Over the weekend, Change.org, an "online activism platform for social change" that allows its users to create online petitions the site then hosts, announced on its blog that MTV said it would "not air in its current form" Kanye West's video for "Monster,"because of one of their petitions. There's just one problem: MTV doesn't play videos in the first place. MTV, in a statement released to Hip-Hop DX and other media sites, says the video has not been banned. BUM BUM BUUMMMMMM. more ›

When we received a Myspace bulletin from one of our favorite local bands, The Fake Fictions, we hoped it included news about an upcoming show, a new tour, an appearance on Conan ... Not news about a massive fire at their practice space. more ›

Attention: All you shoe-loving rap fans, all you jobless hipsters ... Time to put down the Cristal. Time to take off the ice for a minute ... As Miles Raymer reported yesterday on Crickets, Redman is scheduled to do a DJ set and a meet-and-greet from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Alfred in Wicker Park. So you know, if you don't have anything to do on a Wednesday afternoon, you might as well... more ›

The advent of the New Year ought to bring with it joy and hope. But fans of live music know that January 1 often brings nothing but doldrums thanks to cold winter temps that discourage even the heartiest of bands from touring. So this week is as good as any to get caught up on some local “comfort food” that might get passed over in warmer weeks. Neither Lacona or Driftless Pony Club seems to... more ›

We know that everyone who doesn't have stage fright will be at Quencher's tonight with us, but not everyone likes to be in the spotlight. We just read in the Reader's Crickets that Rhymefest will be playing a party at Dragonfly sponsored by Couvoisier. Miles Raymer believes that Rhymefest won't disappoint and we loved him at Intonation. Get some free booze and some freestylin' with Chicago's own MC. more ›