Rhymefest Running For Alderman, Despite Criminal Past

Fox Chicago:

Chicago - His name is Che Smith, but you probably know him better as Rhymefest -- an award-winning rapper and music writer who has worked with superstars like Kanye West and Common.

Now, the 33-year-old Chicago native has set his sights on a new stage -- City Hall.

Read the whole story: Fox Chicago

Comments

[gregcurts]

12:57 PM on 11/08/2010

Can't wait to see his "supporters".

[Howard53545]

05:40 AM on 11/08/2010

Another thug in City Hall, welcome hommie.

[UKNOWHOW ICM]

04:43 PM on 11/07/2010

::
Let him run and win. At least we know he is will be the reformed criminal among a pool of just criminals in City Hall.

[Shari Rising]

09:54 AM on 11/06/2010

I disagree with most of the posts completely. Having been a victim of domestic violence I can tell you that it is very serious. His hisotry is also recent. This is indicative of his charachter and it's a scary thought to have anyone like that representing the community. I love in Chicago and I can tell you that the vast majority of Alderman are honest and very hard working. We don't need any criminals representing us.

[goodmarina]

02:33 AM on 11/06/2010

Why is this an issue?

Doesn't anyone realize that the people of Florida just elected a convicted Felon for Governor?

Rick Scott plead guilty to Medicare Fraud ... a Federal offense. He paid the largest fine for medicare fraud in history ... and do yall agree that it is nearly laughable that he was elected to be Governor of a State where its citizens are the largest subscribes to medicare?

[crookedcountyillinois]

12:28 PM on 11/05/2010

How, exactly, would he be different than the rest of the crooks in City Council?

Seems to me that a Rhymefest vote might just be a vote for transparency; 'cause at least you know the skeletons in the closet up front...

[bzb]

11:12 AM on 11/05/2010

Rick Scott just got elected Florida's governor after he pleaded to 14 counts of felony paid $600 million+ in fines and settle $2 billion dollars in civil lawsuits and Che Smith pleads guilty to one count of criminal recklessness for firing his gun in the air and now that's a big issue.

Get real....

[antonymous]

10:21 AM on 11/05/2010

I was gonna joke that for a Chicago alderman, a criminal past is just experience for the job, but there's nothing funny about domestic violence. This was cute when I just read the headline and assumed he'd been caught with a bag of weed or something, but not anymore.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

01:23 PM on 11/05/2010

I was going to also. But that ain't cool:
In 2001 Smith pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery after he attacked his wife at their home in a suburb of Indianapolis. According to the police report, Smith "punched her in the face, pulled out her hair and threw her into the wall resulting in bodily injury."

[MacManLB]

08:53 AM on 11/05/2010

That headline might as well be used for an entire generation of black men who have been victimized by a culture of mass incarceration and criminalization. Not long ago the headlines used to read Che Smith running for election despite his slave past. No difference.

[MMRDO]

03:38 PM on 11/07/2010

He hit his wife. I don't care what his excuse is, he is a sc*mbag.

[MMRDO]

07:05 PM on 11/07/2010

I cannot believe you would stand up for someone who hits their wife. You know why he was incarcerated? Because he assaulted his wife. Just because I wasn't there doesn't change the case.

[eric14]

05:20 AM on 11/05/2010

His criminal past is easier to forgive and allow for than working with Kanye West.

[blade1]

03:19 AM on 11/05/2010

His character definitely has content and his music is conscious and relevant! It’s unfortunate the masses will judge before they consider him viable. I see the media already doing their part, spotlighting his criminal past.

[MacManLB]

08:55 AM on 11/05/2010

He's running for Alderman which means he just has to get his community fired up and out to vote. That's possible. F the media.

[goodmarina]

02:34 AM on 11/06/2010

totally agree!!