Photos by Demi Richardson (@DemiRiches) On Friday night, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, descended upon Chicago for a live performance at the Metro Theater. The show, VIP and general admission, sold out almost instantly, as most fans and potential concert goers believed Mos Def was banished from the United States all together. Well,…
Category: Features
FSD Feature: Rap Dreams: Episode One [Premiere]
A feature by Holiday Kirk (@HolidayKirk) Rap Dreams is an examination of individuals who have decided to make rap music their career but haven’t broken through to a mainstream level of success. For them, rap music is a drain. It requires huge investments of time and money for little reward. These are people who rock…
FSD Feature: Saba in the ComfortZone – A Review by Kevin Coval
Words by Kevin Coval (@KevinCoval). Photo by Rene Marban Welcome to a new FSD Feature from Chicago poet/activist/artist/philanthropist Kevin Coval, where he uses “verse-journalism” to review shows, events and other dope activities and ongoings in the City of Chicago. Kevin sees this as a way to document and practice what Gwendolyn Brooks calls verse journalism….
FSD Feature: SD – Way Ahead Of The Game
Words and photos by Holiday Kirk (@HolidayKirk) Both on record and off, SD projects an air of control and confidence. This is someone that knows where he’s going and how he’s going to get there. This clarity of purpose extends to his studio time, when I met SD in the basement of Complex Studios he…
FSD Feature: J.R. Donato Talks Signing To Taylor Gang, Relationship w/ Wiz Khalifa & More
In November of 2014, it was announced that Waukegan-native, J.R. Donato had just inked a deal with Wiz Khalifa’s fledging label, Taylor Gang. It was not only a big deal for J.R., but for the local scene as a whole, since Wiz is one of the most popular and influential artists in all of music….
FSD Feature: Hot List: Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Kembe X & The Social Experiment
Words by Tim Goldrick (@Pot_ofGoldrick) Everywhere you look, BIG names. Kanye West. Lupe Fiasco. Big Sean. Chance the Rapper. Donnie Trumpet. Even Paul McCartney? Who to start with… Circle the bubble next to the answer none of the above because the real MVP of the past week is Kembe X. Probably not the Chicagoan you thought, right?
FSD Feature: ZMoney Speaks On Release From Jail & Immediate Plans
At the end of 2013, ZMoney’s future was bright. He needed shades and the whole nine. He landed on many critics ‘Best Of’ year-end lists, was garnering critical acclaim from all corners of the internet, and was booking shows across the country. The proper and ideal set-up for a bubbling rapper in this day and…
FSD Feature: Sides of a Coinye: Trademark Law for Artists
Words by John Miranda, Attorney at Law John Miranda is a Chicago attorney. He can be reached at JohnMirandaLegal@gmail.com and his legal articles can be found at www.ChicagoSmallBusinessLaw.com. John has written legal articles for Fake Shore Drive in the past. Read more here. Trademarks, whose origins trace back to the medieval sword-making and traditional katana…
FSD Feature: 20 Essential Midwest Songs Of 2014
Words by Ty Howard (@someguynamedty) You know what the Midwest is? Slept on. Most people outside of the Middle West only think of Chicago when thinking of the Mid, but the Chi isn’t the only city making noise here. Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee and a few other Midwest cities have had a pretty good year musically,…
FSD Feature: 30 Best Chicago Projects Of 2014
Words by Ty Howard (@someguynamedty), Holiday Kirk (@HolidayKirk) and Andrew Barber (@fakeshoredrive) 2014 is a wrap. Finito. And despite what the peanut gallery at large might tell you, we’ve received some incredible music from the Chicago scene. From newcomers, to vets — it appears just about everyone has put their best foot forward this year —…