News

Rhymefest Is Running For Alderman in Chicago

4:47 p.m. · October 18, 2010 · by Bob Marshall

As the video says, rapper and "Jesus Walks" Grammy-winning co-writer Che "Rhymefest" Smith is now running for alderman of Southside Chicago's 20th ward.

While Ryhmefest has fallen off the national hip hop radar over the past few years, this year's album El Che was a return to form for the rapper, finding Smith looking to separate himself from "Jesus Walks" and 2006's pop-leaning Blue Collar. His song and video for "Chicago" called out West's brand of hip hop for the masses, and his return to the underground has been welcomed with open arms by his home city.

However, the 20th ward encompasses parts Southside Chicago's most violent and impoverished neighborhoods, among them Englewood, Back of the Yards and Woodlawn. It may take less of a freestyle guru and more of a miracle to do anything substantial for an area that seems to just keep getting worse for its residents. If former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel wins the city's mayoral election and Rhymefest wins the 20th ward, the two will indeed make an odd couple working on finding solutions to the Southside's choatic state.

[Chicagoist]