Tag Archives: Chicago

Fantasia’s Back to Me Tour

By Tamara Jenkins

2010 was a tumultuous year for Fantasia Barrino.  Allegations of an affair with a married man and a subsequent suicide attempt left many wondering if this would be the end for the singer. But she’s proving them wrong and come back strong which was evident during her  semi-shoeless performance on the Chicago stop of her Back To Me tour December 30th at the Auditorium Theater.

Barrino took her fans on a voyage through time with a myriad of costume changes from big band conductor in all white to 70’s soul sista in a afro and black catsuit while singing hits like Collard Greens and Cornbread, Free Yourself, I’m Doing Me, Bittersweet, Teach Me, When I See You and Even Angels.

Things got emotion at the end of her set, dressed in a purple gown Barrino addressed the crowd informing them that she’s now living for her (self), no longer living for others and performed Diana Ross’s Do You Know Where You’re Going To.  

R&B singers Kandi Buruss (former member of the 80”s R&B girl group Xscape and currently starring on the reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta) and Eric Benet were the opening acts and gave impressive performances.

Buruss, opened with the angry women anthem How Could You….Feel My Pain then showed her lighter side with Me and You(written by Ne-Yo and samples OutKast’s Cadillac Doors). She later took it acapella performing versions of Xscape hits Just Kickin It and My Little Secret as well as her current ballads Haven’t Loved Right and I Just Know.

Dressed to impress in a 3 piece suit and sunglasses, Eric Benet belted out hits Love Don’t Love Me, Hunger and Chocolate Legs, wedding anthem Spend My Life With You and Sometimes I Cry.  Midway through he relinquished his armor (jacket and sunglasses) causing a mini riot and finished with Never Want To Live Without You, You’re The Only One and Georgy Porgy during his encore.

Photo by Dan Locke

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.

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.

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

EBONY Magazine Celebrates 65th Birthday

A milestone was celebrated in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood on October 17, 2010 as EBONY magazine ushered in its 65th year of the publication with R&B Queen Mary J. Blige.

Founded in 1945 by the late Publisher and Chairman John H. Johnson, the magazine is the largest black-owned publishing company in the world. Ebony has been a fixture in the African American community with historical covers featuring the world’s top entertainers including the late Michael Jackson, Halle Berry, Whitney Huston, Michael Jordan, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Will Smith.

After her concert at the Chicago Theatre, Blige met with EBONY‘s CEO Desiree Rogers, editor-in-chief Amy Du Bois Barnett and managing editor Terry Glover at the red carpet arrival at Le Passage nightclub.

The evening drew hundreds of industry leaders, professional athletes, celebrities and fans of the publication including Chicago Bears players Lance Briggs, Garrett Wolf, Chester Taylor and Chris Harris, singer Miguel (opening act on Mary J. Blige’s current tour), rapper GLC, DJ Broadway Streetz, Kevin Ross of Capitol Records and publicist Regina Daniels. The event was powered by NuFace Entertainment.

In photo: Ebony CEO Desiree Rogers, Mary J. Blige, Ebony managing editor Terry Glover, Kendu Isaacs

Photo by Jamila Webb & Leroy Burton

The Lexus Listening Lounge: After the Show with Melanie Fiona

By Sommer Thornton

Beauty, brains, and a voice is an understatement to what newcomer Melanie Fiona brings to the R&B game. Tuesday night she performed in Chicago as part of the Lexus Listening Lounge – promotion of Lexus’ GS, ES, and the ISC convertible. Lexus produced a showroom style soiree inside the Chicago Illuminating Company downtown. The large courtyard and mansion-like foyer was the perfect milieu for socialites and businessmen to mingle and check out Lexus’ sleek new whips.  

Melanie Fiona, a Toronto native, showed the audience her eclectic vocal style and her lively stage presence singing notable hits, Give it to Me Right, It Kills Me, and Monday Morning. The audience was already feeling Fiona’s exotic beauty, and her passionate lyrics. But when she went into her rendition of Bob Marley’s classic, “One Love” –to a smooth reggae groove, she set the roof off! “Where my Shottas at,” Melanie called out, channeling her West Indian roots.

Melanie proved she’s a unique artist focused on entertaining her real fans with an exciting performance. Fiona even sang her own version of Kanye West’s Heartless, digressing from her song, Somebody Come Get Me [Before I Kill This Man].”By the end the audience was captivated by the luxurious ambiance and this novel songwriter with the amazing voice. 

After her performance, Melanie chatted with UnRated Urban about touring with Alicia Keys, breaking down barriers in the industry, and love.

UnRated Urban: What barriers have you already busted down-either on the business side or the creative side of the industry?

MELANIE: I’m an attractive girl, rooted in music and not in gimmick and everything else. I’m more concerned about giving a good show, making sure everyone has fun. I want people to take my music seriously, so I purposely chose to go along a different path.

UnRated Urban: I saw you rocking on stage. You didn’t care how you looked. You were having a great time, so the audience fed off your vibe.

MELANIE: When you care too much about what everyone thinks about you, you’re not living your best life. Cause you’re too consumed with other peoples opinions.

UnRated Urban: How is your sound received by the R&B Soul community in the States vs. Canada vs. Europe?

MELANIE: Different songs came out in Europe and Canada. So it was fun to see how different countries responded to different sides of me.

UnRated Urban: What song brings out the most memories when you perform it?

MELANIE: It Kills Me, is the most memorable. I was in the thick of it when I wrote that song. So I put my all into it when I perform it. I always go back to that time in my life. Sometimes I get emotional while I’m performing it.

UnRated Urban: There is that line in the song that says “I know you’re messing around, but who else is gonna hold me down” You have to really be in love to understand that line.

MELANIE: Yes you have to be in that situation to understand. But yes I was saying I have your back, but no one has my back. I’ve learned that that’s not good in a relationship.

UnRated Urban: What is your view on love these days? Did you find that making this cd changed your opinion on love?

MELANIE: I believe in self love first. You gotta be happy with yourself before you can expect someone else to love you. When it’s right, it finds you. I want to find love. I feel that it’s necessary. I’ve been on the bad and good side. I love myself now.

UnRated Urban: Give me one word to describe your experience touring with Alicia Keys.

MELANIE: Enlightenment – on so many levels. She was such a joy. She was so pleasant and genuine.

UnRated Urban: What have you learned touring with A. Keys this first time around?

MELANIE: I learned humility, positivity. I grew because I was able to see some flaws and become better.

UnRated Urban: Have you had the opportunity to meet any of your idols?

MELANIE:Yes- Alicia Keys, Prince, India Arie, Brandy, Janelle Monáe – I can relate to her because she’s new and she’s a strong woman who’s refusing to let the industry change her.

UnRated Urban: Both of your parents are musicians, your father a guitarist, your mother a singer: What song are you most proud to share with your parents?

MELANIE: There is a song I just tweeted about. It has no title. But it delves deep in to the core of who I am. One line says, “You treat my dreams like it’s a game -like I’m a chess piece here for play” I’m really excited to share it with my parents.

Photos by Raymond Boyd

XXL Live Tour in Chicago

XXL Magazine brought their XXL Live Tour to Chicago’s The Shrine nightclub on July 29th. The tour, co-sponsored by Rémy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac, featured Clipse and special guest Twista on its stop in Chicago.

Hometown artist Twista amazed the crowd and those that may have forgotten about his lyrical skills. During his half hour set, the fastest tongue in rap began with his verse on Po Pimp and continued with hits Slow Jamz, Wetter and Overnight Celebrity and debuted new tracks I Do and Make a Movie featuring Chris Brown from his upcoming CD The Perfect Storm.

The evening’s headliner, Malice and Pusha T aka Clipse hit stage shortly after Twista keeping the crowd hyped up as they performed a short set that included Kinda Like a Big Deal, All Good and Popular Demand. All in all an entertaining and enjoyable evening for rap fans.

Gillette Ambassadors have the Ultimate Summer Job: VIP Events, Great Food, and Lollapalooza 2010

By Sommer Thornton               

The winners of Gillette’s Ultimate Job Contest, Jason Fisher and Adam Ward are living the summer dream. They get to embark on an 18-City tour to MLB games, award shows, and the most popular restaurants and clubs across America promoting Gillette’s newest innovation, the Fusion Pro-Glide Power Razor.

Last weekend the guys stopped in Chicago for Lollapalooza and made believers of the locals by setting up a fully-equipped Shave Station at Navy Pier, allowing passers-by to actually shave on site. With their video blog at proglidesummerjob.com detailing all of their experiences, Adam and Jason—writer/producers from Los Angeles are single handedly ushering in the glide revolution.

Chosen from a pool of contestants at a Gillette rap contest in New York’s Hudson Hotel, Adam and Jason were ideal because they were average Midwestern boys – relatable, but had the charisma to get strangers to try the new razor on themselves. Most women don’t realize that shaving is such a tedious task for men. At the Shave Station, they watched patiently as their men used the razor for the first time and instantly fell in love with the new design. The new vibrating Pro-Glide gives a cleaner shave with virtually no tug, and no cuts or nicks. After shaving part of his burly beard, Patrick Whittaker, a glider convert commented, “It’s much easier than my cheap disposable razor. I’ve got this crazy in-grown hair on my neck and this took care of it very well.” Using the pro-glide combo—the thermal scrub, face wash, cooling lotion, and the hydration moisturizer makes for the most comfortable shave most of the converts had ever experienced. This is how shaving was turned into gliding.

After they left the Shave Station it was off to the Lolla festivities. But first, the guys stopped in the Hard Rock Hotel, where they got to pick from all sorts of goodies provided by Tiger footwear, Garnier Fructis hair care products, Express clothing, UV Vodka, and receive complimentary tattoos and haircuts. The Hard Rock Hotel is also where the guys got to meet some of the Lolla performers who entertained VIPs in the music lounge, and where the pre-party was kicked off in the DJ’s suite. Hayden Panettiere and David Arquette even stopped in and got tattooed!

Later that afternoon, the guys headed out to Grant Park, to hear headliners Green Day, Soundgarden, Cypress Hill, Wolfmother, and Erykah Badu rock out amidst thousands of fans. The most memorable Lolla moment for the guys came during Green Day’s performance of “Longview” when they pulled an audience member on stage and let him rock a verse. Not only did the lucky guy know all the words, he had the entire crowd going crazy for him. At that moment, he embodied Green Day, and at the end of his performance, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong gave the ultimate fan his guitar. “That guy’s night was like our entire summer,” Adam recounted.

VIP access at Lollapalooza was another stop on an already amazing tour that included attending a Yankees game—where the guys met Derek Jeter—another glider convert, the Vegas Strip, the Espy Awards, and morning news programs in Times Square. Adam and Jason have been on an all expense paid dream road trip promoting Gillette this summer and they hope that shooting and editing their blogs will help sharpen their skills working in Hollywood and forge some valuable connections. The guys say that so far their two most incredible experiences on the tour were when they met Dr. J [Julius Erving] at the Espy Awards, and when they shaved Redskins tight end Chris Cooley’s head.

Next stop for the guys is the ESPN Headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Their days are jam packed with interviews, demonstrations, and filming and editing. Though they barely sleep, they are having the time of their lives. They get to play on the job and travel the country as cult celebrities. Such a priceless experience is less like work, and more like the ultimate summer adventure.

Photo by Dan Locke

Wade’s World Weekend

NBA star Dwyane Wade will return to his hometown to host his fourth annual Wade’s World Weekend August 19-21, 2010.

The weekend of events will help raise funds and boost awareness of the Wade’s World Foundation that was founded in 2003 to help inspire and provide support to community based organizations that promote education, health and social skills for kids in at-risk situation.

The event line up will include Wade’s World Weekend Kick Off Celebration August 19 at Enclave, 220 W. Chicago Avenue, with DJ Vince Adam and Co-hosted by Common; Dwyane Brings Miami to ChicagoAugust 20 at Crimson Lounge, 333 North Dearborn; and Chicago LoveAugust 21 at Tantrik, 800 West Superior.

Celebrities and athletes scheduled to attend are Hip-Hop artists and Chicago natives Common and Lupe Fiasco, actors Vince Vaughn and Mel Jackson, Comedian DeRay, R&B stars R. Kelly, Bobby Valentino, Jeremih and Marques Houston, Roland Martin, Jude Mathis, Twista, Alonzo Mourning, Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy), Jaslene Gonzalez and members of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Fire and Chicago Blackhawks. For more information and tickets to attend events listed, please visit www.dwade3events.com

LisaRaye Teams Up with Essence & Dark and Lovely

By Tamara Jenkins

Chicago’s dark and lovely ladies descended upon the Wit Hotel June 12thfor SoftSheen Carson and Essence Magazine’s Ultimate Fashionista Event.

The event included a casting for the newest Dark and Lovely ad and a panel discussion on how women can achieve a polished look from head to toe as well as tips on how they can look their best everyday.

Tasha Turner, Contributing Editor of Essence Magazine, moderated the panel that featured actress and former First Lady of Turks and Caicos, LisaRaye McCoy, celebrity hairstylist Eric Bland who’s worked with Tyra Banks, Lisa Ling and Star Jones and celebrity stylist/fashion correspondent Carlton Jones whose clients include Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott and Alicia Keys.

Key topics included creating a budget when shopping, befriending store sales associates, shopping sample sales, recycling an older wardrobe with tailoring and experimenting with different styles. Also discussed, things that can kill a look- inappropriate clothing, over accessorizing and bad hair.

Panelists agreed the best look always starts with healthy hair. McCoy divulged her secrets of wearing wigs and weaves to maintain her mane and Bland stressed the importance of trimming which should be done every 3-6 weeks. The discussion concluded with final tips from panelists and audience questions.  

Following the discussion UnRated Urban spoke with LisaRaye McCoy about her upcoming projects and she stated they included the second season of her successful TV One reality series The Real McCoy, launching her social media networking organization B2B (Back to Business) and the VH1 film entitled “Single Ladies” co-starring Stacey Dash and Lauren London produced by Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit Productions.

The winner of the national casting will be announced in the October issue of Essence Magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Adam Bielawski