McCraven grew up in Paris, before making a name for himself on the Chicago scene in 2007. Here he became a cornerstone of a bustling scene that combines jazz with elements of hip-hop and electronic music. The influential label International Anthem was partly founded as a hub for McCraven’s ideas and projects. An in-demand studio drummer and collaborator for the likes of Cory Wilkes, Brandee Younger, Jeff Parker, and many more, he also established himself as a solo act, with the adventurous rhythms and spiritual leanings of albums such as “Universal Beings” (2018) and “In These Times” (2022).