Chicago Renaissance: Activism in Chicago's Music Scene

Science Center A155

The purpose of my research is to examine the relationship between Chicago artists and the communities they come from using various artists’ responses to controversial events as case studies. Within the last five years, Chicago has been a place of intense creative energy and many artists have found themselves at the forefront of Chicago’s music scene. Artists like Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Noname, and others have made a significant impact in hip hop through their music and through their activism. Within the last decade, Chicago has faced Teacher Strikes, police brutality, and gun violence; these artists respond to significant events through their music and performances in order to be a voice for their community. In March of 2017, Chance donated one million dollars to Chicago Public Schools as a response to Governor Bruce Rauner wanting low-income Chicago Public Schools to file bankruptcy. In a press conference where he announced his donation, Chance also mentioned that Governor Bruce Rauner needed to “do his job.” There is a vast community of artists, like Chance, who are using their influence to promote the importance of art and education to Chicago’s youth.