Your Alderman Is Also a Rapper: North Center's Summer Music Scene Is Having a Moment

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/North Center · July 14, 2026

North Center neighbors, the neighborhood's love of live music runs so deep that even the local alderman is getting in on the act. Block Club Chicago recently spotlighted a one-of-a-kind performance featuring the North Side's own alderman — a self-described '90s battle rapper — taking the stage alongside local acts Mike Spex, Nostalgik, and DJ Risky Biz under the collective name AV & the Unks. It's the kind of only-in-Chicago moment that makes North Center's arts and music scene so irresistibly fun.

The performance is a perfect reflection of what makes this neighborhood tick. North Center has long been celebrated as a community with an eclectic mix of retailers, restaurants, live music, and live theater woven into its DNA — and summer 2026 is proving that reputation is well earned. With the Northcenter Summer Concert Series already underway at Town Square (running through August 12th), the neighborhood's calendar is stacked with free, community-centered programming that keeps Lincoln Avenue and Damen Avenue humming all season long.

Whether you caught AV & the Unks live or are just hearing about it now, this is your reminder that North Center's arts scene is full of surprises — and there's plenty more to discover before summer ends. Head to northcenterchamber.com for the full events lineup and keep your eyes on Block Club Chicago at blockclubchicago.org for the latest neighborhood coverage. In North Center, the stage is always set for something unexpected.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/lincoln-square-north-center-irving-park/