Last week, Chicago hosted the Green Festival at Navy Pier. This two-day event featured some of America’s most progressive green thinkers such as Van Jones, Amy Goodman, and Naomi Davis – to name a few. The event featured 350 local and national businesses and organizations vetted by the Green Festival for either their organic, sustainability, or social justice practices.

Everything from food and body products, to compost toilets and consumer-ready solar panels was featured at the festival. Ford Motors even featured a new Focus made of organic materials such as corn husk, sweet potatoes, and wheat straw. My personal favorites were all the organic wine and beer but they were nothing compared to the Community Action Area where I met artist and musician Dan Bellini with Occupy Chicago.

Bellini is a Chicago artist who found himself promoting Occupy because of his Guy Faux masked cartoon drawings. Bellini was a long-time activist, who decided to occupy Facebook with his drawings, when the 99% protest began last spring. After making nearly 300 drawings, Dan decided to contact Occupy Chicago and get involved.

“Its therapeutic to march,” he said. ” It helps to get the anger out.”

Once Dan started marching and drawing, the next step was promoting the movement.

“The Green festival was just the next event, and it was really cool,” he said.

From Dan’s perspective, the most interesting aspect of the festival, were the people who attended. According to the Green Festival, the majority of attendees are females with higher degrees between the ages of 30-40.

“The people that I met were looking for ways they could get involved and get help out,” he said. “People are trying to be responsible, but its an uphill battle for them. And events like this allow them to come together. We may not be able to change everyone’s minds, but at least we can come together and do business.”

Check out more of Bellini’s work on Occupy.com and catch the next Green Festival in Washington D.C.

Doc Franchise has been making music for Chicago hip-hop artists for a few years now. Always an individual, this self-proclaimed “nerd” drops his new EP this month. His music is eclectic, classic, and futuristic all at the same time. Watch this exclusive interview with his message on education, style, and hip-hop after the jump.

Artist, poet, writer, musician, MC, rapper, and Chicago native, Malik Yusef is no stranger to success. This year, he won a Grammy with Kanye for the writing of “All of the Lights,” but this poet didn’t always have it so good.

Malik dropped out of high school because he had difficulty writing and speaking aloud in class.

“I used to crack a lot of jokes, distract the class, and get sent out all so I didn’t have to read out loud,” he said.

After dropping out of school, Malik decided to educate himself by spending a lot of time in the library. He started to write poetry about growing up on Chicago’s South Side as a coping mechanism.

“I had to learn ways to deal with people,” Malik said. “[young people should] figure out how to learn. They need to understand environmental literacy, and use context clues to inform themselves.”

Malik is now a successful writer and musician. In fact, he is currently recording with Kanye West and Jay-Z. He still makes time to engage in current events. As a Huffington Post weekly blogger, Malik has gained a significant readership. I asked him what he thought about the case of Trayvon Martin, and others like him.

“There have always been negative stereotypes,” he said. “Everyone makes generalizations, black and white people. Our current media, (like reality TV) contributes to it. We don’t have to love each other with perfection, but we can respect one another.”

In only a few short minutes, I felt enlightened. No wonder this man is making a career as a spoken word poet and writer. He is working on his new project Nat Black right now. He plans to release some live recordings this summer. He is also the spokesperson for this year’s Hip Hop Caucus, “Respect My Vote” Campaign, proving once again that the core of hip hop is in the history of politics.

Photograph curtesy of Good Music

Hip-hop artist Blaise B. is known in the underground Chicago scene for his eclectic instrumentals and thought-provoking lyrics. Having worked with countless independent and mainstream artists, Blaise B. prepares to bring a little Midwest flavor to Texas. Check out this exclusive interview and original music from the Chicago native!

Blaise B. @ SXSW
Check out the official music video for  The Same Blaise B. – The Same.

BJTCK, one of the many artists that are scheduled to be present at SXSW (click link for show details), has just released an album called Pineapple Now & Laters, some of which we’ve posted last week. The second song on the album is a cover of East Side High’s Alma Mater from “Lean on Me.”

I have never heard a rendition this smooth.

The Original- Written By: Catherine Peragallo Miller

The homie Gerald Walker is popping up on all the scene now and it’s a good look for Milwaukee again. Cheaters never prosper and #BelieversNeverDie. Gerald’s music has been milling around the Mil (which is short for Milwaukee) for a minute but he’s really starting to get some traction. #salute.

This record was originally Sade’s but was re-produced by Cardo of Taylor Gang Productions. Take a break with ya girl and let the sounds of Gerald Walker run in the background.

LISTEN HERE

It was exactly one month ago that we learned President Obama had strong windpipes and could hold a sound melody. He surprised the audience at the Apollo Theater by singing a verse of Al Green’s, “Let’s Stay Together.”

Last week, while attending a White House concert, President Obama was unexpectedly  handed  the microphone and asked to join music legends Mick Jagger and B.B. King to sing, “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Of course, the president who has strong ties to Chicago – he served as a community organizer, professor, and attorney – was happy to oblige the crowd and the musicians. The concert called “Red, White and Blues,” was timed to celebrate the final days of Black History Month.

I strongly believe that these types of expressions (where he can be coaxed into singing the blues) only reinforce his just-a-regular-guy characteristics. By maintaining his reputation as the down-to-earth and “just like you” leader, I think that he will increase favorable public opinion about his candidacy.

A white teacher claims that his civil rights were violated after he was suspended for using the N-word during a “teachable moment” on racism in his sixth grade class at Murray Language Academy in Hyde Park. The Chicago teacher has now filed a federal lawsuit as a result of being suspended without pay for five days.

Lincoln Brown, 48, has taught urban students for more than 20 years. Brown’s response is that he was teaching his predominately African-American class, an important lesson in vocabulary, civility and race relations.

The lecture started when one of his sixth grade students passed a note of rap lyrics that included the N-word. Brown insisted that students should learn more about the historical context of the word from other resources than hip-hop music. He referenced Mark Twain’s classic book Huckleberry Finn to illustrate how the N-word can be viewed as hurtful and demeaning language.

There has been an exhaustive debate over the use of the N-word, including a funeral for it. Some people feel that it is a derogatory word that should not be accepted in any context because it was derived out of hatred and racism during slavery. However, there are others who believed the N-word to be privileged and can only be verbally exchanged among blacks.

What do you think?

Rockie Fresh is one of the newer artists hailing from Chicago. With less than three years in the game, he has already established a presence in hip-hop that seems to only be getting stronger. If you’re an early adopter, you’ve checked Fresh out at SXSW and AC3 and can vouch that homie has been putting in work.

The Midwest emcee teams up with his partner from DC, Phil Ade, whom has contributed on joint records in the past. This specific collaboration is off of Rockie’s most recent project, “Driving 88.” On “Where I Wanna Be,” the two go back and forth about being at peace with their decision to follow their aspirations. This ain’t no Donnell Jones record!

An old classmate recently leaked a home video from 1990 of The Throne’s Kanye West reciting an MLK-dedicated verse from a poem entitled, “His Name Means Love.”

Read more: HERE

Here’s another dope artist to add 2 the collection. Pun intended! The Chicago native, @ADD2theMC just recently released a new visual and it’s deeper than rap. We’ve come along way from the cotton fields or have we? You’d think we were still in them if you knew the alarming statistics that describes the African-American presence in prison. #Add2That

Head Coach Leslie Frazier and the Minnesota Vikings waived former Eagles and Redskins 13-year quarterback Donovan McNabb yesterday.

With McNabb going 1-5 in a Vikings uniform and the emerging success of Christian Ponder, Frazier commented “this was the best decision for both parties” and that he believes McNabb can still be a starter in the NFL.

If Donovan clears waivers today, I could easily see him in a Bears uniform. With the recent injury to starting QB Jay Cutler, McNabb would seem to be a perfect fit. When McNabb was a Eagle, there were rumors about McNabb wanting to return to his hometown and finish his career in Chicago.

Whether or not Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears will attempt to claim McNabb remains to be seen, but the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans are also in need of a quarterback and could be on the hunt. No matter where McNabb ends up, this will be his fourth team in two years and may very well be his last stop.

Chicago is the hub of the Midwest. It’s a city where you find people from all over the country, and ideas from all over the world. Did you know that Chicago is one of America’s cities embracing urban agriculture and renewable energy? In every section of Chicago, urban gardens are budding.

How did Chicago become “green,” and how has the urban agriculture movement affected Chicago?

In 2001, Chicago’s green movement started with then Mayor Richard Daley Jr. installing a 20,300 square foot garden on the roof of the city hall. Daley wanted to set an example and aimed to make Chicago one of the greenest cities in America, by promoting the energy cost saving value of rooftop gardens. With the initial motivation to save money, $5K in government grants and tax breaks, rooftop gardens began to appear in Chicago’s middle class neighborhoods. It would take another 10 years before the city would again take radical action toward urban agriculture.

The green movement slowly continued to grow, and in 2002, Growing Power, an organization started in Milwaukee specializing in sustainable agriculture, traveled to Chicago. Founder Will Allen decided to change the face of urban farming, by promoting the values of youth involvement, education and community empowerment.

Allen’s mission was to transform communities from food deserts, to places were people could connect with their food and themselves. They have since established five gardens in some of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, not only transforming the people but also the landscape. The Lights Urban Farm in the former Cabrini-Green projects features city light poles adapted for growing flowers and plants with the use of UV lights. Allen’s method of using worms and aqua-ponics, a system using fish to filter water and grow food, became widely used in Chicago. However, his greatest impact was bringing food and agriculture to some of the poorest communities in Chicago, providing education and volunteer experience for diverse populations. Organizations like ‘Growing Home,’ have since used urban farming to rehabilitate homeless and unemployed people. Urban agriculture was no longer just about saving money, but about saving people’s lives.

Without a doubt, Chicago’s green movement has become an act of revolution.

On Chicago’s south side, one community used their garden space to build relationships and support the elders of the neighborhood. Neighbors came together to clean the land and grow on a small plot of land, transforming it from a drug dealing corner, to a place for community building. As ordinary citizens began to clean up empty lots and start gardens, it became clear that Chicago zoning codes were behind the times. Community gardens were not to exceed a certain size, and restrictive retail laws in residential areas prevented farmers from opening markets. Mayor Daley, was quoted stating “farming was not an urban activity” and “that people would not buy food grown in cities.” Organizations like Advocates for Urban Agriculture decided to respond to the policy concerns of urban farmers. After nearly two years of zoning disputes, there appeared to be progress.

In July 2011, Mayor Rahm Emanuel held a press conference at Growing Power’s Iron Street Farm to discuss the city’s commitment to urban agriculture. He stated that urban farming could be seen as a revenue generating endeavor, allowing for empty and abandoned spaces to be turned into taxable, job-creating urban farms. On September 9th, the Chicago City Council approved a zoning code allowing space for more urban farms, and increasing the allotted size of farms to allow for commercial production. This momentous change in law may help to transform abandoned and neglected land into space for growth and transformation.

While it is extremely encouraging to see the city take proactive steps toward job creation through urban farming, it is really citizens whom benefit from having increased access to locally grown food. We know that going “green” can save you money, and rebuild communities, but can it really create jobs? And can the empty buildings left from the recession be utilized in a green economy?

Organizations like “The Plant” offer a solution. The plant is a sustainable non-profit brewery and vertical farm. The dilapidated meat factory is currently being remodeled into a commercial beer brewery in which an anaerobic digester is used to convert the grain used in brewing into “380 kilowatts of electricity and 2.1 million BTU of heat – enough to meet the full energy needs of the 93,500 square-foot facility.” The Plant was recently awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economics for its work in renewable energy sources.

This grant will provide 125 “green-collar” jobs, in a very economically depressed area, providing training and experience in renewable energy. The design is constantly being improved on and newer, more efficient models are in the works for commercial food production in urban buildings. The Plant not only offers interior and exterior urban farming, but also a non-profit revenue-generating business model that proves that making green, not just saving it, is the future of urban agriculture.

Standing in the crowded club, I couldn’t help but wonder what all these people had come to hear. I came to take pictures, and had no idea what I was about to see. I expected to see a jazz band called Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, but as the stage filled up with seven young men, I started to feel confused. And then I saw the brass. As they started the driving melody, the harmonies reminded me of the Afro-Pop I grew up with. I was instantly transported back to Nigeria, to Fela Kuti shows complete with drums, horns, and dancers.The show intensified as the Chicago natives began to rap and rhyme. One even jumped from the stage and walked across the bar while he rapped. And it’s no wonder, with the over saturation of auto-tunes on the radio, that real music would sound so wonderful. But it was more than good music. It was authentic, modern, cultural, and soulful. It was the type of music that made me feel warm and proud from the very pit of my stomach.

This music was Chicago. This band of men all hail from Chicago’s South Side. Trained by jazz legend Brother Phil Colan, these young men have become masters in their own right. Performing internationally for more than five years has transformed them from raw talent to true artists. They not only play notes and perform well – they open up their hearts and play the music as only people who love their art can. They are creative and daring.

The shrine was alive with dancing people, cheering them on, glowing with positive energy. Hot and steamy, the men were thirsting for water. Sweating through their shirts, they soon removed them. Fashionable even down to their shorts. They all sport the same G-STAR RAW briefs in various colours.

After an exhausting crescendo, they began to slow down. Catching their breath, and putting their shirts back on. Regaining composure, and resting, before going at it again. Ending the show on a high note, I could not help but want to hear more. Without a doubt, I recommend purchasing this album. You will not be dissaappointed.

Words and photos by Ife Olatunji
Edited by Jai Hayes
Featuring Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

If you ain’t know, Get Familiar!

#NoChurchInTheWild Is trending on Twitter and the people have spoken early about their favorite song on #WTT. Murder to Excellence is arguably the realest. On this track, Kanye & Jay Z paid homage to the victims of gun violence in their communities, more specifically, 48 shootings in 48 hours #PutTheGunsDown

(JZ)Bloody Murder, murder murder(x4) (KW)The paper read murder/Black on black murder/The paper read murder/Black on black murder

(JZ)This is to the memory of Danroy Henry / Too much enemy fire to catch a friendly / Strays from the same shade / Ni**a we on the same team / Giving you respect / I expect the same thing / All black everything / Ni**a you know my fresh code / I’m out here fightin’ for you / Don’t increase my stress load / Ni**as watchin’ thethrone/Very happy to be/Power to the people/When you see me,see you

(KW)And I’m from the murder capital/Where they murder for capital/ Heard about at least 3 killings this afternoon / Lookin’ at the news like damn I was just with him after school / No shop class but half the school got a tool / And I could die any day type attitude / Plus his little brother got shot reppin’ his avenue / It’s time for us to stop and re-define black power / 41 souls murdered in 50 hours /

The paper read murder / Black on black murder / The paper read murder / Black on black murder again / Murder again… /

Is it genocide? / Cause I can still hear his momma cry / Know the family traumatized / Shots left holes in his face / Bout piranha-size / The old pastor closed the cold casket / And said the church ain’t got enough room for all the tombs / It’s a war going on outside we ain’t safe from / I feel the pain in my city wherever I go / 314 sol- diersdiedinIraq/509diedinChicago

(JZ)I arrived on the day Fred/Hampton died/Real ni**as just multiply/And they say 21 I was supposed to die/So I’m out here celebratin’ my post demise / If you put crabs in a barrel to insure your survival / You gon’ end up pulling down ni**as that look just like you / What up blood?/What up cuz?/It’s all black/I love us

(KW)Thepaperreadmurder/Blackonblackmurderagain

(JZ)It’s a celebration of black excellence/ Black tie,black Maybachs/Black excellence, opulence,decadence /Tuxes next to the president, I’m present/I dress in Dries and other boutique stores in Paris / In sheepskin coats, I silence the lamb / Do you know who I am Clarice? / No cheap cologne whenever I “shh-shh” / Success never smelled so sweet / I stink of success / The new black elite / They say my black card bear the mark of the beast / I repeat / My religion is the beat / My verse is like church / My Jesus piece / Now please, domino, domino, / Only spot a few blacks the higher I go / What’s up to Will / Shoutout to O / That ain’t enough / We gon need a million more/Kick in the door/Biggieflow/I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go

(KW)Yea it’s all messed up when it’s nowhere to go/So we won’t take the time out til we reach the T O P / From paroles to hold G’s, sold keys, low keys / We like the promised land of the OG’s / In the past if you picture events like a black tie / What the last thing you expect to see, black guys / What’s the life expectancy for black guys? / The system’s working effectively, that’s why / I’ll be a real man and take care of your son / Every problem you had before this day is now done / New crib, watch a movie / Cause ain’t nothin on the news but the blues / Hit the mall, pick up some Gucci / Now ain’t nothin new but your shoes / Sunday morning / Praise the Lord / You the girl that Jesus had been saving me for/So let’s savor this moment/And take it to the floor/Black excellence /Truly your

Murder to Excellence

The President will be partying with the people of Chicago today as he reaches the big Hawaii 5-0! But I’m curious to know if he will be allowed to have his cake and eat it too…

Will Smith’s “Summertime” was cool but it wasn’t as in depth as it could’ve been. The summer madness Common is referring to is the kind that I can, unfortunately, relate to. Last April, the sun peeked out and there were 41 shooting victims within 50 hours and 31 incidents. When the sun comes out, my people can’t wait to act ig’nant.

Getter better, bro. Festival…The struggle continues and you’re not alone! Lil Boosie, Ghostface Killah, Phife Dawg, Shawty Lo, are amongst the select few familiar faces in hip-hop that are affected by diabetes.

Either we live right or we’re gonna die. It’s that simple. Us black folks really need to start paying attention to and taking care of ourselves because we’re apparently culturally susceptible to some of these things that are taking us out.

Read up on a bunch of interesting facts about diabetes by clicking HERE.

Collins Academy gets a surprise visit from Nicki Minaj as she takes on the role of Principal. School has never been this cool.

A classic debate about the accountability in Hip-Hop and lack thereof. Imma have to go with Lupe on this one! “Miseducation is Miseducation, no matter if it’s coming through the radio out of a book or from a teacher.”