A Rap Song About Bike Safety? Yes Please.

Activist politician and rapper, Rhymefest, partners with Blackstone Bicycle Works and Donda's House to attempt the impossible: a compelling song about bike safety.

1 minute read

June 19, 2017, 6:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Che Smith, AKA Rhymefest, is probably most famous for writing Kanye West hit "Jesus Walks", but he also co-founded Donda's House, Chicago youth organization that takes its name from Kanye's deceased mother. Jorge Mikell, Adarah Hale, Rio and Maalik, the featured MCs in this video, were connected with the project through the South Side Chicago organization.

While bike advocates are divided on helmets, the position in this song is unambiguous. If this video gets a few more kids riding around 79th and Racine, where Donda's House is based, the group’s success will also be unambiguous—a noteworthy accomplishment especially when law enforcement has made biking a less attractive proposition there.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 in YouTube

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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Mary G., Urban Planner

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