VIDEO: KANYE WEST F/ PAUL McCARTNEY- ONLY ONE

North West stars in her father Kanye West's new music video for his single "Only One".

NEWS: CHANCE THE RAPPER REVEALS FEATURES FOR DEBUT ALBUM

According to a new GQ profile, though, Chance does have an official debut album in the works, and it’s set to feature two of his fellow conundrums, Frank Ocean and André 3000. Those guys, along with J. Cole, are reportedly expected to appear on the “yet to be named” album.

VIDEO: JILLA- "DOUBT THAT" MINI TRAILER

Rockford indie artist "Jilla" is putting his city on the map with this new viral record "Doubt That" Checkout the mini trailer to the official video coming soon.

MIXTAPE: CASTRO- "WELCOME HOME"

Welcome Home is Castro’s full fledged project since his release from jail in January 2013.

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UNSIGNED HYPE INTERVIEW W/ SONNY

Chicago EST.1837 recently caught up with young rising Australian Hiphop artist 'Sonny'

1. Introduce yourself & what you stand for as an artist.

My Name is Sonny Stojanovic and I am a hip hop Artist from Queensland Australia. I just want to show the world that regardless of where you come from we can all make great music together and give people something to listen too.

2. What inspired you to become a serious indie artist?

When I was 4 years old I started hip hop dancing and after seeing Michael Jackson do the moon walk that’s all I wanted to do, being around music my hole life I started to want to make the music and perfume the music not just dance to it. It wasn’t until one my friends Jacob Rohde who is my music producer moved in with me we and started getting serious. Set up our home studio. After hearing the first tracks we made together I realized this could actually be a possibility and ever since then I haven’t stop striving to be the best.

3. What is the HipHop scene like in your country?

The HipHop scene in Australia is not big at all, I mean a lot of people listen to it But there’s not many people making the sound im looking for, a lot of it is Aussie hip hop witch is different to what im trying to achieve.

4. Name a few artists that you've worked with state side.

In regards to working with people with-in Australia the list is small. Jacob and I make our own music. Working across the globe tho I have worked with Young Chop, Johnny May Cash, King 100 James and are still making music with ChopSquad. I’m open to working with everybody and im open to trying new things and sounds.

5. Are there any projects, big singles or visuals we should be looking out for?

Im working on releasing my fist mix tape hopefully by mid year with a few singles off it coming soon. Look out for “Curve It” and “Like Me’ dropping real soon. I Also have a bunch of music dropping with ChopSquad this year.

6. Where do you see yourself within the industry the next 3-5 years?

Well im currently unsigned and im hopeing to defiantly change that with in the next few years or have my music herd more to keep pushing independently. Either way im not slowing down.

Follow Sonny's Progress....

Instagram: @sonnystoj

Twitter: @sonnystojanovic

SoundCloud: Sonny Music

SPORTS: DERRICK ROSE HITS GAME WINNER DESPITE CAREER WORST STATISTIC NIGHT

Derrick Rose had 11 turnovers and missed 20 of the 33 shots that he took despite that he hit a step-back jumper with 7 seconds remaining in overtime, and the Chicago Bulls ended Golden State's franchise-record 19-game home winning streak with a thrilling 113-111 victory over the Warriors on Tuesday night.

The Bulls have lifted all playing-time restrictions for Derrick Rose.

RIP CHICAGO SPORTS LEGEND ERNIE BANKS

Ernie Banks, the greatest power-hitting shortstop of the 20th century and an unconquerable optimist whose sunny disposition never dimmed in 19 seasons with the perennially stumbling Chicago Cubs, died on Friday in Chicago. He was 83.

VIDEO: LILI K- "TOMMY"

Directed by Addison Wright and J. Frank

Debut album, Ruby, coming 2015.

NEWS: FLORES TWINS & FEDERAL WITNESSES AGAINST CARTEL SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS

Pedro and Margarito Flores were at the height of their business, moving as much as 2,000 kilos of coke and additional quantities of heroin through Chicago each month, when they decided to start cooperating with the feds in 2008.

Over the next seven years, their assistance helped authorities investigate the highest levels of the Sinaloa Cartel; record its leader, Joaquin Guzman Loera, known as "El Chapo", conducting international drug transactions; and indict dozens of alleged cartel leaders and business associates.

It also resulted in the kidnapping and presumed murder of their father. For their help, the twins received 14 year prison sentences from federal judge Ruben Castillo, far less than the life terms they would otherwise have faced.

(link below)

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2015/01/27/drug-trafficking-flores-twins-sentenced-to-14-years

VIDEO: RICKY LANCE & PARKER LEWIS- "IS THIS LOVE"

The official visual for Ricky Lance and Parker Lewis collaboration on hit single "Is This Love"

Directed By: Terick Lamont Productions

NEWS: LIL WAYNE SUES BIRDMAN FOR 8 MILLION

According to TMZ, Lil Wayne is suing the YMCMB CEO, Birdman for $8 million. Why $8 million? Well that’s his advance money for this project. He will ask the judge to free him from the Cash Money contract since Birdman has been unable to release his latest LP Tha Carter V, which is a breech of contract we are hearing. This comes after the two been in talks to come to terms on his new album release date. The delay in his album led to Lil Wayne releasing his Sorry 4 The Wait 2 mixtape earlier this week. The project featured these lyrics taking shots at Birdman on the “Coco” freestyle.

VIDEO: LUPE FIASCO INTERVIEWS W/ DJ MOONDAWG

T&Y was Lupe’s last commitment to Atlantic Records and is now a free agent within the industry, so he’s weighing his options for next steps. He also talks about working with local artists such as Rondo, Fredo and Lil Durk.

VIDEO: CHANCE THE RAPPER INTERVIEWS W/ VERGE CAMPUS

While traveling around the country on the Verge Campus Fall Tour 2014, Chance The Rapper sat down with Verge Campus and shared his thoughts on the internet, favorite movies, inspiration and what 2015 will bring for his Social Experiment.

EVENT: NATIONAL PLAYERS TO HOST AUDITIONS IN CHICAGO

Auditions for Tour 67!

National Players is a ten-actor touring ensemble, performing a repertory of shows and educating audiences around America. The contract for Tour 67 (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, and A Tale of Two Cities) runs 11 months, from mid-June 2015 to mid-May 2016.

February 13th: Chicago, Illinois, DePaul University

(link below)

http://www.nationalplayers.org/#!auditions/c1er3

NEWS: 93% OF CPS STUDENTS IN BETTER SCHOOLS

Ninety-three percent of the displaced kids ended up in schools better than the ones that closed, but 25 percent ended up at schools that were not better than where they had been assigned.

That’s because many families chose schools based on proximity to home rather than the district’s school performance ratings, co-author Marisa de la Torre said, and CPS has limited top-tier schools in the predominantly poor, black neighborhoods where the bulk of the schools were closed.

(link below)

http://chicago.suntimes.com/education/7/71/310620/cps-students-whose-schools-closed-went-better-schools-report#share

NEWS: UNITED CENTER NEW ADDITIONS TO CREATE 300 EXTRA JOBS

Mayor Rahm Emanuel will join the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday to announce a new office building at the UC. The new facility will house Bulls and Blackhawks employees, as well as United Center workers. Construction is expected to create up to 300 jobs.

SPORTS: JOHN FOX THE NEW COACH OF THE CHICAGO BEARS

John Fox has officially reached agreement on a four-year contract to become the Chicago Bears' new head coach, according to an NFL source.

Payton became the Saints' head coach in 2006. Three weeks ago, the Bears fired general manager Phil Emery and head coach Marc Trestman and hired Accorsi to serve as a consultant for their new GM and coach search.

The Bears hired Ryan Pace as their general manager last week. Pace rose through the Saints' personnel ranks until he became their director of player of player personnel.

Between Accorsi, Pace, Payton and Glazer, Fox seemingly had the Bears' job lined up from the moment after the Broncos lost to the Indianapolis Colts 24-13.

MUSIC: RICKY LANCE & PARKER LEWIS- "IS THIS LOVE"

New but seasoned unsigned hypes Parker Lewis & Ricky Lance both based out of Arizona collab on a smooth track for fans to ride to. Lend a ear below.

MIXTAPE: SAINT NICK- "HOLY SAINT"

Unsigned Chicago artist offers up a new project filled with exclusive new & produced quality music. 13 tracks deep, easy on the features Saint Nick has no problem holding his own staying on theme with this new project. Stream below.

VLOG: RAMADA- " MY REALITY TO CHOKE UPON" EPISODE 2

Artist Ramada is back with the second inside look on his day to day grind upon releasing his debut album thats out now free to stream on Soundcloud

MOVIE NEWS: CAMPAIGN TO BRING SELMA TO SCHOOL KIDS FOR FREE SPREADS TO CHICAGO

The grassroots campaign to bring “Selma” to schoolchildren across the country free of charge is adding additional cities, organizers said Wednesday

.

The Civil Rights drama about Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) and the voting rights marches of 1965 will be made available for free to students in Chicago, Dallas, New Orleans, Oakland and the East Bay area and Washington, D.C.

(link below)

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/selma-free-screenings-chicago-dallas-d-c-1201404363/

MIXTAPE: THE BOY ILLINOIS: "THE YER TAPE"

Continuing his successful 2014 campaign The Boy Illinois is no stranger to hard work. He provides his fans and potential new listeners with a new 9 track project before the release of his forthcoming project Pointe due out later this year. Take a listen below..

SPORTS NEWS: MIKE DITKA NOT A FAN OF MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL

State records show former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka personally contributed $2,500 on Dec. 8 to the campaign fund of Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd) — one of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s challengers in next month’s city election.

On Tuesday, Ditka told the Chicago Sun-Times that his involvement in the mayoral race is based mostly on his disapproval of the incumbent. He hopes Emanuel will end up like Pat Quinn, who lost the governor’s job after Ditka cut a campaign commercial with Republican challenger Bruce Rauner.

(link below)

http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/288816/hold-da-coach-disses-da-mayor-gives-2500-opponent

POLITICS: ALDERMAN JASON ERVIN WILL HAVE SECOND TERM IN THE 28TH WARD

All seven candidates challenging incumbent Ald. Jason Ervin have been bounced from the 28th Ward ballot, according to Chicago Board of Elections results. Barring a write-in campaign or a successful appeal by one of the bounced candidates, the objection cases have cleared the way for Ervin's second full term in the West Side ward.

(link below)

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150114/austin/ald-ervin-stands-unopposed-after-seven-candidates-knocked-from-ballot

SONG: SINCERE- "I SMELL MONEY"

Sincere debuts a new track from his upcoming summer mixtape "Yung, Fly, & Livin", Stream the new record now via soundcloud.

VIDEO: PROSPEC FLOW- "WIDE AWAKE"

Shot In Chicago. Florida artist Prospec Flow tries out a new style & feel on this 2015 start off track.

HISTORY: DUSABLE MUSEUM TO HOST SHOW ON RODNEY KING BEATING

The DuSable Museum of African American History will host a one-man show about Rodney King.

Roger Guenveur Smith will perform his show about King’s journey as “the first reality TV star” after he was videotaped while being beaten by Los Angeles police officers in 1991. Smith will perform “Rodney King” at 7 p.m. Jan. 24 at the museum 740 E. 56th Place. The performance is free.

MUSIC: COMMON DELIVERS POWERFUL SPEECH AT GOLDEN GLOBES

Last night, Common and John Legend took home the Golden Globe award for "Best Original Song from a Motion Picture" for their combined work on "Glory" from the film, Selma.

" I am the unarmed black kid who maybe needed a hand, but instead was given a bullet. I am the two fallen police officers murdered in the line of duty," Common said during the speech.

FOOD: "CHICAGO CUT STEAKHOUSE"

Chicago is one of those cities that's already well known for steak, but The Chicago Cut Steakhouse takes things to a whole new level. Though relatively young in comparison to the city's old guard of established steakhouses, "The Cut" only serves America's best beef - which is arguably the best beef in the world as it is - they also do all their own in-house aging to make sure you get the best at your table. This along with countless other details and efforts in service and atmosphere make The Chicago Cut a must if you want to get serious about having a great meal in one of the greatest cities on the continent.

NEWS: BRUCE RAUNER PROMISES A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION IN STATE

Sunday in advance of Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner’s Monday swearing in, supporters filed into the state’s Capitol to celebrate what Rauner promised will be “a major transformation” of state government.

In addition to the inaugural reception and dinner Sunday night, there is a governor’s dinner on Monday and a concert, featuring Chicago Blues legend Buddy Guy and country hit Toby Keith. The concert tickets include food and drinks and cost $125.

“We tried to keep the prices reasonable for the festivities and the parties and dinners,” Rauner said. “And (Monday) night, I think it’s $100 or a little more for a great concert and all the food people can eat and all the beverages. We hope that everybody will come. I think we’ll have a good crowd.

(link below)

http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/7/71/283565/eve-inauguration-gov-elect-rauner-promises-major-transformation-illinois/

2K14 CHICAGO HIPHOP PROJECTS/MIXTAPES OF THE YEAR

The limelight on the city of Chicago just won't let up & with good reason. With expectations at a all time high fans and industry tastemakers both were pleased with the quality of projects coming from the array of talent some established already with a few fresh faces that surprised us all. Rather your favorite project appears below or not these 10 are worth a listen...or two.

10.

THE GUYS "FREE THE GUYS"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "FERRAGAMO BELTS" "LEGGINGS" "TELL ME" "FREE THE GUYS"

http://www.audiomack.com/album/the-guys/free-the-guys-ep

9.

ACE B8GIE "THE B8GIE FOO BLUES"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "SEE U FIRST" "ME AND MY TRUES" "INDIAN SUMMER"

http://www.audiomack.com/album/ace-b8gie/the-b8gie-foo-blues#

8.

RICKY LANCE "FRESHMAN YEAR: ESCAPIST"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "COME WITH ME" "NIGHT OUT" "NO MORE" "FADED"

http://www.datpiff.com/Ricky-Lance-Freshman-Year-Escapist-mixtape.643561.html

7.

BJ THE CHICAGO KID "THE MAFE PROJECT"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "WEDNESDAY WEEKEND" "GIMMIE MO REMIX" "GOOD KARMA" "REAL LOVE NEVER DIES"

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/31132/bj-the-chicago-kid-the-mafe-project.html

6.

LIL BIBBY "FREE CRACK 2"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION" "DEAD OR IN PRISON' "WE ARE STRONG" "WATER"

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/29818/lil-bibby-free-crack-2.html

5.

DREEZY "SCHIZO"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "SCHIZOPHRENIA" "AIN'T FOR NONE" "LONELY" "BREAK A BAND"

http://www.datpiff.com/Dreezy-Schizo-mixtape.585608.html

4.

LIL HERB "WELCOME TO FAZOLAND"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "AT THE LIGHT" "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" "MOMMA IM SORRY"

http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lil-herb-welcome-to-fazoland-no-dj-version-new-mixtape.110764.html

3.

TINK "WINTER'S DIARY 2

STANDOUT TRACKS- "TREAT ME LIKE SOMEBODY" "MONEY OVA EVERYTHING" "2 AND 2"

http://www.datpiff.com/Tink-Winters-Diary-2-mixtape.570560.html

2.

MICK JENKINS "THE WATERS"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "HEALER" "BLACK SHEEP" "514" "JEROME"

http://www.datpiff.com/Mick-Jenkins-The-Waters-mixtape.638443.html

1.

KING LOUIE "TONY"

STANDOUT TRACKS- "BON" "TIL I MET SELENA" "LIVE & DIE IN CHICAGO" "GOD & KING"

http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/28879/king-louie-tony.html

MUSIC: CHICAGO FEMALE RAPPER INKS RECORD DEAL WITH INTERSCOPE RECORDS

Not too long ago Dreezy posted photos on Instagram at the Interscope and Universal Music Group offices. IT' NOW OFFICIAL!

Common put most of us on this summer on Nobody’s Smiling and all things above combined, Dreezy parlayed the success into a new deal with Interscope.

VIDEO: LIL HERB F/ LIL REESE "ON MY SOUL"

Lil Herb and Lil Reese link up for “On My Soul".

Directed by Seuss Leroy

Herbo’s latest project, The Pistol P Project, is available below.

NEWS: UBER RELEASES CHICAGO SAFETY CHECKLIST

After an Uber driver allegedly raped an intoxicated woman he picked up last month, the ride-sharing company offered safety reminders for both passengers and drivers.

Among the guidelines for riders are confirming that the license plate number of the car matches the one delivered to customers through the Uber app, and confirming the name and picture of the driver riders see on the app matches that of the person driving the car that picks them up.

(link below)

http://dnainfo.com/chicago/20150101/lincoln-square/uber-updates-safety-measures-after-driver-accused-of-rape