Chicago | Huck
Huck

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.

  • Huck 76
  • 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.

  • Music
  • 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.

  • Magazine
  • 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.

  • Art
  • 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.

  • Music
  • 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.

  • Art
  • 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.

  • Music
  • 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.

  • Music
  • 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.

  • Art
  • 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.

  • Art
  • 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.

  • Reportage
  • 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.

  • Activism
  • Alex King

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck+ members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:
Black and white O'Neill logo in a bold, stylised font against a black background.
You've read articles this month Thanks for reading

Join Club Huck — it's free!

Valued Huck reader, thank you for engaging with our journalism and taking an interest in our dispatches from the sharp edge of culture, sport, music and rebellion.

We want to offer you the chance to join Club Huck [it's free!] where you will receive exclusive newsletters, including personal takes on the state of pop culture and media from columnist Emma Garland, culture recommendations, interviews and dispatches straight to your inbox.

You'll also get priority access to Huck events, merch discounts, and more fun surprises.

Already part of the club? Enter your email above and we'll get you logged in.