue. The trio typically produced their fusion of boom-bap rap and trip-hop in non-professional settings, as evidenced by their 2003 debut album Seconds Away, which was tracked in Maker's mother's residence. In 2004, Glue participated in the Vans Warped Tour, where they both confused and captivated audiences primarily into indie punk. December 2005 saw the release of their Sunset Lodge EP. This vibrant quality paved the way for a deal with the influential underground rap label Fat Beats Records, followed by their sophomore LP Catch as Catch Can in the next year.