If Brian Fresco isn't a household name to you by now, one listen of his incredible new project "Casanova" will make him one. For astute observers of Chicago hip-hop, this Savemoney affiliate has been making noise ever since the local rap-minded creative collective started picking up steam in 2011-2012. He released his debut tape "Mafioso" in 2013 and the following year came out with his Tree-produced EP "Soulmoney."

With "Casanova," 13 tracks of fully-realized Chicago hip-hop, Fresco not only changes the game for himself but for his Savemoney colleagues. In a year where Sterling Hayes turns heads with "Antidepressant," Joey Purp tackles the game with "iiiDrops" and Vic Mensa bares his soul with "There's Alot Going On," you'd need a lot of firepower to get your name into the conversation with these acts and Fresco more than brings it. In fact, with each track he's out there, guns blazing.

While we've heard some project cuts, like the club-banger "Higher," which enlisted Chance the Rapper and Blue Hawaii, "Bussin," a straightforward, aggressive rager, and the soulfully introspective BJ the Chicago Kid-collab "Lonely," the project is way more than just its singles. Seemingly every track Fresco tries some new aural experiment, from the gorgeous piano-driven, epic "Dandelion" (shout out to producer Trevor$) or the industrial smash of "Elimidate," which conveniently features the aforementioned Sterling Hayes. There's not just talent in this tape, but a lot of heart: "Fam" falls right in line with sentimental odes to family like Chance's "Hey Ma" or Kanye's "Hey Mama."

In a time when Chicago hip-hop is blowing up, there's no sign the talent pool is getting even a little bit slimmer or even a little diluted. Fresco's "Casanova" should and will be in the conversation at the year-end about what this city's accomplished in 2016. You heard it here first.

@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com