Chicago
Chris Crack is built differently
The Chicago MC blends provocative, pitch-black humour with a relentless work ethic, driven by a desire to seek out the light in dark situations.
Written by: Thomas Hobbs
Common is starting his own beautiful revolution
‘Biden must be held to account‘ — Ahead of the release of his new album, the 49-year-old rapper talks mixing his art with politics, and working alongside music’s greats.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
Vic Mensa is still on a mission to transform Chicago
The honest truth — The 27-year-old rapper’s hometown boasts a rich hip hop heritage, but he remains one of its most important sons. For Mensa, artistry and activism are interlinked: he won’t stop until he’s changed Chi City for the better.
Written by: Nicolas-Tyrell Scott
A visual tribute to ’80s Chicago, where house music began
DIY designs — A new book celebrates the power of the DIY party flyer – homemade designs which helped transform the city’s dance scene.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Welcome to Angel Olsen’s second act
‘I'm trying to get back to myself’ — On her latest record All Mirrors, the alt-country singer confronts the problems of her past, and takes her sound in a bold new direction.
Written by: Jeremy Allen
Unearthing the old business cards of Chicago gangs
Almighty and Insane — Used in the 1960s and ’70s, these discreet slips of paper served as the ultimate status symbol for gang members across the city.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Joey Purp is a Chicago rapper who wants to save the world
‘Anybody can do anything’ — With his sophomore album, the 25-year-old rapper is responsible for one of 2018’s best releases. Fresh from making his live TV debut alongside RZA, we speak to him about building on that success, creating a legacy and opening doors for fellow underdogs.
Written by: Alex Ekong
Jamila Woods on anger, self-care and learning to accept yourself
Black girl magic — Over the last year, the Chicago artist has gone from spoken word poet to critically acclaimed musician, collaborating with Chance the Rapper, NoName and Ryan Lewis. She shares the lessons she’s learned so far.
Written by: Biju Belinky
Turning protest banners into striking, effective works of art
Pussy grabs back — After coming to the US as an immigrant, artist Aram Han Sifuentes is now challenging right-wing extremism with her community-based project The Protest Banner Lending Library.
Written by: Kadish Morris
These graffiti pen-pals are using street art to talk politics
Where activism and art overlap — Between London and Chicago, street artists Dont Fret and Edwin are turning their Whatsapp exchanges into pointed political displays scrawled across each other's cities.
Written by: Marta Bausells
Airport Attorneys: The first responders in the #travelban disaster
Modern day heroes — Deep inside airport terminals across the United States, immigration attorneys have been working tirelessly to fight for those worst hit by Trump's Muslim #travelban. Fiona McEntee is one of them.
Written by: Fiona McEntee
Full circle in Chicago: Reflections on Obama's legacy, as he takes a final bow
'He's started a fire' — Obama might have delivered his symbolic farewell speech in Chicago, a city steeped in Civil Rights history, but photographer Ozier Muhammad mourns his failure to deliver for the communities of colour and the poor.
Written by: Alex King