Upcoming Events/Shows In Chicago

***Nov 3rd*** Live with Chef Lovely of Hells Kitchen www.UICRadio.org 7pm tune in LIVE! ft. Chicago artists,promoters, DJs and more

***Nov 4th*** Snoop Dogg @ The Congress Theater 8pm $36

***Nov 4th*** Ghostface @ The House of Blues 9pm $21

***Nov 12th*** Jay Z n Friends- College Tour @ Assembly Hall U-of-I 8pm Tickets start at $46

***Nov 25th*** Kid Sister @ The House of Blues 6:30

***Nov 26th*** Chris Brown @ The House of Blues 8:30

Well, Well, Well... Wale

I'm shocked that there are still some people who don't know who this guy is! When he released "Nike Boots" with Lil Wayne on the remix he definitley made a name for himself.

Earlier this year he dropped one of the hottest mixtapes I have heard in a long time. Titled "Back to the Feature" this 22 track mixtape Produced by the infamous 9th Wonder includes appearance from Joe Budden, Currensy, Talib Kweli and Bun B. JUST TO NAME A FEW. Mainstream these days... yes... but Wale stays true to his roots. You can definitely hear some of that DC classic "GOGO" vibe in some of the songs. "Night Life" and "Sweatin out Weaves" are both reminiscent of the "gogo" vibe in my opinion.

Upon releasing a single [Chillin ft. Lady Gaga] from the upcoming album- Attention Deficit, Wale has certainly gotten some attention. He performed as the house band on this years MTV Video Music Awards. Also he has joined the College Tour featuring Jay Z, J. Cole and N.E.R.D. Has he yet gotten the respect he deserves? I think not. Im excited to hear Attention Deficit... I imagine it will be like another breath of fresh air as Lupe Fiasco was for me! Attention Deficit is set to be released on Nov 3rd via Mark Ronson's label Allido which is subsidiary to Interscope. Features include Chrisette Michelle and Jazmine Sullivan and then some with the production of Mark Ronson, Cool & Dre and Scyence

Follow Wale on twitter @Wale hear his mixtape "Back to the Feature"

Download Mixtape | Provided by DatPiff.com

Video Pick

Ok if you know me... you know how much I love Common... this video was recently released... One of my favorite songs from the UMC album... Make my Day! Its different, I pictured something complete different but its his video and I still like it!

http://bit.ly/1XDMu

Glamourizing Hip Hop Ain't The Same

So I know that many people speak on how Hip Hop glamourizes so many negative things... a "hustlas lifestyle", half naked women in videos blah blah blah... Lovely, of Chicago's TEC Records has definitely given "glamorizing hip hop" a new definition!

Gracing airwaves of midwestern radio with her remix to Jeremih's "Ima Star," she decided that it was time for her voice to be heard. Entitled Hip Hop Glam, Lovely delivers 12 tracks produced by Buda and Tony Baines(Well Known Chicago Producers). Each delivering something different, Lovely has introduced us to a new genre of music and yet there is still a track for just about every type of person!

What is Hip Hop Glam? Described as a mix between hip hop and pop with a flare of DIVA behind the lyrics. Lovely states that she only speaks of what she knows... nothing more nothing less. "Who fuckin with that?!" Lovely says. Not to mention this girl COOKS!! Chef Ramsey couldn't dull her shine as a contestant on Season 6 of the Fox network culinary reality show Hells Kitchen. Lovely is nothing to be played with!

Some of my favorite tracks from the album include U&I, You Fucked Up, Bullshit and Once Mo.

Be sure to check out her website www.lovelytec.com
Get the Album Hip Hop Glam on Digital Download at www.digstation.com/lovely
and be sure to keep up with her on Twitter! http://twitter.com/lovelytec

A little insight I gained from Chicago's Very Own... Carrot Top Distributing

I often wonder how does indie label/artist music distribution work. You know... how these independent record stores get some of their music, and how some artist make the shelves of stores in Chicago like Reckless Records. Within 2 hours time, the GM of Carrot Top Distributing definitely layed some things out for me and lets just say its not as easy as some might think. Some people feel like all they have to do is talk to the store owner "good enough"...maybe drop a couple of hundred dollars. Not that simple... its their store they operate as they please!

As with many other facets of the entertainment industry, doing business with independent and privately owned music stores is about building relationships. I am never told enough how important networking is! Dont just meet someone.. meet them, stay in contact, leave a lasting impression the first time around, you have to make people want to help you.

I learned a lot in regards to how carrot top operates, but I just want to emphasize the importance of building lasting relationships with people... Keep in mind you never know who you might be working for one day or who youo might need to work for you!

Signing out,
Rae Chardonnay