Archive for September, 2009

Video: Phil G Live From Soldier Field

Marance Recording artist [hey Joe!], Mr. Phil G.ood performed live at the Chicago Football Classic this past weekend at Soldier Field.  Here we see him go into “We Like To Party” and get some words of wisdom from WGCI funny man, Leon Rogers.

Sulaiman – "On Your Mark"

Sulaiman, who is named Sulaiman, but who went by The Native Soul, is now back to Sulaiman, so you make sure you get it correct when you see him in public.  Here he’s back with a new joint that’s to be featured on his upcoming project Black Ribbon: Hard Work

As I devote countless hours on end to perfecting my sound, Black Ribbon: Hard Work! is shaping up to be more and more of a coming-of-age project. Part of my struggle as an artist lies in a dilemma of IDENTITY – not within myself, but in my public perception. I’m known as the creator of Blindiforthekids.com, a special events coordinator, and even a graphic designer, but often times my prowess as a lyricist is overshadowed by the duties I perform in effort to not become a member of the “starving artists” community. My dreams are too great, my time is too valuable, and I feel I am too talented to have it any other way. With a renewed vigor for my music, a game plan for tactical success, and most importantly HARD WORK, I, Sulaiman, am ready to overtake all weak, rusty, lackluster options I may ever be compared with. On Your Mark (produced by Beat Maker Beat) is a warning to all that something great is on the horizon. Partake!

Sulaiman – “On Your Mark”

Video: Who is Tennille?

RSVP Gallery just did a full fashion spread and feature on Cool Kids-affiliated songstress, Tennille.  They discuss a wide array of topics, and have some dope shots featuring their top notch apparel.  Head over that way for the full spread.

Video: Ben One – "My Eyes" (Live on Status TV)

Ben performs his new single “My Eyes” live at Club E, for Status TV.

Video: Bullet's "Hit The Dancefloor" Featured on 'The Beautiful Life'

Props to Mr. Robotic on this one. Get those corporate checks from the CW while you can.

“Bullet aka Mr.Robotic gets his 2nd placement on television. This Time on the show “The Beautiful Life” that comes on the CW network. The Episode aired this past wednsday and the scene has High School Musical Star Corbin Bleu dj’ing Bullet aka Mr.Robotic’s record “Hit the Dancefloor” and the crowd starts jamming.

Voyce G.I. Go – "Rich Kidz"

Voyce drops the theme song for CEO The Politician and Rico Nance’s clothing line, Rich Kidz.   The line launches October 1st – check out their domain for more details and pieces.

Voyce G.I. Go – “Rich Kidz”

Million $ Mano Featured in CS's Men's Book

Mano gets featured in this month’s CS Men’s Book.  This is a good look for Emmanuel – props, homie.

If there’s a lesson to be gleaned from the wildly successful, and just wild, career path of Emmanuel Nickerson, AKA Million $ Mano, it might be: Work like crazy and try everything. Mano left Columbia College after curating an art show with Lupe Fiasco-visual art was his first passion-that took him on a tour through Asia. At the same time, he was honing his DJ skills. After making a name for himself in the city’s club scene, Mano, 25, began working the turntables for British rap star M.I.A., as well as his cousin, rapper Hollywood Holt-that is, when he’s not performing with his own band, He Say, She Say, with singer-lyrcist Drea Smith. Taken together, Mano has played everything from Kanye West’s Glow in the Dark tour to Coachella to the Marc Jacobs show at fashion week. “Whatever I’m doing is my focus,” he says. “But as soon as one thing slows down something else picks up. I think it’s the best way to stay relevant.”

Spotted RSVP

Naledge – "I'm Good (Freestyle)"

Naledge goes in on the best Neptunes beat of recent memory (no shots!), and does it well good.

Naledge – “I’m Good (Freestyle)” 

Props to the Brainiacs

Video: Kanye's First Post-VMA Appearance

Performing “Make Her Say” with Common at his ‘Common & Friends’ showcase in LA. I know this event was part of Common’s charity ‘Common Ground’, so it’s nice ‘Ye showed up to support. I can’t act like I’m still not a little salty that he didn’t show up to the G.O.O.D. Music event last weekend, but what are you gonna do?

I’ll also add that Common has been on a tour warpath lately. He’s city to city like he’s B-Legit , or something.  <- Pow!

Props RR

Fenger Student Beaten To Death

“The whole hood is lost, G” – Mikkey Halsted

Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old Fenger student, was murdered on Thursday in broad daylight. Three blocks from his school. This hits close to home for me – Fenger is about a 10-minute drive from the crib – but for more reasons than just proximity. Albert wasn’t involved in the brawl, at least according to witnesses. He stepped in to try and help out a student who’d gotten swept up in it, and minutes later he lay on the concrete dying.

Above is the raw footage that’s crept onto the web. Immediately, you can see the chaos breaking out in the middle of the street. There was no gunplay, thank god, but about a minute in you can see Derrion Albert take a blow to the head from a wooden board. With Albert unconscious from the hit, the “tough guys” proceed to stomp and kick the remaining life out of him.

The video is no doubt powerful stuff. Both emotionally and legally. I hope that the footage leads to arrests, but what I hope more is that it can open people’s eyes. While far from innocent, the media isn’t dramatizing and exaggerating the violence going on in our community. With trash like this continuing on the regular, we need to really take a look at what we can do to stop it. What WE can do. Not what we can demand the city do. How much did the city help Derrion Albert on Thursday?

16 years old.

Sorry to preach, but it is Sunday. How can you watch that and not be moved to action?

Words by Dallas Wright