Who & Why....Naledge

Being from a city where some of hip-hop's heavy hitters like Kanye, Common, and Lupe Fiasco hail from, one might find it hard to create their own niche'. But after speaking to Chicago's own Jabari Evans or more commonly known as Naledge, one half of the duo Kidz In The Hall, this young artist has set his own path by releasing his very much anticipated mixtape Chicago Picasso.

With the word Picasso in the title one could easily draw the conclusion that Mr. Evans would be painting a picture of the city known for music, food, and bad weather.

"This is my vision of Chicago," said Naledge "This is like the soundtrack to the perfect day in Chicago."

So with many of cities visited on tour, national fame with his group, and a host of collaborations with artists such as Estelle. Clipse, and Bun B it may come to many as a shock that he feels overlooked in his own hometown.

"I could be rated higher than what I am," he said. "I am underrated when it comes to the five best rappers in Chicago."

With Chicago Picasso that is out now Naledge comes full circle with his first solo showing.

"Everyone has their sound," he states "I put this out myself, everything about this mixtape is me."

If you haven't heard....

On July 28^th “More To Love” will make its debut premiere on Fox Television. The objective of the show is to find love for “average-looking” participants. The producer of the show is Mike Fleiss who is also the producer of ABC’s The Bachelor. In that show one male contestant searches for love throughout a group of perfectly sized zero female contestants. ‘More To Love’ which airs July 28^th will however depart from the usual picture perfect contestants and will feature overweight hopefuls. Mike Darnell, president of Fox Alternative, had this to say about the show.

“For six years it’s been skinny-minis and good-looking bachelors, and that’s not what the dating world looks like,” “Why don’t real women—the women who watch these shows, for the most part—have a chance to find love too?”

So what does this mean for a society where eight out of ten people over the age of 25 are overweight? Does this mean that new doors for plus size Americans to make it on television have now opened? Or is this yet another cruel ploy at the hands of network execs to make fun of the ones who are different?

I must say that through this show overweight people in America will be looked as people and not as outcasts.

If You Haven't Heard....

I recently ran across a story that frankly applauded me. Due to the recent economic recession business and corporations nationwide have tried to trim the costs in all areas. But after reading the story I asked myself are things really that bad?

In a recent Chicago Sun-Times write up it stated that the state of Illinois will no longer front the bill of funeral costs for poor people. A letter was sent out to all funerals homes from the Dept. of Human Services stating that thanks to the General Assembly's disapproval of Gov. Pat Quinn's revenue plan Illinois will be cutting back on expenses. In other words those who are unable to provide the money for a proper burial are SOL.

The article went on to say that the state on average spends about $15 million a year in funeral costs.

The cutback will go into effect on July 1st.

If You Haven't Heard....

Well it seems like Obama cannot please everyone these days. Political comedian and television host Bill Maher had a few things to say about the president elect on Friday. Maher criticized Obama on an episode of HBO's "Real Time." In the episode Maher claims that Obama is "spending too much time in the limelight."

I must say that I do not understand where all this hostility from Maher is coming from. He is attacking a man who is trying to approve one of the greatest health care bills in America as well as travel back and forth in order to obtain peace in other countries. Is it his fault that NBC wants to spend time with the First Black President ever chosen in U.S. history inside of his home? Well I must say if by getting his image out to the public makes him a "camera whore" than so be it.

I have posted the link to Maher's five minute rant on Obama below.

If You Haven't Heard.....

The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper featured a write up about harrassment of women on CTA buses and trains. The article included testimonies from various women who have fell victim of the unwanted attention by other male passenegers on the CTA.

According a survey conducted by the paper 13% of riders have went as far as to say that they have been sexually assualted on the CTA. But an astonishing 91% of the participants who said that they were sexually assualted stated that they never filed a complaint with police or the CTA. Some say mainly due to the fact that by the time that they report it the harrasser would probably be gone.

After reading the numbers I started to think that maybe it is not as big of deal as people are trying to make it. If 91% of alledged victims on the CTA do not even report it to an officer or CTA personnel why complain about it now? In the article the biggesst complaint that most of the women have was the unwanted verbal attention that male passengers give to them. But in a land where the freedom of speech is a right isn't the easiest thihg to do is simply walk away?

If you haven't heard....

Hannah Powell-Auslam is unlike any normal fifth grader in La Mirada,CA. The thing that makes this 10-year-old different from most girls her age is the disease that plagues her life everyday. Invasive secretory carcinoma, or stage II breast cancer is what little Hannah was diagnosed with a month ago.

Hannah complained to her mother about an itch that she had on the side of her chest. After having her mom examine the area a lump was later found. Doctors told the mother that there was nothing to worry about but tests later proved to the contrary. X-rays showed a two inch tumour in Hannah's breast. She later underwent a mastectomy to get rid of the tumour.

Hannah who was at first scared of her diagnosis and stated to her mom that she just wanted to a be a normal kid has now changed her attitude.

"I'm going to set an example," Hannah states. "If there's something wrong with your body, you tell your parents."

Who & Why....

I have to pay tribute to blues icon Koko Taylor who passed away on June 3rd. I remember falling asleep to the song "Wang Dang Doodle" as it was being blasted from the radio that my grandmother owned back in the day.

Taylor born Cora Walton who was also known as the "Queen of the Blues" passed away Wednesday due to complications of a May 19Th surgery. Her musical legacy will live on in the hearts of many, especially those who reside in the city of Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley had this to say about the singer

"Koko Taylor's life and music brought joy to millions of people all around the world and Chicago is especially honored that she called our city her home for more than 50 years," Daley said.

Taylor began her career back in the 1950's singing at many Chicago area nightclubs. Taylor's biggest hit to date was "Wang Dang Doodle" which still captivates many audiences to this day. Her last performance was on May 7Th at the Blues Music Awards. Taylor is survived by her husband, Hays Harris along with two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.