Sidewalk Chalk Unplugged with Tiffany Elle and J Bomb at Kranzberg Arts Center April 19 8 p.m. / $15-$20
The eight-member, Chicago-based group Sidewalk Chalk brings many different elements together -- an emcee, a female vocalist, a tap dancer, and keys, bass, drums, trombone and trumpet -- to create the perfect amalgamation of hip-hop, soul and jazz. For its latest release, Leaves, the group takes its music in a slightly different direction, though with the same energy that it has always had. And yes, Sidewalk Chalk brings that crazy energy to the stage.
Lil Boosie at Ambassador April 25 8 p.m. / $50-$100
Lil Boosie is free, and that means he's on tour. Since he has been granted freedom, Boosie has done everything his fans could dream of and more: dropped a new single, "Show Da World"; announced a new record deal with Atlantic; kicked off his tour; (Touchdown To Cause Hell) and even released a collaborative clothing collection with LRG. While Boosie's show is a little pricey, we're sure true fans will see money as no object. Heck, the man wrote 1,018 songs while in jail -- we gotta give him props for that.
