Bold and outspoken Chicago rapper CupcakKe achieved viral success and critical acclaim with her brazen, unapologetically explicit songs and videos that channeled the likes of Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Gangsta Boo. Her work explores sexuality in graphic detail, and while many of her songs are humorous and playful, she has more serious, introspective material that deals with sexual abuse (“Pedophile”), racial issues (“Picking Cotton”), and LGBTQ empowerment (“Crayons”). She debuted in 2016 with a pair of raunchy EPs and a full-length, Audacious, following with the critically-acclaimed Queen Elizabitch (2017) and Ephorize (2018).

At the age of 14, CupcakKe began writing religious-themed poetry, performing in local churches. She started turning her poems into raps and uploading them to YouTube, receiving thousands of views. In late 2015, inspired by Khia’s hit “My Neck, My Back,” she decided to write sexually explicit material. The videos “Vagina” and “Deepthroat” appeared and quickly spread on the Internet like wildfire. Both songs appeared on her debut mixtape, Cum Cake, in February of 2016. S.T.D (Shelters to Deltas), named for Harris’ years spent in homeless shelters, followed in June, and the studio album Audacious arrived in October. The releases received praise from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, MTV News, and numerous hip-hop websites.

Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus is an inclusive, community-based performing arts organization that creates musical experiences to entertain and enlighten, inspire change, and build community. Through colorful performances that blend traditional choral music with musical theater, jazz and pop, and a gay aesthetic, they seek to delight their audiences, enrich their members and explore issues relevant to LGBT people and their allies—enlivening Chicago’s cultural landscape and creating a better community for all.

The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus (CGMC) has been an integral part of Chicago’s cultural and gay communities since 1983. For the last three decades, they have entertained audiences across the continent with innovative musical programming, exploring everything from love to politics to the sometimes fabulous, sometimes challenging world of being gay-often all at the same time. Their always-memorable performances have included original musical revues; five popular productions celebrating the Sidetrack show tune experience; full-length book musicals including The Wizard of Oz, The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore and our original work – Ten Commandments – The Musical; traditional choral concerts and intimate cabaret presentations-all punctuated with their signature joyous irreverence.

CGMC has traveled extensively across North America, representing Chicago in cities including Montreal, New York, Denver, Miami, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. They have also brought entertainment back home, hosting choruses from across the United States and Europe to sing with the chorus here in Chicago.

Most recently, CGMC proudly sang “America the Beautiful” for the Illinois Marriage Equality Act bill-signing ceremony and was the featured guest choral performer for the star-studded concert, Broadway Rocks, with the Grant Park Music Festival in 2011. Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 2001 and currently has four cd-recordings available: Cool Yule, featuring jazzy holiday selections; I Will Be Loved Tonight, a collection of their favorite love (and not-so-in-love) songs; Favorite Things, their second celebration of holiday music; and So Happy Together: Festival Gems, featuring all live performances from their appearances at the last three quadrennial GALA Festivals. CGMC has performed the National Anthem multiple times at world-famous Wrigley Field and for the WNBA Chicago Sky.

We Entertain.

CGMC delivers a unique entertainment experience found nowhere else in the city. We produce professional-quality shows that combine the best elements of musical theater, cabaret and traditional choral performance. But only CGMC can add that special “twist of gaiety” that can make each show fun, moving and memorable.

We Inspire.

Whether we’re representing the community while singing the national anthem at Wrigley Field or we’re providing rarely-seen GLBT-friendly entertainment in smaller cities downstate, CGMC serves as ambassadors and provides a positive image to countless thousands every year.

We Motivate.

Sometimes the message to take action can be delivered more effectively through song than through speech. That’s why CGMC has been heard regularly in the dome of the state Capitol (supporting GLBT rights and domestic partner benefits) and at major fundraising events throughout the city (often supporting AIDS-related organizations).

We Comfort.

CGMC is not only an integral part of the community, but we are a family. When asked to help, CGMC heeds the call. We’ve sung at at the Auditorium Theater honoring the victims of Sept. 11. We sing at smaller memorial services honoring local community leaders… and sometime our own members. We’re humbled to realize that CGMC’s presence can bring comfort and healing to those around us.

Brian Justin Crum is singer, songwriter, and stage actor hailing from San Diego, California. He attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. At the age of seventeen, BJC left San Diego to join the cast of the Broadway musical Wicked. He later joined the casts of the musical comedy Altar Boyz and the revival of Grease.

Brian became a part of the pop culture zeitgeist with his audition performance of Queen’s “Somebody To Love” on the 11th season of
NBC’s America’s Got Talent. He went on to secure his spot as a top 4 finalist. Brian’s energetic dance remake of Robyn’s hit from 1997, “Show
Me Love” hit number 2 on Billboard’s dance chart.

Brian has a brand new single, “Wild Side” released and is busy writing and recording his forthcoming EP with tour dates across the globe. He
continues to use his voice and new found visibility to advocate for the LGBTQ community in the hopes that future generations know they
matter in this world.

DJ Cindel grew up around Chicago where his endless exposure to house music led to his love, and eventual practice, of producing it. Having done so since the age of 15, he has especially honed his skills creating drum mixes and tribal-house vocals, earning him the title “The King of Drums”. Major influences such as Danny Tenaglia, Chus and Ceballos and Ralphi Rosario, along with his Puerto Rican roots, have helped mold his high-energy style into a successful career.

His big break came from a gig at Chicago’s Skybar, which led to a residency at Spin in Boystown where he held his own night called Sound Factory in the year 2006. Cindel later earned a residency at Club Ibiza in North Carolina opening for Hector Fonseca, as well as Palace on Ocean Drive in South Beach. He spent some time living in Miami playing other clubs such as Twist, Mekka, Euphoria, Therapy, white party, winter party, and getting an official yearly residency at Score nightclub.

Cindel made great strides by being named the WINNER of Matinee Las Vegas in 2013 and debuting at Circuit Barcelona Festival where he headlined the Beyond party in 2013. Other noted credits include working alongside two-time Grammy nominee Tony Moran as a part of Chicago’s Freedom Revolution at The Castle. He is the first DJ to play 2 consecutive years at Puerto Rico’s Choreographers Ball and was a headliner at Fly in Toronto for their Memorial Day Weekend Military Ball.

After a great year working hard on his craft and making a name for himself, Cindel was nominated and voted Best Circuit DJ at the Odyssey NYC nightlife awards, booked world Pride Toronto for two consecutive years playing the amazing TreeHouse party alongside world-renowned DJ’s Isaac Escalante & Alain Jackinsky and also headlined the official rooftop party at NYC pride. Cindel also made his big debut at one of the most popular and famous circuit events of today’s scene, XLSIOR Mykonos Greece.

Now back in Chicago, DJ Cindel continues to land bookings all over the US as well as internationally, holding 7 residencies in LA, Chicago, SF, Atlanta, Boston, Vancouver & Toronto. Cindel is very known for his deep tribal after-hours sounds mixed with lots of drums. No matter what the event or venue, he commits to giving you a set full of fantastic beats and quality sound.