Chicago-Ty Money, better known as Fat Money, returns with new music: 13 tracks in his signature style for this year’s CincoDeMoney installment, Wolf, Part 1.
This project is one I anticipate annually. Not just out of loyalty , but because the series consistently reflects authenticity and growth. Each year feels like a continuation, not a repetition.
Money still slaps the same way he did the first time I pressed play years ago. And I still spin the older records too. That consistency matters.
Beyond affiliation, because yes, this is family, the work stands on its own. The quality is there. The storytelling is structured. The themes are grounded in everyday Chicagoland life. There’s intention in the sequencing and delivery that many artists today struggle to maintain.
It’s narrative and a vibe.
The project was mixed by Rio Mac and Fat Money, with features from Rio Mac and Kris Lofton, adding texture without disrupting the tone.
A personal highlight for me is the recurring nod to my family’s restaurant legacy.
My uncle, Chuck “Woo Woo’s” Higgins, built something lasting from Washington Heights (99th & Halsted) to Lynwood, Calumet City, Dolton, Chicago Heights, and now:
CHICAGO — Actress and recording artist Ta’Rhonda Jones is expanding her creative work into music with Breaking Character, a project centered on identity, perception and personal transformation.
The project includes tracks such as “Favor on My Soul” and “Villain,” which explore contrasting emotional perspectives, one rooted in alignment and affirmation, the other in perception and misunderstanding.
“Breaking character is really about stepping outside of what people expect from you,” Jones said. “It’s personal.”
Jones, known for her role as Porsha Taylor on the television series Empire, is using music to expand her storytelling beyond the screen.
“I choose to be present. I choose to be 100% me,” she said. “No more performing. No more people pleasing. I’m no longer who society wants me to be.”
The duality presented in “Favor on My Soul” and “Villain” reflects a broader theme of balance within the project.
“I wanted to show that balance is necessary,” Jones said. “I can be both soft and firm. Soft says I understand you, and firm says I still choose what’s best for me.”
Production for “Favor on My Soul” is underway, with visuals emphasizing tone, reflection and transformation. The project’s visual direction aligns with its themes, focusing on mood-driven storytelling and emotional depth.
“There are moments where you’re misunderstood for growing,” Jones said. “That’s where ‘Villain’ comes from.”
Jones also described the creative process as liberating, noting that each phase of development has expanded her perspective.
“Every time I create, I discover new freedom,” she said. “It feels like a phoenix rising, like I’ve unlocked a new level of consciousness.”
A release date for Breaking Character has been confirmed for June 6. The project marks Jones’ continued expansion into music and visual storytelling, positioning it as a personal and creative evolution.
Known for her unapologetic voice, bold personality, and cultural influence rooted in Chicago, Queen Key is stepping beyond music and into something more tangible;retail, ownership, and curated lifestyle. Just like a big stepper should.
With the announcement of her boutique, Kolors, grand opening, Sunday, April 19, at 2144 W. 95th Street from 5 PM-9 PM, she’s not just inviting people to an event…she’s inviting them to her next chapter of evolution and introducing them to a special space in her life.
Queen Key, born Ke’Asha McClure, has never followed a traditional blueprint, at all. I love 🥰 that for those of us looking 👀 to be inspired by originality.
From viral tracks to building a loyal audience, her career has been defined by authenticity and independence. But this latest move signals something deeper:
Ownership of experience.
A boutique isn’t just a store.
It’s:
A reflection of personal style
A direct-to-consumer brand channel
A physical extension of {brand} identity
And for an artist like Queen Key, whose image and presence have always been just as impactful as her music, this move feels less like a pivot and more like a natural progression.
This isn’t just about racks of clothing or a new address on a flyer.
Her Grand Opening represents:
A new level of entrepreneurship
A claim to a bigger physical space in the culture
A deeper connection between artist and audience, in marketing and advertising.
This is where supporters become customers. Where followers become community.
And where brand becomes infrastructure.
The Power of Physical Space in Communications
In a digital-first world, creating a physical location is a power move.
It says: “I’m not just visible, I’m established.”
For Chicago especially spaces like this matter because we’re an international city and market.
We are a hub for:
Local fashion influence
Cultural expression
Community engagement
And when someone like Queen Key opens that door, it doesn’t just create opportunity for herself, it creates a ripple effect and opportunities for others.
What to Expect
While details are still unfolding, one thing is clear:
This won’t be a passive shopping experience.
Expect:
Energy
Personality
A crowd that reflects her audience
And a space that feels like an extension of her brand, and for the fly & danty ladies.
Because if there’s one thing Queen Key understands, it’s how to make people feel something.
Why This Moment Matters
Her boutique launch 🚀 is a signal.
A signal that artists, especially women in hip-hop, are continuing to expand beyond industry limitations and step fully into ownership, business, and legacy-building.
The shooting unfolded around 1:30 a.m. on July 2 outside Artis Restaurant & Lounge, located on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue, as crowds exited an event hosted by Mello Buckzz. According to Chicago police, a dark-colored vehicle drove past the crowd and opened fire before fleeing the scene (ABC7 Chicago).
Watch full interview to hear my media associate & I discuss the situation.
Four people were fatally shot:
Taylor Walker, 26, a hairstylist from the South Side who was attending the event with friends
Aviance “Avi” Drexler, 27, a healthcare worker and close friend of the rapper
Leon Andrew Henry, 25, of Chicago
Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23, a truck driver and young father who was also Mello Buckzz’s boyfriend
At least 14 other individuals sustained injuries and were transported to area hospitals including Northwestern Memorial, Stroger, Mount Sinai, and Illinois Masonic. Three remained in critical condition as of Wednesday morning.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling condemned the incident, calling it “senseless and devastating,” adding that the shooters “fired into a crowd without any regard for human life” (CBS Chicago). The venue, Artis Lounge, has since been temporarily closed by city officials. The same location previously operated as Hush Chicago, which was also shuttered following a 2022 fatal shooting.
As the community grapples with the violence, new legal developments have further complicated the narrative.
According to CWB Chicago, Melvin Doyle, the father of Mello Buckzz, was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The federal complaint, filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), states that Doyle was found with multiple handguns and over 100 rounds of ammunition during a February search of his home (CWB Chicago). Authorities confirmed the weapons were not used in the July 2 shooting, and no direct connection between Doyle’s charges and the River North attack has been established.
Still, the proximity of these events invites a broader reflection on the roots of violence in our communities.
While music, particularly in Chicago’s drill and rap scenes, offers a creative outlet and a reflection of lived experience, it also holds power to influence, to provoke, and in some cases, to escalate. The intersection of lyrics, online posts, and real world conflict has been well documented. Law enforcement and community advocates alike warn that violent rhetoric, whether artistic or interpersonal, can spill beyond the studio or screen and into the streets.
In honoring the lives of Taylor, Avi, Leon, and Devonte, we are also forced to confront a culture where grief is cyclical and trauma is generational. We must ask: what are we normalizing? What are we amplifying? And who is paying the price?
As federal and local investigations continue, authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Chicago Police Department.
Chicago – On the notoriously eerie date of Friday the 13th, Easy O’Hare fused horror and hip-hop in a way only he could, with the release of his latest album, Nightmare O’Hare. Held at The New Jo’s Bar and Grill in Merrillville, Indiana, the release event transported fans and peers into an immersive experience where sound collided with storytelling in a night full of adrenaline, ambiance, and authenticity.
For centuries, the number 13 has carried a reputation for bad luck, and when it lands on a Friday, that superstitious energy hits different. The fear is so widespread it has its own name: paraskevidekatriaphobia. Pop culture took it even further in 1980 with the horror classic Friday the 13th, introducing Jason Voorhees; the silent, masked killer who haunted Camp Crystal Lake and slashed his way into horror history. Since then, the date has come to symbolize fear, suspense, and rebellion; making it the perfect backdrop for Easy O’Hare’s latest creative strike.
His statement? It’s giving serial killer energy.
And he’s killing these other rappers especially when it comes to the way he curates his musical projects.
Nightmare O’Hare captures that chaotic yet calculated vibe. It’s raw, cinematic, and deeply unsettling in the best way. The album rides moody production and vivid lyricism, exploring the gritty realities of urban life, survival, and the kind of darkness you face when you’re moving a certain way.
When I rap it gets scary for the competition and we chose a beat selection that fit the mood of how scary it can actually get. With this project I was showing I can pop up outta nowhere with new music at any given time after my listeners hear Nightmare O’Hare they’ll definitely go download the past projects to get all the way tapped in with me.
The theme originated from a past rap beef where I had to switch forms from Easy O’Hare to nightmare
-Easy O’Hare
The Performance
Easy’s stage presence brought the music to life with gritty emotion and undeniable power. And the supporting acts? Just as heavy. The room was charged with energy, filled with people who came to show love and stayed to be moved. It was a whole vibe and yes, the chicken was fire too.
The Artist
Rico Moneyy
Kdoug Jr
Aboog
D’kno Mr.KNOITALL
ESC Deez
Fly cool club
Big Nastee
Easy O’Hare
Coldhard
The Bigger Picture
With Nightmare O’Hare, Easy doesn’t just drop music, he curates experiences and releases projects with precision. He proves that there’s room for 40-year-old rappers who trap 🏚️🪤 with strategy, successfully. This isn’t a moment; it’s a method.
Nightmare O’Hare is now streaming on all major platforms.
Stay tuned for visuals, BTS moments, and more drops by following him on Instagram: @easyohare_
Hip Hop was never just a soundtrack, it was a survival guide, a protest language, and a cultural archive passed through boom bap beats and breath. Today, as the world watches the Hip Hop generation step into political arenas, from local elections to the United Nations, we are forced to ask: Who controls the culture now? And what does it mean to be Black, American, and powerful in a world that still tries to erase the blueprint?
In my new interview series The Cipher & The System I’m going to discussing the state of the culture, the importance of solving our identity crisis and setting a standard for the stewards, creatives, and other associates of Hip Hop that benefit from our Black American culture.
Full video is going through post production, bare with me.
It’s time to set the bar, revolutionize the voice of the culture and if not me then who? Seriously 😒 tho.
From Party to Power: The Political Birth of Hip Hop
What began in the Bronx as a celebration of rhythm, rhyme, and resistance has evolved into a global political force. Hip hop was never just about beats and bars, it was a cry from the margins, a cultural blueprint for survival in the face of systemic neglect.
As pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash turned block parties into platforms for protest, the culture began to birth its own consciousness. From the raw social critiques of Public Enemy to the electoral mobilizations led by artists and organizers today, hip hop continues to shift and our goal is to go back to our roots to use it as a tool to party for power, reminding the world that the mic is mightier than many know.
The Crisis of Identity in the Age of Influence
In a time where virality is often mistaken for value, the Black identity is being reshaped by algorithms and aesthetics more than lived experience and ancestral knowledge.
Hip hop, once a vehicle for self-definition, is now caught between commercialization and cultural reclamation. Who are we beyond the brand deals, trending sounds, and curated lifestyles? This crisis of identity isn’t just a cultural issue, it’s political. It determines who tells our stories, who profits from our pain, and how we define ourselves in the face of erasure and exploitation.
Dr. Daniel Davis on Education, Legacy & Liberation
Dr. Daniel Davis doesn’t just teach African American history, he embodies its living legacy. A leading voice on culturally relevant pedagogy, Dr. Davis believes education is the first site of liberation. In this exclusive interview, he shares why hip hop is not only a genre but a pedagogy, and how understanding our past is key to shaping our political and cultural future. His work centers the value of legacy, not as nostalgia, but as fuel for the fight for equity, self determination, and generational power.
Can We Build Cultural Institutions That Don’t Exploit Us?
Too many institutions built on Black creativity have failed Black communities. Whether in academia, music, media, or the nonprofit sector, the pattern is familiar: our genius is extracted, repackaged, and sold back to us, often without ownership, authorship, or autonomy.
It’s time to ask the hard questions: Can we build spaces where cultural integrity outweighs commercial interest? Where our narratives are protected, not commodified? Where cultural stewards are supported, not silenced? The answer requires both imagination and infrastructure, and a refusal to trade authenticity for access.
The Next Generation Needs Standards, Not Gatekeepers
There’s a difference between preserving culture and policing it. As hip hop enters its fifth decade, we owe the next generation more than nostalgia or elitism.
We owe them standards anchored in ethics, excellence, and historical context. These standards aren’t meant to stifle creativity but to safeguard legacy. Instead of gatekeepers, we need mentors, archivists, and architects, those who understand that true cultural preservation happens not by exclusion, but by elevation.
The youth are watching. Let’s give them more than permission, we must give them principles.
If we don’t teach the history of Hip Hop, we leave its future in the hands of people who never lived it.
There’s something undeniable about Chicago. The rhythm of our streets, the depth of our history, and the influence we hold in shaping urban culture across the nation and internationally, it runs deep. From house music and footwork to conscious rap and drill, Chicago has been a cultural cornerstone, birthing movements and voices that echo far beyond city limits.
That’s why moments like GloRilla giving Queen Key her flowers 💐 hit different. It’s more than just a viral moment, it’s recognition of legacy, talent, and the resilience of a city that has long been under credited and over influential.
Queen Key has always represented raw, unapologetic energy, the essence of what it means to be from the Chi and its surrounding communities. For another artist to publicly uplift her on tour is a powerful testament to sisterhood and respect in hip hop, especially amongst women at that young women, in an era where the city’s women are claiming space louder than ever.
Chicago isn’t just on the map, we are the map. The artists, the culture, the style, the stories, we influence the world, and it’s about time that legacy is consistently honored.
Chicago-Easy O’Hare, a standout voice in Chicago’s hip hop scene, teamed up with producer Uncle JoNH III to release Cabin Pressure, a tightly crafted 9 track album that dropped in 2024. Known for its gritty sound, sharp lyricism, and unapologetically Chicago feel, the project showcased Easy’s ability to turn personal stories and city life into immersive music. From soulful samples to streetwise bars, Cabin Pressure solidified his rep as an artist with staying power.
Single from Cabin Pressure
One of the album’s highlights, “KeepItTall,” featuring ESC Deez, has received new attention with a freshly released visual that captures the raw chemistry between the two. Watch the new video below 👇🏽. It’s a reminder that real art doesn’t fade, it grows with the artist.
Adding to the momentum, Easy O’Hare and ESC Deez recently joined forces again for “Bs,” the official theme song for the upcoming TV series Young Bulls. Promoted globally by Milwaukee’s own KB The Playmaker, and executive produced by industry veterans Stan Sheppard and Glasses Malone, Young Bulls shines a spotlight on Midwest talent, and Easy’s voice leads the charge. Check out the “Bs” video here, and you’ll see why this duo continues to demand attention.
From the Cabin Pressure cockpit to television soundtracks, Easy O’Hare is flying on his own frequency and the culture is catching up.
Chicago–Fat Money (formerly Ty Money), a prominent Harvey-Chicago rapper and lyricist, continues to make significant strides in the hip hop scene. Renowned for his sharp lyricism and deep rooted Chicago influences, Fat Money has been a consistent presence in the industry since 2014, releasing multiple studio albums and mixtapes.
In 2022, Fat Money collaborated with Kanye West on the Donda 2 album, contributing as a co-writer and recording several reference tracks for both released and unreleased songs. This collaboration not only showcased his versatility but also solidified his position among hip-hop’s elite with a sought after swag & sound. He’s also worked with Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre.
Building on this momentum, Fat Money has unveiled his latest project, CincoDeToven, a collaborative effort with legendary producer Zaytoven. This release is part of his annual CincoDeMoney series, traditionally launched on Cinco de Mayo. CincoDeToven blends Fat Money’s incisive storytelling with Zaytoven’s signature trap symphonies, offering a fresh yet familiar soundscape for fans.
Meanwhile, Kanye West’s Donda 2 has been at the center of several legal disputes. The album, initially released exclusively through West’s $200 Stem Player device, faced challenges due to its unconventional distribution method. Producers like ATL Jacob, who worked on tracks such as “Pablo,” “Keep It Burning,” and “Louie Bags,” have reported not receiving payment for their contributions, citing confusion over royalty distributions stemming from the album’s release strategy.
Additionally, West faces multiple lawsuits over unauthorized samples used in Donda 2. Notably, Ultra International Music Publishing sued him for allegedly sampling Marshall Jefferson’s 1986 track “Move Your Body” without permission in the song “Flowers.” Another lawsuit by Artist Revenue Advocates LLC claims that West misused music created by several artists in his songs “Hurricane” and “Moon” without proper authorization.
Despite these controversies, Fat Money’s trajectory remains upward. His collaboration with Zaytoven on CincoDeToven and his involvement in high-profile projects like Donda 2 underscore his growing influence and commitment to pushing creative boundaries in hip-hop. Listen, purchase, and save the project here.
Being part of this team has been an incredibly meaningful experience. I’m proud to have contributed to a platform that brought the culture, vibes, and a new style of broadcasting to Chicago’s airwaves. Streetz wasn’t just a radio station, it was a media group for the streets, and a home for urban talent, both on-air, on or behind the scenes.
Although it’s sad to see our chapter in Chicago come to a close, I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to do impactful, paid work in media, something that’s not always easy to come by in this industry. The relationships I built, the lessons I learned, and the confidence I gained are things I’ll carry forward with me.
I kicked ass coming through the door for Super Bowl Weekend, bringing in the most money in February and March working with Wilma’s BBQ, The AC Green Show, and Majani’s Food Emporium after my training, activating my superpowers 🦸🏽♀️.
Thank you to Core Radio Group & Streetz especially Trey The Choklit for the opportunity and support. I hope to work with them again in the future and continue building in other cities and capacities.
Communications Generalist | Cultural Strategist | Data & Business Analyst 