Chicago, IL: EV Records has been making a name for itself since 2001 with their initial release, the jazzy and supremely melodic Open Mouths Fed by Longshot, and most recently, the innovative and artistically groundbreaking release Another Early Evening by bedroom producer Earmint. With the critically acclaimed albums Midnight Green by Modill and Copperpot’s Chapter 7 in between, EV has a serious catalog of music. EV Records has now embarked on a first-ever compilation project entitled Everything, set to drop November 28th, 2006, to provide a glimpse of where they have been and where they are headed.

EV began as a small project studio in 1998 with Chicago musicians Earatik Statik, Akbar, Diverse, and a slew of other local talent as customers. Rapidly becoming a magnet for Chicago’s north-side hip hop scene, owner Joe Matthews constructed a complete commercial recording studio in 2001. Back then, local artist Longshot was a client recording an album with producer DJ Lok and working with artists Diverse, Chicago freestyle legend Juice, DJ Anomaly, and others. With no label to call home, LongShot’s high-quality work and his diligence as an artist prompted EV’s owners and engineers to start an independent record label. Open Mouths Fed became the first release in a catalog that has now grown beyond 30 titles and is highlighted by industry collaborations with KRS1, Dave of De Le Soul, Edo.G, Tortoise, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, One Be Lo, and many more. Along the way, EV has expanded its reach and now exclusively distributes fellow Chicago labels Gravel Records, Birthwrite Records and SGE Recordings, and is the exclusive US importer of Low Life Records, the UK’s finest and best established hip hop label.

Everything showcases the artists on EV’s roster and the musicians they work with. The label, now operated by producer Copperpot, and the recording studio, now run by fellow producer K-Kruz, work hand in hand to create EV’s signature sound and to release the finest music that the Chicago hip hop community has to offer. The Everything compilation showcases not only EV’s skills but its diversity, featuring major label talents such as Royce Da 5’9 and independent artists Psalm One and the UK’s Verb T—Rarely seen on the same release, let alone the same song. Royce teams with Chicago rhyme heroes Profound and Longshot over a quirky Earmint beat in the opening track The Mic. Diverse and Illogic are another unique pairing in Vintage, produced by Birthwrite Records owner Overflo. Everything also contains unreleased gems from the studio archives like Pace Won’s scathing Here We Go and Thaione Davis’s Speakeasy. K-kruz previews his upcoming solo album on the track City Bus, as does Copperpot in collaboration with Ang13 on Ain’t Goin Down, both of which are standout tracks.