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Home » BJ the Chicago Kid

Tag: BJ the Chicago Kid

Posted inMusic

Insomniac Studios nurtures a music-business community on the far south side

by Corli Jay January 12, 2021August 18, 2021

With internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, and workshops, Blue Island’s Black-owned Insomniac Studios bypasses white industry gatekeepers.

Posted inMusic

BJ the Chicago Kid has what it takes to carry any song alone on 1123

by Leor Galil November 21, 2019August 18, 2021

R &B singer Bryan James Sledge, aka BJ the Chicago Kid, has the kind of commanding voice most rappers seek out when they’re looking for a guest artist to make a good song great—and to loosen their inhibitions in the process. On Sledge’s second album for Motown, July’s 1123, he turns the tables, showcasing guest […]

Posted inMusic

Curator Adia Sykes on a voice that takes you back to the golden age of soul

by Philip Montoro October 15, 2019August 18, 2021

Current musical obsessions of ESS codirector Olivia Junell, curator Adia Sykes, and Reader music editor Philip Montoro

Posted inBlogs

Guess who’s coming to play at Taste of Chicago this year?

by Leor Galil May 2, 2018August 18, 2021

The Flaming Lips, Black Star, and George Clinton are among the big names at the Grant Park festival in July.

Posted inBlogs

Chicago Dance Month, BJ the Chicago Kid, and more things to do in Chicago this week

by Brianna Wellen April 3, 2017August 18, 2021

Battlefield, Centennial Brooks, and more happenings from April 3-6.

Posted inMusic

BJ the Chicago Kid’s emotional restlessness keeps him grounded

by Austin Brown March 30, 2017August 18, 2021

BJ the Chicago Kid is ostensibly an R&B traditionalist: he’s reimagined Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” as a posthumous duet with the singer, he repeatedly alludes to the importance of the church in his lyrics, and he even sang the national anthem at President Obama’s farewell address here in Chicago. But it’d probably be more […]

Posted inBlogs

The best photos from #ObamaFarewell

by Danielle A. Scruggs January 11, 2017August 18, 2021

Photos from #ObamaFarewell at McCormick Place Tuesday night

Posted inBlogs

Backstage Pitchfork portraits of Digable Planets, Empress Of, Circuit des Yeux, and more

by Oriana Koren July 18, 2016August 18, 2021

The Reader set up a temporary studio in Union Park to take intimate black-and-white shots of Pitchfork festival artists.

Posted inBlogs

Pitchfork Fest on Saturday was mostly a joy to behold

by Reader staff July 17, 2016August 18, 2021

On Pitchfork’s second day, RP Boo and Jlin inspired fancy footwork, while Sufjan Stevens and Brian Wilson served up different doses of sadness.

Posted inBlogs

Photos of the Saturday crowd at Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

by Reader staff July 16, 2016August 18, 2021

Portraits of the crowd at Union Park on July 16

Posted inMusic

Who else should fans of hip-hop, R&B, and soul see at Pitchfork?

by Tiffany Walden July 1, 2016August 18, 2021

Who else should fans of hip-hop, R&B, and soul see at Pitchfork?

Posted inMusic

Pitchfork’s hometown heroes

by Leor Galil July 1, 2016August 18, 2021

Pitchfork booked a record-breaking nine Chicago acts this year.

Posted inBlogs

The alleged David Cameron-Brexit-O’Hare-pizza connection, and other Chicago news

by Kate Shepherd June 27, 2016August 18, 2021

Also, Chicagoan Raj Fernando is at the center of a Trump-Clinton feud.

Posted inBlogs

Obama nominates Skokie native to high court, and other Chicago news

by Kate Shepherd March 17, 2016August 18, 2021

Also, BJ the Chicago Kid remains a south-sider in the Los Angeles music scene.

Posted inMusic

J.Kwest makes room for rap in the house of the Lord

by Tiffany Walden March 2, 2016August 18, 2021

By defying the Christian reluctance to embrace rap, Hyde Park pastor and MC J.Kwest hopes to help people find God in their daily lives.

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