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LaSheena Weekly, mother of Carlton Weekly, who performed as FBG Duck, speaks about the death of her son during a 2020 press conference near the scene of the fatal shooting. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Some detractors blame radio, record companies and the artists themselves, and now YouTube is a target as well.

In 2015, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office commented on the shutdown of a Chicago hologram concert by local drill rapper Chief Keef by saying the Englewood native was “an unacceptable role model” who “posed a significant public safety risk.”

But while Emanuel was utilizing his platform to punch down on Keef, he was being a less-than-perfect role model himself. Three months later the world would realize he was the main participant in covering up the 2014 video of local teen Laquan McDonald being murdered by a Chicago police officer.

When it comes to explaining the city’s heartbreaking violence, local rappers and their lyrics are a frequent target, as are the radio stations — primarily WGCI-FM (107.5) and Power 92-FM (92.3) — and record companies that traditionally showcase them.

But many in the community say the aforementioned groups are convenient scapegoats and the real issue is city officials’ historical failure to rectify systemic issues within marginalized communities.

Wallace “Gator” Bradley, a former enforcer for the notorious Chicago street gang Gangster Disciples, is among those who believe music purveyors play a part in augmenting violence. He contrasts the handling of violent hip-hop with the treatment of rapper DaBaby, whose Lollapalooza set was canceled after he made homophobic remarks during an earlier concert.

“Why aren’t we apprehensive when rappers use music and social media to say they are going to kill someone?” Bradley asked. “Jay-Z and Kanye [West] had a song ‘Murder II Excellence’ that wasn’t played as much because it talked about stopping the violence.”

Provided Photo
Former GD enforcer Wallace “Gator” Bradley (from left) his son, Kahdmiel Bradley, and GD co-founder Larry Hoover.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of scholarly work connecting rap — and other musical genres — to violence. In 2003, researchers from Iowa State University and the Texas Department of Human Services reported findings that aggressive music lyrics increase aggressive thoughts and feelings, which might perpetuate aggressive behavior.

Englewood rapper Daweirdo describes the critiques as “bullcrap”

and lays the blame on a “lack of leadership” within communities marred by violence.

“I see it every day when I was a kid growing up; it was never the music. It was always not having enough leaders on the front lines,” said Daweirdo, who created the Stop Teen Violence Music Tour, where he performed at numerous local high schools. “The music shines a light on a lot of things. People have their ways of telling us stories with music. I’m the narrator or the reporter in my neighborhood. … The stories that I listen to from the kids I sit down with within my neighborhood are never about the music; it’s always about survival.”

Provided Photo
Englewood rapper Daweirdo.

While radio stations and record companies draw the brunt of the criticism, the recent crop of artists doesn’t depend on them to gain notoriety. They cut out the middleman by uploading their music to YouTube, utilizing the DIY approach.

South Side rapper Rooga’s “GD Anthem,” a Gangster Disciples homage that uses abbreviations to cite various gangs, has 7 million YouTube views. Rooga, the cousin of slain drill rappers FBG Brick and FBG Duck, raps in part:

Oh, you say you GDK? F— is wrong with you?

He said, ” ‘Cause you GDN I can’t do no song with you’ “

And if the BD’s found out, they gon’ put me on the n?ws

I’m like, “Shut the f- – – up, b- – – -, stop picking sides’ “

Reach Media managing editor J.R. Bang, formerly of 93.9 WKYS in Washington, D.C., agrees with the premise of taking a critical look at YouTube.

“Radio is the oldest form of communication other than the phone when you think about it, so it’s easy to blame radio,” said Bang. “When you look at [93.9 WKYS] playlists, our playlist consists of the majority of the people who don’t talk about [violent rap] that might be one of two. In Chicago’s case, since I’ve been back, I barely hear us on our airwaves. But if I talk to a shorty, they’d be like: ‘Yo, go on YouTube.’ “

Power 92-FM personality Pharris Thomas says terrestrial radio is often viewed as a “scapegoat” because they are deemed by detractors as much more accessible for criticism than streaming services.

“Radio has actually been making a conscious effort to clean the music that hits the airwaves from mix shows to on-air,” said Thomas. “They attack us because they can’t do anything to the other platforms. If we don’t play certain songs they can go right to YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. The radio is NOT the problem. Parents need to monitor what their kids do and where they visit on their phones.”

Maze Jackson, host and owner of the podcast creator WIIFTBP (What’s In It For Black People) Media, believes social media streaming websites — particularly YouTube — that profit from rappers in death bear some of the responsibility when violent lyrics turn deadly.

King Von’s post-death ascension on the Billboard music charts backs up Jackson’s claims as the slain O Block rapper posthumously held four songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart weeks after his death.

“The profits outweigh the dysfunction,” said Jackson. “I would point to the likes of Lyor Cohen [YouTube’s head of music], and the white record executives that control urban culture. I got a dead artist and a YouTube channel with all of this music I can release — I think it’s pretty insidious.

“Cohen has been at the forefront of our culture from Def Jam to now being the head of YouTube Music. And when you look at all of those places, he’s left a trail of death and destruction for Black music; he’s never really uplifted our community.”

YouTube declined to comment but pointed to the content restrictions in its Community Guidelines.

Guillaume Ziccarelli
Vocalo-FM radio program director Ayana Contreras.

Vocalo-FM radio program director and DJ Ayana Contreras has a simple formula when vetting content.

“I don’t care if I know [the song] is going to be a big hit or No. 1 in the streets,” said Contreras. “I think what’s more important is what kind of energy that I want to use our platform to be putting out into the world. I don’t want to exclude any artists, because I think artists contain multitudes just like everyone else.

“I wouldn’t say there are any artists we won’t play, but there are definitely records that we won’t play, and themes that we don’t want to elevate.”

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Two people were killed, and three others were wounded in shootings Oct. 25, 2021, in Chicago. | File photo

A 22-year-old man was fatally shot in the 1400 block of West 60th Street.

Two people were killed, and three others were wounded, in shootings Monday in Chicago including a man who was killed in a shooting in Englewood on the South Side.

About 10:47 a.m., he was standing in the 1400 block of West 60th Street when someone fired shots from a red Charger, Chicago police said. The 22-year-old was struck multiple times and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Hours prior, a motorist was killed on the North Side when someone fired shots from an SUV that pulled alongside him near the southwest corner of Rosehill Cemetery. The man, 41, was shot in his chest around 5:10 a.m. in the 5300 block of North Western Avenue, police said. He lost control of the car and crashed into a building one block south. His two passengers, both men in their 40s, were either uninjured or suffered minor injuries. The shooter drove off, possibly in an older-model Acura SUV, with another person inside.

In non-fatal shootings, a 16-year-old boy was critically hurt in a shooting in East Garfield Park. About 10:15 p.m., the teen was on the porch of a home in the 3800 block of West West End Street when someone shot him in the face, police said. There were no witnesses to the shooting. The teen was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

Three others were wounded in shootings across Chicago.

Three people were killed, and twenty-six others were wounded in shootings last weekend citywide.

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Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Cancer.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today you want to cocoon at home; however, issues about foreign countries, travel and school plans (especially higher education) are confused. You might also feel disappointed. It’s important to stay positive. Remember: Negativity is wanting things to be different from the way they are.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Your emotions might rule your reasoning today. For example, you might be confused about shared property, inheritances and your responsibilities to someone. If you’re unsure, do nothing because you could be tempted to give away the farm.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

A close friend, spouse or partner might disappoint today. You might be able to chalk this up to a communications problem? After all, unexpressed expectations almost always lead to disappointment. Keep an eye on financial matters. Be patient with kids and social outings.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today the moon is in your sign, which means things tend to go your way. Don’t hesitate to ask the universe for a favor. (Take a shot.) Work-related issues, perhaps with coworkers, are confusing. Don’t let someone put words in your mouth. Be patient with family members, especially doing repairs and DIY projects.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Romance might be disappointing, especially regarding a secret love affair. In general, you feel a bit wary about things, which is why you’re happy to keep a low profile. Double-check details related to kids, sports and social outings to avoid misunderstandings.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You feel sympathetic to a family member today; nevertheless, perhaps you feel incapable of doing something to help? Note: You have to know what’s wrong before you fix it. A meaningful conversation with someone, especially a female, might help. Caution about going overboard redecorating.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

This is a strong time for you with Mercury and Mars in your sign. You’re eager to communicate and ready to act! However, today you might be confused or even deceived by a daily contact or relative. Until you know what is really going on, refrain from doing anything. Get your facts.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You’re in charge because sun is in your sign! This is why people and favorable situations tend to come your way now. Double-check financial matters today, including major purchases, so that you have no regrets in the future. Bruce’s grandma used to say, “Wantin’ ain’t gettin’.” (Yeah, she was tough.)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

This is a good time for you to shop for wardrobe goodies for yourself. You like comfortable clothes, and especially practical clothes for outdoors. (That’s where the car is.) You can’t please everyone today. Double-check issues with purchases and spending money to avoid errors and confusion.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your popularity with friends and groups continues. Furthermore, authority figures are ready to hear what you have to say. Be careful of something going on behind the scenes that is fuzzy or vague. Don’t let this sway you from your mission. Be clear in communications to others.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

A friend might disappoint you today. (This matters because friendships are important to Aquarians.) If the problem is trivial, then be forgiving because friendships have ups and downs. However, if it threatens your trust or respect for this person, it might be something you need to look at. It’s important to have friends who have your back. Hey, life is short.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Without having to do anything special, you look great to others, especially bosses, parents and VIPs (It’s smoke and mirrors.) Use this magical influence to advance your agenda. Demand the advantage!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Cary Elwes (1962) shares your birthday. Although at times, you can be detached, you are a warm-hearted, congenial person. You are also intelligent. You work hard and you take your responsibilities seriously. This is a fast-paced year full of change and stimulation! New friends might help you. Be open to new directions and personal growth. Expect to travel more because you are expanding your horizons.

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Matt Nagy will need two negative tests 24 hours apart to be able to return to Halas Hall and/or coach Sunday against the 49ers. | Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

More than merely affecting our sports, the virus has deepened the political divide in our country.

This era will be defined by two things: the COVID pandemic and the splitting of America into two warring camps.

Say what you will about the limits of disease and politics, but they now infest everything around us, including the usually upbeat, impassioned, cheery world of sports.

On Monday, we found out Bears coach Matt Nagy has COVID. He will need two negative tests 24 hours apart to be able to return to Halas Hall and/or coach Sunday against the 49ers.

No jokes here about how the 3-4 Bears might be better off without Nagy permanently (although I’ve got a couple).

The coronavirus blasted into our world at the start of 2020, and it began devastating our comfortable sporting life right then.

Remember the NBA’s delayed ”bubble” resumption? Remember NFL stadiums with nobody in them? Remember high school sports tossed to the wind, scholarship possibilities destroyed, teenage athletes lost in the vacuum?

Do you recall that by May 2020 colleges had eliminated more than 100 sports programs, citing money issues caused by the coronavirus as the reason?

Nagy quite often is maskless, as most of us are now, since the latest wave of COVID that struck hard this summer seems to be on the decline. But did he infect anybody else? Will he?

Who knows? We can’t see this thing. We can’t see those little bits of brainless RNA that Stanford professor and researcher Dr. Michael Lin described as existing ”in this grey zone between living and dead. They’re alive in a sense that they can reproduce, but [they] depend on a host.”

That host would be us.

Which brings us to NBA star Kyrie Irving, the player who won’t get vaccinated and therefore can’t play for his Nets at home or in other states where proof of vaccination is needed to enter a public arena. The Nets recently said he can’t practice or play with them at all, anywhere.

Why won’t he get vaccinated?

Those of us who are logical might say it’s because he’s stupid or insane. In reality, he doesn’t seem dumb or disturbed. No, it’s more that he’s bound up with the conspiracy nuts and their disinformation that flies through the internet and spreads like, well, a virus.

Don’t forget Irving once famously claimed Earth is flat. (Even though he attended Duke for only a short time, you have to wonder how Duke feels about his ”education” there.)

Nor is he without influence off the court. As the vice president of the executive committee of the powerful players’ union, Irving has a voice that matters.

As a result, Irving supporters stormed the Barclays Center in a near-riot Sunday, tearing through metal barricades while screaming that Irving must be free and allowed to play. The arena was put on lockdown for two hours before it reopened for the game.

Yes, this was reminiscent of the Capitol insurrection Jan. 6 in Washington led by Donald Trump supporters. There was a fascinating difference this time: There were Trump advocates in the protest, but there also were Black Lives Matters supporters, the two formerly being avowed foes.

This is what disinformation can do.

Nor does this have anything to do with personal freedom. In a democratic society — one with running water, electricity, highways, police, schools and, yes, pro sports — we all give up a vast amount of personal rule. Don’t think so? Try running through metal detectors at the airport, driving 130 mph on an interstate or performing surgery without a medical license.

Irving has ”liked” and engaged with online platforms promoting the theory that ”secret societies” are implanting vaccines in a plot to connect Black people to a master computer for ”a plan of Satan.”

Black Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Charles Barkley have ripped Irving’s essential nonsense. As Barkley put it, regarding team, family and societal responsibilities: ”You don’t get vaccinated just for yourself.”

People who don’t believe in science can’t be dissuaded with reason. They only will take advice from whomever or wherever they got their disinformation in the first place.

That vaccines keep measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio and so many other pandemics from occurring means nothing to vaccine deniers or the virulent ”vaccine-mandate protesters.”

Nagy has urged all his players to get vaccinated, and almost all of them have. But even the vaccinated face some risk. Much less risk, but some.

The thing is, much more than our sports world is coming apart because of this pandemic and its resisters.

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Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo

Judge Cecilia Horan said the conditions under which she issued the order — in which the city faced a severe shortage of manpower — have not played out.

Chicago police union chief John Catanzara is again free to say what he wants.

Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan on Monday denied the city’s request to extend a 10-day ban on Catanzara’s use of social media to discourage his members from reporting their vaccine status to the city.

Horan also denied a request from the city to extend the ban to other officials from the police union — officially known as the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7.

In explaining her decision, Horan pointed to the dire prediction that the city’s police force might be drastically reduced as a result of Catanzara urging his members not to comply with the city’s vaccine policy — which contributed to her initial order — has not occurred.

As of Monday, the city had only put 23 officers who’d refused to share their vaccination status by the Oct. 15 deadline on no-pay status.

“With very limited exception, the city has not implemented no-pay status for those members who are not in compliance, and the threatened work-stoppage has not come to pass,” Horan stated in her ruling.

Horan called the issuance of a measure that would prohibit speech an “extraordinary remedy” and one that “is only available in situations where an extreme emergency exists and serious harm would result if it were not issued.”

Catanzara was not immediately available for comment. A spokesperson for Mayor Lori Lightfoot was also not immediately available.

Horan also refused a police union request to dismiss the city’s lawsuit seeking the union’s compliance with the city’s vaccine mandate policy, which, in addition to sharing their vaccination status, requires employees be vaccinated by Jan. 1 and be regularly tested until they are inoculated.

Horan’s decisions came several hours after Moshe Jacobius, the presiding judge in the county’s chancery division, denied a police union request to have the city’s lawsuit transferred away from Horan to a different judge.

“We have a strong policy against judge shopping,” Jacobius said, also citing the fact that Horan had already issued a substantial ruling in the case.

“There’s a presumption in law that judges are honest and fair and follow the law,” he said.

Attorneys for the police union had previously questioned Horan’s impartiality because the firm she was a partner at prior to becoming a judge, Hinshaw & Culbertson, created a report about police reform for the city’s Police Accountability Task Force that contributed to the creation of a federal consent decree the Police Department is still currently under.

Horan said the firm had more than 400 attorneys and she did not know about the report at all and had nothing to do with it while she was a partner at the firm. Horan further said she doesn’t know Mayor Lori Lightfoot and has never represented any of the parties involved in the case.

Swirling in the background are two other pending lawsuits.

One was filed by the police union and seeks a court-ordered suspension of the city’s vaccination policy pending further bargaining and arbitration.

A separate suit filed by more than 130 municipal workers, including a large group of Chicago Fire Department employees, seeks a temporary restraining and preliminary injunction that would block the enforcement of city and state vaccination mandates and prevent employees from being suspended or fired while the suit plays out.

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The former USC standout was drafted by Toronto and raised by that organization. And even though he has played there since being traded, it’s still an emotional return.

It’s not like Monday was DeMar DeRozan’s first trip back to Toronto to face off against the organization that raised him.

It was actually his third time.

That doesn’t mean it wasn’t emotional for the Bulls forward, who spent his first nine seasons with the Raptors after they drafted him with the ninth overall pick back in 2009.

“Every time I’m ever back, it’s definitely been emotional,” DeRozan said. “That’s where I grew up. Not just basketball, but as a man. I was 19 years old, moving to a country I’ve never been to and they embraced me and took me in like I was one of their own.

“To see the whole city grow, the organization grow, me being a big part of that, you definitely have an emotional connection to that organization, that city. It’s always bittersweet going back, seeing people I grew up knowing that work there, everything about it. It’s like my second home.”

DeRozan admittedly treated it as such.

Most NBA players don’t have long-term plans to stay up North and play. There’s been a history of players publicly complaining about being a Raptor, whether it’s the idea of not being seen as much, the taxes, or just the hassle of going through customs for road trips.

DeRozan, however, did all he could to change that narrative. Not only with his play, reaching All-Star status four times and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2016, but in talking to players about the positives in playing there.

“My whole mindset was to change that narrative when I was in Toronto,” DeRozan said. “I heard it my first year. You heard a lot of older guys I played with in my career while I was there had those same complaints – ‘I’m not trying to stay here long term.’

“I wanted to be the opposite and kind of change the narrative on why people should come here, how great of a city, how great of a country it really is, and see that transformation take [place] and the appreciation of the city, to have All-Star weekend there [back in 2016], being on center stage, you started to see a change. I feel like I had something to do with that and I took that with pride and honor being able to do that.”

That’s why being traded to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard back in 2018 stung DeRozan so much. Good thing he forgives easily.

“That’s all I knew getting drafted to the NBA, Toronto,” DeRozan said. “I wanted to make sure everyone saw it the way I did.”

DeRozan and the Bulls will also play in Toronto on Dec. 16, so he’ll have another chance to visit his “second home” this season.

Waiting game

Tony Bradley and Derrick Jones Jr. were each solid acquisitions in the offseason, both expected to add some serious depth to a frontcourt that lacked bodies.

Four games into the regular season, they remained out of the rotation.

“One, it’s obviously a long year,” coach Billy Donovan said of where Bradley and Jones are in the plans. “Two, [Jones] like Tony Bradley, had some injuries in training camp.

“I think both guys have handled being out of the rotation at this point and time really well and professionally. They’ve been working before and after practice to keep themselves ready, and things could change. Deep down inside as competitors and NBA players, I’m sure every guy on our roster wants to be out there on the floor playing. I get that. And you want that. You want guys [like that], but the way they’ve conducted themselves, I think they’re trying to do what’s best for our team.”

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