One of the many great things about Sessions @33 on WCRXFM is that artists are able to collaborate with students from many different departments. To see firsthand the opportunities that are created by this series has given students not only a viable outlet for their skills, but has created a sense of excitement around each release. This week, Columbia College Chicago Music Business major Jabari Zakee grabs the baton and runs with it, as the featured performer on Sessions @33.
Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago and a graduate of Lincoln Park High School, Jabari has been writing and performing for more than five years. According to him, “I started rapping in 2017, participating in an After School Matters program. Some of my performance highlights include: Kidzapalooza (2019), MLK Speech Slam Contest at Kennedy-King College with the Collaboraction Theatre Company (2020), ManiFresh Columbia College Chicago (2021), Bitter Jester Music Festival (2022), John Walts Foundation Audition (2022) and my own (DIY) showcase @ the Connect Gallery in Hype Park (2022).”
As a Music Business major, Jabari immersed himself in the field by gaining experience at a local theater in the area. This opportunity, as he states, gave him some inroads into his industry. “I interned at Annoyance Theater (Improv Bar) over the summer of 2021, and it really broadened my horizons on where/how I can push my art via comedy, acting, music, filmmaking, etc.”
Many of the artists performing in this series cite Sessions @33 as a game-changer for their careers, and something that is beneficial to all students. As Jabari explains, “Sessions @33 is a great opportunity for artists that go to Columbia College to show off their performance skills. I really liked how nice and inviting the staff was. I would definitely recommend this opportunity to any other artists I know.”
As Jabari’s career continues to gain momentum, he indicated that two goals, one immediate, and one in the future, is part of his overall plan. “With my major as Music Business, I’m building up my own artist-run record label, ‘Spiritual Revolution.’ My future goal is to perform on Columbia’s Main Manifest Stage before I graduate.”
Sessions @33 is a series featuring Columbia College Chicago music artists performing a 4-song set in an intimate performance space at WCRXFM, Columbia’s very own radio station. In addition to the artists getting exposure, students from various departments . Please support these fantastic up-n-coming artists, as well as the collaborative efforts of the students involved behind the scenes, by watching sessions on YouTube, as well as listening to the podcast version on either Apple or Stitcher.
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