CHICAGO - Chip Tha Ripper's main focus is to create his own lane and type of music that can't be mimicked. He takes to the lakefront and L tracks to showcase his skills. www.myspace.com/chiptharipper
CHICAGO - You already know who it is, it's your boy Jay Rock and he's far from his California sunshine home. Take a walk with him down in Chicago. www.myspace.com/jayrock
CHICAGO - Mano and Drea have been writing music for He Say She Say for years but didn't make it official until '07. Now, the duo are poppin' melodic beats and threatening bandmats. www.myspace.com/dreaheartsmusic
CHICAGO - Growing up, Naledge has always been the smart kid in class; skipping grades and being valedictorian. Check him out as we drive around his hometown of Chicago and his freestyles under train tracks. www.myspace.com/naledgemusic
CHICAGO - EWOK's mom would always have to hide her pens and pencils cause he'd be drawing on any and every paper material available. Check out his video as he talks about how he was introduced to graffiti, getting back to oil painting, and the crew and artists that have inspired him. www.knowngallery.com
CHICAGO - On this episode of Light It Up, the boys go to Chicago to perform at the House of Blues. We got to see what goes down before each show and their hustle. www.myspace.com/revtheory www.interscope.com
CHICAGO - We spent the day with GLC as he talked about what it was like living on the streets of Chicago as a young'n and hustling and growing out of it to do better. www.myspace.com/glc
CHICAGO - Mikkey Halsted is clean money from Chicago whose main focus is just workin' and grindin' 24/7, 25/8 . Double or nothin'. www.myspace.com/mikkeymusic
CHICAGO - Alternative Rock band, Treaty of Paris, explains that bands make money from merchandise and touring, not just from getting signed. www.treatyofparismusic.com
CHICAGO - The guys from Hey Champ get their shot to perform in front of 4000 people with their electro pop rock sound. Special thanks to Bandit Productions. www.myspace.com/heychamp
NEW JERSEY - The Nike Banksgiving jam was slatted to go down at Garrett Reyonlds' backyard but was moved last minute to the Incline Club due to that wonderful East Coast winter.
3,000 kids, Big Daddy, the Nike 6.0 team, and none of that canned shaped cranberry sauce. We're thankful for Garrett Reynolds and those 360 no-handers.
CHICAGO - The one and only Estelle does a signing at the Puma Store in Chicago and talks about her latest video, Pretty Please. www.myspace.com/estelleonline www.puma.com
CHICAGO - The boys from Animate Objects talk about how performing with a live band makes each show different, rather than over a track. www.myspace.com/animateobjects
CHICAGO - Who's Matthew Santos, you ask? He's the guy you're singing along to when you're listening to Lupe Fiasco's Superstar song during the choruses. Check! www.myspace.com/matthewsantos
CHICAGO - Whadown! Mick Luter talks about representin the West Side Chicago, the late night liquor stores, and the get money atmosphere. Joe they under the act. www.myspace.com/mluter
CHICAGO - Influenced by authentic Brazilian dance music, Chicago Samba is a musical ensemble that brings forth the music and culture of samba. www.chicagosamba.com www.edilsonlima.com