Chiraq: Stand DOWN

ChIRAQ...EngleHOOD...the LOW end... DRO city...MURDAwood...WILD Hunneds...DRILLinois 

What do ALL these names have in common? You guessed it, ALL of which are negative and all are lab3ls too often used to represent Trip Advisor's, '2013 Travelers' Choice'. 

Chicago, home of the Real Life DREAMERS, the MAKE it HAPPENERS, the ENTERTAINERS is primarily marketed as a BEAUTIFUL City with STRONG High Rises, BOLD cuisine and INCREDIBLE Art. Majority of Chicagoans, no matter the neighborhood can also be defined by those same words that make The Windy City such a marvel. 

However, the dark shadow of crime that runs deep in this cities roots, is hard to shake. While the long standing past does not keep tourists away, it is ruining potential leaders, engineers, teachers, politicians, doctors and innovators daily. Chicago native, Common said it best, 'With so much wrong, it's hard to see right,' and right now, we the new leaders should be better examples for the youth growing up in these crime-ritten neighborhoods.  

For the past 10 years, Chicago has been in the forefront of the news. Being called "Murder Capital" by some,  rated "Highest Crime City" by many, and it seems that a great amount of citizens have grown to take pride in such negativity. 

Documentaries, such as "Welcome to Chiraq" or "The Field" perpetuate the negative wave that has taken many south side neighborhoods under. It's bad enough that these local rappers exploit themselves but the record lab3ls, media and consumers are doing it as well. For what? Money, Entertainment, Power..Views Furthermore, the city is depreciated in the first 30 seconds and every second after.  We get that Drill Music is a new unique Hip Hop staple, and Chicagoians love exposure, but let's really explore the genre for a moment.

Drill Music: A genre of hip hop that was created by real life thugs who make a point to carry out exactly what they say in their music if they have not already. Labels capitalize off this growing genre and meanwhile back at the ranch, hundreds of like minded youth are looking to accomplish what Chief Keef has. Not by merely making a popular hit and making money, but by trying to be the baddest on their block, the boldest, the REALEST and truly living the thug life. This often begins and ends violently or deadly, through social media gang wars and battle songs that are physically taken to the the field. It is deeper than words, music and money. 

On the other hand, documentaries such as, 'The Interrupters' show the rawness of Chicago, but most importantly how a group of ex-criminals and gang leaders go about solving issues by going into 'The Field'. It doesn't glorify the violence but instead these group of people hold the men and women in South Chicago neighborhoods accountable for their actions. In addition they address how their behaviors effect the children that are in and outside their circles.

Be mindful, these exploitative documentaries get attention mainly because of the music not because of Chicago's violence. However, the violence is what filmmakers want to focus on. Why? Because we (consumers) love it. People love violence until it's their loved one being violated. It's time that change, but with a history that glorifies violent acts since it's founding, it is very hard to see that light. 

If you don't care about yourself, or you peers, I ask that you think about the youth who look up to you as well as the ones you may not know are watching. Don't they deserve to live in Chicago and not Chiraq?

With this in mind.. Let's work to be solutions and not the gas which fuels Violence's engine. 

The Lab3L also wants to remind Chicagoians, as well as those who may reside in the neighborhoods that are exploited across America, that it is better to be the rose who grew from the concrete, than the weed that is cut down, but refuses to be removed. 

It is okay to Change. Change is good, especially when it's for the best.