Motivated juniors and seniors can get a head start by earning college credit for FREE through the City Colleges of Chicago Dual Enrollment Program. Learn more today. Space is limited.
REGISTRATION BEGINS NOVEMBER 19 FOR SPRING CLASSES.
HOW TO ENROLL?
Begin with a conversation with your high school advisor and tell them you want to enroll. Next, contact the dual enrollment advisor at your nearest City Colleges of Chicago location. Visit www.ccc.edu/earlycollege for more information.
COLLEGE
CONTACT
PHONE
Daley College
Collette Rogers
crogers37@ccc.edu
P (773) 838-7838 F (773) 838-7952
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7500 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60652
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FIND THE CITY COLLEGE FOR YOU
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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24
28
8
16
REAL TALK
FASHION
8 MY BODY MY CHOICE BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 9 THE RECOVERY ACT FOR TEENS BY JANAYA GREENE 10 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA BY JANAYA GREENE 11 HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PARENTS BY JESSICA JACKSON 12 GAY RIGHTS IN THE OBAMA ERA BY NANYAMKA GALLARDO IT’S CRUNCH TIME: HOW TO RAISE YOUR GRADE BY MAYA BRYANT 13 COLLEGE BEFORE COLLEGE BY MAYA BRYANT
GIVING BACK
14 FEARLESS LEADING BY THE YOUTH BY MAYA BRYANT WORLD PERFORMANCE TEAM BY JANAYA GREENE 15 THE BLACK AMERICAN PRINCESS SCHOOL OF CHARM VIDA/SIDA: COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO HIV/STI BY JAMELIAH SALTER
TECH
16 PC GAMING VS. CONSOLE GAMING BY KARL THOMAS 17 IPHONE 5 VS. SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 BY MIKE MEZA USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK BY ROGELIO MORENO TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
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18 WINTER MAKEUP COLOR ADVICE BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 19 HOW TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES ONLINE BY BRAYLYN BROWN 20 WINTER FASHION FAVES
COVER STORY
26 CHANCE THE RAPPER BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 28 THE NEW TINK IN THE FEMALE RAP GAME BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 29 THE SOULFUL LILI K BY KAYLYNN HARRIS
30 GETTING THE BUZZ ON RUBY HORNET BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 31 ALL ABOUT OCIE BY KIA “KWEEN K” SMITH J. KING: CHICAGO BRED, ATLANTA FED. BY GABRIEL RUSSELL
32 CHICAGO’S RISING STARS
TEEN BIZ
34 COLLEGE FLY-IN PROGRAM BY JACKSON BEARD STARTING A SMALL FOOD BUSINESS BY KAPRISHA MARTIN 35 ADVERTISING BY KAMAL BILAL FINANCIAL HELP FOR YOU BY HSBC 36 TRUE STAR MOGUL BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL CHICAGO, IL 60605
INSIDE & OUT
38 MENTAL HEALTH: ISSUE OR CRISIS BY KAYLYNN HARRIS CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI: CHRISTINE HOUSTON BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL 40 THE DANGERS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY MINA WAIGHT 41 CHEETOS ARE NOT A FOOD GROUP BY KENNEDY WARD 42 WINTER WEATHER MAKING YOU DEPRESSED? BY ALEXIS ESTES
44 TOXIC FRIENDSHIPS BY KAYLYNN HARRIS 45 HOW TO RECONNECT WITH OLD FRIENDS BY JACOB BONDS
ON THE COURT
47 CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC RECAP BY MCKINLEY NELSON 48 TRUE STAR NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS BY EDDIE BAKER OFF THE COURT WITH JAHLIL OKAFOR BY SYDNEY SHAW 49 THE LEGEND OF THE CANTANKEROUS CALIPARI BY MICHAEL WALTON II
UNDER THE RADAR
•
29
YOUNG LUV
THRU DA WIRE
1130 SOUTH WABASH SUITE 302
WINTER 2013
CLOSING
50 THE LYRICAL LAB BY CHRISTOPHER THOUGHT POET BROWN •
312.588.0100 OFFICE
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312.588.0175 FAX
EDITOR’S LETTER
Executive Directors J. Na-Tae’ Thompson & DeAnna McLeary
MAYA BRYANT
Assistant Editor Alexander Stockstell
Managing Editor Edgar Molina Copy Editor Marti Parham
SENIOR, MORGAN PARK
Art Direction Design and Illustration Angel D’Amico-Bauer Photo Coordinator Mireya Acierto Student Design Director Polina Zoints Promotions Manager Deshaun Adams
It’s about that time again. True Star is back with their new 2013 Winter Issue. While you’re trying to keep yourself warm this winter, take a look inside the magazine and catch up with the latest topics going on with teens today. In our Real Talk section, you’ll read about contraception and the fight to keep Planned Parenthood funded.
Promotions Assistant Ermina Velijacic Special Projects Managers Philistine Thompson Web Content Manager Joi Mitchell Celebrity Booker Randy Bonds Web Content Assistants Henry Collins & Tashay Dennie
Also read up on how to get your grades up at the last minute. And for our collegebound readers, check out the “College before College” article that shows you how to save money on college tuition.
Hilliard Homes Editorial Instructors Veronica Harrison Ashley Hill
In our Giving Back section, learn how to be a lady in “Black American Princess School of Charm” and how “F.L.Y.” is fighting for the rights of young inmates stuck in the system.
Quintin Buchanan Charita Dukes Andrew McClendon Jaronn Henry Loren Lowery Jeffery Lock Devin Pearson Desheen Johnson Gretchen McClendon
In our Tech section, look at how to use electronics such as computers, tablets and smartphones to help you with your homework. Everybody loves fashion! Read about how to dress warm and still look fashionable while doing it. Our Cover Story features three of Chicago’s most dynamic artists: Chance the Rapper, Lili K and Tink.
Morgan Park High School Editorial Instructor Marti Parham
Finally, for all our basketball lovers, we ask who do you think will win the next NBA playoffs? Take a look at True Star’s prediction and much more.
Eddie Baker Jacob Bonds Tajua Bowman Braylyn Brown Kayla Cruse Alexis Estes Jennifer Gardner Andrea Griffin Ashley Hudson Jessica Jackson Symone Jackson Gabriella Lacy Bryanna Owens Tamirra Pierce Kennedy Ward Christopher Watkins Devonte West
We hope you enjoy our articles. Thank you all for the love and support and stay warm this winter!
CVCA Photography Instructor DeShaun Adams
PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRUE STAR MAGAZINE Letters to True Star • 1130 South Wabash • Suite 302 • Chicago, Il 60605-2717 Letters become the property of True Star and may be edited for publication. EMAIL soundoff@truestarmagazine.com
Aliysha Anderson Kenyatta Ferrell Sherise Gaines Charles George Chris George Mariah George Nihasa George Johnetta Jones Malique Keene Devon McCrary Knighta Perry Desiny Scott
Also, read up on young local Chicago actor Ocie Duncan, and check out one of Chicago’s most original hip-hop blogs Ruby Hornet and its illustrious founder Alexander Fruchter. In our Inside and Out section, you will read about why “Cheetos are NOT a Food Group” and learn about the dangers of prescription drugs. In our Young Love section, you will read about how to get reconnected with old friends and how to get rid of “toxic” ones.
HIT UP TRUE STAR ONLINE FACEBOOK: TRUESTARIS MYSPACE.COM: MYTRUESTAR TWITTER.COM: TRUESTARIS
Lamont Taylor Samantha Tillman Annick Toussaint Clarice Walker Tamia Willis Center for New Horizons Photography Instructor DeShaun Adams Asharrie Cole-Thomas Vanisha Duckins Deonte Harrington Jeremiah Hogans Darius Holmens Empress Howard Dajhanae Ingram Destiny Ingram Shakita Johnson Shovanta Johnson Joseph McEwing DeAndre Noel Brandon Sanders LeeAnna Washington Marshawn Young Graphic Design Corliss Instructor Polina Zionts Student Art Director Anshaunti Hillery Raquel Bailey Tatiana Bowman Flecisha Brown Antonio Campbell Jariese Daniels Dominique Ezell Devundray Hannah Shonta Harris Donovan Ingram Ebony Jamerson Brandon Johnson Mariah Lacy Sakina Lemon Jaylin Lovinsky Michelle Mosley Kayla Neal Robert Redus Howard Robinson Aaron Wallace
Radio Broadcasting Chicago State University Instructor Trey the Choklit Jock Assistant Ermina Veljacic Brian Alexander Tyler BrownHenderson Jasmine Davis Oscar Juarez Shaunda Kelley Jacqueline Kidd Samantha LaBranche Deja Mannie Taniya Moon Dalacy Myles Shazea Nathan Kennedy Pulliam LaSandra Spence DeQuann Vaughn Digital Media Corliss Instructors Jeneba Koroma DarShon Gibbs Rochelle Alston Tavandra Banks Tiffany Boozer Keyala Canady Ruquiah Cochran-Gray Jajaun Davis Jaleel Dixon Darrien Griggs William Harper Kaneshia Harvey Kiara Hickman Michael Hogan Tywon Jackson Denialle Johnson Shakita Kinds James King Tyler King Joseph Lewis James Lowery Javonte McCloud Derek McHerron Andriana Mcquay Markita Neal Malik Taylor
Foreman High School Editorial Instructor Edgar Molina Editorial Assistant Karl Thomas Mike Meza Anthony Lugo Reinaldo Delaosa Micheal Maldonado Xavier Dwyer Thalia Valez Rogelio Moreno Jeremiah Natano Luis Cedeno Xavier Dwyer Downtown Freelance Editorial Instructor Edgar Molina Micaela McNabb Shyenda Jacobs Nefari Steele Lashayla Davis Janise Lane Mina Waight-Aldana Nanyamka Gallardo Carla Gipson Sydney Shaw McKinley Nelson Alexander Stockstell Jahlil Porter Raeven Parker Yuwei Lei Kia Smith Jessica Jackson Braylyn Brown Michael Walton II Kaylynn Harris Vinessa Gabrielle Baylee Champion Maya Bryant Janaya Greene McKinley Nelson
CONTRIBUTORS
1. DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL DO BETTER IN HIS SECOND TERM THAN HIS FIRST? WHY OR WHY NOT? 2. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE PERFORMING ARTIST FROM CHICAGO AND HOW DO THEY INSPIRE YOU? 3. DO YOU BELIEVE THE SCHOOL STRIKE AFFECTED YOUR PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL THUS FAR?
ALEXIS ESTES JUNIOR MORGAN PARK SOUTHSIDE EDITORIAL
1. I feel that after the scare that Barack Obama had last year, he will be working extra hard over the next four years to show people who voted for him that their votes were not a waste of time. Now is the time, more than ever, for him to step up and prove to everyone that he was not only the better, more compassionate candidate, but the best thing for America right now. I feel that Obama knows what he has to do and the promises he needs to fulfill to make us all proud. 2. Right now my favorite artist from Chicago is Lupe Fiasco. I love the messages he puts into his music. His music is different, purposeful, and still fun to listen to. Instead of just talking about girls or money all the time, he talks about real issues that I feel I can relate to. His uniqueness and creativity inspires me to not live my life based on stereotypes and to stand up for what is important to me. 3. The strike has definitely affected my school as a whole. It was like a chain reaction; it threw off lesson plans and the students and parents were confused on what was going to happen for the rest of the year. The whole year, which already started off slow, feels even slower. I just don’t have the focus and energy that I had when I first started the school year.
MINA WAIGHT SOPHOMORE KENWOOD FREELANCE EDITORIAL
KARL THOMAS SENIOR FOREMAN NORTH SIDE EDITORIAL
1. I think President Obama will not be unable to do a better job in terms of improving the peoples’ wellbeing. The main reason why is that most things that President Obama wishes to accomplish will take a considerable amount of time to prepare and make a reality. He only has a short time as president. 2. I do not have one. I mostly listen to international music. 3. Honestly the strike has not affected my school performance. I would still be doing well in school whether the strike happened or not.
ANTONIO CAMPBELL SENIOR CORLISS GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM 1. Yes, because it takes time to make an actual change to an entire country. I mean only so much can be accomplished in four years. 2. Kanye West because he was able to make it out of Chicago and also help our artists get a nice buzz. He’s an amazing producer and even though he can be arrogant at times, I still admire him. 3. Yes, because the strike cut out a lot of our breaks. The length of the school days was already a big change and the added days only make things more drawn out. But I’m trying to stay focused. It’s my senior year so I can’t just give up.
KENNEDY PULLIAM 1. Yes, simply because he can pick up where he left off and continue with his vision to make America a better place to live. Also because he can get even more accomplished and make more changes to benefit the people. 2. My favorite up and coming Chicago performing artist is Jean Deaux. She makes really great music with good meaning. My favorite main stream artist is Common; he also makes really good music with good meanings and tunes. I enjoy listening to both artists. 3. Yes, everyone is really behind on where we should actually be academically, but the strike happened because of decisions that needed to be made to better our education, making it all worth it.
JUNIOR GWENDOLYN RADIO TEAM
1. I feel he will do better in his second term because the pressure is off now. I think it will also show the public that the Republicans are against his every move, even if it’s a good thing. He will get more support from Democrats because people will not agree with Republican policies. 2. Lupe Fiasco because I respect how he tries to keep his material positive and he rarely uses profanity in his music. 3. Personally the strike didn’t affect me at all. The first few days when we got back I made small adjustments, but it didn’t take long to get back into the groove of things.
REAL TALK
MY BODY,
NV
BUT NOT MY CHOICE? BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
T
he 2012 elections sparked major debate about the idea of contraception and specifically support of organizations like Planned Parenthood, one of the few organizations out there promoting safe sex and providing important medical services to countless uninsured women. Republicans feel that programs like this promote promiscuity, while Democrats support them. Republicans are proposing bills to take away general preventive health screenings like testing for STDs. According to the Huffington Post, Republicans want to stop insurance from paying for birth control and gynecologist visits because they believe it encourages sexual activity. Many religious conservative Republicans are pushing for more bills to be passed like the ones in Arizona practically banning legal abortions and the right to birth control. If more and more limitations get placed on important medical procedures for women, the health of millions could be at stake. By outlawing legal abortions, Republicans leave many women stuck in between a rock and a hard place. Without these free services, women will be forced to pay for necessary procedures. These procedures can range anywhere from $100 to $500. Who has that kind of money to pay considering the current recession we are facing? Planned Parenthood also provides more services than just abortions. They give mammogram screenings to help prevent breast cancer, test for STDs and a number of other screenings and tests to those who are unable to afford to go to an actual hospital. If bills like this end up getting passed, women will be set back 50 years. Regardless of the situation, expecting people who can’t afford health insurance to be abstinent is unrealistic. Nothing in history can point to the fact that encouraging abstinence actually works. 8 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
ALTHOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT SOME WOMEN ABUSE THE RIGHT TO ABORTIONS, MOST WOMEN WOULD ONLY DO IT IN THE MOST EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN RAPED, RECENTLY LAID OFF, MENTALLY UNSTABLE OR WHO IS A DRUG ADDICT IS NEARLY ABSURD.
THE RECOVERY ACT
FOR TEENS
BY JANAYA GREENE, JUNIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREPARATORY ACADEMY
S
tatistics show that only one in four teens have jobs, which is the smallest percentage in decades. There are many factors that contributed to the decrease, but the most significant was the raise in minimum wage and the larger competition for jobs created by the recession. But, luckily for us, Barack Obama’s Recovery Act is working to change this unsettling trend. The problems with teen unemployment rates started with the change in minimum wage. Not only does minimum wage lower the chances for more teenagers to be unemployed, but it also creates a smaller bracket for anyone to get jobs. To make matters worse, the United States is now experiencing a recession. To make ends meet, many adults who have lost their job are now taking the lower paying jobs that generally go to teens. Because of their experience, plus full-time availability, employers tend to choose them over teens. Brittany Benson, a 16-year-old student from Lindblom College Prep, says “I’ve put in plenty of applications, especially for the summer, but I barely received any call backs. When I did get a call, I got rejected because I could only work for the summer time.” Up until this point, the government has been focused on improving the financial life of adults to help improve the overall economical situation of the country. Although these changes are generally beneficial, they hurt the teen demographic.
Fortunately, President Obama took the very risky step of supporting an act to help improve the state of the teenage workforce. In 2009, Obama passed the Recovery Act that not only created and saved various jobs for adults, but also created around 180,000 employment opportunities for low-income teenagers in the summer of 2012, according to www.whitehouse.gov. The Recovery Act is slowly but surely affecting the work place by requiring that a certain percentage of a company’s workers be younger than the age of 18. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 9
E C N E L O I V C I T S E M O A I ELY D D M E E R T TH EM A IS EX
H T N I
OKS N BRO LY O D EN R, GW E, JUNIO N E E R AYA G MY BY JAN PREP ACADE E G COLLE
U DI O E Y M E E H TH F FT O O N I Y E E T T I L A ENC ENTAL ST REA L E O .” I H S V T E C C I O M T T N E ES UE Q E S “DOM MAGING THSITIZES THEM N O C E A N H D T ESE D T I E S BECAU
U
nfortunately, violence is a reality we all have to deal with; every day we hear about one new tragic incident after the other. But what many are not aware of is how the media plays a role in the violence and how it affects women more than men. Recently, a video went viral of Chicago rapper, Lil Reese, brutally attacking the mother of his child outside of her home. Although the video was filmed years ago, to the public, it still does not justify attacking a woman. But despite a general denouncing by most, to some his actions were mocked, considered “hilarious” and not deemed as wrong or unbecoming of a man. According to many who commented, it was funny and some even claimed that she deserved what she got due to her provoking him with physical gestures. 10 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Another video went viral of a Cleveland bus driver, Artis Hughes, attacking a girl who was harshly disrespecting him while riding a public bus. Although he might have had a legitimate reason to defend himself, a man punching a girl full force is wrong on so many levels. Instead of a mere push of defense, Hughes attacked the girl with an upper cut punch and various blows to the face. The video ultimately received a comical response with nearly 95,000 views. One viewer commented, “Shout out to the bus driver! Right on.” Others said “That b**** deserved it.” Domestic violence in the media is extremely damaging the mental state of the youth because it desensitizes them to the reality of the consequences. They can only see what the media shows them, but they largely are not aware of the real consequences; such as the fact that Artis Hughes lost his job and the permanent physical and emotional scars these women likely have to deal with on an everyday basis.
If the passé approach to the portrayals of violence in the media do not come to an end, teenagers will continue losing their morals and ethics that shape their day-to-day behavior. The youth need to stop glorifying these wrong-doings and instead speak against violence, in particular violence against women. To read more about the impact of violence in the media visit the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry site at http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/ developmentor/the_impact_of_media_violence_on_ children_and_adolescents_opportunities_for_clinical_ interventions.
TIPS ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARENTS EFFECTIVELY BY JESSICA JACKSON, SOPHOMORE, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
H
ave you ever had something you felt was important to tell your parents, but for some reason were confused as to how to go about it? If you answered yes, trust that you are not alone. It may be hard to believe, but there are ways to effectively talk to your parents without the threat of being put on punishment. Not a believer? Read on to find out how. If you feel your relationship with your parents is strained the website kidshealth.org suggests that teens try easing into conversations with their mom and dad. Open up the lines of communication by getting into the habit of having a daily verbal exercise with each other such as sharing how your day went. Something as simple as this can be the lead into the conversation you’ve always wanted to have. Here are some other things to keep in mind with talking with your parents: • Have a positive attitude when approaching your mom and dad. In many cases a good mood can enhance a conversation. Beginning a talk by being grumpy or angry may backfire on you and cause the other person to be in a negative mood as well.
• Rehearse what you want to say. By practicing what you want to tell your parents you have a better chance of not fumbling up what you are trying to communicate when the “right” time arrives. • Try talking to your parents when they’re in a good mood. A good time may be when your mom or dad is sitting on the sofa or in bed watching TV. Just make sure they’re not watching one of their favorite shows at the time. Break the ice with something like, “Can I talk to you for a minute?” If they say “not now” ask when would be a good time to come back. • Try not to raise your voice. If the conversation gets heated do your best to remain calm and speak in your normal tone to get your point across. Yelling will only appear disrespectful and most likely end up getting you into trouble. • Consider your parents’ point of view for once. Enter the conversation with an open mind and be willing to hear their side. Who knows, they may actually say something worthwhile.
• Avoid eye-rolling, talking under your breath, stomping your feet and slamming things. Doing any of these things will get you absolutely nowhere. When you are talking to your parent/s and you hear something you don’t like just calm down, be respectful and let them finish talking. They will appreciate your maturity in return, especially if he or she knows they have struck a nerve. Part of a parent’s job is to be there to listen to whatever trials and tribulations you are going through. If you are confident and mature in your delivery it’s more likely that you will have a better chance of getting positive results from any conversation you have. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 11
GAY RIGHTS IN THE OBAMA ERA
BY NANYAMKA GALLARDO, SOPHOMORE, KENWOOD ACADEMY
T
he fight for gay marriage is evident; it is heard about everywhere. In 2011 gay marriage was legal in eight states, and on November, 6th, 2012, the day President Barack Obama was re-elected, three more states joined the fight, making it a total of 11 states that have legalized gay marriage. A 2000 census determined that 23.8 percent of people who identify as LGBTQ were out of a job, 48.8 percent did not feel comfortable “coming out at work,” and 43 percent of LGBTQ employees experienced harassment in the work place because of their sexuality, according to “Lesbian-Gay-Transgender in the Workplace,” an article posted in www.catalyst.com. Fortunately, things have changed since then. According to the same article, 58 percent of Fortune 500 companies have domestic partnership benefits and 94 percent have a discrimination policy. There are more outlets for people of the LGBTQ community to express their issues, and to be more open about who they are without being discriminated against.
Ever since Obama was elected in his first term, the fight for civil rights resurfaced and gay rights were no exception. The LGBTQ community was even more emboldened by Obama’s re-election and historic changes were taking place even before Obama’s victory was announced. “Election 2012,” according to an article in the Huffington Post, “will go down as a breakthrough night for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.”
IT’S CRUNCH TIME:
SAVING YOUR GRADES AT THE LAST MINUTE BY MAYA BRYANT, SENIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
H
ave you missed one too many assignments this quarter and now you don’t know how to improve the “F” you got on your first quarter report card? There are a few simple and easy tips that can potentially save you from suffering another summer in summer school. It’s quite easy to slip up first quarter because most students tend to not take the first two weeks of school seriously. Those 10 days are often looked at as a grace period, a time for students to get acquainted with friends, memorize your class schedule, and start to get a feel about all of your teachers. But in that period of time there could have been at least two or more assignments due, which can hurt you at the end of the quarter. 12 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
HERE ARE SOME TIPS: Don’t take the little assignments for granted; they add up. How many times has your teacher said you can turn in late assignments, but it’s 10 points off? You think “Okay it’s just 10 points.” But those points could be the difference between pass and fail. While on the topic of how little points add up, let’s talk about extra credit. If you feel your grade slipping, better to ask for extra credit early and often. The worst your teacher can say is “no.” Also, if you do get the opportunity to do some extra credit, do it thoroughly and turn it in on time. The last thing you want is for your teacher to think you didn’t even appreciate the extra credit opportunity they gave you.
The most obvious of all tips would be to turn in all of your work on time. Regardless of how many problems you didn’t do and how many questions you left unanswered, any grade is much better than the zero you’ll receive if you don’t turn in anything at all. Another thing you can do if you’re struggling in understanding the subject is consider tutoring or join a study group. Rather than sit around and not understand, make an attempt to get help, ask your teacher any question after class until you thoroughly understand the material. Teachers are more than happy to help students who want to learn and succeed. Unfortunately, students foolishly wait until the end of the quarter to take their grade seriously. By then teachers are not interested in taking in more work to score while they’re busy finalizing grades.
GOING TO COLLEGE
BEFORE COLLEGE BY MAYA BRYANT, SENIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
F
reshman year you dreamed of going to that one particular college or university. You didn’t really know much about the school; just that the parties are cracking and there are cute boys or girls there. Now it’s your senior year and you’re starting the college application process. The first thing that comes to mind after looking at tuition and fees is “How in the world am I supposed to be able to pay for all this?” You may consider FASFA, scholarships and taking out loans, but will that cover everything? Depending on your parent’s financial situation, you will receive a set amount from FASFA. Another way to get funding is to get good grades. If you don’t have good grades, don’t panic! There are other ways of getting into your dream school and leave without having to pay thousands of dollars in school loans. First things first, consider going to a community college for two years, get your associates degree and then transfer to a four-year university to finish your last two years. “I’ve considered going to a community college, but I’d rather go straight to a university. I said once I retake the ACT, depending on my scores and how much scholarship money it can earn me, that’ll determine my decision on whether or not I will go to a community college” says Zana Shelton of Julian High School.
You may feel as though you’re being a lame by attending a community college, but the problem is you’re not looking at the big picture. Kimyetta Hall, a graduate of Julian High School now attending Kennedy King College, says “I made the decision to attend a community college because it was more affordable for me. At first I felt like a lame because everybody was leaving for school and I stayed home, but when I hear the stories of people being $30,000 or more in debt after they graduate, I realized I made the right decision.” Kathrine Cosann, admissions counselor at Kennedy King College, pointed out that if you attend a four-year university you’re likely to spend more money and be in even more debt than a student who attends a community college after you graduate. “Say, for instance, you go to Southern Illinois University, more than likely you’ll be spending about $300 for each class you take, whereas if you go to a community college you’ll be paying about $80 to $89 for those same classes, using those same books that universities use. So basically you’re getting the same education but for a cheaper price.” Even though attending a community college may not be the thing you want to do, it sure is the thing you should do if you can’t afford thousands of dollars in school loans. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 13
GIVING BACK TECH
F.L.Y. BY MAYA BRYANT, SENIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
W
hen you think about “fly” you may immediately think about being “swagged out” or keeping up with the latest trends, but F.L.Y., Fearless Leading by the Youth, is also an organization that works with youth in Woodlawn and surrounding communities to engage them around issues that directly affect them. “We got started in 2007 when our friends who had just come from the Juvenile Detention Center told us they had not had janitors in over nine weeks, they were not given any clean underwear, and they were being abused. We formed F.L.Y. so that we could have an organization that fights to make things better for the youth in the detention center,” says Alex Goldenberg, founder of F.L.Y. Organization. Because youth in the detention center were treated poorly, F.L.Y. started a protest against the Cook County president who was in charge of the detention center. Because F.L.Y. was concerned about the youth in the detention center, they sent out clean underwear and other miscellaneous items. Since 2007, F.L.Y. has continued to work with the detention center and has collaborated with other organizations in fighting to shut down the center to replace it with alternative programs in the neighborhoods where youth get locked up. In 2010, F.L.Y. began to fight to have the University of Chicago Hospital extend their children’s trauma center to the age of 21, so that when young adults get hurt they won’t have to be transferred to another hospital that is miles away. University
of Chicago Hospital thought otherwise and made a decision to open a research building in February of 2013. “We think that is wrong when they’re doing nothing to help children who are dying at their door. This is why in February we will have a march at the University of Chicago Hospital and demand that they care for our children and raise the age of their children’s trauma center” says Goldenberg. Beyond all their protests, F.L.Y. has teamed up with the new Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle to shut down the Juvenile Detention Center and replace it with Restorative Justice Hubs in the neighborhoods where youth get locked up. F.L.Y. has made a real difference to many youth by opening their eyes to how the system works to oppress them and how they can build a movement to change it. Some F.L.Y. members were previously involved in gangs and through F.L.Y. some youth have quit gangbanging, got their GED, enrolled in college, and became committed, lifelong activists for their community. They provide a safe place for students to come after school to do homework and use the computers. They also give youth something positive to do to help their community like keeping kids off the street in the summer and providing them with jobs.
WPT: DRILLING CHICAGO TEENS INTO SUCCESSFUL ADULTS BY JANAYA GREENE, JUNIOR, GWENDOLYN BROOKS COLLEGE PREP
C
hicago teens are exposed to violence, drug dealing, prostitution and a host of other negative influences on a daily basis. Although this is the norm for the most part, the World Performance Team, created by Captain
Michael Supreme, sets out to stop the ignorance and promote positive morals. This performance drill team encourages males from ages 7-14 to stray away from gangs, drugs and other self-destructive influences. “The gang violence that Chicago is facing on a day-to-day basis inspired me to start the World Performance Team organization. The Derrion Albert situation that happened in 2009 was recorded and people just stood behind him and did nothing. Young men in urban communities need positive, useful things to do and the WPT is here to help them.”
Captain Michael Supreme plans to one day take the drill team performers on an international tour to share their energy and positivity with the world. This could take some work but the World Performance Team is very goal-oriented and ready for whatever comes their way.
On every young man’s first day of being on the World Performance Team “they learn ‘yes sir, no sir.’ Once we can get them to speak in that manner, the next day we progress and teach them the importance of keeping their pants pulled up, staying away from gangs, drugs, etc. As well as teenage pregnancy, we ultimately just focus on keeping our young men away from all forms of negativity,” explains Captain Michael.
In addition to this goal, WPT also plans to “help raise the next president of the United States, doctor, lawyer, etc. We ultimately want them to grow up and be able to say, ‘When I was a kid, I wasn’t on the streets. I was at practice and working hard. I actually accomplished something.’ Ultimately, we want our boys to make a living off of doing what they love, doing drill team and performing.”
The World Performance Team has performed for Rahm Emmanuel at UIC, twice for Diggy Simmons, and at other venues around the city.
For more information on the World Performance Team, visit www.theworldperformanceteam.org.
14 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Minding Manners: THE BLACK AMERICAN PRINCESS BY JAMELIAH SALTER, SOPHOMORE, UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
SCHOOL OF CHARM
N
owadays, it may seem like the youth have access to everything through modern day technology. Every day we are urged by most everyone that we need to understand technology and that technology is the future.
Interestingly, you rarely ever hear people urge the importance of knowing your manners in the age of technology. Fortunately for us, The Black American Princess School of Charm understood the need and has been working to fulfill it ever since. As a modern day charm school for young girls, B.A.P. serves girls between 8th and 12th-grade. The founder of the program, Syreeta Talbert, noted the basics of the program, “We’re giving them the essentials of poise, grace and manners; how to walk, talk, speak properly, and enunciate their words. Also, educate them about personal grooming.”
The B.A.P. School of Charm evolved from Talbert’s search for a school of charm for her niece.
B.A.P. launched back in May of 2012 at the Washington Park District. The program is eight weeks long and is held four times a year. Throughout the eight weeks the girls receive a charm bracelet and charms that symbolize what they have learned. There is even a ceremony at the end. It is time for young girls to put away their phones, laptops and iPods because there are important skills to be learned before entering the “real world.” The old fashioned way is not always bad when it comes to teaching “poise, grace and charm.”
“I posted on Facebook and Twitter and no one really had a sound charm school for her to attend. I started getting a lot of e-mails from people saying that I should do it.”
For more information about the program, visit the site at www.bapschoolofcharm.com.
It does not stop there! Young girls are given the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship, basic and essential information on how to fill out job applications and FAFSA applications, college readiness and confidence in interviews.
Vida/SIDA: COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO HIV/STI JAMELIAH SALTER, SOPHOMORE, UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
A
ccording to www.cdc.gov, “Young people aged 13–29 accounted for 39 percent of all new HIV infections in 2009.” To make matters worse, research shows that young people are generally not concerned about sexually transmitted diseases. With so many young people behaving as if no danger exists, these disturbing statistics can only get worse. One organization that recognized this disturbing trend long ago and has been working to fight against it is Vida/SIDA (Life/HIV). In 1988, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center responded to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by opening an all-volunteer health clinic, according to idealist.org. This all-volunteer clinic eventually evolved into what is now Vida/SIDA. They focus on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention using community networks to spread their message. The message is usually spread through seminars, presentations, outreach, testing and so forth. In addition to HIV testing, Vida/SIDA provides testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and hepatitis C. They also have several counselors on hand who are trained to help direct clients to the services they may need. Because of their novel approach to HIV/STI prevention, Vida/SIDA has become a model for similar social service agencies. Furthermore, in order to reach out to and engage the youth of the community, Vida/SIDA started Generation L, a program led by LGBTQ Latino youth that is focused on providing safer sex education, as well as El Rescate, a transitional homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth.
Vida/SIDA is currently located at 2703 W. Division and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. For more information about Vida/SIDA you can visit the website at http://prcc-chgo.org/vidasida/. If you have an interest in volunteering at the clinic you can email Director of Operations, Lourdes Lugo, at lourdesl@prcc-chgo.org. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 15
TECH
WHICH IS BETTER:
PC GAMING OR CONSOLE GAMING? BY KARL THOMAS, SENIOR, FOREMAN HIGH SCHOOL
G
amers nowadays are starting to swap their consoles for PCs. Gaming on the PC has become a lot more accessible and less expensive. More people are learning how to take their computers apart and add several parts to make their PC powerful enough to run the same video games that are played on the consoles. Consoles, though, are designed specifically for gaming and don’t require any additional equipment, software or changes to settings. So which is better, PC or console gaming? There are plenty of benefits to PC gaming. The first is being able to customize your PC to be as fast as your needs require. If you would like to play big-budgeted games that require a fast processor and a large amount of memory to play, you are able to buy the parts you need in order to play those games. On the other hand, if you are looking to play relatively less demanding games with lower quality graphics, you can do that on a PC as well. With PCs, you do not have to worry about regionlock, where your hardware can only play games in your region. Therefore, if you would like to play games from other countries, it now becomes very possible. There are plenty of games that are top-quality and are ONLY available on the PC. The varieties of different games are spectacular; leaving you with many options. The cons to the PC are simple. If you don’t have any technical knowledge and wherewithal, even switching settings might prove difficult. Finally, you’ll have to spend a more significant amount of money to prepare a PC to handle some of the more demanding games. On the other hand, you have consoles where the manufactures have everything built for you and a variety of different games for you to play. These manufactures include major companies such as Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft. When you have a 16 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
console, all you have to do is “plug and play.” Consoles come with controllers that are comfortable for you. Most games for consoles are region-locked, but there is still a huge library of games available for you. The few cons for console gaming are that you will never be able to upgrade your graphics, and both settings and game choices are limited. On www.tomshardware.com, a forum section posed the question: Is gaming on the PC worth it? A member by the name of “Kashifme” said “Ninety-five percent of the games released today are multiplatform. The experience is just not the same. Not only are the PC versions graphically superior and run smoother, they cost cheaper too.” On IGN boards, “Torok1134” said, “Depends on how much you actually play video games.”
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE MEANS TO GAME ON PC, GO FOR IT! IF NOT, STICK TO CONSOLE GAMING.
VS.
IPHONE 5 SAMSUNG GALAXY S3 BY MIKE MEZA, JUNIOR, FOREMAN HIGH SCHOOL
T
he war for the best smart phone continues and it seems Apple has met its biggest rival in the Samsung Galaxy S3. In this article you will learn what sets them apart.
Design and Construction
The iPhone 5 may not have changed as much as the iPhone 4 but it still manages to be the best looking smart phone on the market. The iPhone 5 has much more aluminum in the frame than previous iPhones and is much more durable than the polycarbonate used in the Samsung Galaxy S3, according to www.knowyourmobile.com.
Display
The iPhone 5’s screen is based on high-end IPS LCD screen technology that other smart phones don’t use. To compete with Apple, Samsung has AMOLED technology in the Samsung Galaxy S3. In terms of better picture and brightness, the iPhone 5 surpasses the Galaxy S3 despite it having the larger screen.
System Features
The Samsung Galaxy S3 is far faster than the iPhone 5, which means apps won’t drag like before. If you like multitasking, you won’t be disappointed with the Samsung Galaxy S3, according to www.digitaltrends.com.
Camera
Both the Samsung galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 have crystal clear high definition video that looks spectacular. Besides a few insignificant differences, the cameras in both phones are just about the same.
Battery Life
The iPhone 5 can give you under nine hours of battery life, which is pretty good for a 4G smart phone. The Samsung Galaxy S3, however, can give you around 35 minutes more battery life than the iPhone 5.
Conclusion
Both of these phones are pretty evenly matched and the winner is really up to personal preference. According to Mauricio Balvanera, the producer and editor of App Judgment at Revision3.com/appjudgment, “Apple at best has matched current Android hardware’s specs. If you are going to choose the iPhone 5, it should be because you prefer the iOS, not because you feel the hardware is superior.”
USING
TECHNOLOGY TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK BY ROGELIO MORENO, SOPHOMORE, FOREMAN HIGH SCHOOL
E
verybody has those difficult moments when they struggle with homework and have nowhere to turn for help. But what many teens are unaware of is that there are many homework help resources you can find simply by searching online. From tutoring to online dictionaries, the Internet is chock full of helpful resources to help when no one else can.
SEARCH ENGINES
Most people who use search engines for homework use “Google” for answers they need. But there are many more that can help you get specific information, such as Google Scholar and iSEEK that search specifically for academic articles. You can find a list of “20 of the Best Search Engines” using the following link: http://education-portal.com/articles/20_of_the_Best_Search_Engines_for_ Students.html.
SMARTPHONE APPS
If you have a smartphone and have not been using apps to help you with your homework, then you haven’t used your smartphone to its full potential. Ever need to look up a word or find a synonym? Look up “dictionary” in your app store and you will surely find countless free dictionary apps to download for your phone. For apps designed specifically for help with homework check out “Homework Help Apps” at http:// www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-lists/ homework-help-apps.
TABLETS AND E-READERS
Tablets and eReaders are growing in popularity with the average on-the-move student of today. They fit easily into any book bag, weigh only a few pounds, and can be used to read books, do research online, email and word process. For an analysis of the most useful tablets for students, check out http:// www.theverge.com/2012/8/20/3255524/ best-tablets-students. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 17
WINTER FASHION
Faves that Keep Your Hook-Up Hot DON’T LET THE COLD WEATHER OUTDOORS KEEP YOU FROM LOOKING YOUR COOLEST WHENEVER POSSIBLE. ALL IT TAKES IS A FEW GRAPHIC PIECES, SOME BOLD ACCESSORIES AND A SPLASH OF COLOR TO TURN YOUR DRAB ATTIRE UP A FEW DEGREES. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU’LL HAVE THE SIZZLING STYLE EVERYONE WILL ADMIRE. Photography: Mireya Acierto Hair: Diamond Beach Make Up: Jill Mitchell Stylists: Sam Ng & Julian Burnett
Jamel Jackson wil tell you that nothing shows off swag better than a leather jacket. Add in a plaid button-front shirt and a graphic, camouflage cap and you’re good to go. Jacket (Akira) / Shirt (Gant’s) / T-shirt & Cap (Leader’s)
Alyssa Magallanes stays warm this winter while looking cute in this hooded fur vest and denim top. The studded leggings and studded platforms shine a spotlight on her sizzling style. Shirt (Forever21) / Necklace & Legging (Akira) / Shoe (Jeffrey Campbell) / Fur Vest (Stylist’s own)
Breana Staples and Aaliyah Allen are proof that a little denim goes a long way, especial y when teamed with a playful top, colorful, fitted bottom and bold accessories. Breana: Jacket, Top, Necklace, Bracelet, Purse & Shoe (Akira) / Jean (H&M) / Earring (model’s own) // Aaliyah: T-shirt (Leader’s) / Jacket, Necklace, Legging & Shoe (Akira) / Bracelet (Stylist’s own)
Oscar Juarez’s letterman style cardigan worn with a graphic tee and colorful slack put an upgrade on a nostalgic look that can’t be ignored. Hat (stylist’s own) / Cardigan (RAW G-Star) / T-shirt (model’s own) / Pant (French Connection) / Shoe (Wolverine)
Whether it’s a bold print, like Jamel’s camo, or a bold color, like Aaliyah’s turquoise, the right jacket could be just the piece needed to complete an outfit. Jamel: Camo Jacket (French Connection) / T-Shirt (Leader’s) / Pant (Ben Sherman) / Shoe (Lacrosse) // Aaliyah: Jacket, Top, Necklace (H&M) / Legging (Akira) / Shoe (Steve Madden) / Earring (model’s own)
This old school style, worn by Stanley Rodgers, looks new again when a tweed blazer and bold pocket square are paired up with a graphic sweater and colorful shirt for a suave appeal. Blazer & Shirt (Original Penguin) / Sweater (Leader’s) / Pocket Square (H&M)
Breana, Aaliyah and Alyssa dress up their graphic sweats with the shine of some playful accessories. All Sunglasses (H&M) / All Accessories (Stylist’s own) / All Sweaters, Hoodie & Cap (Leader’s)
Whether he’s hitting the streets or the slopes Oscar wil definitely be one to watch in this hooded puff vest worn over a stripped sweater with jeans. Cap (Leader’s) / Puffy vest & Jeans (RAW G-Star) / Sweater (Original Penguin)
Don’t be afraid to stand out. Alyssa rocks a purple blazer with matching purple platforms, a stripped sweater and a colorful denim bottom. Stanley follows her lead with a brightly colored, snap-front jacket, matching-color shoe and plaid shirt. Alyssa: Blazer (H&M) / Knitwear & Denim (Akira) / Shoe (Jeffrey Campbell) / Hat & Accessories (Stylist’s own) // Stanley: Shirt (Fred Perry) / Jacket (J. Scott) / Pant (DL Jeans) / Shoe (Sebago)
Breana adds a playful pop of color to her hook-up by rocking this fun fuchia, graphic T-shirt, with a graphic belt and dark denim jean. T-shirt Mad Love Shop / All Accessories (Stylist’s own) / Jeans (Models’ own)
DEAR, CHICAGO
“Thank You.” SINCERELY,
CHANCE BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
26 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
THE RAPPER.
Chance’s dream began at age 13 while walking the halls of Jones College Prep on the South Loop of Chicago. At age 18 it became a reality with the release of his first mixtape “10 Day” months before his graduation. But this is not a story about Chance’s success, but rather a chance for Chance to show gratitude towards Chicago for his success. “YouMedia is 98 percent responsible for all of my fans. It was a free stage and a free space to express myself. I took advantage of everything that was there,” says Chance. Every Wednesday at Harold Washington Library, YouMedia hosts an open mic session. The open mic session invites any and all aspiring poets, singers and emcees. Some years back the open mic was not known for featuring rappers, but Chance quickly changed that. “I remember people would flock to the library every Wednesday to watch open mic. I know I probably pissed a lot of people off coming in there and performing a lot of raps weekly, but I knew I was better than other people and I just wanted to prove it.
With the recent rise of indie artists in Chicago like Kembe X, Monster Mike and Chance, as well as having actual fan bases who will willingly buy tickets to see these artist, this “getting paid to rap” attitude is no longer an arrogant one to have. “We have made them stop fighting against us and work with us instead. If I can bring in people into your establishment so that you can make a profit, respect me enough to pay me or I won’t perform. That’s why I have love for every single one of my fans because I would not have any type of career if they were not there to support me on this. So things for every artist in Chicago are getting better on the business side.” This is only the beginning for Chance The Rapper, so his humbleness and ability to look back on what he has accomplished and say “Thank you” is not a surprise. An entire city is rooting for this guy to reach that next level. If you want to support, go download “10 Day” from Datpiff.com and be on the lookout for his second project “Acid Rap.”
THERE WAS NO RIGHT
OR WRONG WAY
TO PERFORM AND I LOVED THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE SLOWLY GOT USED TO ME. BEING KNOWN AS THAT RAPPER GUY WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME AT THE TIME.” The Chicago of today is known for its young artists. Many young people are aspiring photographers, videographers, artists, singers, models, bloggers and promoters. Generally speaking, the naïve nature of these young folks makes it hard for them to work hand-in-hand with each other business-wise. Chance feels that people are starting to see the value in the art being produced and want to support it better, thus creating a better business atmosphere. “A year ago when I was doing shows in the city, I noticed that artists were not really being respected. A promoter would rent out a venue for super cheap, throw 17 artists on the bill and give each artist three or four minute sets to perform one song or half a song. Tax the fans at the door to get in, tax for drinks and then have them sit through a long show just to see the one person they like. Not to mention, the artists get absolutely no money or cut from the show.”
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 27
THE NEW
TINK IN THE FEMALE RAP GAME BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL
N
icki Minaj claims she “just single-handedly annihilated, you know every rap chick in the building” but she might have some competition pretty soon. The hip-hop industry is not a friendly place especially for a female lyricist. Still Tink continues to wipe her feet on unwelcomed mats and change already made up minds. The 17-year-old rapper believes by staying true to herself, she’ll be the fresh breath the industry needs, saying “I don’t try to alter myself, do too much or try to look too sexy. I just like to be myself and stay natural.” This is completely different than what we see today in the world of hip-hop, which is often too clouded with fake assets and synthetic features. “[The limelight] will never change me. I like to stay true to myself and I always have to keep it real. I’m not a sellout. People may have different perspectives and routes they want to take as far as, you know, the money and the fame. But I want to and will stay true to my fans and everyone that’s been with me since day one.” Being a female trying to break into the game can be difficult. With all the stigma and stereotypes attached to female MC’s, Tink feels like “It’s time for a change. As far as music, people want to hear good artists rather than commercial artists. That’s what I want to make my mark as, a real artist. Not a female artist.” Tink’s passion for music is pure; putting nothing synthetic into her rhymes. “One hundred percent of the music is me. I think that’s why people relate to me so much because all of it comes from the heart.” But how did this high school chick get into the world of hip-hop to begin with? Surprisingly her introduction into the rap game began on Facebook. “I was inspired to do music when I dropped my first freestyle on Facebook and everyone was liking it, and telling me keep going.” And that she did. Now Tink is an established Chicago emcee, with a style she described as “anything I’m feeling.” With influences like Frank Ocean, Meek Mill and Beyonce, her musical abilities are varied. Even though she has graced the cover of RedEye and performed in front of hundreds at SuperFest this past summer, Tink is still very much like us. She somehow finds a way to balance school, performances and recording new tracks. “It’s a struggle, but the biggest thing is probably balancing the time between music and school work.” 28 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Despite every reason to be cocky and stuck up, Tink stays grounded. “If it all ends tomorrow, I’ll be content. My journey has been long, but yet worthwhile.” We can all take note of Tink’s ability to be grateful for what success has brought to her. Still she holds high hopes for herself saying “My number one goal as an artist is to go platinum.” Tink offers one last piece of advice to anyone with a dream. “Don’t give up; you never know what you can do unless you keep going. It’s all trial-and-error and the only thing you have left to do is keep going. At the end of the day, you can’t stop pushing because you never know what’s in store for you.” For more on Tink, check out her video at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ITAe6u76dMQ.
THE SOULFUL
Lili K’s main motivation for sticking with her music came after the death of her best friend.
LILI K
“She was a big fan of my singing and I wanted to write a song for her.” Ever since that first song, Lili K has never stopped claiming “She believed in and me and that was all I needed.” Lili K’s heartbreaking loss adds a deeper touch to her voice and music, allowing her fans a raw look into her life.
“THIS WHITE GIRL HAS SOME SOUL”
“I don’t know actually where I should be. There’s definitely a place for me in the music world though, somewhere in between mainstream and underground.”
BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL
was the first thought that raced through my mind as I listened to neo soul artist Lili K. She is starting to turn heads with her soulful and rhythmic voice. With a musical mix of soul, jazz and hip-hop, her appeal is only getting wider. Her musical abilities bloomed at a very early age. “I started taking music seriously when I moved to Milwaukee at 11 and went to a performing arts school and majored in vocal. The more I started to sing, the more I discovered not only is this something I’m good at, but it’s something I love. I then realized I had a gift.”
Being compared to vocalists like Amy Winehouse and Adele, Lili K is on the brink of major success. Still she remains very much in a category of her own, describing her style as “having a mix of jazz, a little bit of hip-hop and a neo soul funk.” Her ability to make unique music gives her an edge in an industry with little diversity. So much so that many have a hard time labeling her.
With a lot of judgment up front because of her race, many take Lili K as a joke until she opens her mouth. “When I say I sing soul, being this white girl, you would think people would get over it because of Amy Winehouse and everything, but no they don’t. I sing these jazzy, soulful songs over these hip-hop beats and it’s weird to people. But the more they listen and finally give it a chance, it works to my advantage.” But Lili K doesn’t let others get her down. She is an inspiration for anyone who wants to explore other cultures and pursue a seemingly impossible dream. “I feel we worry too much about what people think about us. Like with what we’re supposed to be and think, ‘oh, they’re going to laugh at me.’ Let them laugh.” For more on Lili K, visit lilikmusic.com. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 29
THRU DA WIRE
GETTING THE BUZZ ON
RUBY HORNET BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
R
uby Hornet is one of the premiere hip-hop blogs on the net. In Chicago, Ruby Hornet stands proudly with blogs like, Fake Shore Drive and Illroots, respectfully, for breaking new artists.
Meet Alexander Fructher, 30, and the creator of Ruby Hornet. “I am responsible for everything Ruby Hornet. The direction of it, what we cover and how we cover it. I have writers on my team who do a great job of enforcing my ideals for the site.” Fructher has always been a fan of hiphop music; his favorite artists growing up give a solid foundation for his musical opinions that exist today. “I did not get to see the beginning of hip-hop; that was a generation before me. I got to enjoy artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and the Beastie Boys, one of my all time favorites. Not to mention, Kanye West who debuted right when I turned 18. Also, can’t forget Dilated Peoples and Typical Cats; bumped them a lot while working in a record store in Hyde Park.”
I had just decided to quit being a teacher and was doing writing work for a music management firm, and I was a secretary at a financial investment place, plus DJing at night. I was known as the ‘writer guy,’ anything you need written, I got it. Well that nickname put me in front of some guys one night who asked me to start a hiphop content site called Ruby Hornet. I ran with Ruby Hornet because it was a fresh start after a year of growth and exploration.” Around the same time Ruby Hornet started up, other sites like Fake Shore Drive were emerging as well, looking too sink their teeth into the new hip-hop talent rising in Chicago. “No one knew what they were really doing. Artists like Kid Sister and The Cool Kids, that first wave of hip-hop artists in Chicago in the 2000s, made things a little bit easier because they provided us with content.” Fructher lives for the recognition he receives from Ruby Hornet. Artists like Lupe Fiasco even greet him in person and congratulate him on his work. “Being able to meet the people that inspire me has made me happy so far with this site. Artists who I listened to as a fan growing up know me personally. More importantly, as a kid I knew I wanted to work to inspire people.”
Ruby Hornet was not an overnight idea. After graduating from Indiana University, a young and eager Fructher did many jobs in Chicago at in the hopes of finding his niche.
Fructher now works in Sound Scape studios here in Chicago. By partnering with Sound Scape, Ruby Hornet has created the Closed Sessions Series. Artists like MellowHype, Alex Wiley and Action Bronson have come into SoundScape, recorded sessions and Ruby Hornet then covers and posts the songs recorded on the website as a mixtape.
“I worked with a website called Sound Slam where I first started my hip-hop writing. From 2004 to 2006 was nothing but artist interviews and meeting people in the industry. The year 2008 was crazy. I was hustling for anything I could get.
“A goal for Ruby Hornet is to continue to be an outlet for artists and to become an expert in that field,” explains Fructher. “Now that you know its creator and story, go visit RubyHornet.com.”
30 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
ALL ABOUT OCIE BY KIA “KWEEN K” SMITH, FRESHMAN, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
O
cie Duncan IV is a 20-year-old actor and self-made entrepreneur who is trying his hand at acting in a local TV show titled “All About Chris.” In this interview, Duncan shares a little about his life, his role on the show, and how important it is to have positive black role models. True Star: How did you get into acting? Ocie Duncan: Honestly the opportunity came out of nowhere, like blessings do. I met Timothy Wilson (Chris from the “All About Chris” TV show) while I was working with Lottery Pick Energy Drink at a Walgreens. We exchanged info and months later he offered me an opportunity to be on the show. TS: What is your role on the show? OD: I play Terence, a father who is driven to get his triplet daughters back at any cost from Mama Teresa. TS: What’s one thing you enjoy about playing this role? OD: Honestly, I enjoy the exposure! I’ve gotten used to randomly hearing girls screaming and wanting to take pictures, but I also enjoy being a positive role model for teens and at-risk youth. We need more of those.
TS: How has your role on this show made you a better person? OD: Being on the show in general has opened a few doors to more opportunities for not just me, but also those around me. TS: What are your future plans with acting? OD: I look forward to doing movies, commercials and more sitcoms in my lifetime. TS: What are some of your next upcoming projects? OD: This fall, I’m acting in the back by popular demand, “OG GRANNY STAGEPLAY” at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. I’ll also be guest starring in the new TV show “The Weekend.” TS: Thank you for sitting down with True Star to share your acting experiences with us and good luck in the future. OD: You’re welcome. For more on “All About Chris,” visit www.allaboutchris.com
J. KING: CHICAGO BRED, ATLANTA FED. BY GABRIEL RUSSELL, FRESHMAN, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
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nlike many other rappers, this one is the best of the originals. Taking his knowledge and turning it into music, J. King ushered in a novel style of rap. From his unique style to irresistible lyrical rhymes, you can’t help but be hooked. True Star gets to know rapper J. King as he steps into the limelight.
JK: The comic books I made were just products of my creativity. Same thing with the poems. Now is it possible that the results of one can inspire me to create the other? Yes, it’s possible. I could have authored one of my characters to say something that sparked a punch line for a song.
True Star: How do you compare to previous rappers?
TS: How does your music connect to your audience?
J. King: My music entails a lot of fundamentals that those before me had in their songs. The art of storytelling, the wittiness in the bars, the cleverness of the songs—all the main components of good music. Though I use my own style and flow to express my truths, I’m sure with me being a fan of music the way I am, that I’ve been influenced by some of the greats. TS: What is your favorite hobby? JK: I’ll have to say basketball. It’s been something I do on the side since I was young. Like almost all little guys in the Chi, I was part of a basketball program. Back then it was Nike Swoosh League. My squad was the Avalon Park Hawks. TS: After reading your bio, I was wondering does your collection of comic books, music and poems inspire your music?
JK: It’s hard to say. I know when I’m making songs I can have a certain mindset or have my own personal feelings behind the words, but is it being received the way I intended it to? I don’t know. I get feedback from different listeners and my music can put people in different stages. TS: What current projects are you working on at the moment? JK: Well, “The Fly. The Real. The Cool” is the latest project completed. You can get that off datpiff.com and at Brotherhood Barbershop. I’m wrapping up the “This Guy, That Guy” collab project with my partner Dodigate in Savannah, so be on the lookout for that. And I’m still whipping up the ingredients for the projects that follow from the collabs to pulling my production resources from my production crew Track House, the homie C- Sick, and a few up and coming producers. The whole idea is to stay productive, keep working, grind hard and success will be achieved. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 31
Under The
Radar
XFR
MUSICAL STYLE Skyler: As the producer, I strive
towards intricate instrumentals with layered harmonic content to give a more full sound.
RELLO
MUSICAL STYLE My musical style is hip-hop. UNIQUENESS
Brandon: Lyrically, I try to cut right to the heart of listeners bringing big concepts down into practical everyday life applications. With a dynamic use of metaphors, similes, and word play while keeping the flow that a particular beat calls for. So basically, I would classify XFR as conscious rap.
UNIQUENESS We try to bridge the gap between the present and the past while still being innovative. We are not afraid to try new things musically and we make the type of music we enjoy.
I love rapping about my personal experiences and putting them in a content for the world to relate to.
GOAL
The unique thing about me is that I rap to inspire the youth to live out their dreams and I’m only 19 myself, and that’s rare you find someone as young as me that’s doing what I’m doing.
INFLUENCE Skyler: Lincoln Park, Korn, Disturbed, Dr. Dre, Nine
GOAL
Brandon: Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Gospel Gangstaz, Eminem, Cross Movement and Jay-Z.
My ultimate goal as an artist is to have my movement gain awareness nationwide and motivate everyone to live positive and stand for what they believe in.
INFLUENCE
Jay-z and Nas
Twitter - https://twitter.com/chkarmadreams Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/RelloDreamer 32 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
To make good music that inspires, uplifts, and in a perfect world, every listener would walk away with something.
Inch Nails, Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, and Kanye West.
xfrmovement@gmail.com Patrick Davis at 773.318.1787. facebook.com/XForRadical soundcloud.com/xforradical www.youtube.com/xforradical https://twitter.com/xfrlife
J’REAL MUSICAL STYLE It’s hard to describe my musical style
when I don’t have one. I can make music and it can fit into any genre from country to hip-hop, as long as I can get my message across and it’s pleasing to the ear.
UNIQUENESS What makes me unique is that I’m a dynamic
performer, as well as having great music. A lot of artists lack in certain areas, and over the years I have worked on mastering everything. My performances may have smoke machines, dancers, strobe lights, etc. My music is unique because a lot of artists that have messages in their music can’t be commercial enough to be recognized by a lot of people. Nowadays, commercial music is what makes the artist and no one cares about the message in it. But I have a way to make commercial music and get people to grasp the message I’m trying to put out.
GOAL
An ultimate goal of mine is to show people that you don’t have to be profane or sexual to make good music. You don’t have to be underground to put messages in your songs. But my most important goal is to impact people worldwide. I want to give back on so many levels that I can actually envision myself being an entertainer-turned-politician one day.
INFLUENCE I only listen to artists who are creative. Eminem and
Hopsin. Michael Jackson also, but mainly because of his impact on people, which is something I’m destined to do Jay-Z is a big one also because of his rap skills, but mainly his business ventures. Darius Rucker is one, but one of my real big ones right now is Justin Bieber because of his continuous hard work with the amount of criticism he gets.
Contact Info for Fans? Twitter: @itzjreal. Facebook.com/itzjreal For bookings, features, etc. JRealBookings@Gmail.com
FAME THE RAPPER MUSICAL STYLE
I would describe my musical style as hip-hop/Luxury Rap. I would fall closer to a Kanye with street edginess and a touch of Rick Ross’ grandiosity when it comes to material things. I love high end clothing and sneakers.
UNIQUENESS The only thing that I would consider unique
about my music is that it’s about who I am as a person, and the way I see things from my perspective. Like the song “Can I live” is written from a 14-year-olds point of view from a gang ridden, poverty stricken community. The only thing unique about that is that other 14-year-old rappers glorify that life, but I don’t.
GOAL
My ultimate goal in music is to build a Fortune 500 brand status. Even though I love music and I’ll always be a performer, I realize that the most successful artists are more successful because they brand themselves in major ways. My ultimate goal leans more towards business.
INFLUENCE
My major influences are Kanye West, Big Sean, Jay-z and Biggie on music. On business, it would be P. Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent. These three have excellent business models and tremendous brands. Their brand and business models will outlive their music career. FAMETHERAPPERBOOKING@gmail.com WWW.REVERBNATION/FAMETHERAPPER.COM @FAMETHERAPPER2(INSTAGRAM) @FAMETHERAPPER2 (TWITTER) YOUNGFAME67(YOUTUBE) TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 33
TEEN TEEN BIZBIZ
College Fly-In Program: VISIT A COLLEGE YOU LIKE FOR FREE? BY TIA JAMES, SENIOR, WALTER PAYTON COLLEGE PREP
I You are never too young to “Get Your Money Right.” As Treasurer of the City of Chicago, I am often asked about the best investments. I tell people, especially young people, invest in your education -- it will pay you dividends for your entire life. Studies show that over the course of a working lifetime people with a college degree will earn close to one million dollars more than someone with just a high school diploma, and the value of that degree will only continue to increase. The cost of a four-year college degree is higher than ever and still rising. As a result, student debt in America has reached more than one trillion dollars, surpassing even credit card debt. The average college senior is now graduating with a $26,000 debt and is facing a difficult job market. Paying for that higher education is going to take hard work and resourcefulness from you and your family. You can start by developing a healthy relationship with money. The second thing you can do is make sure you know all your options for higher education. There are multiple ways to get a college degree and many ways to pay for it. •Look for all sources “free money” such as scholarships and grants. • Make sure to complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form as soon as possible. •Also, consider two-year community colleges as a place to start. The average tuition is just $3,000 a year and most four-year colleges will accept transfer credits. You can save between ten and fifty thousand dollars on average. • Be aware that not all school loans are created equal, and loans from for-profit schools usually cost more. You CAN make college happen for yourselves; it just means you and your families have to work smarter than ever at planning for a college future. Remember, it’s your money, your choice.
Stephanie D. Neely Treasurer, City of Chicago
f you plan on going to college, chances are that you’ve been told to make sure you visit a college campus to get the “feel” of it and to see if you can picture yourself being there. However, many teens cannot afford to visit schools that are far from home. To help with this, many colleges offer “Diversity Fly-In” programs targeted toward minorities that allow them to visit colleges for little to no charge. When you are looking at colleges, it is easy to be influenced by the brochures, letters, websites and emails that a certain college is for you. Better to visit and see what the college is all about for yourself.
grant, students must contact their admissions office and a staff member will help you get a travel grant. Be aware that these go quickly, so call ASAP! A list of colleges that offer some sort of fly-in program can be found at: http://www.college-path.com/2011-diversity-flyin-listcolleges-pay-seniors-visit-fall/ Also, not all colleges that have this program are listed here, so if you are interested in a school contact them directly to see if they can help.
One college that offers the “Diversity Fly-In” program is Carnegie Mellon University. To be considered for Carnegie Mellon’s “Celebration of Diversity Weekend” students have to have a 27 ACT (1800 SAT) score, and a 3.3 GPA, and must register online. Another school that offers this program is Washington University in St. Louis, a well known school with a nationally ranked business program. To receive a travel
Starting a Small Food Business: A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS BY KAPRISHA MARTIN, JUNIOR, NORTH LAWNDALE COLLEGE PREP
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tep into the business world where the recipe for success is capital, experience and actions. First things first, always know what you want to go into. It is very important to have a clear idea of what you want to do in order to plan and shape your idea. Make sure that you do what you’re good at. Starting a business involves a lot of risks, but they are risks you have to take to make a profit. “First step was to come up with a business plan to determine if the business ideas are feasible or not. Writing (and re-writing) your business plan is an ongoing process and it’s important to keep evaluating all the components of the business,” says Lauren Bushnell, founder of Peerless Bread and Jam, Inc. A business plan is essential. The plan will help figure out how much you need to spend, save, and keep as a failsafe. It’s basically the step-by-step alternatives that can possibly be beneficial to you. Tanesha Jordan, a student intern in an entrepreneurship program, says,
“A business plan helps give structure to the confusion of organizing your ideas into actions.” As you go to actually begin building your new business, your plan will be there to help. All that is left to do is take action! Put all that hard work and thinking into play. The beginning will be hard and strenuous, but it will pay off.
1.
BUSINESS PLAN TIPS
THE FIRST THING THAT SHOULD GO INTO A PLAN IS YOUR PURPOSE. WITHOUT THIS, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO ACTION.
2.
BUSINESS PLANS REQUIRE RESEARCHING COMPETITORS AND DETERMINING HOW YOU DIFFER FROM THEM TO PLAN YOUR MARKETING STRATEGIES.
3.
FINALLY, COMPARE THE STRENGTH OF YOUR BUSINESS TO THE MARKET (I.E. DO PEOPLE REALLY NEED WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER?)
ADVERTISING:
HELP CUSTOMERS FIND YOUR SMALL BUSINESS BY KAMAL BILAL, JUNIOR, WHITNEY YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL
A
dvertising is key when it comes to starting a small business. Without advertising, no one will know about your business. Advertising is what you remember a business by and is what motivates you to buy from that company. The following article will help with efficient and cheap ways to advertise your product or service. With modern technology, advertising is easier than ever before. In the past, most companies advertised by sending mail using addresses from the phone book. The monetary cost of each envelope, stamp and paper, along with the work of folding, sealing and sending each envelope for less than a one percent sales return, is not efficient at all. With the use of email to your specific target market and social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you can market your business faster and cheaper. Google AdWords is a resource that allows you to create an ad using keywords and phrases. When people search on Google using one of your keywords, your ad may appear next to the search results. Andrew Riker, an SEO specialist at Word Stream, says “A small daily budget -- $10$20/day -- can provide you with a large amount of traffic and in turn qualified
leads, as long as the ad is relevant.” Advertisements on social media websites are a good way to provide your company with name recognition. On a typical day, 61 percent of American adults will log on to a social media website. Additionally, partnering with companies similar to yours will allow you to target your audience. Furthermore, donating some of your company’s product or service will also allow for people to sample your business and become interested through word of mouth. With these ways, along with many others, you should be able to advertise your business to your target market, cheaply, efficiently, and without the use of a lot of physical labor.
Financial Help for You,
YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR PARENTS BY HSBC BANK
D
o you learn about personal finances in school? Do you learn about it at home? While some may answer “yes” to these questions, others might say “no.” Those involved in teaching and promoting financial education as a part of our day jobs often hear that the same education should also be incorporated into homes and classrooms. The challenge, however, is studies over the years have shown not all parents and teachers themselves are comfortable with financial education topics, so asking them to help teach it may not be realistic. Certainly, the saying “You can’t teach what you don’t know” applies. Good news for you, your teachers and your parents is here! The Youth Committee of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability (or PACFC, for short) has introduced a framework of basic building blocks that are designed to help kids age 3 to 18+ learn the fundamentals of finances. This framework is broken into different age groups: 3-5 years; 6-10 years; 11-13 years; 14-18; and 18+ years. As a financial educator, I can assure you that we can all find value in this new framework!
about money. Beginning with what money is for and how it is obtained, to how to spend, save and invest it; the site contains information and activities to help kids and students of all ages learn what they need to know to help build a solid platform of money fundamentals. If you are looking for a bit more depth on some of the money basics, or looking for information on topics not covered by the Money as You Grow site, be sure to visit www.YourMoneyCounts.com. In particular, the module titled “Your Financial Foundation” may be just what you’re looking for to help establish a solid financial platform on which to build your future wealth. You’ll find information in easy-tounderstand language, with no sales or marketing messages that can get in the way of learning about finances. In a world in which finances can become overly-complex with new and unique products and services, having a strong grasp on the basics will be critical. The more we all learn about money and the sooner we do it, the better off we’ll all be.
The website, www.moneyasyougrow.org, is easy to use, straightforward, and contains a wealth of information for anyone looking to learn (or help others learn)
Sponsored by
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE PRESENTS
THE NEXT “Star Mogul” BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
HOW MANY ASPIRING PRODUCERS DO YOU KNOW? ARE THEY GETTING PAID FOR BEATS? IF NOT, MEET TWO UP-AND-COMING YOUNG PRODUCERS FROM CHICAGO WHO ARE POPULAR ENOUGH TO SELL BEATS AND PROJECTS. LEARN THEIR STORY AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THIS A CAREER.
Thelonious Martin 20, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO PRODUCER True Star: How many projects have you released and what artist do you work with? Thelonious Martin: Since 2008 I have released 12 solo beat tapes. I sell each tape for a reasonable $5 dollars. I feel like no one should put their work out without a price because you worked to create it, you deserve compensation. I am a part of Treated Crew and work closely with SAVEMONEY in the city. I do closed sessions for RubyHornet.com at Sound Scape studios. Recently I just worked with Hodgy Beats (one-half of MellowHype and member of Odd Future), Currensy and Action Bronson while doing closed sessions. So business has been booming. TS: What would be your advice to a teen who wants to start making beats? TM: Be a student of your craft. Study the greats like A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang Clan and Dr. Dre. They were popular for a reason and their music is still popular now for a reason. I have discovered that the ones who take the time to understand why it was so good have a better chance to succeed. Don’t be lazy and use Garage Band your entire life. Graduate to Logic if you are serious about working.
Owen Bones 18, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY PRODUCER True Star: What is your sound? Owen Bones: I started this like this past summer when I saw Deadmau5 live at Lollapalooza. It was crazy and raw; I knew I had to be about that life. I have had a lot of success in a short amount of time on the Internet but I have been able to adjust. The fact that rappers want to work with me now because that electronic sound matches up well with the hip-hop sound is a prime example of me not running away from the praise or extra work. TS: How should a young person starting out price their beats? OB: Money is weird, man; it is all about perception. Just because a guy gets paid $5,000 for a feature or beat doesn’t mean his music is that good; that just means he may be popular at this time. Marketing yourself should be simple. Go around to the little artists you know, play your music, then ask them how much they would pay for it. This gives you an idea of what your music’s worth.
TS: Where can people buy your beat tapes or inquire about beats? TS: Where can people find your music or get in contact with you? TM: Well anyone can go to www.theloniousmartin.bandcamp.com/ to buy any of my work. If artists want a beat, hit my inbox at the bottom of the webpage and leave a message. Follow me on Twitter @KingThelonious 36 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
OB: Type “Owen Bones” into the search bar on SoundCloud.com and all of my sounds are there. You want a beat, hit me up on Twitter @OwenBones.
Are you looking for a
unique, creative,
learning environment designed to develop yourACADEMIC,ARTISTIC, and COLLEGE READINESS skills? Applications for 2013 2nd semester open enrollment is January 1- January 25. If you are a 16-18 year old high school student with at least 5-credits and have an interest in the arts: painting/drawing; ceramics/clay; glassblowing; music; or technology, Options Laboratory School might be the place for you. Please call us at 773-690-5500 to make an appointment to learn more about our charter school or go online and complete the application at www.optionslab.org
Choose OPTIONS!
OPTIONS LABORATORY SCHOOL
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 37
MENTAL HEALTH: ISSUE OR CRISIS? BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY M. YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL
“AN ABSOLUTE TRAGEDY” described the events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, 2012 Peter Lanza fatally shot 20 children and six adult staff members at the school, according to www.nytimes.com. After murdering the children at the school, he turned the gun onto himself and committed suicide. This was the second deadliest school shooting since Virginia Tech. Through his actions and a later investigation, it was discovered that Lanza suffered from major mental illnesses. Many people argue and question the notion of the shooting being prevented just by a simple mental health screening. According to myhealthnewsdaily. com, one in five teens in the United States suffers from a serious mental disorder, but only 20 percent are able to get help. But what happens to the other 80 percent? Studies reported by the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses tell us they can potentially become violent or suicidal. Suicide has become a major epidemic in our society. According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to
24-year-olds. Mental Health America reports that Illinois has the eighth highest suicide rate. Although we all try to pretend things like this never happen, facts and rising statics are a constant reminder that they do. Many look at Lanza as a murderer but fail to realize he too was a victim. We live in a society that judges people who seek or need mental health harshly. Mental illness and suicide affects us all and should be nothing to be embarrassed about. Most teens know of people who are sick. They want to help but don’t really know how. Even the people suffering at times fail to realize that treatment is available. There are a lot of things you could do that might potentially save a life. The most common way is treatment and medication. But there is also the suicide prevention hot line 1-800-273-TALK. “We’re always here for you. A person’s life holds too much value for it to be wasted. Our purpose is to tell you that you have one. People can confide in us,” explains an operator at the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. For more information, visit www.sptsusa.org.
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI:
CHRISTINE HOUSTON BY ALEXANDER STOCKSTELL, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
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eet Christine Houston--one of CSU’s most prominent graduates out of their CMAT (Communications, Media Arts & Theatre) program and writer of the popular play “227.” The play caught fire and was made into an NBC TV Show in 1985 as a result of its success. “I never intended on the play going anywhere. I just wrote it for the KKC students,” says Houston. The sitcom “227” was written by Houston as a recollection of her life growing up in the Bronzeville neighborhood on 227 E. 48th St. The play is a comedy about the people living in the building. The play was entered into many playwright contests and even Norman Lear, philanthropist and social activist, met Houston which landed her a job in Los Angeles writing for “The Jeffersons” and “Punky Brewster” in the 80s. Houston’s accolades continued once her play “227” was adapted into a TV show starring Marla Gibbs, who played Florence Johnston from “The Jeffersons.” 38 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
After her many years of success as a writer, Houston wanted to prove to her son the importance of education. In the early 2000s, Houston attended CSU and graduated in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in the CMAT program. Inner-city colleges rarely see their alumni come back and teach, but in 2010 Houston became a professor at CSU. Houston understands that younger white executives in the industry no longer care for the black experience on TV. Houston felt it was important to go back and teach aspiring screenwriters how to make it in this new age. “Overall, I inspire my students to write. If you want to write about the black experience, learn about how all blacks live. That is how you create compelling students.” She believes that Tyler Perry’s “buffoonery” is helping, but also hurting the industry. “There aren’t enough blacks with different ways of thinking in the positions
of writers or other working positions in production to help influence a different type of opinion that thwarts Tyler Perry’s thinking. I want to change that somehow.” Houston encourages any college-bound and screenwriting minded young Chicagoans to attend CSU and be a part of the CMAT program. Dr. Christine List, the program director, still impresses Houston despite all of her experience. “Dr. List is a dedicated professor at CSU who puts students regardless of their race as the foremost priority. She tries to teach them everything she knows. CSU is privileged to have a person who lives what she teaches.” For more information on the CMAT Program program, visit www.csu.edu/CMAT/.
1 in 5 African-American graduates from Illinois public universities earned their degrees from CSU- where they received a quality education.
csu.edu/admissions Call 773.995.2513 now. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 39 Copyright Š 2011 - 2013 All Rights Reserved by Chicago State University
INSIDE & OUT
POPPING PILLS:
TEENS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY MINA WAIGHT, SOPHOMORE, KENWOOD ACADEMY
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any teens function under the assumption that prescription drugs aren’t as bad as street drugs, simply because they’re prescribed by a doctor. But little do they know prescription drugs can be just as bad, if not more dangerous than street drugs. Abuse occurs when a medication is used inappropriately or overused. Many people often use their own prescribed medication too often or for the wrong reason. Another way to abuse prescription drugs is to use ones that are prescribed to someone other than you. It may be simply to get high or to help treat pain. Either way, it can lead to dependency and eventually abuse. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, painkillers are not the only prescription drugs that are potentially harmful. According to prescriptiondrugabuse.org, “Although painkillers are the most commonly abused prescription drugs, other substances can have unintended side effects when used over the long term. Antidepressants, such as Paxil, can trigger behavioral changes over the course of their usage. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), another type of antidepressant, can cause sexual dysfunction and weight gain over long term use.” Along with prescription drugs, over the counter drugs can also be very harmful to people. Cough syrup is one over the counter drug young people have been known to abuse, among several others. Consistent abuse can cause mood swings, affect your grades and cause long-term health problems, according to the WebMD.com article “Teen abuse of cough and cold medicine.” 40 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
As innocent as it may seem, drug abuse of any kind can have permanent consequences. When taking drugs of any kind without the direction of a medical professional, realize you are putting your life at risk. The human body is complicated science and is the last thing we need to be experimenting with. Many unfortunate people took their last pill when they took this very risk.
“OVER-CONSUMPTION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS CAN CAUSE LIVER DAMAGE. OUR LIVER METABOLIZES DRUGS, AND THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE THEM AS DIRECTED BY PHYSICIANS,” SAYS RACHEL COMIA, LPN AT GLAZER DERMATOLOGY. For help with prescription drug abuse, visit www.helpguide.org or www. thetreatmentcenter.com. Both offer resources and chat lines in order to connect with drug abuse counselors and support agents.
CHEETOS ARE NOT
A FOOD GROUP BY KENNEDY WARD, JUNIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
H
ot Krunchy Kurls, Honey Buns, 99¢ Arizona Teas…wouldn’t that be the best breakfast ever? WRONG! While similar foods may make a tasty snack, those choices definitely aren’t healthy everyday food options. However, many teens either don’t know or don’t care about the effects that food options have on their bodies. Sky-high sodium, low protein, and high fructose corn syrup foods are the basis of many teenage diets, but what those teens don’t know is that those same foods might slowly be harming them. “Bad eating habits coupled with the stresses of our super fast-paced society can lead to symptoms such as severe acne, low energy and depression,” says wellness expert Terisa Hammond of the immediate consequences of our diets. Still don’t care about choosing better food options? Then here’s another question that might get you to change your mind: Did you know that vitamins found in foods can have a positive effect on your looks? According to the book “The Diet for Teenagers Only” by Barbara Schroeder and Carrie Wiatt, vitamin E, which is found in foods like almonds and spinach, is good for your skin and can help diminish acne. Interested in growing your locks? Biotin, found in foods like eggs, carrots, and milk, not only aid in hair growth, but improve your nail and skin health, too. Keep in mind that eating right isn’t just eating your fruits and vegetables. Learning how to actually cook your food is essential. Meats like fish and chicken are naturally
healthy, but become detrimental to our health when we slather them in high sodium seasonings and fry them in boiling hot, fattening grease. The same methods apply when cooking vegetables. Oftentimes, people overcook their veggies and when that happens, the nutrients are deprived from the vegetables. Cooking methods such as baking, roasting and steaming are simple ways to keep our foods nutritious. Don’t think your parents are willing to try something new? Hammond recommends that you “Start off by taking one or two nights a week to use new cooking methods to prepare nutritious meals for your parents. In your conversations with them, it also helps to focus on the positive of what you cooked and how you prepared it, rather than be critical of what your parents generally eat or how they cook.” Becoming healthy doesn’t have to be a boring process. Yes, you can still enjoy a bag of Flamin’ Hots every once in a while, but don’t let that become the core of your diet. The human body can’t function properly when it’s only receiving sugary sweets and salty treats. You’ll have your body for the rest of your life, so it’s best to treat it right while you’re young so it can treat you right when you’re older. With that in mind, don’t just decide to change your diet. Make the decision to change your life. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 41
WiUNDERST nter Weather Maki n g You Depressed? ANDING THE LINK BETWEEN SEASONS AND MOOD BY ALEXIS ESTES, JUNIOR, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
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or many, winter is the most festive time of year full of holidays, snowball fights, and fun activities out in the snow. For others, this season can be very dark and lonely as they find themselves swept into a bad case of the winter blues. Throughout the season you may find yourself a little off as the days grow colder and darker. Instead of hanging out with friends and taking advantage of the snow, you may feel like hibernating the winter away. That may just be a feeling, but there also could be something deeper going on. Do you find yourself wondering why you have trouble sleeping/oversleeping, have low energy and feel very tired? Have you often had trouble concentrating or feel so irritable, anxious, or sad at times that it makes it hard to do things you used to enjoy? Have you had an increase in appetite or gained weight? If so, you may be dealing with winter depression. These are all common symptoms of winter depression, according clevelandclinic.org. 42 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
Although many may not know much about winter depression, numerous people are affected by this problem. Taja Ferguson, a junior at Morgan Park High School, describes what she goes through. “Being depressed in the winter affects my attitude. Sometimes I have mood swings, and with other people, I tend to be sarcastic because I don’t want to be bothered.” When people feel this way, it affects how well they can perform in school and can ruin friendships because that person feels a strong desire to be left alone. Eventually this self-isolation can leave a person feeling lonely. Many times, winter can make days feel longer. “The weather makes me drag all day because I feel like sleeping. Sometimes I’m depressed when I have to go to school and it’s still dark outside,” says Ferguson. According to the WebMD article “Winter Darkness, Season Depression” by Martin Downs, a master of public health (MPH), waking up to darkness is a main
cause of seasonal depression. People who suffer from winter depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, are “particularly sensitive to light, or the lack of it,” states Downs. One way to kick this in the butt is by getting more sunlight. If you are one of those people who need sun to get the day moving, it would be a good idea to invest in a light box. Recent studies have shown that people feel better after being exposed to sunlight or bright artificial light, especially in the morning. Don’t let the dark skies and strong winds drag you down, fight back. According to clevelandclinic.org, spending time outside, exercising at least 30 minutes a day and eating a well-balanced meal can help you feel better and be more energized. Even when not feeling particularly social, it’s important to stay involved in regular social activities while depressed. Also, talking to a friend or an expert can help.
TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 43
YOUNG LUV
TOXIC
FRIENDSHIPS
BY KAYLYNN HARRIS, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
M
ost of us can’t count our friends on one hand; too many fingers. Nowadays the meaning of a true friendship has been washed and watered down. Toxic friendships are causing stress and a world of trouble.
Many people overlook how bad friendships play out. They can be just as bad as an abusive relationship. Some don’t even realize how much “so-called” friends are holding them back. A study by SELF Magazine says 8 out of every 10 people have “toxic” friendships. Toxic friendships are described as negative associations that cause distress between friends. There are about six types of different toxic friendships. I’m sure we all have that friend that can never keep a promise. Whether it’s not telling a secret or showing up to your birthday party, she/he, never fails to disappoint. Though this behavior is acceptable at times, it can be harmful to you when excessive. The “promise-breaker” can cause major disappointment. If you don’t want to give up on the relationship, the best thing to help it is to let your friend know the consequences of an empty promise. Nothing hurts more than being stabbed in the back; especially by someone who you thought was your friend. The “double-crosser” defines what a toxic friendship is. A double-crosser or snake intentionally sabotages you. A snake can never really repair a friendship once they have been identified. Best bet is to just drop all association. Rapper Waka Flocka isn’t even a stranger to being backstabbed. He went as far to making a song titled “Snakes in the Grass.” 44 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
“Honestly I feel like those types of friendships are a waste of time,” says Rhavin Hanyes, a16-year-old sophomore from Whitney Young Magnet School. “Why hang with someone when you’re surrounded by negativity? No one should want that, especially when you notice nothing is getting better.” “I’ve been in a toxic friendship and I was torn because I wanted to keep the friendship, but I knew it wasn’t beneficial,” says Kia Barclay, a 16-year-old sophomore from Whitney Young Magnet School. With all the stuff teens of today already have to contend with, the last thing we need is someone around hindering our progress. If you find yourself in such a predicament, don’t hesitate to give your friend an ultimatum or simply just cut them off for good.
Reconnecting
WITH FRIENDS BY JACOB BONDS, FRESHMAN, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
S
ometimes we as teenagers lose touch with our friends from the past. One of the most common reasons is because we end up going to different high schools. If you’ve ever wondered what happened to that old buddy, don’t give up hope. There are easy ways to reconnect with them. Consider this your “How to Guide” on how to reconnect with your old friends.
Try Facebook Facebook was actually co-created by Mark Zuckerberg to keep up with friends and to make new ones. Danielle Smallwood, a freshman at Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields, used the social network to reconnect with someone from grade school. “I love Facebook,” says Smallwood. “My friend and I from fifth grade lost contact. I began wondering where he went one day, so I searched him; and now we are like best friends again.”
Give Twitter a Try People who use Twitter on a regular are more into following than finding, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take full advantage of this social networking site. Try sending out a tweet about the person you’re searching for. You can also check to see if he or she has a Twitter account themselves. Maxwell Watkins, a 14-year-old from Princeton Park, IL, tweeted about an old friend and got results. “I use Twitter for publicity purposes, but still to connect with other people. One day I was having memories of an old friend, so I checked to see if they were on Twitter. When I found him I was like, ‘Hey! I haven’t seen you in a while.’ We just became closer since we have a new way to communicate.”
Use the Phone Why don’t you try that regular device that makes calls and sends text messages to people? What’s that called? Oh yeah! A phone! Maybe one of the friends that you have stored on your phone that doesn’t have a Twitter or Facebook account may have that lost friend’s number. Try sending a text to find out. Even though it may seem outdated at times, voice-to-voice is also an option. Elexus Bartlett, a freshman at Morgan Park High School, says “My friend found me through [another] one of my friends. We hadn’t talked in forever. He said he called my friend and she gave him my number. I was happy. We were best friends, and I’m happy that we still are.” With all these ways to communicate, you should have no more problems with reconnecting with your old friends. Who knows, the person you find could someday be your future business partner or that special someone you spend the rest of your life with. But the only way to know is if your seek them out. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 45
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ON THE COURT
ELITE CLASSIC
RECAP BY MCKINLEY NELSON, SOPHOMORE WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL
O
n December 1, 2012 University of Illinois at Chicago was filled to capacity with spectators ready to watch history in the making as high school phenoms from across the country went to work. The Chicago Elite Classic, a Whitney Young and Simeon High School collaboration, brought the best teams from around the country to play against the best teams in the state of Illinois. Illinois only got the victory in two out of the five games: Whitney Young (No. 1) over Dematha of Maryland with a 72-58 win and Simeon (No. 2) over Milton of Georgia with a 56-35 win. Jahlil Okafor, a 6’11 junior, led Whitney Young in scoring with 34 points, nine rebounds and four steals. The Whitney Young team came ready to play. Simeon’s star player, senior Jabari Parker, who was recovering from a foot injury, played limited minutes, but his teammates were able to carry the load. Okafor and Parker are both ranked No. 1 nationally in their respective classes. Senior point guard Jalon Tate (two points, nine assists, four steals) and senior shooting guard Kendrick Nunn (11 points, six rebounds) contributed to the Simeon victory. In the earlier games, sophomore Glynn Watson led St. Joes with 17 points, but they couldn’t come out on top in the 65-55 loss to the prominent Mater Dei High School. Proviso East High School took a huge loss to one of the top teams in the country, Lone Peak High School, with three Brigham Young University recruits; Proviso East was lead by junior guard Javon Carter with 22 points in the 84-46 loss. In the U-High/St. Vincent-St. Mary game, senior forward Keita Bates-Diop of U-High, scored 23 points, including five three-pointers in the tough 68-65 loss. These were no easy games. Proviso East was missing their best player, senior Sterling Brown, because of a suspension. That game could have gone a different direction had he played. Junior forward Stanley Johnson, a USA Olympic basketball gold medalist who can do almost everything on the court, led Mater Dei of California. The buzz is out there for next year. Basketball fans look forward to the second annual Chicago Elite Classic in late November 2013. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 47
A TRUE STAR’S
NBA PLAYOFF PREDICTION
BY EDDIE BAKER, SOPHOMORE, MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL
A
merica’s favorite pastime is known to be baseball, but for me it’s basketball, and there is no better time than playoff season. I don’t have a crystal ball to tell me who the teams will be competing against each other, but this is my prediction of who might be bringing their best game.
Thunder and their two fantastic young players, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. They will be another team to watch. But wait, we can’t forget about the Brooklyn Nets who are doing pretty well. One of their star players, Deron Williams, who will be leading them this season, hopes to help his team make it to the playoffs.
For some, the 2012-2013 NBA season is going pretty well so far. The Miami Heat, the 2012 NBA Champions, and their MVP LeBron James, are most likely going to be one of the first to go to the playoffs in 2013. The Memphis Grizzlies, who did make it to the playoffs last year, had a good regular season record of 41-25 in the 2012 season. As far as the 2013 playoffs are concerned, they have a very good chance of making it. I also want to bring to your attention the team who faced the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Championship – the Oklahoma City
The most likely candidates to shoot it out for the MVP award may be Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The last team on my list is the strong and talented San Antonio Spurs. The 2007 NBA Champions are starting to make a comeback and they have some of the most experienced players in the NBA playing, including Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker.
Finally, the teams that I predict will go to the finals are the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. For more predictions on the NBA playoffs visit bleacherreport. com/ar ticles/1294826-nbaplayoffs-2013.
OFF THE COURT WITH JAHLIL OKAFOR BY SYDNEY SHAW, SOPHOMORE, WHITNEY YOUNG MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL
T
he recent spurt of basketball prospects in Chicago has sparked a new athletic era in our generation. After Derrick Rose’s successful high school career at Simeon and rise to the NBA, all eyes were on Chicago’s upcoming basketball players. From Alvin Ellis, Paul Turner, Paul White, Keita BatesDiop, Sterling Brown to Kendrick Nunn, everyone from fans to college recruits are on their toes with suspense waiting to see what the Windy City has to offer, starting with Jahlil Okafor. True Star: Out of all your accomplishments this year, which one are you most proud of? Jahlil Okafor: It’d probably have to be winning a gold medal and winning the spot as MVP. TS: What drives and inspires you? JO: I’m so competitive; I really don’t want anyone to be better than me. TS: How do you feel about the upcoming season, and what do you think your team needs to work on? JO: I’m very confident about the upcoming season, and I think my team could work on staying together. 48 TRUE STAR MAGAZINE
TS: What artists are you listening to before the game? JO: Jay-Z, Drake, Chief Keef, and Spenzo. TS: Where do you see yourself in five years? JO: Hopefully I’ll be in the NBA playing the sport I love. TS: If you aren’t playing basketball what do you like to do? JO: Hang out with my family and friends or just relax. TS: What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? JO: Stay pure; don’t buy into all the other nonsense. TS: What will you look for when choosing a college to attend? JO: Good academics, and a welcoming team and coaching staff. TS: What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you? JO: I have a huge love for dogs. TS: What do you want people to remember you for? JO: I want people to remember me for always being kind.
THE LEGEND OF THE CANTANKEROUS
CALIPARI BY MICHAEL WALTON II, FRESHMAN, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
J
ohn Calipari has developed into many things through the eyes of college basketball fans. He is a cheater and a hero, the smartest coach and the dumbest, and a loyal man who is also a money-chasing-scumbag. Calipari could be all or none of these things; it just depends who you ask. Calipari has been involved in many scandals that critics say have tarnished his legacy, but he simply refuses to call it quits. Enter 2012, and fresh off his first national title, Calipari has continued his dominance in the recruiting game. Calipari landed number one recruit Nerlens Noel, and when it looked like there was no way to make the University of Kentucky more powerful Calipari responded strongly. He landed the Harrison twins, a pair of top five recruits (point guard and shooting guard). It seems as if he has found a way to streamline the recruiting process, for better or for worse. Calipari has managed to change the culture of basketball. He has presented the ultimate problem for opposing coaches, a program where the top recruits can keep a young person’s “win-now, win-later attitude.” Many coaches ask their top recruits to at least stay two or three years in order to form a winning culture for their program, but Coach Cal perfected a way to skip around that process by basically saying “you help me, I’ll help you.” He was doing impressive things at Memphis (his previous university), landing recruits such as Derrick Rose, but nothing compares to Calipari’s run of dominance at UK. According to Scout.com, Coach Cal has the No. 1 ranked recruiting class for four years. Calipari lost his entire starting five to the NBA after winning the 2012 national title, but of course he impressed the sports world by landing the No. 1 player--center Nerlens Noel, along with a pair of McDonald’s All American’s, shooting guard Archie Goodwin, and forward Alex Poythress. Many critics have said that UK’s 2013 class may be the greatest recruiting class in college basketball history. The scariest part is that it is still a work in progress. Right now the class sits at Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, James Young and
Derek Willis. The Harrisons are a pair of twins who decided that, like so many twin phenoms before them, they wanted to play together in college. Young is an explosive scorer who wanted nothing more than to go to UK, and Willis is Calipari’s first big-time recruit from Kentucky. But the reason UK’s 2013 class has “greatest ever” potential is because of the recruits yet to sign. Calipari is targeting Aaron Gordon, Kennedy Meeks, Marcus Lee, Julius Randle, Tyler Roberson, and Andrew Wiggins (who has since reclassified to be in class of 2013). The names may not mean anything to the average reader, but these upcoming numbers should. If Calipari gets a commitment from every recruit just named, his 2013 class would contain, according to the Recruiting Services Consensus Index (RSCI) website, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 24th, 30th, and 43rd ranked recruits from 2013, plus the former No. 1 recruit from 2014, now that he has reclassified. All this info has shown who Calipari really is. He is somewhat of a genius, a recruiting guru who can change the shape of college basketball as long as he is around. He has almost single-handedly made UK the new “hot school” for the top prep players. As of right now, UK is the top school for players with pro hoop dreams, and thanks to Coach Cal, it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. TRUE STAR MAGAZINE 49
THE LYRICAL LAB BY CHRISTOPHER THOUGHT POET BROWN, SOPHOMORE, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO
I
n this new day and age, the ability to have your music heard has changed dramatically. It’s changed so much that a popular YouTube video could potentially have your song in the hands of some major record label A&R. The mediums to share music and creative culture continue to change almost every day, with music blogs being at the top of the list. However, in that lies a dilemma. Many music blogs are very specific when it comes to choosing an artist to post on their blog. Either from favoritism or simply just overlooking the hundred or so music submissions sent in every day, the struggle to be heard on the Internet is a big one. Luckily, though, there is one exception: The Lyrical Lab. The Lyrical Lab is still a young website when compared to the many other blogs within the city of Chicago, but it holds its own weight as far as searching for artists that are hungry to have their music heard. Some of the factors that make the Lab different from many other blog entities would probably have to be the bloggers themselves.
WWW.THELYRICALLAB.COM Each blogger has their own personality and perception on the many genres of music that come through the blog. Another factor would be the exclusive interviews and material that the lab brings. The questions are in depth and it shows many sides to the artist. Artists such as Martin $ky, Chance The Rapper, Show You Suck, Tink and many other heavyweights have made appearances on the blog. However, some of the best qualities from the blog would have to be the effort being put in to show the world a different side of Chicago. The Lyrical Lab will also cover major events that aren’t always given the proper type of attention, like Louder than a Bomb. You can expect to see a lot of new and interesting things coming from The Lyrical Lab within the next few months. If you’re an artist that’s trying to be heard check out thelyricallab.com, submit your music, and watch as the blog helps you take your sound to another level.
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