If you drive straight down the Eisenhower Expressway, the concrete vein cutting horizontally across Chicago, you witness two distinct worlds. The West Side and the East Side have long bred their own legendary soundscapes—from rugged street realism to soulful, sample-driven storytelling. But on their groundbreaking collaborative project 290 East, ESC DEEZ and Skooda Chose tear down those regional partitions to deliver a masterclass in local synergy.
The 10-track project isn’t just a tape; it’s an event—a creative summit where the East Side meets the West Side for a cause far bigger than bragging rights. Together, Deez and Skooda showcase an undeniable lyrical synergy, framing 290 East as a masterfully curated thesis on midwestern hip-hop’s past, present, and future.
THE HEAVYWEIGHT TRINITY: TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
Beyond the technical pen game from both MCs, the tape relies on elite curation and production to set the mood.
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“Resilience” Produced by Bet Stax (one of the key sound architects behind Filthy Gwuap), this joint serves as the emotional backbone of the record. Stax lays down a textured, knocking backdrop that gives Deez and Skooda room to reflect on survival, street discipline, and keeping their foot on the pedal through the madness.
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“The Gang” (Freestyle)” For the rap purists, this is the holy grail of the project. Tackling the timeless DNA of Raekwon and Nas’s classic “Verbal Intercourse,” both artists step up to the plate with razor-sharp bars. Rather than feeling like a retread, the track operates as a bridge—paying homage to ’90s cinematic rap while stamping a distinctly modern Chicago footprint all over it.
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“Sheuffer” & “Pick It Up” Soulful Beatgod Uncle JoNH III anchors some of the album’s most dynamic moments. On “Pick It Up,” features from veteran lyricist Mick Luter and turn the track into a raw showcase of flow patterns and sharp wisdom. Meanwhile, “Sheuffer” enlists Chicago hip-hop royalty—the Speedknot Mobstaz—over Uncle JoNH III’s soulful production, blending hyper-speed delivery with deep-rooted soul.
VISION, CURATION, AND THE ROAD AHEAD
What elevates 290 East above typical collaborative tapes is its cohesion. Rather than trading standard back-and-forth verses over random beat packs, ESC DEEZ and Skooda Chose built a complete world. Every guest feature feels intentional, and every beat selection serves a cinematic vision.
290 East is out now across all major platforms, with a new wave of official visuals set to hit the streets shortly.
Connect with the team on Instagram:
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Artists: @ESCDEEZ | @skoodachose
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Producers & Affiliates: @filthygwuap | @4liffystokles | @betstax | @uncle.jonh3
