Episode 25 - Veronica Morris Moore

In the world of organizing, it can feel like victories are few and far between. Strong Young Voices participating in the work can sometimes find it hard to face these immense challenges with no guarantee of success. This makes moments of success, where objectives are met, very complicated. Veronica Morris Moore has organized around various injustices in Chicago, but her voice became heard clearest in the fight for a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center on the Southside, which the University of Chicago recently agreed to build. We discuss this win, other challenges, joys, and more.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 24 - Stretch and Bobbito

There's a small door on 115th Street and Broadway in New York City. For nearly a decade, hip hop's royalty passed through the door and climbed a fluorescent-lit stairway to WKCR, Columbia University's community radio station, and dapped up kings of the underground Bobbito Garcia and Stretch Armstrong. The two New York natives introduced the world to an unsigned Nas, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls, Wu-Tang Clan, Fugees, and so many more, while creating a meaningful, radical platform for the largest youth culture in the history of the world. On this very special New Year's episode, Stretch and Bob chop it up with Damon and Daniel in promotion of their transcendant new film Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives. 

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

 

Episode 23 - Damon Williams

Families tend to come together around the holidays. Comedian Damon Williams chats with Junior and Daniel on Christmas, breaking down the twists and turns of his comedy career, which includes stops on BET's Comic View, the Kings of Comedy tour, and stages across the country. Most importantly, he has a cachè of embarrassing Damon stories. 

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 22 - Defcee

Defcee has been raised in the renaissance. He is a rapper, educator, and mentor who has been a stalwart of the creative community in the city for years. He just released a tremendous new album called Damn Near Grown, his first in seven years–the project reflects both his own growth and the growth of the community. 

Episode 21 - The Mind

The Mind has lent his ear and voice to much of the best, most ambitious music to emerge from Chicago in the last few years. The vocalist is a core member of THEMpeople, the collective of creators that Via Rosa discussed a few weeks back. Fresh off a world tour with Mick Jenkins, The Mind hops on AirGo for a conversation.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 20 - Bryant Cross

Bryant Cross' thoughtful words dig in his personal intersection of "blackness & how it relates to being a man, an artist, a socialist, Christian, junkie, scholar, weed-smoker, American, chronic asthmatic, hip-hop, traumatized, army brat, writer, and bastard." Even Strong Young Voices contain multitudes. The Belgian-born, Southside-raised performance poet, writer, and activist seems to balance them well.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 19 - Page May

On Tuesday November 24th, the city of Chicago released dashcam footage of 17 year-old Laquan McDonald's murder with the same type of rollout that major Hollywood studios release blockbusters. Many of the city's organizers, who have been fighting for accountability and justice for Laquan and so many others' murders, have filled the streets and tweets with effective, peaceful actions over the last two days. One of the city's Strongest Young Voices, Page May of BYP100 and Assata's Daughters, joins AirGo to help facilitate a healing space and process recent events, including her arrest on Tuesday night. 

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE.  

Episode 18 - Saba

Based on Saba's breakthrough project ComfortZone, one can't help but feel like the chords of his music underpin the drastic growth he's made professionally over the last 15 months. The mainstream rap publication system is starting to take notice, leading to some recent features, but Saba's power stems from the stage–his Comfortzone Live shows have gotten bigger and better, bringing young people across the city together for a joyous musical celebration. Not bad for a self-proclaimed shy kid.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE.  

Episode 17 - Via Rosa

Via Rosa makes all kinds of things–some of which sound great, some of which smell delicious. The Chicago-based singer and vegan chef brings the recipe to her elegance to AirGo and discusses how she came to Chicago, how she linked with Thempeople, and talks about her amazing path to becoming one of Chicago's Strong Young Voices.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE.  


Episode 16 - Kush Thompson

Kush Thompson writes resistance. Her "bathwater influenced" poems stand tall with love, and her soul shines on canvasses and pages. The semi-autobiographical pink-haired protagonist of her paintings appears thoughtful and carefree. 

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 15 - Bella Bahhs

On her Facebook page, Bella Bahhs does not call herself a rapper–rather, she uses the phrase "rapping public relations specialist." She communicates in the streets and on the stages of Chicago, bringing bars and hooks that intentionally counteract the dominant narrative and push back. Much of her recent work has honored her family members and connected the multigenerational dots.  

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 14 - Ravyn Lenae

Ravyn Lenae makes elegant music. The ChiArts High School student released Moon Shoes, an EP largely produced by 20 year-old Monte Booker, a couple months ago, and the eight-song project has been an AirGo favorite since it dropped. Her elegant writing fits Monte's production so well that Chicago heavyweight Saba said, "Ravyn and Monte together [are] damn near the best collab in music.” She swings by the WHPK studio to talk that collab, high school life, and more.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 13 - Kristiana Colon

This week's guest is the sister of one of AirGo's hosts–let's see if you can guess which one. She is also an accomplished and ferocious playwright, poet, and organizer whose newest play Octagon, a critical depiction of the slam poetry scene, recently premiered in London. Kristiana Colon has been using her Strong Young Voice for years in Chicago, reshaping the artistic and organizing communities for the fresher.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 12 - Just Nesh

Comedian Just Nesh appears on stages across the city, bringing a laissez-faire comedic voice to some of the struggles of being a working comic, and a Black woman, in the City of Wind. In addition to her role hosting and performing all over Chicago, she's also the voice behind some of the funniest parody songs the AirGo crew has ever seen. In short, she's really funny.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 

Episode 11 - Dwamina Drew

After an AirGo bye week, Damon and Daniel return to the air with Dwamina Drew, the mastermind behind Chicago's Enstrumental clothing company. You may have seen the brand's famous "rap-lies=hip-hop" shirts and stickers around town–the tee is unquestionably fresh–and Drew's work declares important statements about identity with the concision of a poet and eye of a master craftsman. He jumps on the air to discuss the brand, his new film The Revenge of Emmett Till, and more.

HELP SPREAD THE WORDS OF THESE STRONG YOUNG VOICES BY BECOMING AN AMPLIFIER WITH A MONTHLY DONATION THROUGH PATREON, THE ARTS PATRONAGE SITE. 


Episode 10 - Add-2

Add-2's debut album Prey For The Poor, released on 9th Wonder's Jamla Records, is settling into playlists and headphones across the city in the week since its release. The Chicago emcee couldn't be happier. Every social media post seems to be a grateful and relieved celebration, which he has certainly earned after years of consistent bars and beats on the vanguard of this era's Chicago renaissance. 

Listen to Prey For The Poor:


Episode 9 - Jean Deaux

After a last-minute switch last week, we welcome singer and rapper Jean Deaux to the program. Some of Chicago's Strongest Young Voices are also some of the city's sweetest and most somber. Jean's most recent project Soular System Vol. 1: Dark Matter[s] feels like weaving on Lake Shore Drive in a moment of reflection, grounded and free at the same time. Touted as one of Chicago's "Next Big Things" for a couple years now, Jean has stayed patient, releasing quality work of her own and lending her voice in collaboration with colleagues Mick Jenkins, Chance the Rapper, Noname Gypsy, Isaiah Rashad, Alex Wiley, and more.

Help spread the words of these Strong Young Voices by becoming an Amplifier with a monthly donation through Patreon, the arts patronage site. 

Stay linked to AirGo:

Ep 8 - Eve Ewing

How does a Strong Young Voice from the city of Chicago reshape the culture of spaces and institutions across the country? Eve Ewing is a teacher, writer, artist, research scholar, and BreakBeat Poet whose voice has taken her into middle school classrooms, through Ivy League lecture halls, onto stages, and to the alternative learning spaces across the country. Currently working on her doctorate from the Harvard School of Education, where she co-chairs the Harvard Educational Review, Eve returns to her old stomping grounds at University of Chicago, where she went for undergrad, and discusses her experiences as a teacher and scholar, as well as the current hunger strike to save Dyett High School in Washington Park.

Read and Listen to Eve's Piece "Requiem for Fifth Period and the things that went on then" 

Help spread the words of these Strong Young Voices by becoming an Amplifier with a monthly donation through Patreon, the arts patronage site. 

Stay linked to AirGo:

Episode 7 - RJ Eldridge

The first non-native Chicagoan to be showcased on AirGo, Reginald Eldridge, Jr. is a writer, multidisciplinary artist, curator, educator, and artist who plays an integral and interesting role in Chicago's contemporary renaissance. Whether on the canvas, behind the lens, on stage, in front of a classroom, or with a pen in his hand, RJ doesn't shy away from challenging himself or his students, and has become one of the city's Strong Young Voices by exploring the spaces between ideas and media. 

Photo Courtesy of Ekphest on Tumblr

Photo Courtesy of Ekphest on Tumblr

Find out more about the show and corresponding We 'Go Mixtape Series at airgoradio.com, and stay linked on Twitter & Facebook @AirGoRadio. Help spread the words of these Strong Young Voices by becoming an Amplifier with a monthly donation through Patreon, the arts patronage site. 

 

Episode 6 - Ethos

Ethan "Ethos" Viets-VanLear is a poet, organizer, peace-circle keeper and prison abolitionist hailing from Rogers Park on the north side of Chicago. Whether he's performing on stage or marching through the streets, Ethos has established himself as one the boldest voices in the city. His organizing work has allowed him to travel the world at a young age, including a trip to Switzerland where h testified on police torture at the United Nations as a part of the delegation We Charge Genocide. Ethos is also the lead vocalist of the new band Thy Neighbors, who are set to release their debut EP Part One.

Find out more about the show and corresponding We 'Go Mixtape Series at airgoradio.com, and stay linked on Twitter & Facebook @AirGoRadio. Help spread the words of these Strong Young Voices by becoming an Amplifier with a monthly donation through Patreon, the arts patronage site.