Novem Life, Yo!

Run by one of the most positive people in Chicago Hip-Hop, B-Boy B, The Fly Paper is an urban, underground, free newspaper that’s documented Chicago’s vibrant Hip-Hop culture for the past decade and a half.
Next time you’re at a local shop or show, you might catch B-Boy B or one of his dedicated volunteers distributing the newest issue, discussing its pages and spreading a message of peace. Each Fly Paper is packed with content created by Hip-Hop artists and activists, and commenting on current events that affect the Hip-Hop community. As a veteran of the culture himself, B-Boy B reps old school crews such as ABC, The Feds and Zulu Nation, and has different a graffiti legend help design each paper’s cover page by drawing the masthead (flicks at top-right). Without a doubt, every issue is a unique expression of Hip-Hop’s positive side.
Recently, Novem collaborated with Fly Paper on a limited-edition t-shirt project (available on the right). In the process we got the history of the paper, as told by B-Boy B-

“The Fly Paper started in 1991, by passing out its first issue at the now extinct Lower Links. The first Fly Paper was a double-sided tabloid black-and-white newsprint sheet. We gave it out to the crowd at open-mic and poetry nights, graffiti events, gallery openings.

The Fly Paper grew out of the era of Hip-Hop enlightenment. It was the beginning of the COUNTER-GANGSTA movement, the native tongue, positive, educational and revolutionary rap music. Rap had something STRONG to say. It was no longer was satisfied with “this is how I party; I got new cars, digs and girls galore.” It no longer was satisfied with the “What ya lookin’ at, I shot this kid, cop killer, car jackin’, drug-dealin’ gangstaness.” It was a time of leaving all that behind. The time of knowledge was here. Positive revolutionary Hip Hop just started to emerge. Radio was playing everything that had to do with rap including edutainment, party and gangsta rap.

The FLYPAPER was started at this time to fill the void that Hip Hop Kulture had with the mainstream media. We produced the first FLYPAPER, back then called “The RAP SHEET.” The idea was to give a voice to our kultured as we saw fit to define it, not being defined by outsiders or journalists who did not overstand how our own kulture thinks.

The FLYPAPER has always been free, because information should be free. It is our story as oral traditions of that past were handed down; it is still our story today to pass it on. We need to influence public perceptions of our positive culture today to change tomorrow.

If you are interested in passing on some of your overstanding and skills to our urban dwellers please let me know. If you want to submit something for the FLY PAPER to publish, or want to be involved feel free to hook up with me.

Pass the knowledge. Much love and respect”

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– R. Pepin + B-Boy B