You know, when Chicagoist received an internal office email alerting us to the impending divorce of Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston, the subject line read "!!!." Obviously, we all were just as animated in our reaction to this news as the next celebrity stalker. more ›

Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Month is almost half over. What have you done to celebrate it? If you have yet to feel the flow, here are some recommendations: * There’s still room enough on the bandwagon for you, so pick up copies of Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco’s new albums. Rhymefest’s Blue Collar dropped earlier this week and Fiasco’s Food and Liquor has an official release date of August 8th though it leaked to the Internet faster... more ›

It’s the first week in January so most news organizations are combating the winter doldrums by gangbanging any news story that looks at them sideways. (This notion might be the only explanation why the story of the West Virginia miners—a legitimately newsworthy and tragic event—showed up on CNN’s Showbiz Today last night just before a story on Lindsey Lohan’s publicity st…er, bulimia and drug use). more ›

If you’re unable to find your local music geek today, try checking their bedroom.  They’ll likely be there with a monster set of headphones and listening to an album that is spoken of in the most reverential tones this side of your local monastery: Brian Wilson’s Smile.  The former Beach Boy’s “lost masterwork” goes on sale today for the first time since it was conceived of more than 37 years ago.  more ›