Author Archives: UnRated Magazine

Winter Block Party

Chicago Public Media (WBEZ-Chicago) will host its 3rdAnnual Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the Chicago Urban Arts Society, 2229 s. Halsted Street, Chicago.

This year’s event will again feature a visual art and a graffiti gallery exhibition by some of Chicago’s most notable and up and coming contemporary artists, along with a marketplace, Hip-Hop barbershop, film screening, live sampling showcase, a one-on-one B-Boy/B-Girl battle hosted by the Legendary Brickheadz, an open mic academy and music all afternoon by Chicago DJs including Itch 13, Sweatpants Money and more.

The day’s festivities will culminate at 8 p.m. with a live studio audience event with the founders of Chicago house music entitled Original Style: Exploring the History of Chicago House. Hosted by Kevin Coval, Original Style will feature house music pioneers Jamie Principle and DJ Frankie Knuckles as well as Robert Williams (owner of the Warehouse and Music Box), Reggie Corner (House music promoter) and others. Following the event, an after party will be held featuring DJ Ron Trent and DJ Jesse De La Pena.

Admission for daytime events is $5/$3 for WBEZ members and students (ID required); evening events $15/$12 for WBEZ members and $10 for students (ID required).  For more information, visit WBEZ.

Amel Larrieux LIVE @ The Shrine Chicago‏

Chicago’s Shrine nightclub welcomed R&B songstress Amel Larrieux to perform at its first GOOD Fridays’ set of 2011.  Larrieux opened her show with new songs from her upcoming Ice Cream Every Day album. Larrieux also treated Chicago fans sang old favorites For Real and Tell Me from her days with the group Groove Theory.

Backstage, Larrieux discussed details about the much-buzzed Groove Theory reunion staging  she and band-mate Bryce Wilson are working on syncing schedules. Larrieux’s new album Ice Cream Every Day will arrive in stores in May and the first single will released in March.  

Photo by Rich P

Mr. Immortal Will Undoubtedly Live On

By Wendy Simmons

In the documentary, Mr. Immortality: The Life and Times of Twista, rap legend Twista, from the hard streets of Chicago, gives us a glimpse of his life behind his gift for speedy lyricism. Twista allows us to ride along and witness the raw reality of how this relatively shy talent really looks at his life, career and the city he calls home.

Twista, formerly known as Tongue Twista, gained world renowned famed by being one of the only Chicago based rappers to make it “big time”. With his record breaking speed for rapping, he placed himself on the map way back in the early 90s. From the days of rap battling in school and in basements, Twista prepared himself for greatness simply because he didn’t want to lose. He would lyrically destroy any competitor that challenged him.

Even after multiple gold records and countless big hits, people and critics continuously try to count Twista out but he always prevails. After leaving Atlantic Records in 2007 he has once again regained praise with his latest project under his own label GMG Entertainment. The documentary is laced with his new music. Giving us the latest example of why Twista has such longevity in the rap game.

Twista is a very humble guy, unlike most in the music industry, and he views it as a gift and a curse. A curse because media rarely focuses on a man that is not making noise. But now we get to know the Twista that isn’t on the magazine cover. The Twista that is humble enough to let his music speak for him.

While watching the documentary we hear testimonies from everyone from producer Scott Storch to R&B singer Ne-Yo to Chicago’s own Rep. Danny Davis. They praise Twista for his talent and longevity.  We get to see the very home that Twista grew up as well as the gritty and tough Westside streets of Chicago. His brothers describe how he was focused on his success which deterred him from a life on the streets. According to Twista he was more afraid of his strong mother than anything a gang could throw at him.

Unfortunately though, many Chicago youths have fallen victim to gang violence. Twista talks about the unbelievable violence that is taken place in his home town. He remembers performing in Iraq and hearing that at that very moment, there were more killings in Chicago than in Iraq. He was floored by the immense violence and the many high school and elementary school students that were victims of these senseless shootings.

Twista speaks candidly throughout the entire documentary. And he even allows us to witness his marijuana habit. I was captivated at how a man with such a speedy tongue could smoke marijuana at any given time of the day, consistently. But that is only a part of Twista’s whirlwind life on the road. He makes an effort to stop and greet fans along the way.

If you listen to Twista’s latest rap songs, you will notice that he has slowed it down a bit for a better understanding. The flows may have slowed but not his motivation to succeed and to continue to represent Chicago to the fullest.

This is a captivating yet simple documentary that allows you to travel along with a rap legend. Rap fan or not, this documentary will keep your interest and will give you on appreciation for a side of Chicago that is rarely ever seen in a positive light.

For Seven Women, Drama Chases Their Dreams Almost Into Inexistence!

By Wendy Simmons

Soul Kitten’s Cabaret is a musical stage play that takes place in; you guessed it, a cabaret in Detroit where the women are engulfed in drama. Dealing with such issues as drug abuse, alcoholism, divorce, and identity crises they are battling demons within the cabaret as well as in their personal lives. This club already faces scrutiny because it is thought to have been acquired through false pretenses. Now the very over the top owner has to try to keep it from falling into the hands of the bitter son of the previous owner.

Fantasia Barrino of American Idol fame and singer Faith Evans headlined the play; however, they were only seen for a brief moment. Fantasia belted out a beautiful performance while singing as the Good Conscious of the club. With Faith portraying the Bad Conscious it would have been more fulfilling to get to know their characters and to see a conclusion to their war of good versus evil. However, outside of the characters battling with the cabaret’s thick aura of negativity, their presence was virtually forgotten.

I understand that the basis of the play is to not fall victim to the temptations of the world while pursuing your dreams.  However, had the play been more organized and detailed I would have been able to get more of a connection to the women that were dealing with these very real and self destructing issues.

Although there weren’t many musical performances there was plenty of conflict to keep you interested. The time line was confusing but the twist at the end will hopefully put it into perspective for you.

If you love drama, you will love this play and can now enjoy it in the comfort of your home. The DVD debuts on Tuesday (January 11, 2011).

BET Brings ‘THE GAME’ Back to the Field!‏

Following BET Networks’ successful syndicate acquisition in February 2009 and hearing the tremendous response from fans, the “San Diego Sabers” and their significant others will make a return to television on BET on Tuesday, January 11 at 10:00 p.m. eastern time (9:00 p.m. central) with the hour-premiere of the 4th season of THE GAME.

When the series first premiered, Melanie was a first-year medical school student who gave up an offer of admission to medical school in order to follow her boyfriend Derwin, a first year rookie with a professional football team, to San Diego, against the advice of her parents.  

When Melanie settled into her new life, she met Tasha, the mother of Sabers’ starting quarterback Malik, and Kelly the wife of Sabers’ captain Jason.  Both of whom immediately warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous “gold diggers” who target professional football players.  

The BET premiere of THE GAME picks up where things left off at the end of season three.  Viewers will join the team two years later with Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall) and Melanie Barnett-Davis (Tia Mowry Hardict) as the celebrity “IT” couple; Derwin is now the star he had always dreamed of becoming and Melanie has willingly traded in her residency for the demands of being a superstar’s wife.  The ever opinionated and outspoken Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson) continues to make her mark in the field of sports management now that she has rebuilt Derwin’s career; Kelly Pitts (Brittany Daniel) – the former Mrs. Jason Pitts –tries to finesse her past as a footballer’s wife to leverage a lucrative future in reality television.  

Meanwhile, former San Diego Sabers’ star team captain, Jason Pitts (Coby Bell) has found a new career in sports commentating.  The fun-loving Malik Wright (Hosea Chanchez) continues to be the life of the party, but will he take things too far this time around? Fans can once again join their favorite team in the end zone as season four will surely not disappoint.  

THE GAME is executive produced by Mara Brock Akil, Salim Akil, and Kenny Smith. Salim is the Director of all episodes.

For more information, please visit www.bet.com

Kandi Koated Chicago

By Tamara Jenkins

Grammy award winning singer and song writer Kandi Burruss got her first taste of success in the music world as a member of the 90’s R&B girl group Xscape. She later prove her skills behind the scenes by writing hits for Destiny’s Child (“Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Bug A Boo“), Pink, Usher, Boyz II Men and Whitney Houston to name a few.

Recently, Burruss has reemerged into the spotlight as a cast member of the Bravo channel’s hit reality show Real Housewives of Atlanta and just released her sophomore CD, Kandi Koated.

To celebrate the release of Kandi Koated, a CD release party was held on December 16th at District in Chicago and UnRated Urban Magazine got a chance to talk to Burruss about the CD and her current and future plans.

UUM: This CD is filled with mid-tempo songs and ballads; no club songs. Why did you decide to go this route?

Kandi: I was trying to do an album that reminded me of the Xscape albums and we were really known for a lot of slow and mid-tempo records, we didn’t really have a lot of fast songs and repeating that era because that was my favorite time in R&B.

I wanted a real classy album, songs you could play 15 years from now, and sometimes up-tempo records can be trendy and I really wanted songs that would be classic.

UUM: How did you hook up with Ne-Yo and what was it like to work with him on “Me and You”?

Kandi: The guy who A&R’ed my project was like I want you to get with Ne-Yo and I was like huh? Because in my mind I’m thinking, Ne-Yo does what I do so how is that going to work? I didn’t know how two strong writers would collaborate but it turned out to be an excellent thing.

When I got to the session Ne-Yo was real cool, it was a mutual respect. So I enjoyed it. First we wrote one song together and then when we decided to do another song I was like ummm….you know what, if I’m going to pay for a Ne-Yo record, let me just let Ne-Yo do his thing.

So I kind of just sat back and let him take control on” Me and You” and I just gave my input here and there but it was all him really.

UUM: The song “Leroy Jones”, was inspired and written for your stepfather, how did it come about, when did you write it and why did you feel like it was such an important song to put out there? What does your mom think about it?

Kandi: I wrote it like a year and a half ago. She (my mom) loved it. Surprisingly, because my mom is very territorial so she’ll be like how come you didn’t write a song about me? That’s what I thought she was going say. But I guess “Super Woman” is a big up to all the single moms out there and I do talk about my mom in “Super Woman” so “Leroy Jones” you know you gotta do something for those men out there because I believe a man or even a woman, you know I’ve done it too that can take on somebody else’s child and love them like their your own. I think that takes a lot of love and I feel like those people need to be lifted up and be praised.

UUM: Your daughter, Riley, is on the CD. Whose idea was that? Do you think she will pursue a career in music? If she does, will you encourage it? Does Willow Smith have some competition?

Kandi: She kept bugging me. She was like mom please let me be on the album, and I was like ok. So as I kept recording she was like I thought you said I was going to be on your album?

So I was like ok I gotta find something to do with my daughter and I thought it would be great to do an interlude before “Leroy Jones”, so we came up with it and she recorded her part really fast, it didn’t take any time, it was like two seconds.

I definitely think my daughter is going following in my footsteps; I mean, that’s just my opinion. She’s already writing songs and I don’t make her, she does it on her own. She comes up with kids songs. She has a definite melody and the hook is defined so I hear her potential and she can sing to be an 8 year old. I want her to be better than me, I want her to play instruments and do all that so I want to try to give her all the tools to be the best if that’s what she wants to do. I’m not going to force her but if she wants to, I’m going to support her.

UUM: On the show, you are working with Lawrence Washington, is there anyone else you’re working with right now?

Kandi: My background singers, there’s four of them and I really want to see girl groups come back. So I think I’m going to talk them (background singers) into letting me do an album with them. I would love to. They are very talented so I could see them being hot. And I always wanted to write country songs so I would love to collaborate with a country artist.

UUM: So you’re not just solely dedicated to your own personal projects?

Kandi: I was this year because I had a timeline and between doing the show (Real Housewives of Atlanta) it was making it hard for me to just totally focus so when I did have time, I had to just focus on me, I couldn’t focus on everyone else.

UUM: You’re currently on tour with Fantasia and Eric Benet

Kandi: We’re on break right now until December 27th and then we go back on the road.

UUM: How’s the tour going?

Kandi: Great. Now, to be honest with you, I feel like a new artist all over again. I’m in grind mode and you know how you feel when you really, really want something really, really bad…so it’s like you’re just going extra hard. So I have that new artist mentality. But when I get on the stage people show me love like I never left.

UUM: After the Tour with Fantasia ends, are you going on a solo tour?

Kandi: I would like to, my manager is working on some things. So we will see I don’t think it will be by myself I would still be with some other people.

UUM: Will Kim Zolciak be one of those people?

Kandi: Naw, me and her did a tour, you’ll see it on TV and that’s all we need to do. We good.

Fast Five Trailer

R&B Artist LeToya Luckett Hits Chicago, Showing Holiday Hair Styled With Luster’s Products

As the face of Luster’s Pink® Brand Smooth Touch®, Grammy®-winning singer-songwriter and actress LeToya Luckett will take Chicago by storm Thursday, Dec. 16, helping style-conscious women achieve “superstar status” with hot holiday hair looks. Luckett, a platinum-selling solo artist and former member of the legendary group Destiny’s Child, frequently finds herself in photographers’ spotlight thanks to her fierce fashion sense and style.

The Houston native and Luster’s International Design Team Artistic Director Arlisha Sims—along with two models—will preview 2010’s hottest holiday hair styles. They’ll offer tips on how the Smooth Touch® product line—created by Chicago’s own Luster Products for younger, style-conscious women that can help them create fabulous, head-turning holiday styles.

“Just like every young woman, I love getting all glam for the Holidays,” said Luckett, a fashionista who with her mother owns the trend-setting Lady L Boutique in Houston. “And with my hectic recording and filming schedule, I really need products that not only hook my hair up, but keep it healthy and well-conditioned. We all need help in making sure our hairstyles are always tight—especially during the Holidays—and Smooth Touch® products make it happen!”

Luckett and Luster Products realize that, especially during the Holiday season, being beautiful is about more than just outward looks. It’s about sharing oneself with others while spreading holiday cheer.

Luckett will host “A Smooth Touch® Holiday Affair & Toy Drive,” a 10 p.m.-2:00 a.m. event at The Shrine (2109 S. Wabash) where attendees are encouraged to bring new toys for patients at LaRabida Children’s Hospital, which treats youngsters with chronic illness and/or developmental disabilities. Everyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy to “A Smooth Touch® Holiday Affair & Toy Drive” at The Shrine will receive free admission to the party.

Luckett is currently recording her third solo CD, which is scheduled for release in 2011. She also is shooting the feature “From the Rough,”  a film about the first female head coach of an NCAA Division 1 men’s team which also stars Academy Award®-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, Henry Simmons and Chicago South Side native Michael Clarke Duncan.

Photo courtesy of AP

 

BET 30: MOMENTS AND MOVEMENTS

BET Networks will revisit 30 memorable moments and movements in the three decades since its birth with the network, prime-time premiere of BET 30: MOMENTS AND MOVEMENTS on Sunday, December 19, 2010 at 8:00 pm (eastern time).  

From entertainment empires, to world-shifting disasters, to incidents  that have changed our world, this special takes a distinctive look at the events that have shaped Black culture and consciousness over the past 30 years from a personal and intimate narrative.  This two-hour special shines a light on the seminal moments in American culture that were shaped and created by rare and remarkable African-American personalities.  

BET 30: MOMENTS AND MOVEMENTSincludes a look at “police brutality” through the eyes of Rodney King; “the September 11 attacks” from the personal insight of Melodie Homer, widow of one of the pilots of Flight 93; and explores hip-hop’s commercial rise from the perspective of rap icon Jay-Z.  From the effect the Cosby family had in American households to Obama’s meteoric rise to Spike Lee and the emergence of black filmmakers to the crack and HIV/AIDS epidemics devastating urban communities, BET 30: MOMENTS AND MOVEMENTS covers these moments and their influence on African-American and world culture from a distinctive viewpoint.

BET 30: MOMENTS AND MOVEMENTSwill explore the significance of these events with pioneers, celebrities and everyday people who helped impact and who were impacted by these thirty unique focal points.  Featuring poignant, emotional interviews with Jay-Z, Tyra Banks, John Singleton, Vanessa Williams, Lisa Leslie, Ed Gordon, Rodney King and more, this retrospective examines these occasions through their surprisingly personal and candid narratives.

Erykah Badu Heats Up Chicago

By Toyin Alaka

Erykah Badu performed at the UIC Pavilion on Friday, December 3, 2010 for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s SEE Benefit, which stands for Supporting Excellence Endowment and benefits outstanding students with strong leadership skills through scholarship programs.

As the band took the stage and started with The Healer, from Badu’s New Amerykah Part Ialbum,  the crowd stirred and waited for her to take the stage. As she came into view, the crowd jumped to its feet to welcome her. Arriving on stage garbed in a hat, scarf and coat, some would think it was due to the Chicago chill, however, Ms. Badu likes to un-layer as the show goes on. 

She launched into an improvised extended version of The Healer. She blended harmonies and moved easily on songs from previous albums up to her latest release,New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh. Her effortless versatility shined as she played an 808 and scatted out old school jams like Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock, Slick Rick’s La-Di-Da-Di and Whodini’s Friends like an old school cabaret singer. Badu concluded the show by performing hits Love of My Life (an Ode to Hip-Hop), On and On, Next Lifetime, Solider, Didn’t Cha Know, Bag Lady and Window Seat.

Photos by Percy Ollie