News Round Up • Lil Durk Beats Gun Charge, Gorillaz Tap Vic Mensa, AAHH Fest Announced & More
Photo by Michael Salisbury
Another week and another packed schedule of happenings in and around the city. As the summer enters it's last go around before Fall creeps in, Chicagoans of all types stayed busy keeping the headlines packed. Among those, Kanye angered some in the city by bringing his Yeezy pop-up to the suburbs, Dreezy stopped by the Breakfast Club, a pair of Midwestern acts got good news in legal proceedings and much more on this latest edition of the News RoundUp.
Kanye West Brings 'Yeezy' Pop-Up to Chicagoland
Yeezy Season has been in effect across the country with a series of high-profile pop-up shops making appearances in big cities across the globe and this past weekend it made it's way back home....sort of. While Kanye West may have tweeted that his namesake brand had arrived home, some were left a bit upset after it was unveiled the temporary store would only be available in Northbrook, a suburb 30 minutes north of the city.
Somewhat adding insult to the injury of a $300 cotton t-shirt is the perceived disrespect of calling a pop-up shop in the suburbs a 'Chicago' location. While 'Ye likely didn't have knowledge of the location, it does speak somewhat to his attention to certain details which at times can be lacking a bit, as evidenced with the messy rollout of his Life of Pablo album which admittedly may have been a purposeful blunder of sorts. All in all, it's cool that it came to "the city" but you'd be better served picking up something from real Chicago brands like Fat Tiger Workshop, Jugrnaut or Leaders who actually are available within city limits.
Lil Durk Acquitted of Gun Charge
Lil Durk may have come out of one of the most notorious scenes in the country, but since emerging as one of the most exciting street-centric artists in the city, Durk has kept it relatively clean when compared to some of his peers. That continued this week as he beat a probation violation for a felony gun arrest that stemmed from a police 'misunderstanding'. Regardless of the circumstances, we're happy to see Durk back to focusing on what's important. "I was kind of nervous, but I ain't ever nervous about the truth because I know God is on my side and I got a good lawyer," Durk said after the hearing. A statement from his lawyer, Sam Adams, is available below as well.
“Now, Durk can continue to be artist. No more negative. Only positive. That’s what we’re going to focus on,” Adam said.” He feels good about it. It was a tough, tough case. We couldn’t had have better prosecutors.”
Taylor Bennett, TINK, Jeremih Among AAHH! Fest Performers
September is shaping up to be hip-hop month here in Chicago. As if the year of rap in the midwest couldn't have been any larger, no less than three festivals around the genre will take place within weeks of one another. One of those is Common's AAHH! Fest, which returns for it's second edition after taking a break last year to re-organize. While it will be up against stiff competition, the same weekend as Chance's 'Magnificent Coloring Day' at U.S. Cellular Park, the heavy-hometown lineup that was revealed this week certainly holds weight.
The second coming of AAHH! Fest splits into two days, a 'Community Day' which featured TINK and Taylor Bennett as the initial announcement for a stage 'where local talent from across the city audition for a chance to perform on the Main Stage on September 25.' It's an encouraging effort, and likely one aimed at pulling some of the youth from Comiskey Park on Saturday. So far, the Main Stage has confirmed The Roots, The Internet and locals Sir The Baptist and Jeremih as performers. Also on the bill of course is Common, listed with special guests. At the inaugural rendition of the festival Common brought out Vince Staples and Kanye West, along with plenty of others for what was a memorable experience in Union Park. Deon Cole steps in to handle MC duties from Dave Chappelle, continuing a decidedly hometown aesthetic for the fest as a whole. For more info, visit the official website and check back here for more as we get closer to the big weekend.
Freddie Gibbs Released On Bail, Offers Statement
Freddie Gibbs has long been known as one of the purveyors of gangsta rap in the millenial generation. Without frills or gimmicks, Gibbs got to his place in the game by offering up straightforward tales of growing up rough in Indiana. For the last month or so, he's also been battling a sexual abuse charge in Austria and over the weekend news broke that he was finally released on bail.
Released from a Vienna prison, Gibbs is still facing up to ten years for the assault of a pair sixteen and seventeen year old female fans who alleged he drugged them before taking them back to his hotel. Gibbs was extradited by French police after being apprehended before taking a stage in Tolouse. He had to pay $50,000 and has his passport revoked causing him to stay in Austria until he is officially charged. Gibbs has maintained his innocence throughout and his lawyer, Theodore Simon released a statement, available below.
“Freddie Gibbs was released today on bail. We believe this is the first step toward his eventual exoneration and vindication. We are pleased and thankful that the Court recognized the same trust and confidence we have in Freddie that justified his release. Immediately after his release I spoke with Freddie who expressed his heartfelt appreciation and thanks for the overwhelming outpouring of support he has received. Yesterday’s charge remains only an allegation, and it does not in any way change the actual facts that Freddie Gibbs is 100% innocent. As he has done with his bail request, he continues to pursue every available means to demonstrate that he is absolutely innocent and that he has been both belatedly and wrongly accused. As the investigation and process continues, Mr. Gibbs remains hopeful that a thorough, searching and complete investigation will reveal the actual facts, including the absence of any scientific, physical, or credible evidence implicating him, thereby paving the way for his exoneration and return to his family and one-year old child. In accordance with Austrian procedure Mr. Gibbs has not as yet had the opportunity to provide the authorities and the Court with the substantial and compelling exonerating evidence that he has compiled. Through counsel Mr. Freddie Gibbs has consistently remained fully cooperative with law enforcement offices and judicial systems in both France and Austria and will continue to do so.”
Dreezy Stops By The Breakfast Club
Since emerging from the tail end of the Drill scene in Chicago, as record producers and label heads looked for a female talent from the city, Dreezy has emerged as one of the more exciting and agile talents to step out of the crowded local scene. Lately, it's seemed as though the radio show interviews often reserved for big names and New York natives have made a big switch, as Taylor Bennett, Supa BWE, Joey Purp, Vic Mensa and now Dreezy have all appeared on various New York-based outlets in the last two weeks alone.
For her appearance, Dreezy stops by the vaunted Breakfast CLub to talk about upcoming music, the ride to this point and what she's been up to this summer. Check it all out below.
Chance The Rapper Joins Francis & The Lights to Debut New Album
Chance The Rapper has been having fun with his friends as he's risen to the heights of both hip-hop and the music industry at large. In the process many of those friends have forged exciting careers of their own and last week in Wisconsin several got together as Chance, Francis Starlite and Bon Iver teamed up across several sets to introduce new music from Francis & The Lights, offer up a spirited dance number and generally look like they're doing life just a little better than the rest of us. Check it all out below and expect plenty more friendly fire at the upcoming 'Magnificent Coloring Day' on September 23.
Vic Mensa Rumored to be on New Gorillaz Album
It's no secret at this point that The Gorillaz are plotting on their first album release in six years. The latest edition of the seminal, transcendental band of animations has been swamped in rumors since news broke earlier this year that Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett were back in the studio and enlisting a wishlist of artists in to help with the first project since 2010's Plastic Beach.
About last year, Vic Mensa took some time out of his Governor's Ball set to do his own rendition of the band's "Clint Eastwood" single alongside Albarn that prompted this terrible piece from DJBooth and seemed to spark a relationship that just may make it to the latest collection. Photos surfaced last week placing Mensa alongside the Gorillaz team which set off the internet rumor-mill. Actually, we're hearing that while Mensa's piece of the project may be small, there are several smaller names involved from in and around Chicago that will raise eyebrows from left field. No matter what, we're happy to hear the Gorillaz, like everyone else, is looking at the center of the map for help creating.
