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Smino is simultaneously experimental and intentional—it’s a trip. His music feels better with each listen. The midwest breeds multitalented artists, including rappers who love to sing, but Smino (born in Saint Louis with roots in Chicago) is more than a rapper who sings or a singer who raps. With his endearing falsetto, undeniable charm, and frequent collaborations (including with Chicagoans Monte Booker and Ravyn Lenae), he makes music that’s great for the cookout, the kickback, and—importantly—the bedroom. Oozing with sex appeal and blessed with great hair, Smino has a surplus of personality, knowledge, and control. Though his music drips familiarity and sometimes evokes fellow explorative hip-hop acts such as OutKast or Kendrick Lamar, he’s got enough fresh ideas that it never feels plagiarized. Smino’s lyrics and musical decisions come chock-full of respect for pop culture and music history, and his unique voice shines through from the core. 

Smino’s new third album, Luv 4 Rent, clearly expresses his artistic growth since his 2018 breakout album, Noir, with its beat selection, big features (including J. Cole), instrumental choices, and vocal direction. Thick with smoky melodies, the music weaves between hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and straight-up pop—and it’s all abundantly Black. “Blu Billy” is good and breezy, while “Pudgy” is a big pulsating hug with a stellar Lil Uzi Vert verse. The guest spot from Tampa rapper Doechii on “Pro Freak” will be a revelation for anyone sleeping on her abilities, and Smino shows that he’s not just a playful crooner—he’s a real MC with a wordplay that isn’t to be undervalued. Luv 4 Rent has a certain je ne sais quoi—it’s sharp, loose, and satisfying. Longtime Smino fans will love it, and it’ll introduce new listeners to a rising talent who shows no signs of slowing down.

Smino’s Luv 4 Rent is available through Zero Fatigue.

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10 months ago, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL on the biggest stage, playing in the Super Bowl for the Los Angeles Rams. Now, he’s ready to be cleared for action. Should the Chicago Bears take a shot in the dark?

Look, we know that the 30-year-old Beckham is likely looking to sign with a competitive team, and that’s not the Bears.

However, the Bears offense is suddenly an attractive place to play. Justin Fields has taken a leap forward and has the league buzzing. Just last week, Fields broke the single-game NFL rushing record held by Michael Vick. To say it’s not at least a tantalizing thought would be a lie.

But, Beckham is likely going to be looking at teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, or maybe even the San Francisco 49ers — the Bears don’t stand a chance.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles should at least make Odell Beckham Jr. an offer which causes him to look twice.

Look, the NFC stinks. The Bears have some winnable games remaining on their schedule, including two against the Detroit Lions starting this weekend. If Beckham were to be cleared, come in and learn the offense, he could help the Bears push for a wildcard berth.

Would that be enough to satisfy Beckham? Not likely.

However, if he becomes a huge factor in this offense (and he would), then Beckham essentially proves he is still worth one more huge contract — and, guess who has roughly $120 million to work with in cap space next year?

The Chicago Bears.

Let’s say Beckham was to get an irrefutable offer from Poles — we’re talking a chunk of guaranteed money. If he takes advantage of that short-term deal and is able to hang his hat on helping to continue develop Fields and transform an offense like Chicago, Beckham’s value next offseason skyrockets as a free agent.

Maybe, just maybe, the Bears are able to lock him down long-term next spring. It is the longest of long shots, sure, but if Poles can come out and at least say that he tried, it would be saying a heck of a lot to the fans about what type of general manager he is.

If Poles can say he’s done everything he can to try and improve this team going forward, fans will be able to put a lot more faith into Poles’ plan down the line.

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Dating back to earlier this offseason, one of the Chicago Bears‘ biggest weaknesses has been up front with their offensive line.

As the offseason lingered on, fans grew frustrated with the lack of moves made in this area by first-year general manager Ryan Poles. Now, the offense is finally on a roll thanks to Luke Getsy and Justin Fields, but protection is still an issue.

Despite what some outlets may say about starting center Sam Mustipher, he has been god-awful this season. The fans know it. They see it every single week, play-in and play-out. For the sake of Fields’ overall health and continuing to run the ball well, the Bears have to find a way to get Mustipher on the bench.

Unfortunately, veteran Lucas Patrick went on IR a couple of weeks ago and that makes things tougher to navigate. However, there is still one other option the Bears could try if they wanted to improve the line as a whole.

Left Tackle: Braxton Jones

Left Guard: Alex Leatherwood

Center: Cody Whitehair

Right Guard: Teven Jenkins

Right Tackle: Riley Reiff

Benching Sam Mustipher is almost a ‘must’ at this point, and the Chicago Bears have to make sure they protect their quarterback.

Earlier on this season, we saw Fields take a beating in a prime time game against the Washington Commanders. Previous to that, Fields was roughed up quite a bit against the Green Bay Packers. Both of those games were examples of Mustipher’s horrific play — and should have been the last straw.

Going with the above offensive line has a few positives and reasons behind it.

First of all, Whitehair knows how to play center and is much more capable than Mustipher. He’s the veteran. He’s trusted. He is more than capable. That should put everyone’s mind at ease when it comes to pressure right up the middle.

Secondly, throwing Leatherwood in at guard is a little bit of a risk. However, it could pay off in a big way. He is a recent first-round pick, cut by the Las Vegas Raiders after they decided not to use him correctly; instead, trying to fit a round peg into a square hole by playing him at left tackle.

Leatherwood is essentially auditioning for the rest of his pro career, and fits much better at guard in a zone scheme — which is exactly what the Bears use. He’s young, he’s a mauler at the guard position, and should be given a chance. He might just surprise us, proving he indeed belongs.

At right tackle, Larry Borom has been beaten like a drum on multiple occasions this season. Because of that, inserting Reiff is a no-brainer. The veteran tackle has played well this year when given the opportunity, especially when it comes to pass protection.

Protecting Fields is priority number one when it comes to the line, right now. The Bears are going to run the ball down their opponents’ throat every game. That’s a given. That’s who they are. But, protecting Fields is the difference between a good offense and an offense that could be truly explosive.

This combo should be used in the near future, and if it works, it should be the way to go for the remainder of the year.

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Petr Mrazek made 33 saves on 35 shots from the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, but blundered on the two goals he did allow.

This season is nothing short of a subpar for the Chicago Blackhawks and holds dim hopes, but Mrazek is a shimmer of light between the pipes for the Hawks, and Thursday’s performance is another chapter in that book.

Mrazek posted a season high .941 save percentage, and a season low 1.85 goals against per game.

The first of the two came from the stick of Phillip Danault in the middle frame, as the Hawks finished killing off a penalty. Danault found a shooting lane from the top of the faceoff circle to goalie’s right, past Mrazek who had slid too far out of the net in an attempt to cut off the angle.

The OT winner came from Kevin Fiala with :01.4 seconds on the clock with Mrazek out of position, playing the puck handler, who found Fiala, and despite Jake McCabe’s diving attempt to knock the puck away, he landed the game winner.

Mrazek’s 33 save performance is his first appearance following an eight game hiatus spanning from a groin injury suffered on October 21st in a tilt with the Detroit Red Wings, where he exited in the 3rd period.

In the waning moments of OT, Mrazek put on a clinic, and the Hawks forecheck failed them ultimately in the other end, as Jonathan Quick played miraculous as well.

Mrazek’s return is a bright spot for the season, as soon after losing Mrazek to injury, the Blackhawks also lost Alek Stalock, and were relying on their farm system goalies to carry them through.

Stalock was placed on the injured reserve with a concussion on November 4.

The Blackhawks power play shined yet again, adding to their already impressive numbers on the young season.

Two of the team’s top three point getters marked the scoresheet as Jonathan Towes and Max Domi both landed assists on Taylor Raddysh’s power play marker in the second period.

Mrazek’s play makes it easier for Hawks’ fans to watch hockey this season, but may make him a candidate for trade as the season progresses to net the Hawks a decent return.

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New York singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder has been involved in music for much of her life, but after her brother received a 20-year prison sentence due to a “three strikes” policy, she became an advocate for justice and pursued a legal career. She landed in the public defender’s office in her hometown of Rochester, first as a defense attorney and later as a diversity and inclusion officer, but she continued to write songs on the side—and she eventually chose to make music full-time. If she fought for her clients and her community with even half the conviction of her powerful solo debut, the September release Some of Us Are Brave, anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner. 

Ponder’s commitment to justice and humanity remain intrinsic to her work, and her enormous, beautiful voice commands us to take heed of her words. She takes on the perspective of a Black man wronged by a racist criminal justice system on her 2020 track “Poor Man’s Pain,” partly inspired by the story of Willie Simmons, who was convicted of stealing $9 and sentenced to life without parole in 1982 under a racist “habitual offender” law. On Some of Us Are Brave, she weaves together that activist passion and her storytelling about more intimate themes and experiences; her chic, smoky musical arrangements are similarly multifaceted, incorporating soul, gospel, downtempo, alternative rock, and more. If there’s a sweet spot between Aretha Franklin and Beth Gibbons, Ponder has staked her flag on it with a voice that’s unmistakably her own. If you’ve been sleeping on Ponder, consider yourself on notice—she’s not likely to keep performing in venues as intimate as SPACE.

Danielle Ponder Wyatt Waddell opens. Fri 11/18,8 PM, SPACE, 1245 Chicago, Evanston, $18, all ages

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New York singer-songwriter Danielle Ponder has been involved in music for much of her life, but after her brother received a 20-year prison sentence due to a “three strikes” policy, she became an advocate for justice and pursued a legal career. She landed in the public defender’s office in her hometown of Rochester, first as a defense attorney and later as a diversity and inclusion officer, but she continued to write songs on the side—and she eventually chose to make music full-time. If she fought for her clients and her community with even half the conviction of her powerful solo debut, the September release Some of Us Are Brave, anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner. 

Ponder’s commitment to justice and humanity remain intrinsic to her work, and her enormous, beautiful voice commands us to take heed of her words. She takes on the perspective of a Black man wronged by a racist criminal justice system on her 2020 track “Poor Man’s Pain,” partly inspired by the story of Willie Simmons, who was convicted of stealing $9 and sentenced to life without parole in 1982 under a racist “habitual offender” law. On Some of Us Are Brave, she weaves together that activist passion and her storytelling about more intimate themes and experiences; her chic, smoky musical arrangements are similarly multifaceted, incorporating soul, gospel, downtempo, alternative rock, and more. If there’s a sweet spot between Aretha Franklin and Beth Gibbons, Ponder has staked her flag on it with a voice that’s unmistakably her own. If you’ve been sleeping on Ponder, consider yourself on notice—she’s not likely to keep performing in venues as intimate as SPACE.

Danielle Ponder Wyatt Waddell opens. Fri 11/18,8 PM, SPACE, 1245 Chicago, Evanston, $18, all ages

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When people think of the Reader, a few things might come to mind: dogged journalism, meaty features and critiques that spark conversations, and a unique history that, much like Chicago itself, is rooted in tenacity and resilience.

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Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky riffs on the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty, and interviews politicians, activists, journalists and other political know-it-alls. Presented by the Chicago Reader, the show is available by 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at chicagoreader.com/joravsky—or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss Oh, What a Week!–the Friday feature in which Ben & producer Dennis (aka, Dr. D.) review the week’s top stories. Also, bonus interviews drop on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.

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When people think of the Reader, a few things might come to mind: dogged journalism, meaty features and critiques that spark conversations, and a unique history that, much like Chicago itself, is rooted in tenacity and resilience.

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