Early history Studio 11 was initially opened in a
coach house building at 11 East Superior Street by Alex Gross and Dan Scalpone, while students of
sound engineering at
Columbia College in Chicago. By 1999 the studio expanded to the top floor at 209 W. Lake St. with two music studios to accommodate larger volumes of recording. Early adaptation of digital technology established Studio 11 as a premiere destination for recording rap and electronic music, highlighted by the early works of
Kanye West,
Lupe Fiasco,
Yung Berg, and
Crucial Conflict as well as more recent recordings with
Rockie Fresh,
Cashis, and
French rapper Gradur.
Music Alex Gross, the studio's founder became known with the recording of
Payroll 125, a
rap album featuring the Kanye West produced song
Never Change, which was sold to
Jay Z and re-released on
The Blueprint., a critically acclaimed album. In 2011, Studio 11 became a curator for
WFMU New York's
Free Music Archive. The studio released nearly 200 contributions with over 100,000 downloads, featuring
Greenskeepers, Glass Lux, Track Jackit, Angel Alanis, The Dread, and other artists. ==Notable clients==