FREDO SANTANA "FREDO KRUGER"

NEW MIXTAPE FROM GBE/INTERSCOPE RECORDING ARTIST FREDO SANTANA. CHECK IT OUT.

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/19698/fredo-santana-fredo-kruger.html

THIS DAY IN HOP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.28TH 2010

After a nearly two year-long battle with cancer, Guru of Gang Starr suffers a heart attack and goes into a coma, following surgery, on this day in 2010. Guru would never awaken from his coma and would pass away on April 19th of the same year. Guru, who was born Keith Edward Elam in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1961, graduated for Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia with a degree in business administration. Guru, an acronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal began his career in music when he founded Gang Starr in 1987.

REMEMBERING BOXER OMAR HENRY

(February 8, 1987 – February 1, 2013)

(link below)

http://chicagosidesports.com/its-so-hard-to-say-goodbye-to-boxer-chicagoan-friend-omar-henry/

BEST CITY FOR PIZZA

There's no question: American's love affair with pizza is a strong and deep (dish?) one.According to the number crunchers at Statistic Brain, 93 percent of Americans eat at least one piece of pizza per month, with last year's annual pizza sale revenue in the U.S. totaling $32 billion.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/best-city-for-pizza-the-t_n_2776103.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

LUPE FIASCO RANT

Not to be outdone by Kanye West, who ranted, screamed and threw a mic into the crowd this past weekend. Last night at The Fillmore in MD, Lupe Fiasco had a few things he wanted to get off his chest as he took aim at everything between radio stations, and politics.

SUCCEEDING AS AN ARTIST

Miller is Vice President Of SESAC a performing rights organization located in the West Coast. Miller as a music supervisor was responsible for establishing and overseeing the music department for independent film production company Millennium Films/New Image Pictures as Exec In Charge of Music/ Music Supervisor which included a slate of 15 -- 20 films per year, music publishing and soundtracks

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.27TH 1989

N.W.A. release the classic single “Express Yourself” on Ruthless Records on this day in 1989. “Express Yourself”, from the legendary group’s 1988 classic multi-platinum-selling debut album “Straight Outta Compton” was produced by N.W.A. producer Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. “Express Yourself” is most noted for its free speech manifesto devoid of profanity, a rarity for the controversial group.

PRINCE HYPNO & KING P "BLOCKA REMIX"

NEW SOLO ARTIST PRINCE HYPNO & KING P OF HYPCITY MAFIA DROP A VISUAL FROM THEIR UPCOMING BAND OF BROTHERS PROJECT DUE OUT THIS SPRING.

LARRO WILSON A CHICAGO MOGUL

Mr. Wilson eventually made enough money from real estate that he got into the business side of hip-hop. In 2011, Kanye West's former manager, John Monopoly, told Mr. Wilson about a young Chicago rapper he was managing, King Louie, who was putting out his songs on free mixtapes. “He's hot in the streets,” Mr. Monopoly recalls saying. “Ask around about him.” Mr. Wilson liked what he heard and decided to launch the Lawless Inc. record label, signing King Louie and bringing Mr. Monopoly in as co-manager. “My goal with Lawless Inc. was to have a label in Chicago that stayed in Chicago and signed artists from Chicago,” says Mr. Wilson, who is owner and CEO. “I started going to find everybody that was hot in Chicago.”

(read more)

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130209/ISSUE02/302099996/music-label-lawless-inc-aims-to-define-chicago-sound

SICK DETAILS EMERGE IN JOLIET DOUBLE MURDER

Terrance O. Rankins and Eric Glover, both age 22, accepted an invitation to a party given by some disturbed individuals. The party turned out to be their death sentences. Friends for five years, Rankins and Glover were set up to be robbed of their cash and were murdered by physical strangulation; no rope or cord was used.

(link below)

http://newsone.com/2252138/joshua-miner-joliet-illinois-eric-glover-terrence-rankin/

LOL THATS ME (pt.1)

GET A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF THIS VIRAL VIDEO.

LSTREETZ "HUMBLE"

THE FEMALE SCENE IN CHICAGO IS ON FIRE. LSTREETZ BRINGS A GREAT VISUAL TO MATCH A REAL SONG. CHECK HER OUT!

CITY/SUBURBAN HOOPS REPORT

WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNEY APPROACHING HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOP STORY LINES TO WATCH FOR.

(link below)

http://blogs.suntimes.com/hoopsreport/index.html

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE PLAY

Buy your tickets today. The hit inspirational play Standing in the Shadows of Love comes to Chicago for one night only. Tickets are selling fast and and March 9th is right around the corner! Of course the luxurious After Party with the entire cast is being held at the Legacy Immediately following the play

SPECIAL ELECTION

The Democratic front-runners former state Rep. Robin Kelly, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson and Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale made Election Day stops at train stations and restaurants in the district that spans Chicago's South Side, south suburbs and some rural areas. They were among 14 Democrats and four Republicans in the special primary, but the Democratic winner was expected to sail through the April 9 general election because of the area is heavily Democratic.

DJ VICTORIOUZ "KOOLIN"

ONE OF CHICAGO'S TOP DJ'S RECRUITS A LEGEND IN TWISTA AND ONE OF THE BEST NEW ARTIST THE CITY HAS TO OFFER KING L.

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.26TH 1991

LL Cool J releases the gold-selling, Grammy winning chart-topping hit “Mama Said Knock You Out”, from his album of the same name, on this day in 1991. “Mama Said Knock You”, whose opening line “Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years” is one of the most famous rap lyrics ever. “Mama Said Knock You Out” was produced by Marley Marl and would later be included in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll.

INTERVIEW WITH #1 2014 PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY

WHITNEY YOUNG'S "JAHLIL OKAFOR" TALKS CHICAGO CITY CHAMPIONSHIP & MORE...

KANYE WEST RANT IN LONDON

Kanye West went on a rant during a concert performance, as he spoke about Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, and Taylor Swift while in London over the weekend.

(link below)

http://www.ibtimes.com/kanye-west-rant-artist-disses-justin-timberlake-jay-z-taylor-swift-more-london-video-1102900

RECAP THE 2013 OSCARS

THE WINNERS, LOSERS AND FASHION DO'S & DONT'S

(link below)

http://news.moviefone.com/2013/02/22/oscar-winners-list-2013-academy-award-winners_n_2741287.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

DERRICK ROSE DUNK GIVES CHICAGO HOPE

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.25TH 1992

Boogie Down Productions release their gold-selling sixth and final album, “Sex And Violence”, on Jive Records, on this day in 1992. “Sex And Violence” would feature production by Prince Paul, D-Square, Pal Joey, DJ Kenny Parker and KRS-One. “Sex And Violence” would feature the underground hits, “Duck Down”, “13 And Good” and “We In There”. “Sex And Violence” would be group co-founder KRS-One’s last album under the BDP name before moving on to an even more successful solo career.

FORD CITY MELEE LEADS TO 30 ARREST AFTER MINDLESS BEHAVIOR APPEARANCE

Ford City Mall senior general manager John Sarama says a group of older youths caused Saturday's disturbance, not the young girls and parents who attended the boy band appearance.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/ford-city-mall-arrests-2-_n_2753504.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB 24TH. 2004

Kanye West releases the Grammy-nominated hit single “All Falls Down”, featuring Syleena Johnson, on Roc-A-Fella Records, on this day in 2004.“All Falls Down”, a song about the Black community’s obsession with retail and the commercial marketplace, was a break away from the bling obsessed era and brought a fresh perspective. “All Falls Down” was the soulful second single from West’s Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling debut album “College Dropout.”

IS 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS ENOUGH FOR ROBERT SMITH?

The Real Story of Simeon Basketball Coach Robert Smith

(link below)

http://chicagosidesports.com/the-real-story-of-simeon-basketball-coach-robert-smith/

KANYE WEST & KIM KARDASHIAN EXPECTING A BABY GIRL

ITS A GIRL!

(link below)

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/kim-kardashian-kanye-west-expecting-a-baby-girl-2013232

THE FALL OF A CHICAGO DRUG LORD

GREAT STORY VIA @mickeyd1971 OF THE CHICAGO READER ON THE RISE & FALL OF A WEST SIDE DRUG RING THAT INCLUDES STORIES ON FIGHTS WITH NBA EMPLOYED TONY ALLEN.

(link below)

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/gang-violence-heroin-new-breeds-vice-lords/Content?oid=8761736

BLACKHAWKS MAKE HISTORY

The Chicago Blackhawks beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 on Friday night at the United Center to set an NHL record by earning a point in their 17th straight game to start the regular season.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130223/chicago/blackhawks-set-nhl-record-with-victory-over-sharks

CHARGES BROUGHT UP AGAINST COOK COUNTY GUARDS

Charges Filed on Delphia A. Sawyer, 31, and Pamela R. Bruce, 29, for allegedly ordering two inmates to beat up 18-year-old inmate Kyle Pillischafske, of Mount Prospect, last year. (link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130222/chicago-citywide/mom-of-beaten-inmate-it-was-nightmare

BJ THE CHICAGO KID TALKS SIGNING WITH MOTOWN

A LOT OF TALK THIS PAST YEAR WERE ABOUT THE RAPPERS WHO GOT DEALS, BJ THE CHICAGO KID IS A SINGER/SONG WRITER ON A HISTORIC LABEL.

LILI K & THE WHOEVERS "HANDS OF TIME"

TWO DIFFERENT SOUNDING ARTIST WITH SOLID FAN BASES THAT SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR.

CHICAGO RANKS 4TH ON FORBES LIST OF MISERABLE CITIES

Chicago has passionate supporters, but residents must endure the misery of long commutes, plummeting home prices, brutal winters and high foreclosure rates. The migration rate out of Chicago is the sixth worst among the 200 largest metros.

(link below)

http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mli45lmhg/4-chicago-ill/

WILL IS CHILLIN "2 CENTS"

NEW ARTIST WILL IS CHILLIN BRINGS A STRONG OFFERING TO START 2K13, WILL HE BE A NAME TO WATCH FOR AT YEARS END?? CHECK HIM OUT.

GLC "MY DOWNFALL"

GLC ALWAYS KEEPS HIS LYRICS DEEP AND HIS VISUALS ON POINT THIS BRINGING IS NO DIFFERENT.

ROCKIE FRESH TALKS SIGNING TO ROSS OVER DIDDY

JAY-Z AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE TO HEADLINE SOLDIER FIELD

After their collaboration on "Suit & Tie," Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z have announced a stadium tour this summer, and they'll play one of Chicago's biggest venues.The superstars will bring their "Legends of the Summer" tour to Soldier Field on July 22. That's a Monday night.

WILL URLACHER BE A BEAR NEXT YEAR?

The team's leader on defense for 13 seasons and future Hall of Famer is an unrestricted free agent.

(link below)

http://chicagoist.com/2013/02/22/urlacherss_future_with_bears_remain.php

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.22ND 2005

Queens MC Cormega released his fourth album “The Testament”, on his own Legal Hustle Records, on this day 2005. “The Testament” was originally to be released as Cormega’s Def Jam debut album in 1998 but was eventually shelved, only to be released seven years later on the rapper’s own imprint. “The Testament” featured guest appearances by Mobb Deep, Hussein Fatal, Niko and Tiffany. Some of the producers on “The Testament” included Sha Money XL, Nashiem Myrick and Cormega himself.

38 YEARS FOR WIFE KILLLER

He shouted "I did not kill Kathleen!"

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/21/drew-peterson-sentenced-e_n_2735356.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

REGGIE ROSE BLAST BULLS FRONT OFFICE

The elder Rose said his comments were his own and that he wasn’t speaking on behalf of his younger brother.

(link below)

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/outside-shot/Chicago-Bulls-Derrick-Rose-Reggie-Rose-192352441.html

POLICE SEIZE 1 MILLION WORTH OF FAKE WEED

Officers received a tip the shipment was coming into Chicago, and after getting a search warrant, found the "bundles of synthetic cannabis in shiny silver packages emblazoned with colorful stickers of caricatures," according to police.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130220/chicago-citywide/joker-monkey-spanker-fake-pot-seized-by-police

CHICAGO UNSIGNED HYPE 2K13

FEB.28TH "CHICAGO UNSIGNED HYPE 2K13" TOP 4 ARTIST RECEIVE....

1. Chicago Est.1837 FEATURED ARTIST WRITE UP

2. UNSIGNED HYPE PT.2 HEADLINER

3. FUTURE H3 Entertainment EVENT

4. H3LIFESTYLE/LIVEMIXTAPES PLACEMENT

CHICAGO'S TOP RISING TALENT ALL ON ONE STAGE!

8PM-1AM @ The Harold Washington Cultural Center

WHO WILL WE DISCOVER THIS YEAR????

708-965-2806 TO PERFORM, MEDIA PASSES, RSVP.

JOHNNY KNOX RETIRES AFTER DEVASTATING INJURY

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.21ST 2012

Drake releases the hit single “Take Care”, on Young Money Records, on this day in 2012. “Take Care”, which was from the Toronto born rapper’s sophomore album of the same name, featured red hot r’n’b songstress Rihanna. “Take Care” was produced by Jamie xx and Noah “40” Shebib and was one of Drake’s biggest hits to date.

7 WAYS TO GET MORE OUT OF YOUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

Here are seven quick and easy ways to make sure your Facebook fan page is successful:

1) Be conversational: It's called "social" media, not "formal media" or "office interview" media. Be casual, be informal, be fun.

2) Use a call to action: As I always tell my husband when he sits in traffic without his blinker on, screaming that no one will let him change lanes, "people can't read your mind." Tell your readers what you want. If you want them to "like" your Facebook page, thereby enabling you to let them know when you've posted, ask them to do so in your blog post. And give them a link. Ask people to do what you want and then make it as easy as possible for them to do so. In fact, cut and paste this right now:

There's more where this came from. Make sure to "like" (your blog's name here via link to your Facebook page) on Facebook! Now cut and paste that line into the bottom of all your blog posts. You're welcome.

3) Promote, promote, promote: Look, except for a few sociopaths out there, no one is really comfortable forcing themselves on the masses. And while asking people to like your Facebook page on various different outlets is often uncomfortable, it's a necessary evil. Make a joke out of it if you have to. The bottom line is that no one is going to spend as much time and energy promoting your or your writing as you will. Cowboy up and put yourself out there.

4) Engage your fans: By now, it should be obvious that no one likes to feel like they're talking to a void. If people take the time to "like" your page, read your posts, and leave comments, the least you can do is reward them with an acknowledgement. So ask questions, post polls, bring up provocative subjects. And for God's sake, talk back to your fans.

5) Be generous: tag & acknowledge: Continuing with my whole "generosity is currency" theme, make sure that you take time to post content from other sites (after all, if people are sharing your posts, it's only fair) and to acknowledge those sites in your posting. If you don't know how to tag a fan page on Facebook, just add a "@" in front of the name of the page.

6) SEO your page: If applicable, make sure those all-important keywords are in your fan page name. Create a custom vanity url for your page. Use keywords in your status updates. Link to your Facebook fan page from your blog. All easy things that can make a huge difference in pulling in an audience.

7) Run your page like the whole world is watching: Even if you have 10 fans on your Facebook page, do your best to treat those ten fans like royalty. Maintaining a fun, professional, and engaging facebook page will do more to lure in followers than just about anything else. In other words, fake it 'til you make it.

JESSE JACKSON JR AND WIFE PLEAD GUILTY

Jackson Jr. entered a negotiated plea of guilty this morning on one felony count of conspiracy to commit false statements, wire fraud and mail fraud. He could face years in prison when he is sentenced this summer.

Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty this afternoon to a single charge of willingly filing a false tax return, tied to the same allegations that the couple repeatedly tapped the ex-congressman’s campaign fund, used the money for personal use and then made fraudulent campaign and tax disclosures to cover up the misconduct.

CANT TALK CHICAGO WITHOUT BRINGING UP LARRY BUTLER

Part of knowing everybody in Chicago basketball, as Larry Butler does, is knowing people who have been killed — and people who may have done the killing.

(link below)

http://chicagosidesports.com/larry-butler-who-once-ruled-chicago-club-basketball-ponders-a-return/

1999 AAU National Championships. Butler in red. Notables: 32 Darius Miles, 23 Dwyane Wade.

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.20TH 1995

The Notorious B.I.G. releases the Grammy nominated classic smash hit single “Big Poppa”, on Bad Boy Records, on this day in 1995. The platinum-selling, chart topping hit song won a Billboard Music Award and was produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs and Chucky Thompson. “Big Poppa”, from Biggie Smalls’ debut album “Ready To Die”, was one of the late rapper’s most identifiable hit anthems and is considered a nineties hip-hop classic.

Chicago Violence – The Elemental Problem

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:38-39

Chicago is a beautiful city, and majority of the people in Chicago are good people that are tired of this image of violence that is being portrayed nationally of our city. Everyone is quick to try to come up with what they believe to be causing the problems of Chicago Violence. They are blaming guns, drugs, gangs, poverty, rap music and we can go on and on, but none of these are truly the root of the problem because none of these things are the reason why people actually commit murder. They are not looking at the cultural problems that has arisen from what are now multiple generations being born into these circumstances. Now people are accepting these problems as the norm of their environments thus changing a once proud culture. I believe that certain neighborhoods in Chicago has developed a Culture of Honor. Let me explain what a Culture of Honor is by sharing with you an excerpt from the book “Outliers,” by Malcolm Gladwell.

Harlan County was founded in 1819 by eight immigrant families from the northern regions of the British Isles. They had come to Virginia in the eighteenth century and then moved west into the Appalachians in search of land. The county was never wealthy. For its first one hundred years, it was thinly populated, rarely numbering more than ten thousand people. The first settlers kept pigs and herded sheep on the hillsides, scratching out a living on small farms in the valleys. They made whiskey in the backyard stills and felled trees, gloating them down the Cumberland River in the spring, when the water was high. Until well into the twentieth century, getting to the nearest train station was a two-day wagon trip. The only way out of town was up Pine Mountain, which was nine steep miles on a road that turned on occasion into no more than a muddy, rocky trail. Harlan was a remote and strange place, unknown by the larger society around it, and it might well have remained so but for the fact that two of the town’s founding families – the Howards and the Turners – did not get along.

The patriarch of the Howard clan was Samuel Howard. He built the town courthouse and the jail. His counterpart was William Turner, who owned a tavern and two general stores. Once a storm blew down the fence to the Turner property, and a neighbor’s cow wandered onto their land. William Turner’s grandson, “Devil Jim,” shot the cow dead. The neighbor was too terrified to press charges and fled the county. Another time, a man tried to open a competitor to the Turners’ general store. The Turners had a word with him. He closed the store and moved to Indiana. These were not pleasant people.

One night Wix Howard and “Little Bob” Turner – the grandsons of Samuel and William, respectively – played against each other in a game of poker. Each accused the other of cheating. They fought. The following day they met in the street, and after a flurry of gunshots, Little Bob Turner lay dead with a shotgun blast to the chest. A group of Turners went to the Howards’ general store and spoke roughly to Mrs. Howard. She was insulted and told her son Wilse Howard, and the following week he exchanged gunfire with another of the Turners and a friend attacked the Howard home. The two families then clashed outside the Harlan courthouse. In the gunfire, Will Turner was shot and killed. A contingent of Howards then went to see Mrs. Turner, the mother of Will Turner and Little Bob, to ask for a truce. She declined: “You can’t wipe out that blood,” she said pointing to the dirt where her son had died.

Things quickly went from bad to worse. Wilse Howard ran into “Little George” Turner near Sulphur Springs and shot him dead. The Howards ambushed three friends of the Turners – the Cawoods – Killing all of them. A posse was sent out in search of the Howards. In the resulting gunfight, six more were killed or wounded. Wilse Howard heard the Turners were after him, and he and a friend rode into Harlan and attacked the Turner home. Riding back, the Howards were ambushed. In the fighting, another person died. Wilse Howard rode to George Turner’s House and fired at him but missed and killed another man. A posse surrounded the Howard home. There was another gunfight. More dead. The county was in an uproar. I think you get the picture. There were places in the nineteenth-century America where people lived in harmony. Harlan, Kentucky, was not one of them.

“Stop that!” Will Turner’s mother snapped at him when he staggered home, howling in pain after being shot in the courthouse gun battle with the Howards. “Die like a man, like your brother did!” She belonged to a world so well acquainted with fatal gunshots that she had certain expectations about how they ought to be endured. Will shut his mouth and he died. (Gladwell, 162-164)

When one family fights with another, it’s a feud. When lots of families fight with one another in identical little towns up and down the same mountain range, it’s a pattern.What was the cause of the Appalachian pattern? Over the years, many potential explanations have been examined and debated, and the consensus appears to be that that region was plagued by a particularly virulent strain of what sociologists call a “culture of honor.”

Cultures of honor tend to take root in highlands and other marginally fertile areas, such as Sicily or the mountainous Basque regions of Spain. If you live on some rocky mountainside, the explanation goes, you can’t farm. You probably raise goats or sheep, and the kind of culture that grows up around being a herdsman is very different from the culture that grows up around growing crops. The survival of a farmer depends on the cooperation of others in the community. But a herdsman is off by himself. Farmers also don’t have to worry that their livelihood will be stolen in the night, because crops can’t easily be stolen unless, of course, a thief wants to go to the trouble of harvesting an entire field on his own. But a herdsman does have to worry. He’s under constant threat of ruin through the loss of his animals. So he has to be aggressive: he has to make it clear, through his words and deeds, that he is not weak. He has to be willing to fight in response to even the slightest challenge to his reputation and that’s what a “culture of honor” means. It’s a world where a man’s reputation is at the center of his livelihood and self-worth. (Gladwell, 166-167)

In Chicago, there is a certain way that you just have to live. Replace Herdsman with drug dealer because a selected few of the youth in the city “believe” that they don’t have much hope of success unless they choose a life of crime, and you now have the same situation as the herdsman. The corner boys have no choice but protect their reputation. If you, me, and another one of my guys are standing on a corner, and another random person now walks up to me and calls me out my name (bitch) I have to retaliate. I have no choice because you and my friend can now see this as a sign of weakness in me if I just let it go. So if I don’t retaliate you and/or my friend will notice this weakness and now come for my spot. Or even worst, word gets out that I let this go to the neighborhood. Then the next random person that walks up very well could be someone robbing me or worst trying to take over my corner. So yes, I’m going to shoot you, because my retaliation is final, and there is no coming back from that and no one else will challenge me for my spot.

From the moment our boys are born they are told that if someone pushes you, you push them back. This is a fundamental flaw which leads to fights in our youth, and now I will share with you an example of where this can go extremely wrong. Child A bumps into child B this could’ve been a genuine mistake, or it could’ve been on purpose. But now that we’ve instilled this value that we have to push back, Child B pushes Child A back without even thinking about what just happened, child B just reacts. Child A proceeds to beat up child B. Child B goes home and tells his mom that he was beat up by Child A. Mom tells Child B to go back, and fight Child A again and you better win. Well, Child B knows that he got beat up by Child A, and knows this is not going to happen. So Child B grabs a bat, or a brick, or any other weapon he can quickly get his hands on to help even the odds in his mind. As child A and child B get older there is a possibility that this fighting situation doesn’t even get to play out. It can simply go that Child A bumps into Child B, and Child B can just misinterpret the situation and just shoot child A on the spot. Does bumping into someone sound too little of a reason to shoot someone, I just described the Benji Wilson story and that was 28 years ago.

Sad, but I believe that this Culture of Honor is plaguing Chicago. Thus protecting your reputation is ultimate, and we can’t simply forgive a random inappropriate act done against us anymore. The fact that we are not instilling at an early age for our children to just walk away. We instead are teaching our children that walking away would make us punks. Now, this shoot first mentality is born from generations being raised under this fight first ask questions later thought. This thought process has to change, and we have to start raising our children with morals and values at their core instead of raising them with money, sex, and drugs as their core. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:38-39

MICHAEL JORDAN'S TOP 50 PLAYS

R.KELLY TO HEADLINE PRESTIGIOUS EVENT

The King Of RnB Will Headline Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival This Summer.

The festival takes place June 13th-16th in Manchester, Tennessee.

(link below)

http://lineup.bonnaroo.com/

THIS DAY IN HIP HOP

WE HIGHLIGHT A SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE HIP HOP CULTURE. THIS IS TODAY'S....

FEB.19TH 1991

Young Black Teenagers release their Self-Entitled debut album on S.O.U.L. Records on this day in 1991. The group, which was a concept of Hank Shocklee, were five white teens who called themselves Young Black Teenagers or Y.B.T. for short. The album would feature production by The Bomb Squad and the group’s DJ Skribble. Their debut set produced the hit “Loud & Hard To Hit”. The album cover was a parody of The Beatles’ 1963 debut release “With The Beatles.” Despite their name, none of the group was black. They intended their name as a tribute to the black culture they were influenced by, but some thought their name offensive or ridiculous.

MEEK MILL AT THE HOUSE OF BLUES

MMG RECORDING ARTIST MEEK MILL INVADES CHICAGO ON HIS DREAMS COME TRUE TOUR APRIL 14TH. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

CHICAGO WILL NOT BID 2024 OLYMPICS

The U.S. Olympic Committee is sending a letter to the mayors of the 25 largest cities/metropolitan areas in the United States to gauge interest in a potential U.S. bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

(link below)

http://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/breaking/chi-usoc-sounding-out-25-cities-on-2024-summer-games-bid-20130219,0,2419292.story

WINDY CITY HOOPS PROGRAM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former NBA star Isiah Thomas, a Chicago West Side native, announced an expansion of the Windy City Hoops program. Funding will help provide new year-round teen basketball leagues open to up to 3,200 teens ages 13 to 17

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130219/chicago/rahm-emanuel-isiah-thomas-ask-chicagoans-donate-youth-hoops-program

"CRIME SCENE" REAL LIFE CHICAGO IN THEATER

"Crime Scene" captures the effect violence has on Chicagoans by using our own words — exact quotes from real people found on news sites, social media and blogs — to show us what we look like. The play focuses on 3 crimes including the murder of teen rapper lil jojo. Play info and write up below.

Price: $15-$25

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130218/chicago-citywide/crime-scene-puts-how-chicagoans-view-violence-up-looking-glass

http://www.goldstar.com/events/chicago-il/crime-scene-a-chicago-anthology

CHICAGO BLUES FEST 2013

After budget cuts forced the Chicago Blues Festival to shrink in 2009, it's moving back to four days this year — with an opening night celebration in Millennium Park.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130219/downtown/chicago-blues-fest-2013-will-kick-off-millennium-park-lineup-announced

NEW 400 MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL TO BRING JOBS

The 1,200-room hotel near McCormick Place is expected to bring 2,500 construction jobs and 500 permanent jobs to the area. (link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130219/downtown/mccormick-place-get-new-1200-room-hotel

CHICAGO GAS PRICES HIT A RECORD FOR FEBRUARY

A BLIND MAN COULD SEE THE RISE IN PRICES THESE LAST FEW WEEKS, NOW CHICAGO IS AT A RECORD FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/18/chicago-gas-prices-hit-re_n_2711527.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

J-LYN FT. GLC "YES HE DOES"

FEMALE RnB ARTIST TEAMS WITH KANYE WEST ASSOCIATE GLC TO BRING US THIS NICE COLLABORATION.

WHITNEY YOUNG CITY CHAMPIONS

ALTHOUGH SIMEON AND STAR FORWARD JABARI PARKER GET A LOT OF THE PRESS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL RANKS, ITS THE WHITNEY YOUNG DOLPHINS THAT WALK AWAY WITH THIS YEARS PRESTIGIOUS CHICAGO CITY CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER A IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER MORGAN PARK.

(link below

http://seasonpass.suntimes.com/news_article/show/227019

JORDAN HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING

GREAT COVER STORY ON A LEGEND BY WRIGHT THOMPSON OF ESPN.

(link below)

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/page/Michael-Jordan/michael-jordan-not-left-building

CPS TO BE SUED OVER LACK OF BLACK HISTORY

STATE REP. MARY FLOWERS IS URGING THE COMMUNITY TO SUE THE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH A 22 YEAR OLD STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE BLACK HISTORY AS PART OF ITS REGULAR CURRICULUM.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130217/chicago/cps-could-be-sued-for-lack-of-black-history-schools

JANAY MCFARLANE ANOTHER TEEN DEAD

18 YEAR OLD NEW MOTHER SHOW IN THE HEAD VISITING FAMILY. 2 IN CUSTODY BEING QUESTIONED AS OF NOW.

(link below)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/17/janay-mcfarlane-dead_n_2707425.html?utm_hp_ref=chicago

RIVAL GANGS MEET ON THE COURT

Rival gangs face off on the basketball court in Chicago in an effort to foster peace. CNN's Gary Tuchman reports on the Priest organizing the league.

(link below)

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/15/gang-members-face-off-on-the-court/

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL JORDAN

WE SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A CHICAGO BULL LEGEND. THE BIG 50 FOR MJ!! HERE'S THE INFAMOUS HALL OF FAME SPEECH!

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS IN CHICAGO

PRESIDENT OBAMA WRAPS UP STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH TOUR IN CHICAGO. GUN VIOLENCE THE TOPIC!

(link below)

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8994753

CHIEF KEEF TO GET BAPTIZED

TEEN RAPPER CHIEF KEEF IS IN THE NEWS AGAIN, IS THIS JUST FOR SHOW OR COULD IT BE TRUE? UPON HIS RELEASE OF HIS 60 DAY STINT IN A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER FOR PROBATION VIOLATION THE OUTSPOKEN TEEN PLANS TO GET BAPTIZED. THIS IS TO ALLEGEDLY TAKE PLACE WITH A REVEREND KNOWN AS THE "ROOFTOP PASTOR"

(link below)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/18254854-418/chief-keef-plans-on-baptism-after-juvenile-detention-rooftop-pastor-says.html