Cover Story
Photographer Jenny Risher brings Detroit hip-hop into focus for ‘D-Cyphered’
The west-side intersection of Dexter and Davison serves as its own little hip-hop sanctuary of sorts. Larger-than-life murals of Big Sean, Eminem, Royce da 5’9″, and Proof are emblazoned on the bricks that enclose Dexter Check Cashing — as if the hip-hop giants’ gritty stares are watching over a neighborhood that has witnessed its share…
Detroit Land Bank rejects Heidelberg Project expansion
Tyree Guyton, who grew up in a poor family with nine siblings in Detroit, was 32 when he decided to use art to combat blight, abandonment and violence that were consuming his east side neighborhood. In the three decades since then, Guyton’s Heidelberg Project has transformed a two-block area into a world-renowned outdoor art installation…
Hall of Shame: The first LP I bought turns 35: “Emotions in Motion’
Last week, I realized that it was the 35th anniversary of the first album I ever owned. And my first feeling was one of profound shame that I had bought it at all, let alone that it was my “first LP.” I still remember that shopping trip to Dearborn music in 1982. I was 12.…
Protomartyr will play record release show on the Detroit Princess
Last month, we heard some good news from Detroit band Protomartyr, who announced their latest record Relatives In Descent would be out on indie label Domino Sept. 29. The album announcement came with a string of fall tour dates, but curiously no hometown date was planned. We figured — we hoped — the band must have had…
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan leads Coleman Young Jr. ahead of primary
State Senator Coleman Young Jr., who is running for mayor of Detroit, has been staying optimistic this election season despite polls that show him lagging far behind incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan. When we asked how his canvassing effort was going a couple of weeks ago, Young, the son of the late Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young, responded,…
Eminem’s ‘Curtain Call’ becomes longest-charting hip-hop album on Billboard
Eminem has a ton of awards and accolades after being in the music business for over 25 years, and it seems that he can add another notch to the belt — the rapper’s greatest hits album Curtain Call: The Hits hit a milestone by spending 350 weeks on the Billboard Hot 2oo Charts. Not only…
Drought expands with a new storefront in Ann Arbor
Drought smoothie and juice bar’s line of fresh cold-pressed juices are now available in Ann Arbor at 204 E. Washington St. Julie James — one of four sisters who founded Drought in 2010 — tells MLive that the company regularly received requests for an Ann Arbor shop in recent years. Juices retail for $9 to $11;…
Former Chicago ‘Top Chef’ to take over at Standby
Former Chicago Top Chef contestant Rebecca LaMalfa has taken over the kitchen at downtown’s Standby, while outgoing chef Jessie Knotts now runs a food cart out of The Skip. The Freep reports that LaMalfa’s menu items will be gradually introduced over the next couple of weeks, and the menu will fully be hers by the…
Kesha bringing ‘Rainbow Tour’ to Detroit
Just in time for the release of her highly-anticipated LP Rainbow on August 11, Kesha announced a 21-date North American tour, her first solo tour since 2013. The Rainbow Tour will make a stop at the Fillmore on Sunday, October 15. Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday, August 5 at 10 a.m. Not…
Bill Rauhauser dead at 98
Photographer Bill Rauhauser has died at the age of 98. Working right up until the end, he had reportedly suffered a fatal stroke after a day of shooting on Belle Isle. Metro Times caught up with Bill Rauhauser from time to time over the years. Rauhauser was the subject of a cover feature when he…
Little Miss Flint steals the show in this high-fashion campaign
Little Miss Flint can now add ‘fashion icon’ to her resume. 10-year-old Mari Copeny, who is known for her outspoken tweets discussing Flint’s water crisis, stars in the latest campaign for clothing label Helmut Lang. The black-and-white photoset, officially titled the Helmut Lang Seen By Series, features a diverse range of characters, from Flint’s hometown…
Michigan cities named to list of top 100 safest in America
Detroit isn’t known for being a particularly safe city — over 10,000 violent crimes were reported in 2015 alone. But, that doesn’t preclude other Michigan cities from being among the safest in the country. In a recent study published on alarms.org, the National Council for Home Security and Safety used data from FBI crime reports…
Brujo’s plans can-to-table tapas, unusual tacos for Detroit Shipping Co. development
The idea of “can-to-table” cuisine seems to run counter to the direction of modern food movements. Aside from preserves or pickling, canning largely seems like something that’s there for Big Food to distribute large quantities of low-grade product. The people want fresh, local, and healthy, and cans aren’t typically about any of that. But it…
Jack White is reportedly recording new music, confirms new solo album
It seems that Jack White is always working on some sort of new project, but finally we’re getting a project that all Jack White/White Stripes/Third Man Records fans can get excited about: a new solo album. White posted two photos on Facebook on Monday, July 31, one of a group shot in New York and…
Two Detroit rappers killed in drive-by- shooting on I-94
Two local rappers were slain yesterday following a drive-by shooting in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 close to Livernois Avenue. Cops were first called to the scene early Sunday morning. The victims, 27-year- old Raymell Campbell and 26-year- old Dominique Brown, were pronounced dead on scene. The white Chrysler 200 they were traveling in was hit…
Wayne County moving forward with Gilbert’s jail swap proposal
Good news for Dan Gilbert: Wayne County is poised to move forward with his plan to build the county a criminal justice complex in exchange for the site of the “fail jail” on Gratiot Avenue near Greektown, where he and the owner of the Pistons want to build a professional soccer stadium. In a release,…
Eastern Market takes action after vendor displayed a Confederate flag
After a vendor at Eastern Market displayed a Confederate flag at their booth this past weekend, the market is changing its policy on signs that deal with offensive language and hate signs. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday, July 29 at the Eastern Market. In a statement that was posted on Facebook, the Eastern…
Happy 30th Birthday, People Mover
The People Mover is celebrating a very special birthday this year — the big 3-0. That’s right, the People Mover is thirty and flirty and giving out free rides today, July 31, to celebrate the big day. On July 31, 1987, the People Mover first took riders around the loop of downtown Detroit and has…
Shimmy Shack vegan food truck rebounds after vandals pour Gatorade in its gas tank
The Shimmy Shack vegan food truck is back on the road after vandals dumped what appears to be Gatorade into its gas tank last week. Owner Debra Levantrosser tells MT that the suspects haven’t been caught, the South Lyon Police are investigating, and she doesn’t know who would try to sabotage her truck. Sugar does serious…
Royal Oak rally to support transgender troops planned for Sunday
When Samantha Rogers heard President Trump announced via Twitter that he hoped to ban transgender people from serving in the military, her reaction was visceral. “Nausea,” she says of her initial feeling. “I was outraged, just like everyone else.” She quickly worked to put together a rally in support of transgender troops who are currently…
The Killers are coming to Detroit
The Killers just made a whole lot of fans very happy today. Not only are the Las Vegas rockers going on a North American tour, but they also gave us details on their forthcoming album Wonderful Wonderful, due out September 22 and released a new single. The band released “Run for Cover” today after teasing…
Review: Chilling ‘Detroit’ offers little explanation for the harrowing summer of ’67
The simplicity of Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit is it’s best and worst quality. Her direction has such clarity and power that the chaos and brutality of 50 years ago is vivid and immediate, and if Bigelow had opened with the July 23, 1967 raid on a blind pig that set off one of the largest civil…
California Burgerz plans a September opening in Hamtramck
A burger restaurant that will offer a selection of burgers made from fresh ingredients and serve as a new hangout spot for teenagers is in the works in Hamtramck. California Bugerz owner Hani Omasan, who owns the nearby Top Gearz used car lot, is modeling the new restaurant after California-based In-N-Out Burger. He says that means…
10 acts you won’t want to miss at Mo Pop Festival
It’s that time of year again — the annual Mo Pop Festival takes over the West Riverfront Park in Detroit for a wild weekend of fantastic music, beer, and art. The niche little festival has grown over the years, from just a few food and drink options to a fleet of food trucks and a…
Circa 1890s Saloon will close next week, owner says
Circa 1890s Saloon will lock up for the last time next week, co-owner Lela Cavins tells Metro Times. Her father, Steve Xantheas, has run the bar since 1974, but the 88-year-old is finally ready to step away from the business. “We decided it’s time for him to retire,” Cavins says. “It’s time for him to…
Federal drug agents raid luxury Detroit apartment
Authorities from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency executed a search warrant in The Scott luxury apartment building in Detroit’s Brush Park today. In an email obtained by Metro Times, the building’s management tells residents that DEA agents were on-site earlier in the morning. A DEA spokesman confirmed the agency was at the building to conduct…
Katoi is getting ready to reopen
Katoi appears taking steps toward reopening. The restaurant, which is one of “hip” Detroit’s favorites, burned in a February fire that’s being investigated as an arson. Five months later, its new interior at 2520 Michigan Ave. in Detroit is nearing completion, and the company posted on Facebook yesterday that it’s hiring. In the meantime, the…
Techno pioneer K-Hand officially named ‘The First Lady of Detroit’ by city council
Techno artist Kelli Hand, aka K-Hand, has long been known as the “First Lady of Detroit techno.” Now, she’s officially the First Lady of Detroit. Detroit city council honored Hand with a Testimonial Resolution certificate on Tuesday in a ceremony at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. The certificate lists her many accomplishments in the male-dominated…
Emagine adds Detroit 67: Perspectives trailer for ‘Detroit’
Emagine Entertainment has partnered with the Detroit Historical Society to create a new trailer for Detroit audiences. The vignette encourages people to visit the exhibition Detroit 67: Perspectives in an effort to bridge the gaps between the film and reality. The trailer features the former chief of Police and Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon before the…
Kid Rock’s ‘Rock N Roll Jesus’ named worst album by a man, according to Jezebel
After NPR released a massive list entitled “Turning The Tables: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women” (which features many Detroit artists like Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross), the wonderful souls at Jezebel turned the table again and made an even better list: “The 150 Worst Albums Made By Men.” Jezebel is obviously being cheeky,…
311, B52’s, Jena Irene Ascuitto, and others booked to perform at Arts, Beats, and Eats
Noted pot-lover and American Idol runner-up Jena Irene Ascuitto is booked to perform at the 20th annual Ford Arts, Beats, and Eats festival this Labor Day weekend. She’s one of only three local musicians who’ll take the Michigan Lottery National Stage, which is otherwise reserved for national acts. She’ll perform on Monday, Sept. 4 at…
Detroit is the second worst city for renters, says study
According to a recent study, Detroit is no place for renters. The study, published on July 26 by Wallet Hub, compared the 150 U.S. cities with the largest rental markets based on 21 measures of “living quality” and “attractiveness.” Detroit clocked in at number 149. But what made the Motor City deserving of such a…
Ashe Supply Co. opens a second coffee shop next to the Atwater Brewery
Ashe Supply Co. is rolling a second location in a former bar space in Rivertown. Eater reports that the shop is roasting in house beans from three to five different origins, serving nitro coffee, offering espressos, serving teas from Birmingham’s Eli Tea, and offering fare from Avalon, Sister pie, and Detroit Institute of Bagels. Ashe’s…
A woman wore a dress made out of ‘Metro Times’ to the ‘Detroit’ movie premiere
What to wear to a movie premiere? That’s the question for big red carpet affairs, and with plenty movie stars and paparazzi present it’s important to create a lasting impression. For one woman, that meant a truly one-of-a-kind dress — made entirely out of Metro Times. On Tuesday night, the Fox Theatre hosted the world…
Canadian punk band Pup hits Mo Pop
After changing its name in 2013 from Topanga (a Boy Meets World reference), Pup haa come a long way from “drinking too much Hawaiian Red Fruit Punch.” Finding inspiration in Toronto’s once healthier, all-ages music scene and garnering both critical and fanatical attention, Pup has stolen the torch of contemporary punk rock in a very…
In search of Detroit’s best chicken wings
The chicken wing is about as American as apple pie, and one of our most ubiquitous bar foods. In its “Buffalo” form, its preparation is pretty straightforward — fry the pieces, and toss them in a salty hot sauce. Serve with high-fat dipping dressings during a sporting event when everyone’s getting drunk and in a…
Mulenga and Detroit 1967: The board game
It was somewhere before 6 a.m. The doorbell was ringing and my dog was barking. I stumbled to the door wondering if it was the police coming to get me. When I peeped through the window I saw it was Mulenga Harangua clutching what looked like a long box wrapped inside a big, black garbage…
Horoscopes (July 26- Aug 1)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): I don’t know how you see it, but it looks to me like you’re in the crosshairs of something that came up like a bolt from the blue. You were pretty sure that you had this covered until a series of unforeseen events blew in with the potential to stop…
The spirituality of iconoclastic metal band Neurosis
To listen to the music of metal band Neurosis is to surrender — surrendering to heaviness, to being pummeled with emotion through sound, to being carried away beyond space and time. To see Neurosis is to welcome this furious intensity most expressly; the experience is a commitment. That word, commitment, is also a perfect encapsulation…
Savage Love: Creepers
Q: I’m a reader in Kansas with two teenage daughters, 16 and 18. My girls recently met a boy where they work and both took an interest in him. The 18-year-old was devastated that he was more interested in her younger sister. I spoke to the 16-year-old about it, which is when I found out…
How Atlanta act the Shadowboxers became Justin Timberlake’s protégés
As Detroit’s annual Mo Pop festival draws near, local music lovers eagerly await the festival’s stacked lineup, including big name artists like Solange, Run the Jewels, and Alt-J. However, the festival’s lesser-known acts are equally impressive, representing a wide range of genres. Among these acts is the Shadowboxers — a three-piece band bred from a…
Why immigrants are the best thing to happen to Michigan
The other night, I was watching Mel Brooks’ hilariously funny Blazing Saddles, possibly the most politically incorrect movie ever made. The n-word is used more often in the opening scenes than Donald Trump says “trust me” in a week. Yet somehow, it isn’t really offensive, because the movie is poking fun at us and our…
‘A Ghost Story’ is more metaphysical than macabre
“Unique” is an overused and misunderstood word. Being an absolute, it doesn’t play well with comparatives and superlatives. Frankly, it’s best to avoid it completely. But though A Ghost Story is at times exasperating, boring and just plain odd, it is, admittedly, unique. It’s also, despite the spooky trailers, not a horror film. It could…
Inmates: Michigan prisoner killed by cellmate for being gay, guards ignored repeated pleas for help
Inmates at a northern Michigan correctional facility where a prisoner was allegedly killed last week by his cellmate say prison staff ignored requests from the pair to be separated ahead of the killing. The issue between the two, the prisoner sources say, was the victim’s sexual orientation, making the case the latest example of what…
Review: Kitchen Hanzo is a little izakaya that packs a punch
Where does a Japanese engineer, temporarily on assignment in greater Detroit, go to unwind after a hard day at the office? Instead of the many more upscale restaurants that serve the Japanese community here, he’ll likely pick this izakaya — a pub, more or less. Kitchen Hanzo is modeled after establishments at home that keep…
