It took me a long time to adjust to Chicago. I spent most the winter in a mild depression, learning about isolation and perseverance. I worked as a bike messenger for several months–begrudging the cold, sleeping harder than ever, and coming face to face with classism. Most of my energy was consumed by the daily […]

Cee-Lo starts in at 1:28

In the beginning there was none,
other than the original people, skin blackened from the sun.
But somewhere along the line I broke the laws of the divine
And a curse was placed on this soul of mine
Pale became the color of my face
Feelin out of place amongst the people of my race
Filled with […]

Hip hop was born under oppression. In its infancy, it was the voice of the voiceless. In adolescence, it connects strangers, challenges authority, and echoes from coast to coast. As it grows, however, it suffers acute memory loss. It breaks down during mid-life crisis, buys cars and jewelry, degrades women, and abandons its humble roots. […]

So I’m at this party where these kids have their friends’ bands play in the basement. The bands are all done, and people are filtering back upstairs. I’m in the middle of a chat when someone hops on the bass and starts playing a smooth little lick. He’s soon joined by a drummer, and the […]

Last night I put the new Atmosphere album on my ipod, and went out for a walk. I usually bike, but I wanted to give this album my full attention. My steps were slow and purposeful as I dissolved into my headphones. I think I love Atmosphere because they manage to perfectly capture what I […]

Atmosphere is releasing their latest studio album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold, next week. I’m not going to rave about them, but this is the music I grew up with, and as Slug’s rhymes have matured, so have I. It’s interesting to have been listening to one group for 10 […]