- Pritzker Fellows
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- Rhymefest
Rhymefest
Rapper & Advocate
Fall 2023 Pritzker Fellow
Seminar Series: "Glory! Cultural Currency As Leverage for Social & Political Justice"
As a recording artist, songwriter, humanitarian, and trailblazer; Che “Rhymefest” Smith has shattered countless negative stereotypes in hip-hop. His creative contributions to the culture have earned him GRAMMY Awards, a Soul Train Award, a Golden Globe and countless nominations and accolades for his Oscar Award Winning works.
This Chicago native expanded his gifts beyond the borders of music as the storyteller and subject of the Showtime and Break Thru Films documentary “In My Father’s House”, which chronicles the process of Che purchasing his estranged father’s childhood home, during which he discovered that his father had been homeless for most of Rhymefest’s life. He then embarks on a journey to reconnect and redeem their relationship.
Rhymefest considers himself a global citizen, partnering with organizations like “The Abolition Institue” as he fights against modern-day slavery in places like Mauritania; from there, Che’s relationships have found him making diasporic fusion hip-hop with the Griot and Wolof tribes in Dakar, Senegal. You might even catch him in Cartagena, Colombia freestyling with the Palenque. It’s Rhymefest’s belief that music should be used as a tool to heal wounds and bridge connections between cultures.
Rhymefest debuted his acting prowess in the Emilio Estevez written and directed film “The Public” starring alongside Gabriel Union, Michael K. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Alec Baldwin and Emilio Estavez. He’s made a guest appearance on the HBO Max comedy series “South Side” and was a central character in the Kanye West, Netflix documentary “Jeen-Yuhs”.
Never straying from his love of music and community service, Rhymefest co-founded the nonprofit organization Art Of Culture, where he mentors youth, teaches writing classes and exposes young people to the world around them with 7-day youth cultural retreats.
“True Power Is The Power To Empower Others” - Rhymefest
Seminars
"Glory! Cultural Currency As Leverage for Social & Political Justice"
Hip-hop began as a local music scene in the Bronx that expanded to American suburbs to indigenous performers in the American West to Ghana’s vernacular music culture to the 2024 GOP Iowa primary. Over five decades, hip-hop - like so many cultural movements - has been popularized, politicized, commodified, globalized, and glorified.
So how precisely can and does culture impact our political systems, institutional curriculum, commerce and civic engagement, and become an integral part of our identities?
Take a journey this quarter with the writer, artist and activist Rhymefest, a Grammy-winning Chicago native who worked with the young Kanye West, collaborated with John Legend and Common, discussed hip-hop at the British House of Commons and co-founded Org Art Of Culture. Together you will explore the roots of the global exchange of popular culture and its political applications and lessons. Expect rapping and other musical adventures.
When you are born with the name Che - after the revolutionary Ché Guevara - perhaps your path is preordained? My career in music began with the struggles and triumphs of growing up on Chicago’s southside, and expressing these experiences through the lens of hip-hop transformed the lives of myself and many others.
After writing many acclaimed hits, winning multiple Grammy’s and touring the world, I’d been exposed to global communities and cultures - from the bustling streets of Bogota Colombia repairing itself after decades of Guerrilla warfare and drug wars to Dave Cameron attempting to ban hip-hop in the United Kingdom - and witnessed various forms of culture leveraged to rally residents together and create positive outcomes. The music we created gave me the opportunity to return to the neighborhoods I grew up in and reshape the community too, through the intersection of hip-hop, art and policy. This theme has animated my entire career.
In 2010, I ran for alderman on the south side of Chicago. Many of the traditional institutions tried to use my music career against me; 9 years later, Alderman Andre Vasquez, who grew up with me in the same local Chicago battle rap scene, won his seat in the 40th ward. He has used his art to reimagine policy, regularly collaborating with community artisans in beautification projects for the ward, using music to engage his district and even create graphic posters on behalf of current Mayor Johnson’s campaign. How are our stories emblematic of contemporary political movements supported or even fueled by art, and what are some lessons learned?
There will be a performance of a song called “Claws” released on Legendary Traxter's new album titled “Chicago”
Special Guests: Jasamine Harris aka Tweak G, Rapper & Community Activist; Kitty Kurth & Kevin Lampe of Strategic Communications Firm Kurth Lampe Worldwide; Samuel Lindley aka Legendary Traxster (via Zoom), Music Producer; and Andre Vasquez, Alderman of Chicago’s 40th Ward
Rhymefest spends significant amounts of time in the American West, visiting sacred native medicine wheels, mentoring at-risk indigenous youth in Wyoming and attending the annual Crow Fair PowWow on Montana’s Crow Nation Reservation. In the midst of Chicago’s struggle to manage the immigrant influx - with some Black communal anger and distrust toward other people of color - building trust between Black Americans and Indigenous people has been an enriching challenge. In this seminar we’ll speak to Queen YoNasDa (Yo-Naja- Ha) Lonewolf, an Oglala Lakota & African American activist, artist and organizer about the state of Black and Indigenous relationships and how can we best support one another’s movements. We’ll also be speaking with Rev. Dr. Beth Brown of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church about the obstacles she’s facing from Chicago’s city council in her efforts to integrate our new arrivals.
Special Guests: Queen YoNasDa Lonewolf, Oglala Lakota & African American Activist, Artist & Organizer & Rev. Dr. Beth Brownof Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
In 2015, Che Rhymefest was included in the first cohort of a multimillion-dollar “Look Good, For Good” campaign launched by progressive activist and fashion icon Kenneth Cole to highlight community leaders as Role models who were the “Real Models.” Recently, the Chicago White Sox featured Ice Cube, Vic Mensa and Rhymefest in its “Fitted In Black” documentary about the cultural meaning, history and impact of the Iconic White Sox hat. Let’s dive into dialogue with Tim Brogdon, director of digital content for the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls internationally renowned creative strategy and design advisor, Don C., as well as the man dubbed “God Father Of Sneakers” who’s designed for Reebok, Nike, New Balance and now heads “Ye’s” Donda Design, Steven Smith, about how fashion shapes our society and exposes our politics.
Special Guests: Tim Brogdon, Director of Digital Content for the Chicago White Sox, Don C., Creative Strategy and Design Advisor for the Chicago Bulls, and Steven Smith, Head of Industrial Design at Donda
Meet Sean Tenner, 46th ward Democratic committeeman, former Obama campaign staffer and Illinois political consultant. After reading an article in 2014 on modern-day slavery in the Sub-Saharan country of Mauritania, Sean co-founded the Abolition Institute to end the practice in Mauritania forever. My wife and I have recently taken into our home an asylum applicant from Mauritania, an experience that has transformed our lives and altered my perspective on the immigration issue in Chicago which is dealing with an influx of migrants left at police stations, parks and shelters in already underserved communities. We’ll bring our new arrival and family member Hacen El Khair to talk about his recent migration experience from Africa to America.
I’ve recently made a song & video titled “AKLEEN” in Hacen's Afro-Arabic language of Hasaniya that we’ll debut.
Special Guest: Sean Tenner, Alderman of Chicago's 46th Ward & Co-Founder of the Abolition Institute, and Hacen El Khair, Asylum Applicant from Mauritania
UChicago’s legendary WHPK 88.5FM radio station is facing budget cuts, not unlike college media stations across the nation. This seminar will dive deep into the cultural, communal and historic significance of college radio and the students who put HipHop on the global map. We’ll speak to WHPK program manager Alex Tao about the legacy of WHPK and current challenges being faced and RHYMESAYERS record label executive, hip-hop archivist and former WNUR (Northwestern University) Deejay Kevin Beacham about the importance of preserving the college radio tradition.
Special Guests: Kevin Beacham, Hip-Hop Activist & former WNUR (Northwestern University) Deejay, and Alex Tao, WHPK Program Manager
Less than one percent of visitors to Yellowstone are Black Americans, and the story is much the same with most of our national parks. What are the historical reasons for that? “Earth Sessions” are community-driven climate justice concerts that use intimate music with educational events to serve as an entry point to the world of environmental justice. Founded by eco-feminist and environmental activist Leah Thomas a/k/a Greengirl Leah, author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet," which provides advice to environmental activists and describes theories of relationships between race, privilege, social justice, and the environment. This seminar will cover how Leah connected with the power of art and music to influence climate change policies.
Special Guest: Leah Thomas aka Greengirl Leah, Author of “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet"
Prepare for a performance! The Golden State Warriors recently announced the launch of “Golden State Entertainment,'' a new affiliate company that will create original content to tell compelling stories through documentaries, collaborations with recording artists and culturally relevant events. Golden State Entertainment will be distributing my new album “James & Nikki” in February, based on a historic 1971 conversation between James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni. David Kelly (chief legal counsel/CEO) of GSE will be our guest to discuss what makes culture so valuable to them.
Special Guest: David Kelly, Chief Legal Officer, Golden State Warriors and Chief Business Officer, Golden State Entertainment & Teefa, Hip-Hop Artist