The Chicago Journal

Your Gateway to the Heartbeat of Chicago

Latest Single from Chris B Rocks Streaming and Social Media Platforms

Chris B is making remarkable waves on streaming and social media platforms with the release of his latest single called “Taste Like Sugar.” The hip-hop artist generated a whopping 100,000 views on YouTube and over one million views on Facebook in such a short period of time. His vibrant and colorful music video has music fans hooked, and they cannot help but watch it over and over again. If anything, this unstoppable music artist has outdone himself once again with the release of his new song.

Born Christopher Anthony Berry, Chris B has been building his music career and creating exciting songs since February 28, 2000. Throughout the course of his career, he has produced six albums and 18 singles, currently available on all streaming platforms. He also generated social media popularity with his song “I Don’t Even Know,” which hit 1.4 million views on Facebook alone. His single “Loot,” featuring Haylee Cook, reached more than 300,000 views on Instagram. His song “6 Shooter Cowboy,” featuring Haylee Cook, reached more than one million views after a week from its release on April 8, 2021. If there is one undeniable thing about Chris B, it is that he is a phenomenal hit in this generation.

Just this April 8, he released another groundbreaking project “6 Shooter Cowboy’’ featuring Haylee Cook, inspiring T-Pain to create a similar visual to his new song “I like Dat’’ Featuring Kehlani. He has successfully positioned himself as the next big thing in the music industry, prompting both music executives and artists to be on the lookout for his next projects. The remarkable connection he has made with his fans is nothing but worthy of attention, and it is for this main reason that various publications featured his impressive achievements, from Thrive Global Magazine to Medium, LA Weekly, Atlanta Wire, Hollywood Digest, and Media Hype 101, to mention a few.

This social media sensation has also been posted in Music Observer’s Top 20 Artists of 2021, where he ranked number five. The list also included big names in the industry such as Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake, Billie Eilish, Kid Lit Music, Patrick Beck, Ah’lay, Ivan B, Johnnie Spencer, Walker Hayes and Lamar Love, among others. With his amazing track record on social media and streaming platforms, there is no question that Chris B deserves his number five spot on the list.

Apart from being a multi-faceted music artist, he is also an actor and book author. His first book titled Planet Earth Seized of Destruction came out on Amazon last May 16, 2021, and generated thousands of dollars in sales in just a few days. The phenomenal success of his book launch also inspired the likes of Kevin Hart, T-Pain, and Will Smith to release their books as well. 

Chris B is also undeniably a powerful influencer, inspiring other well-known personalities to follow his personal choices. Just recently, he bought a $100,000 Baguette prong-set Cuban 14k solid gold chain, which inspired Jake Paul to buy his own a week later. Even artist Tom MacDonald uses the same marketing strategies that Chris B uses to promote his personal brand. 

The independent music artist also owns his own Roku channel and TV show inspired by his single “6 Shooter Cowboy.” He has always been known for his out-of-the-box ideas and unique artistry, which are reflected in his work as the songwriter, producer, and sound engineer of his own songs. With hard work and dedication, Chris B has proven that it is still possible to make a name in the music industry without having to rely on the resources of big music labels. He hopes to set an example to aspiring artists out there waiting for their chance to be known in the industry.

Learn more about Chris B by visiting his website. Follow him on Instagram and TikTok for updates on his latest projects. 

Chicago Journal and Local News Mag Presents a Timely Partnership to Normalize Accurate Reporting

In a business, like in every sphere of life, no individual exists as a self-sufficient island. This is because at least once in a lifetime, every individual will rely on the strength of others to survive and stay ahead toward actualizing their goal. In the same way, in the media, the idea of partnership is not alien, and in the last half a decade or more, it has become a culture. By the end of the 2020s, more media outlets will have gone into partnerships with each other, and the industry will become more closely knit than ever.

One of the significant problems that have plagued the media sector in recent times is the oversimplification of access to information since the internet is readily available to all. Therefore, anyone could go on any platform of their choice, acquire some following, create a fake scenario, and post a piece of false information. With the free access to information comes the thirst for information. Today, social media users do not bother verifying the information they consume, so long as it is out in public, they read, believe, share, and spread that information.

Chicago Journal is a Chicago-based news reporting website interested in news coverage in lifestyle, entertainment, event listings, reviews, commentary, recommendations, feeds/links from top Chicago news sources. Chicago Journal—as one of the few local news outlets operating out of the city of Chicago to an audience that comprises majorly Chicago residents and anyone from anywhere globally—sees the problem and has sought to solve this problem by publishing confirmed information for years since inception and authenticated information. 

In furtherance of this commitment, Chicago Journal is partnering with Local News Mag to contribute more to factual information dissemination and reporting. With this partnership, Chicago Journal appears to be ready for a future where information reaches every part of Chicago and the state of Illinois as a whole, relying on Local News Mag’s clout and popularity and integrity to reach as many people as possible. 

Local News Mag is a media company currently on a mission to get into as many partnerships as possible with different media outlets. As part of its commitment to publishing featured articles and listicles for the general public to read. Local News Mag is an honest news outlet whose commitment to the truth and fact is unmatched. Local News Mag’s contents per their area of interest and influence include featuring the best local restaurants, jewelry shops, cleaning companies, among several other local establishments and businesses. Local News Mag operates a distinct business model that guides and informs the general public on which brand(s) to trust.

Indeed, when fake news and information are rife and raging like wildfire, a partnership of this magnitude between Local News Mag and Chicago Wire is a step in the right direction to bring to an end the incidence of fake news.

Joseph Yonke Aspires to Captivate the Art Scene With His Unique Style

In the digital age, individuals who are not attached to their phones and social media accounts can be hard to come by. However, 21-year-old student Joseph Yonke is unlike most people. Instead of spending his time gaming or on social media, the artist dedicates his life to creating stunning works of art.

Being exposed to art at an early age was instrumental in shaping his interest and passion for painting. Joseph received mentoring and lessons from his artist grandfather Robert Yonke, whom he considers to be his most influential role model.  

Some of Joseph’s fondest memories involve his journey into discovering his distinct art style. The painter recalled thoughtfully, “While working next to my grandfather in his garage studio, I applied heavy layers of oil and acrylic paint while mixing the mediums on the canvas’ surface and following his color relation and design lessons. We realized I was progressing towards a unique style of my own. The product was abstract and saturated, but the fashion of its production intrigued me more than any other work I had done prior.”

By finding his unique identity and technique as a painter, he hopes to make a mark in the art world. His one-of-a-kind designs give viewers a peek into his unique perspective and how he sees the world. 

The artist is already building up a collector base and attributes these accomplishments to his grandfather’s guidance plus hard work, practice, and perseverance. He works with a sense of urgency and focus, avoiding distraction as much as possible.  For him, time is best spent working to improve his talent. Life is short, and Joseph realizes that it should be spent on worthwhile pursuits, like painting. 

Being passionate about his craft and what he does has considerably contributed to the quality of his life. By sharing his story, the young man wishes to become an inspiration to his fellow young minds to pursue their interests. Learn more about Joseph Yonke and his creations by visiting his official website.

Anthony D White III on a Full Ride to Taking the Music World by Storm

Many musicians have drawn inspiration from other legendary musicians and have gone on to be greats in their own rights. Anthony D White III is no different as he has taken so much from the pop icon Michael Jackson and was even inspired to the point of putting on a show for his family members as a child. 

Music interested Anthony D White III naturally, and the Indianapolis, Indiana-born artist has staked a claim in the industry as a talented independent artist worth watching. As someone who has never limited himself in anything he did, Anthony hopes to connect with as many people as possible and get them to believe enough in themselves to pursue success relentlessly. “I believe strongly in my music traveling far and wide, and at the same time hope people connect with my person. I want my audience to know the real me and draw inspiration from that.

He released his first EP recently titled I’m Over You on all major streaming platforms. He’s also projecting himself to different labels and stakeholders in the music industry and hopes to land a record deal by the spring of 2022. As part of showing his authentic self to his audience and fans, Anthony D White III has a reality TV show on YouTube titled “For The Life of Anthony,” which he just wrapped up filming for its second season.

Anthony D White III is laser-focused on his music goals and the things he wants to achieve in his career. Competition-wise, he sees no one as a competition as he believes his journey is unique to him and for him alone. “I’m my only competition, and when I see there are other greats in the room, I accord everyone the respect they deserve without diminishing myself. I keep my composure and my eyes on the prize,” he said.

He has enjoyed immense support from his family since he started making music. He has credited a great deal of support to his mother, Bridget Rowser, who has motivated him from the start to focus on his music career no matter the opinions of people around him. “She has been my biggest cheerleader who encourages me to fight for what I believe and never let anyone tear me down,” Anthony revealed.

As his career trajectory continues on its current path, Anthony D White III sees himself becoming more prominent and more grown as an artist in the next five years. Anthony hopes to leave a big mark on the world, showcase his talent, and prove to the music industry that he is here to stay. As an artist, Anthony D White has quite an interesting journey worth watching, and he wants everyone to understand his story, dreams, and who he is as an artist. With an album released less than two months and gaining traction on streaming platforms, Anthony D White III is optimistic about what the future holds for him in music.

Learn more about Anthony D White III on his official Instagram page.

How Maaleak Wilbur Successfully Established Himself as an Influencer and Marketer Despite His Difficult Past

Social media sensation and marketer Maaleak Wilbur is undeniably one of the world’s biggest personalities today who has the power to influence the minds, choices, and lifestyles of countless people. With over one million followers across all of his personal social media accounts and managing more than 50 million others on several platforms, he has become a force to be reckoned with online. For someone who grew up in the foster care system, lived in four different foster homes, three different residential homes, a couple of group homes, and went into the Witness Protection program, he was able to turn his life around and become a person of value through hard work. 

Maaleak Wilbur was only four years old when he went into foster care. He grew up without a real family and learned to fend for things on his own in order to survive. Life was never perfect, but he managed to stay motivated to create a better life for himself. At eight years old, he fell in love with gaming. By the time he reached 12, he was able to successfully build a fanbase of 30,000 people on YouTube. That achievement, however, was short-lived as he had to go back to the system. His YouTube account eventually got hacked. 

He found himself starting from the beginning. This time around, he was doing live content on Facebook. He generated an overwhelming following of 100k individuals simply by giving his audience relationship advice. His casual and lovable nature made him an instant hit, and the world fell in love with him. When he finally turned 18, Maaleak Wilbur explored several jobs in order to make ends meet. He spent a lot of time learning about trading and investing, and in a matter of time, he started to earn full-time from his social media and to invest his money in the Forex market. 

To say that he is determined is an understatement. He simply survived life with style. Despite his challenging situation and with no family to give him love and support, Maaleak Wilbur managed to finish high school with high honors. He did not, however, attend his graduation because he had no family to witness it. He simply went about his day hustling, like it was another ordinary day in his life. 

Maaleak Wilbur stands out from other influencers because of the compassion he extends to the plight of his followers regardless of their massive number. In consideration of their personal conflicts, he would give them encouraging advice on how to get past their situation without losing their inner peace. One of the biggest reasons why he worked so hard to establish his personal brand is so that he can tell people about his inspiring life story. He found the perfect platform to encourage young people today that they can achieve anything they put their minds to. By being a role model to the youth, he hopes to be able to make a difference in their lives.

The future is not promised to anyone, but Maaleak Wilbur promises to continue his personal advocacy of being a bringer of hope to those who are in the darkest season of their lives. He envisions himself evolving into a motivational speaker who travels the world to connect with as many audiences as he can. He is also considering writing a book about his life of being a successful YouTuber and entrepreneur. 

Find out more about Maaleak Wilbur by visiting his website. Follow him on Instagram and TikTok for updates on his latest projects. 

Amplibiz: Empowering B2B Sales Success through Effective Lead Generation and Appointment Setting

In today’s highly competitive B2B environment, businesses frequently seek assistance in generating leads, securing appointments, and finalizing deals. Keeping pace with the demands of effective sales strategies can be time-consuming due to continuous technological advancements and ever-shifting market conditions. However, there is a solution that can help businesses overcome these obstacles and achieve unparalleled success. Enter Amplibiz – a leading provider of business consulting and services specializing in driving sales revenue and delivering exceptional results for businesses across industries.

Amplibiz understands that the key to thriving in B2B is a deep understanding of the target market. Therefore, meticulous research services offer valuable insights into the ideal customers. By leveraging these insights, businesses can precisely identify high-quality leads, ensuring they target the right prospects at the right time. This strategic approach enables enterprises to maximize their sales efforts and succeed in B2B.

One of the standout features of a sales-focused service like Amplibiz is its ability to adapt sales strategies to the dynamic nature of the market. With tailored approaches, businesses can effectively navigate changing market conditions and maximize their success. Companies can ensure their sales pipeline is constantly nurtured with top-tier prospects by combining multiple channels such as phone, email, LinkedIn, and web prospecting techniques. This strategic approach enables sales teams to focus on closing lucrative deals rather than wasting time on unqualified leads.

Cold calling is often a time-consuming and challenging task for many businesses. However, there are service providers available that can efficiently offload this burden. Expert Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) are equipped to handle the cold calling process, filling sales representatives’ calendars with warm leads. This saves valuable time and increases the chances of securing high-quality meetings with decision-makers.

Email campaigns are essential in achieving a successful sales strategy, a fact well understood by professional service providers. To distinguish themselves and capture the interest of potential clients, they tailor email campaigns to meet their specific needs. Harnessing their expertise in creating captivating messages, they assist businesses in securing valuable meetings and advancing toward finalizing deals.

In the digital era, LinkedIn has emerged as a robust platform for professionals to connect and engage with one another. Recognizing this, leading service providers in the industry have incorporated targeted social outreach on LinkedIn into their sales process. By leveraging the platform’s networking capabilities, businesses can expand their reach and foster meaningful conversations with industry professionals. This approach complements email and cold-calling efforts, creating a comprehensive and integrated sales strategy.

Amplibiz thrives on its extensive industry experience and flawless track record, which attributes to its success. With a team of seasoned experts well-versed in the complexities of the B2B landscape, they streamline your growth journey and enhance performance. By collaborating with Amplibiz, you gain a distinctive edge in reaching your ambitious sales objectives and revolutionizing your business.

If you need help with lead generation, appointment setting, and closing deals in the competitive B2B market, it’s time to turn to Amplibiz. Contact them today to embark on a transformative B2B sales journey that will drive revenue growth, streamline your sales process, and unlock unparalleled success for your business. With Amplibiz as your trusted partner, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the B2B landscape and achieve remarkable results.

Entertainment Powerhouse, Stryker Records Promoting Artists Such as Drew Lines to Stardom

Photo of Drew Lines taken by Quinn Wold

A famous saying goes, “Everything begins with an idea, but an idea that is not developed into action will never get bigger than the brain cells it occupies.” This saying proves true for Chris Dobry, who, in 1997, conceived the idea to bring on a battle of the bands in his hometown of Green Bay Wisconsin. With a lot of determination and not a dime to his name, Chris worked hard to bring his idea to life and founded his record label, Stryker Records, where he promotes live concerts, manages artists, and releases music world-wide.

To secure initial funds for the company’s launch, Chris had a series of press releases and secured an interview on the local CBS station the same night as the Grammy Awards. Naturally, this drew a lot of attention to the event showcasing local rock talents that Chris eventually teamed up with. 

At present, Stryker Records first Hip Hop Artist, Drew Lines is fine-tuning his debut album with multi-platinum and award-winning producers Malcolm Springer and Scott Wilson at the House of Blues Studio in Nashville. Drew Lines’ debut single “Rise” featuring Clio Cadence, is now available on all streaming platforms and will hit the airwaves soon. 

Since establishing his company, Chris has been hosting events of chart-topping versatile artists including Saving Abel, Merle Haggard, The Goo Goo Dolls, Saliva, Shedaisy, Trapt, Tantric and more. In September 2020, Chris collaborated with Holly Hutchison of AnR Girl to launch Stryker Records recording artists Jamie Fontaine & The Level to the #20 spot on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart and #7 on the Concrete/Foundations Chart with their single “Save Your Life.” Produced by Jason Schrick of JPS Productions and platinum producer Malcolm Springer at Universal Studios in Nashville, the single challenged other releases by established artists like Seether, Marilyn Manson, Volbeat, Breaking Benjamin, to name a few. Chris also teamed up with Scott Wilson at Sunshine Studios in Colorado Springs to produce the current single “I Ain’t Breathin” for Jamie Fontaine & the Level.

Unlike many other record labels, Stryker Records also manages bands and artists of different genres, including rock, country and hip hop and puts on concerts and live events as well. In collaboration with Mainstage Media, the record label also hosts the “The Hip Hop World Series,” an annual all-live hip-hop music showcase. A one of its kind, the competition features artists from all over the midwest, judged and awarded prizes by a panel of three judges based on crowd response.

In the coming years, Chris Dobry plans to expand his company into a global brand, promoting signed artists and helping them earn gold and platinum singles. “I see expanding my roster to include more rock, country and hip hop groups. I will also continue to promote and produce live music events around the country and continue to support the people who have helped me reach these successes,” he shared. The music entrepreneur also wants to balance home, business and social life and live a fulfilled life.

To learn more about Drew Lines, Chris Dobry and Stryker Records, visit the company’s Facebook page.

Turning Setbacks Into Systems: How E.Z. Smith Uses Athletic Experiences to Impact Others

Merging his athletic expertise and passion for entrepreneurship, E.Z. Smith built a company that aims to change thousands of lives by focusing on critical areas that would allow them to maximize well-being and business success. Today, he has empowered over 3,000 clients to reach massive success.

E.Z. Smith is a former athlete. After pivoting his career to become an entrepreneur, he was able to reach health and business success by creating unparalleled high-level health, accountability, and business coaching for his clients spanning various industries. The entrepreneur formulates his strategies using real-life experiences from his athletic journey. He is a former 300+ pound offensive lineman and professionally signed fitness model. E.Z. now uses his diverse background to create a blueprint others can follow to achieve exponential success.

Over the past ten years, E.Z. Smith has impacted thousands of lives, changing their perspectives and their mindsets to become the best in both their personal and professional lives. The entrepreneur inspires his clients to reach for nothing but the best. He encourages them to live with a no-compromise system for success.

E.Z. Smith is known for a plethora of services, including his one-on-one in-person and online coaching, customized coaching and time management strategies, and daily accountability coaching. Throughout his decade-long career, the entrepreneur was also able to gather a community of industry-leading coaches to join his team. Additionally, he also offers a free macro recipe guide and cookbooks and provides his clients with access to an online workout portal and a group of accountability coaches. 

“Our most successful clients have been established and aspiring entrepreneurs in the sales, fitness, insurance, real estate, and e-commerce industries that want to leverage our marketing strategies to increase profitability, significantly reduce their overhead, and scale their businesses as quickly and efficiently as possible, while simultaneously gaining clarity and direction in their personal health journeys,” shared E.Z. Smith. 

Furthermore, E.Z. Smith sets himself and his team apart from others in the field because of their unparalleled customer service. The entrepreneur encourages his team to focus their efforts on how to genuinely help their clients. Over the years, they have been able to elevate profit margins. They have also led their clients to live healthier and more holistic lifestyles. 

Taking bits and pieces of valuable learnings from his personal journey, E.Z. Smith was able to build his own productivity system after what he refers to as “a decade of confusion, frustration, and uncertainty.”

“I was able to implement those strategies into what is now our successful Entrepreneur Coaching System to help as many people as I could,” said E.Z. Smith. He is creating unmatched success and continually provides clients with clarity which leads to freedom. 

Asked what he wants to impart to others who are still in the stage of their lives where they are filled with uncertainties, E.Z. Smith shared that it is never too late for anyone to start their journey. “There will always be 1,000 excuses not to start, but you only need the decision to begin and commitment to finish in order to attain great results,” said the entrepreneur. 

Learn more about E.Z. Smith on his website.

Ibrahim Ismail AKA ThatGuyHabibi Putting Smiles on Faces through Social Media

Social media has been a tool for various things, from business to networking and even entertainment. Social media personalities like Ibrahim Ismail, also known as ThatGuyhabibi on social media platforms, have made a career out of entertaining people and making them laugh on social media. ThatGuyHabibi is a rising comedian, actor, and content creator on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. He is known for creating comic content using satire, dark humor, and other comedy elements to entertain his global audience. Some of his comedy content also relates to the everyday world, and that is why so many people find him relatable and have consistently engaged with his brand over the years.

ThatGuyHabibi is heavily in tune with pop culture and makes sure his content fits into current world events. He thrives on creating content around trending events, and his audience recognizes his efforts in that aspect. He has been a social media content creator for about three years but has been in the acting world since he was a young child. The Palestine-born comedian started in a few commercials back in Israel and has decided to scale things up with a solo career in comedy and film now that he’s older.

Versatility is one of ThatGuyHabibi’s strongest suits. Asked to describe his craft, Ismail said, “I can target every single audience type because I live in such a cultured area where the people are diverse. Diversity is the key in skits/bits and commercials. As I learn and experience life, I use what I learn as material for new content, which I feel everyone can relate to. If someone does like one video style, next week there is a whole new type of video with a whole new different scenario. This is what makes me different from other content creators.”

Building the ThatGuyHabibi brand was not by accident. It’s a dream he has nurtured from a very young age. “I was called a clown as a kid because I always made people laugh and feel better with themselves. Growing up, content creating became a thing, and I saw many people doing it. Since I once had the idea, it was easy for me to execute. I was doing it for fun at first and later took it as a career when my followers and viewers started increasing,” he explained.

Ismail’s goal is to become globally known as a social media sensation, making everyone laugh regardless of tribe or race. He sees himself becoming everyone’s favorite comedian in a few years. He hopes the ThatGuyHabibi brand gets to represent global brands while getting acting opportunities to grow his profile further. Putting the Arab-American image of an actor in people’s minds is one of the goals he wants to achieve, and it’s why he’s putting so much work into his craft presently.

As ThatGuyHabibi embarks on a global takeover with his comedy brand, he looks forward to a happier world where everyone is willing to work, interact, have fun, and do great things with one another.

Learn more about Ibrahim Ismail, AKA ThatGuyhabibi, on his official Instagram page.

Liquor Stars Ups the E-commerce Game for Rare Spirited Drinks

E-commerce has rapidly upped the commerce game across industries, making competition more competitive. As small businesses find ways to leverage the global reach that the internet has awarded everyone, stores like Liquor Stars find ingenious ways of doing that. Today, the e-commerce-based liquor gifts selection business is earmarking an identity all across the gifts and liquor markets. 

Liquor Stars is a second-generation owner’s attempt at revamping a traditional concept born out of a brick and mortar business. After getting involved in his father’s liquor, beer, and wine store, the company came to its owner. The first-generation business had over thirty years of history and experience as a brick-and-mortar store. It has expanded all over the San Diego area and built reputable connections with distributors like Southern Glazer and RNDC. 

“We founded Liquor Stars with one simple goal: to help you experiment with your passion while at the same time providing amazing prices,” shares the company’s website. “We were tired of cookie-cutter stores with lackluster selection and boring gifts.  So, instead of offering a huge, unoriginal collection, we carefully curate just a few unique pieces perfectly suited for people having taste buds like you. In addition, we focus on items that get you excited about shopping again, as we believe buying online should always be fun!”

Liquor Stars brings a modern touch to a family-owned and run business so that consumers can gain access to their favorite spirit brands no matter where they are in the nation. The company currently has a collection of over 3,000 of the rarest limited edition and allocated spirits and continues to grow that through the years. 

When the company began, its founding team made sure that it remained competitive. They brought the shipping price down to a competitive rate and offered all kinds of high-profile and fan-favorite spirited drinks that attracted some of the most prominent connoisseurs in the world of wine and spirits. Accordingly, they have reached a considerable amount of renown in the online space. 

Reports show that the global alcoholic beverage market will see an 80% increase in online sales in the next year. Liquor Stars is riding that wave and looks to maximize on that trend and build a solid enough base to position for tremendous growth despite economies still being restricted somewhat by the pandemic. Overall, the company looks to usher in an innovative way to create a personalized experience for people who love trying new wines or even look to stick to brands they know best. 

Overall, the company stands on a set of unwavering values. One of those core beliefs is the importance of customer service with the utmost level of commitment to a wow factor. Secondly, Liquor Stars looks to build long-term and valuable relationships with customers by building bridges between wine lovers and some of the best importers and producers that the world has to offer.

Liquor Stars hopes to become a national player in the wine and spirits industry in the foreseeable future and set up fulfillment and distribution centers across all states to cut down shipping times and serve more customers at a faster rate. Learn more about Liquor Stars by visiting its website and Instagram profile.