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Chicago culture, arts & entertainment with Billy Dec
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Browsing all posts tagged with kanye west.
04/26/11
Lollapalooza 2011 Lineup Announced!
As you know we throw the hottest parties in the city for Lollapalooza. In the past we’ve done performances by Katy Perry, Kanye West, Perry Farrell, Mickey Avalon, Snow Patrol, Kenna, Mike Posner & many more! We will be releasing our party info soon, but in the meantime wanted to share the lineup for the 20th anniversary of Lollapalooza…
Eminem
Foo Fighters
Coldplay
Muse
My Morning Jacket
Deadmau5
A Perfect Circle
Cee Lo Green
Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley & Nas
The Cars
Ween
Bright Eyes
Arctic Monkeys
Big Audio Dynamite
Deftones
Beirut
Explosions in the Sky
Death From Above 1979
Ratatat
Crystal Castles
Flogging Molly
Atmosphere
Cold War Kids
Lykke Li
Cage the Elephant
OK Go
Local Natives
The Kills
White Lies
Portugal.The Man
Two Door Cinema Club
Ellie Goulding
Delta Spirit
Beats Antique
The Mountain Goats
Sleigh Bells
Manchester Orchestra
Smith Westerns
Best Coast
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
The Drums
Black Lips
Fitz & The Tantrums
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
City and Colour
Cults
Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses
Noah & The Whale
Sam Adams
J. Roddy Walton And The Business
Tinie Tempah
Lissie
Dom
The Vaccines
Foster the People
Titus Andronicus
Mayer Hawthorne & the County
Chico Trujillo
The Naked and Famous
Phantogram
Rival Schools
Friendly Fires
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Reptar
Maps & Atlases
Fences
Tennis
An Horse
Young The Giant
Los Bunkers
Imelda May
Grouplove
Wye Oak
The Joy Formidable
Lord Huron
Disappears
Walk the Moon
Gold Motel
Iration
Ryan Leslie
TAB the Band
Skylar Grey
Christina Perri
Black Cards
The Pretty Reckless
Boy & Bear
Patrick Stump
Kids These Days
Young Man
The Kingston Springs
Lia Ices
The Chain Gang of 1974
Ximena Sariñana
Typhoon
Electric Touch
Kerli
Ruby Jane
Julia Easterlin
DJ Mel
Perry Stage:
Girl Talk
Pretty Lights
KiD CuDi
The Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 1977
Afrojack
Modeselektor
Skrillex
PerryEtty vs Chris Cox
Chuckie
The Glitch Mob
Busy P
Joachim Garraud
Super Mash Bros.
Jay Electronica
12th Planet
Daedulus
Feed Me
Jackmaster
Collie Buddz
Savoy
Kyle Lucas & Captain Midnite
Ana Tijoux
Midnight Conspiracy
L1ght
Lady D
Lineup courtesy of lollapalooza.com
Tags: 2011, 20th anniversary, 20th anniversary lollapalooza, august, billy dec, chicago, Chicago Music Festival, DO312, festival, kanye west, katy perry, kena, lollapalooza, Lollapalooza 2011 Lineup, mickey avalon, mike posner, Music, perry farrell, snow patrol
02/12/11
Guess who all is headed to the 53rd grammy awards!
Billy Dec at the 2010 Grammys from A Chicago Thing on Vimeo.
I’m off to los angeles in the morning because its grammy time again- this Sunday the 13th! Here is a quick video of me on the red carpet last year after my twitter followers wanted more than just my tweetpics. How many people can you recognize?!? And who are your favs this year?
My favs as always will definitely include a lot of chicagoans! Here are a few to watch out for! best rap solo performance: kanye west (duh). best traditional r&b vocal performance; best contemporary r&b album: r.kelly. best contemporary r&b gospel album: aaron sledge. best classical album, best choral performance: chicago symphony chorus. best classical album, best orchestral performance, best choral performance: chicago symphony orchestra. best jazz vocal album: freddy cole. best contemporary blues album: buddy guy. best traditional blues album; best contemporary blues album: willie “big eyes” smith.
get a full list of grammy nominations here and a full list of chicago nominees here. And speaking of music, particularly the blues which I love, don’t forget to check out my live blues party on saturday, february 19th for my 1st 10,000 twitter followers… That you can come to if you click http://bit.ly/e34PMN details!
Tags: 2011 grammys, awards, billy dec, blues, chicago, chicago symphony orchestra, freddy cole, grammys, kanye west, los angeles, Music, nominations, r kelly, willie "big eyes" smith
06/04/10
Who do you think is best in Chicago!?
Art, bucktown, charity, chicago, Comedy, cubs, fashion, Food, General, Movies, Museum, Music, nightlife, Pictures, Radio, restaurants, sports, Theater, Video
Just voted for the Chicago Reader “Best in Chicago” awards online! Figured I would share my answers since everyone asks me on Twitter and Facebook about my Chicago favs! (BTW, sorry did these fast, was in a rush, sorry if missed anyone!) You should vote too! (Especially for my places! haha) Voting ends this weekend so go to http://bestof.chicagoreader.com/ now!
Best car wash :: We’ll Clean
Best BBQ :: Fat Willies
Best Brewpub :: Goose Island
Best Coffee Shop :: Intelligestia/Aspire at home….chitowns peeps!
Best Cupcakes :: 3 way tie – Foiled (on twitter), Sweet Mandy B’s (near my house) or Swirlz (for boxes to friends!)
Best Fashion Designer :: Maria Pinto
Best Interior Designer :: Nate Berkus
Best Thrift Store :: Salvation Army
Best brunch :: Rockit on hubbard (live acoustic, gourmet bloody mary’s, mimosa kits at your table, amazing brunch menu… come on!) Or riverside café in bucktown
Best shoe store :: Niketown
Best garden store :: kinsella landscaping
Best gym :: HERO Fitness and equinox
Best home furnishings store :: smart rooms in merchandise mart
Best alfresco dining :: Patio at RBG Wrigley (in nice neighborhood, and can see Wrigley field scoreboard from table)
Best bagels :: ashkenaz
Best college :: U of I champaign urbana
Best gelato :: n/a, I eat peanut butter and chocolate skinny cows with extra crunchy peanut butter globbed on twice a day
Best grocery store :: whole foods
Best Indian restaurant :: vermillion
Best margarita :: que rico
Best Mexican restaurant :: el tapitio
Best Middle Eastern restaurant :: reeza’s
Best new restaurant :: kith kin
Best burger :: Rockit Bar & Grill (“good morning america” gave chitown the nationwide recognition for the rockit burger to beat all cities out- love it!)
Best seafood restaurant :: Joe’s
Best splurge :: avenue at peninsula
Best sushi :: Sunda (not many people get entire fresh fish anymore and cut them up right there and then, hands down best!) Best wine shop :: House of Glunz
Best liquor store :: Binny’s
Best pizza :: connie’s and malnatis
Best drink specials :: ½ off wine on Mondays at rockit (actually can get really nice bottles!)
Best cocktail list :: Sunda drink list is pure heaven- I invented the “bd superfresh sakitini” that should win this award in itself! Actually, they are all that good
Best dive bar :: Richard’s
Best 4 AM bar :: underground, not many places still packed at 4am, 5am saturdays
Best night of the week to go out :: Saturday, I know its so mainstream, but its just true, and I love people watching. Best smoking area :: far away from me
Best hotel for an in-town getaway :: Peninsula
Best record store :: grew up going to dr. wax
Best local music blog :: www.assault.it
Best dance club :: Underground, you know you are the best when don’t have an actual cheesy dance floor but can make everyone dance!
Best local band :: Plain White T’s & Lovehammers
Best local hip-hop artist :: kanye
Best local DJ :: Rock City
Best local tribute band :: South of 80 and elevation
Best bartender :: Andy Lee at Rockit River North
Best music venue to play :: Metro
Best music venue to watch :: House of Blues
Best music festival :: Lolla
Best movie theater AMC on Illinois
Best art gallery :: Carrie Seacrist
Best museum exhibit :: TRex Sue
Best public artwork :: art institute and mca
Best touring play :: lookingglass “alice”
Best off-Loop theater company :: Lookingglass
Best late-night theater experience :: wiener circle
Best stand-up comic :: Conan O’Brien
Best sketch/improv troupe :: improv olympic and second city
Best dance company :: Loveabulls count?
Best burlesque troupe :: Baton Club
Best antique store :: Golden Triangle
Best bike shop :: village cycle
Best mani/pedi :: hasn’t happened, yet!
Best massage :: Maria at Backup Therapeutic
Best mechanic victor castro at perillo on clark
Best movers :: Bill & Phil Movers
Best place to adopt a pet :: PAWS
Best Cubs bar :: Rockit Wrigley, can see scoreboard from table while watching our tv’s
Best Sox Bar jim beam club, great buffet
Best billiards :: rockit river north baby! The best.
Best bowling alley :: lucky strike
Best canoe/kayak rental :: Lincoln park
Best golf course :: Medinah Country Club
Best dance class :: Arthur murray and dance center chicago!
Best music teacher :: Scott Arkenberg at St. Clement
Best yoga studio :: classes at peninsula spa
Tags: alice in wonderland, amc on illinois, andrew lee, andy lee, arthur murray, ashkenaz, assault.it, avenues, back up, best of, bill and phil movers, billy dec, binny's, carrie seacrist, chicago reader, conan o'brien, connie's, dance center chicago, dj rock city, dr. wax, el tapitio, elevation, equinox, golden triangle, hero fitness, house of blues, house of glunz, hubbard, improv olympic, jim bean club, joe's, kanye west, kinsella landscaping, kith kin, lolla, lookingglass theatre, loveabulls, lovehammers, medinah country club, merchandise mart, metro, niketown, paws, plain white t's, que rico, reeza's, richard's, riverside cafe, rockit bar and grill, rockit wrigley, second city, skinny cows, smart rooms, south of 80, sue, sunda, the peninsula, trex, u of i, u2, underground, vermillion, village cycle, whole foods, wiener circle
04/08/10
Lollapalooza Chicago 2010 Lineup Announced by C3!
Last night at sunda I got to catch up w/my old buddy Charlie jones, one of the 3 c’s in “c3” that’s responsible for the ever successful outdoor summer music festival in our sweet home chicago, “lollapalooza!” (check this video & you will see how much fun we have w/it!) I first met him when the mayor brought me, & a couple others like Charlie, into his office years ago to think of new ways to make summers fests in chicago even better, and I’ve been impressed w/their group ever since! Year after year they bring enormous talent & investment to our city… so whenever I see him like the other night, I am sure to let him know i appreciate it.
Speaking of appreciation, i also let him know I was psyched about all the buzz surrounding their ridiculously hardcore line up this year before it was even released! we laughed about how each year he can never keep his line ups a secret and joked that from now on the 3 c’s are just going to keep it to themselves… hilarious! And of course, I wrapped it up like a big nerd saying “I can’t believe you have lady gaga! can you intro me?!” he says, “sure if you support parkways foundation event night before.” I say “done! really?” He says, “no, but support anyway.” Again, Hilarious… but I agree, we all should support anyway… so sharing all the lolla and parkways info with you now…
Last night at sunda I got to catch up w/my old buddy Charlie jones, one of the 3 c’s in “c3” that’s responsible for the ever successful outdoor summer music festival in our sweet home chicago, “lollapalooza!” (check this video & you will see how much fun we have w/it!) I first met him when the mayor brought me, & a couple others like Charlie, into his office years ago to think of new ways to make summers fests in chicago even better, and I’ve been impressed w/their group ever since! Year after year they bring enormous talent & investment to our city… so whenever I see him like the other night, I am sure to let him know i appreciate it.
Speaking of appreciation, i also let him know I was psyched about all the buzz surrounding their ridiculously hardcore line up this year before it was even released! we laughed about how each year he can never keep his line ups a secret and joked that from now on the 3 c’s are just going to keep it to themselves… hilarious! And of course, I wrapped it up like a big nerd saying “I can’t believe you have lady gaga! can you intro me?!” he says, “sure if you support parkways foundation event night before.” I say “done! really?” He says, “no, but support anyway.” Again, Hilarious… but I agree, we all should support anyway… so sharing all the lolla and parkways info with you now…
Tags: c3, charlie jones, green day, hot chip, kanye west, katy perry, lady gaga, lollapalooza, lollapalooza 2010, mgmt, parkways foundation, perry farrell, phoenix, soundgarden, sunda, the black keys, the strokes
03/26/10
Hip Hop Allstars in "The Chicago Vault"
As everyone knows, Chicago’s Hip-Hop talent, like Common, Kanye West, Twista, cool kids, rhymefest, kid sister, lupe fiasco,.. are all celebrated as world class! And I am sure as they will tell you, it all starts with our support on a grassroots level. So today, giving a shout out to one of the biggest supporters of Midwest hip-hop over the years… DJ & Producer Naki the Beatman. (thanks to a suggestion on twitter!)
As a DJ at two of Chicago’s biggest rap and R&B stations, WGCI and Power 92; Naki championed artists before they were accepted by the mainstream. After stints on radio & MTV, where he hosted events like NBA All-Star Weekend & MTV2′s Hip Hop Countdown, Naki become the CEO of Life Music Group, where he recently dug through his archives to create “The Chicago Vault” (dropping 5/11) compiling unreleased tracks from some of the biggest names in Hip Hop. A two minute preview of the album is available for download now at http://bln.kr/CSV .. enjoy!
As everyone knows, Chicago’s Hip-Hop talent, like Common, Kanye West, Twista, The Cool Kids, Rhymefest, Kid Sister, Lupe Fiasco,.. are all celebrated as world class! And I am sure as they will tell you, it all starts with our support on a grassroots level. So today, giving a shout out to one of the biggest supporters of Midwest hip-hop over the years… DJ & Producer Naki the Beatman. (thanks to a suggestion on twitter!)
As a DJ at two of Chicago’s biggest rap and R&B stations, WGCI and Power 92; Naki championed artists before they were accepted by the mainstream. After stints on radio & MTV, where he hosted events like NBA All-Star Weekend & MTV2′s Hip Hop Countdown, Naki become the CEO of Life Music Group, where he recently dug through his archives to create “The Chicago Vault” (dropping 5/11) compiling unreleased tracks from some of the biggest names in Hip Hop. A two minute preview of the album is available for download now at http://bln.kr/CSV .. enjoy!
Tags: chicago, chicago rappers, common, dj, kanye west, kid sister, life music group, lupe fiasco, mtv2's hip hop countdown, Music, naki the beatman, nba all-star weekend, power 92, producer, rap, rhymefest, the chicago vault, the cool kids, twista, wgci chicago
01/23/10
Chicago Music Awards this Weekend!
In the 29th year since it’s inception, the Chicago Music Awards has featured and honored some of the most acclaimed artist in the history music, including : Kanye West, Smashing Pumpkins, Lou Rawls, Chaka Khan, Robert Townsend, R Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, Curtis Mayfield, Buddy Guy, The Mighty Dells, Jerry Butler, Oscar Brown Jr., Albertina Walker, Ramsey Lewis, Dick Buckley, Sir George Solti, The Chi-Lites, Pop Staples, Patty Jo Timmons and Von Freeman – to name a few.
The CMA’s were founded by Ephraim Martin of Martin’s International Culture (who also produces the International Reggae & World Music Awards). He originally set out in the early ‘90’s as a not-for-profit group trying to promote African/Caribbean music, arts and culture. Not before long, he realized that there was already a wealth of all kinds of great culture and music right in his own town of sweet home chicago, thus the CMA’s we born.
The Chicago Music Awards take to the stage again this Sunday the 24th at the Alhambra Palace where you can see Chicago’s own Wilco and Jeremih perform live. Check out info and get your tix at www.martinsinterculture.com
Tags: albertina walker, buddy guy, chaka khan, chicago music awards, curtis mayfield, dick buckley, jennifer hudson, jerry butler, kanye west, lou rawls, oscar brown jr, patty jo timmons, pop staples, r kelly, ramsey lewis, robert townsend, sir george solti, smashing pumpkins, the chi-lites, the mighty dells, von freeman
01/02/10
Backstage exclusive w/ Gossip Girl Leighton Meester
What a way to kick off the new year! Last night crowds of crazed gossip girl, underground & www.achicagothing.com fans got treated to a live performance by Leighton meester who plays blair waldorf on “gossip girl!” and it was definitely a raging time! (most of the free tickets came through twitter as they always do so if not following me click here so don’t miss out anymore!)
My partners Arturo Gomez, brad young & I like to thank our supporters a couple times a year with surprise celebrity performances, and I have to say, even though we have had john mayer, ashlee simpson, kanye west,… and dozens of other high profile stars perform live at our places for all, this group of fans got just as crazy for their girl Leighton!
Check out this video of me & Leighton chilling backstage at the underground before her show thanking you all for all your support… on behalf of www.achicagothing.com& rockit ranch productions… we appreciate you! Oh, and much more to come in 2010… stay tuned!
updated : January 4th – 10am :: here’s some press from leighton’s performance….
Page Six - http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/we_hear_c7zIsfKYIVv8HAsX3yMrBK
NBC - http://tr.im/JpCv
Chicago Tribune - http://tr.im/JpOK
Tags: ashlee simpson, gossip girl, john mayor, kanye west, leighton meester, the underground, twitter
12/31/09
song of the decade?
Woke up to the song “crazy” by gnarls barkley on the today show saying rolling stone
called it the song of decade? I’m not feeling that- but couldn’t come
up with one to sum it all up- so asked my friends on twitter and
facebook- and here is what the first 10 people to respond said:
Tags: alicia keys, beyonce, black eyed peas, coldplay, gnarls barkley, jay-z, kanye west, kings of leon, lil wayne, nine, rihanna, rolling stone, today show
07/23/09
kanye west at chicago theatre on fuse
following up on an earlier blog about kanye west’s show at the chicago theatre last month! set to air this saturday on the fuse network, check out how packed the theatre was and how hyped the crowd was! rumor has it he’s teaming up with lady gaga for a new tour, check back for more info.
leaving you with my favorite kanye west quote – “love your haters, they’re your biggest fans!”
Tags: chicago theatre, fuse network, kanye west