Flamingosis's Bodega Block Party Hits Chicago - Run The Trap: The Best EDM, Hip Hop & Trap Music

As Chicago shifts into its warm months, Soundcloud’s favorite soul sampling producer Flamingosis is turning a 10,000 square foot gallery into a bodega, that steadfast staple of New York’s borough life. He’s calling this indoor springtime block party Bodega and it kicks on April 21 at event gallery 19 East.

Of course, Flamingosis isn’t shy about bodegas and breakfast sandwiches as inspiration. Staying in summertime Brooklyn, the 26-year-old producer subsisted on bodega-bought Taylor bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches. He musically confessed his love for bodegas through the fiesta track “Brunch at the Bodega,” replete with spicy horn samples and timbales.

Flamingosis now realizes a personal Valhalla of sorts in channeling the track’s spirit into a full-scale bodega block party boasting tropical drinks, a vendor marketplace and snacks in addition to Chicago-made music and visual art.

Though the Bodega block party’s veritable godfather (i.e. Flamingosis) is headlining, the evening’s musical support is both eclectic and borderline legendary. It’s entirely appropriate to savor vinyl scratching from decorated DJ Chris Karns (Pretty Lights Live Band, USA & World DMC Champion, 3x Red Bull Thre3style Winner, VH1 Master of the Mix finalist). Also, enjoy silky sounds by Chicago-based songwriting vocalist Loona Dae, wet bass crew LWKY, mixmaster Sky Society, and YouTube’s Human Beatbox phenom, Yuri Basho Lane.

Visual art is also a prominent part of the indoor block party equation, notably manifest through Chicago-based muralist Sick Fisher’s fancy for two-dimensional textures applied to cubic 3D flamingos. Expect Fisher’s flamingo art installs to lend the Bodega an quasi-early 90s aesthetic reminiscent of early Spike Lee films. (He’s also selling the hand-painted flamingo installations to interested parties.)

Considering that the event is produced by some of Chicago’s most ambitious experience curators and promoters including Del Harris (CANVAS, SubChroma, Voyager) and In the Loop (Re:Vision, Perse As Funk, Too Future), it’s fair to expect big things from this post-hibernation celebration of Chicago’s brightest local artists and musicians.

And even though proper summertime is still around two months away, uncap the fire hydrants and grab a tropical drink because Bodega is bringing that heat.

Score your tickets if you’re in the neighborhood.