As the resident Chicagoan on The Root’s staff, it’s safe to say I keep an eye on the city’s resident talents—including Chance the Rapper and problematic prodigal son Kanye. Now, I’m thinking I need to get out more—or, at least, take a Lyft—since apparently, hip-hop’s favorite number-wearing philanthropist has been…

There are many reasons why, when people ask me where I’m based, I say, “Entirely too close to Chicago.” Most of them have to do with hating the concrete jungle. I’m approximately the only black man so inspired by Steve Irwin that he wants to go running off to frozen volcanoes in Russia and jungles in Venezuela to…