Poet and organizer JazStarr builds bridges on the page and in the community.
Tag: open mike
Posted inArts & Culture
The jokes must go on
One of the city’s most iconic open-mike nights finds a virtual home.
Posted inMusic
Keeping the beat
Chicago’s beat scene has to do without the attention the city’s rappers get, but it’s a vital incubator for adventurous, ambitious instrumental hip-hop.
Posted inBlogs
South-side poet Kwynology wants you to fall back in love with Chicago at her open mike
In the Yard will let south- and west-siders share their work in their own community.
Posted inMusic
Jessica Risker sharpens her sweet songs on a hazy new album
Deadbeat front woman Jessica Risker releases the sweet, hazy I See You Among the Stars, her most confident and consistent album yet.
Posted inMusic
A people’s history of Kevin Coval
Louder Than a Bomb cofounder Kevin Coval in the words of people in Chicago’s poetry, spoken-word, and hip-hop scenes whose lives he’s touched
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Once you’ve seen a guy jerk off a piano, you can never really unsee it’
The cast of the new webseries The Open Mic share their open-mike horror stories.
Posted inBlogs
Chicago teaching artist Matt Muse makes music that might as well be designed to inspire his students
Like Chance the Rapper, Matt Muse is affiliated with the after-school program Young Chicago Authors—and like Chance, he teaches by example with his own music, including the new Sikk Tape.
Posted inBlogs
Chance the Rapper’s Grammy nominations are a win for his community
You don’t have to care about the Grammys to care about Chance’s nominations—you only need to care about the young people of color he mentors and inspires.
Posted inBlogs
Love illuminates Chance the Rapper’s highly anticipated new Coloring Book
Chatham superstar Chance the Rapper rhymes about family, religion, and Chicago throughout his brand-new mixtape, binding it all together with irrepressible love.
Posted inBlogs
Malcolm London broadens the Chicago hip-hop scene with ‘I’mPossible’
The activist, poet, and educator officially adds “rapper” to his growing CV, and the scene is better for it.
Posted inBlogs
6/10 — Free summer improv at ComedySportz
Free Wednesday improv nights all summer at the ComedySportz Theatre.