Chi-Town!

In August Matt and I went to Chicago for the most ballerest concert ever. It was easily the highlight of my summer and I think someday Chicago will be my future home.




Summertime Chi!


Fountain...I guess it was on Married with Children? I dunno...I was just like, "oh a fountain." *click*


*click*


When we got to the city there was a Latin Music Festival in the park. Apparently some of the artists were famous because people were singing spanish songs all over. It was kind of cool.


Some latin band...





Random cracker drunkenly dancing to some salsa music. Aye Yae Yae!!!


I love looking at water so we went and sat by lake Michigan for a while. It made me want a boat really badly


So pretty...





This baller duck came and played with us. He sat really still so I could take a picture of him. He was the coolest duck ever, pretty much. I tried to adopt him and bring him to the concert but dick Matt said no like a little punk bitch.


While we were walking by the water we saw the most loserest, touristy embarrassing thing ever: A guided segway tour. All the nerds were on their little segways and some even bigger nerd was on one telling them what they should be seeing. As if guided tours weren't lame enough, let's put them on segways!


That's the boat I wanted.


We walked down along the water over to Navy Pier and then went back to the hotel to eat Chinese fooooooood!!!!

The next morning we got up and got ready to go to ROCK THE BELLS!!!!! Doors opened at 12:30, we got there around 2:30 concert started at 4:00. We walked right up to the front row.

The venue ^^^

Now in case you weren't aware, Rock the Bells is an annual hip-hop festival. This year featured Jedi Mind Tricks, Slum Village, Immortal Technique, Pharaohe Monch, Talib Kweli (with Jean Grae), Nas and Wu-Tang Clan


Waiting for the show to start...


Samesies ^^

Mandy, are you excited that the show is starting soon?

Whoa, I guess so...

What about you Matt?

I dont' know what the hell that face means...

Either way get up cause guess who is coming out?! TALIB KWELIIIIIIIIIIII!

Talib killed it! He did old songs, new stuff, BlackStar stuff...pretty much everything. So fresh!











Jean Grae came out and did a few bars on some of the songs.











Everyone was kind of surprised that he came out first but later we heard it was because he had a show in NYC that same night. After that Jedi Mind Tricks came out but they were way wack so let's just skip to Slum Village shall we?





Audience....they were kind of wack to S.V.






Elzhi




Not amped up at all...




T3


Despite the luke warm reception, S.V. still killed it. Did a tribute to JayDee!...I doubt that anyone in the audience knew diddily about Dilla though... =(

After Slum Village, Immortal Technique came out which also wasn't too important. I spent that time using the rest room and getting beer or something...


Random pic between set changes

I was sure to make it back in time for Pharoahe Monch though. He was one of that acts that i was most excited for and he didn't disappoint. He brought out a full live band and performed as the summertime chi sun was setting right on the water. It was a truly amazing experience!!!



Raise your middle fingers, white people!






Pharoahe slangin' in his white tee




America's Most Blunted.












Once the sun started to set, the venue began to fill fast




Word up.

After Pharoahe killed it, a true legend came out: NAAAAAASTY NAS!

Oh. My. God. I. Love. Nas.






Kelis is so lucky...


The crowd was pretty amped up for Nas (rightfully so)


Honkies jumping around all over the place...


"If I ruled the world..."


Nasir on the big screen


Stunner shades!


A baller shirt on a sexy man...

Nas was amazing, the only thing that could've made his performance better was if AZ would've come out but that's just dreaming...

...After Nas did his set it was finally time for the main event. If you don't know by now, I'm talking about Meth&Ghost&Inspectah&Raekwon&Killa&U-God&Gza&Rza&(the late great)Dirty. WU-TANG! "Arf Arf!"



Full House




"Cash. Rules. Everything. Around. Me."


"Bring Da Motherfuckin' Ruckus!"




"I'll fuckin, I'll fuckin tie you to a fuckin bedpost with your ass cheeks spread out and shit, right?
Put a hanger on a fuckin' stove and let that shit sit there for like a half hour, take it off and stick it in your ass slow like....Tssssssss"


One word: Amazing.


The city right after the concert.


ditto.

The next morning we went out and about in the city:



Corny touristy pic


Cute Mohawk. For some reason his tongue is super red. Must be all the Jolly Ranchers...


Stupid random seagulls


So, so corny yet I cannot help but to think, "awww."


Museum! We went in there and walked around for a while...

We went to an aquarium that day too! I love the aquarium!

Shedd Aquarium


Starfish guy


Close up of Starfish Guy


This crab is about to attack that eel. I love nature.


Snapping turtle...it has a tongue that looks like 3 little worms. Matt says, "that's creepy but he'd give good head." Unforgivable.


Mongoloid fish.


Anemone!


Poison Arrow Frog...so cute yet so deadly...I wish I could be like that


Dory!


This guy reminded me of a Grandpa. He's a Grandpa fish.


I want him in my home!


Dolphins!



PENGUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINS!


Soldier Field







We went to Navy Pier later that night to get food and ride the famous (touristy) ferris wheel





On the Ferris Wheel


View from on the ferris wheel


ditto


double ditto


"It looks like a beautiful morning!"


While we were walking around we saw graffiti that read, "Yacht Team." Them Yacht Team niggas is crazy, son! What's really hood?! YACHT TEAM, NIGGA! RUN THANGS! Word.






Last but not least, mini panoramic. While I was there I truly felt at home and someday I'm going to live there. I can't wait!