Biography
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Years Active
2008 – present (16 years)
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Founded In
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States
Coming together in the Spring of 2008 after meeting at Columbia College in Chicago, Sidewalk Chalk is rapidly emerging as a shining star in the burgeoning Chicago hip-hop scene. Fronted by MC K'neqta Dots (Rico Sisney) and vocalist S-Star (Margaret Vagle), Sidewalk Chalk's sound is a unique blend of jazz, soul, and hip-hop. The group is rounded out by Charlie "Chuck" Coffeen on keys, Fatty Jeff (Garrett McGinn) on bass, Billy Blanks (Tyler Berg) on drums and the Bootskate Horns (David Ben-Porat on Trombone and Sam Trump on Trumpet). Further contributing to the unique stage show put on by Sidewalk is award- winning tap dancer Jumaane Taylor. Taylor describes his own role in the group as “to be an instrumentalist; to be another piece, another color, in the picture being created”.
The band's rhythm section (often playing their own sets of J Dilla instrumentals under the name, “The Ephelon Trio”), combines with the Bootskate Horns and Jumaane Taylor to paint a soundscape as compelling as the performances of the vocalists. 2009 saw the group release the Snacktime EP and embark on the Freida Hites Tour. In 2010, Chuck and S-Star joined Chicago’s Animate Objects on the I.A.M. Strong tour, both as members of the AO live show and as part of the backing band for Universal/Concord artist, Leigh Jones. Armed with significant touring experience, years of both formal and informal musical study, and a collective love of music, Sidewalk Chalk is pushing beyond musical convention to create art that will know no shelf life.
There are many lessons that come from age and experience. When one discovers such a thing, there's an inherent need to broadcast it to the world. This is that. With an eclectic variety of ages and experiences, Chicago based musicians Sidewalk Chalk are a force to be reckoned with.
This emcee, singer, trio of keys, bass, and drums, horn section of trumpet and trombone, and tap-dancer are the evolution of Hip-Hop, Soul and Jazz superbly packaged into sounds that you've quite possibly never heard before. The legend Sam Cooke once sang, "Change is Gonna Come." Musically, change is already here. Upon the heels of the release of their debut full-length album, Corner Store (released March 6, 2012 and co-produced with Greg Magers of Lupe Fiasco's The Cool), Sidewalk Chalk has already proven themselves worthy of a listen. They're sure to satisfy the cravings of anyone in love with music and hungry for something different.
Musicality, honesty, and intellect are becoming harder to find. Thankfully, Sidewalk Chalk's goal is to be heard by the world and inspire its inhabitants. Quickly on their way to becoming one of the most talented live bands of this generation, Sidewalk Chalk was named "Best Hip-Hop Act in Chicago of 2010" by the Chicago Reader. The group's Emcee, Rico Sisney, represented Chicago at the 2012 World Expo in Shanghai, China. They've been featured on CBS News Online, 2dopeboyz, and Guest of a Guest Los Angeles. On top of that, Sidewalk Chalk has shared the stage with artists such as J*Davey, Company of Thieves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and ?uestlove of The Roots. Individually, members of the group have acted as musical director(s) for Brother Ali, toured with Jazzanova and played behind Buddy Guy and Talib Kweli.
So, wake up world and meet the rest of us at the Corner Store. We'll be out front with Sidewalk Chalk.
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