SIR THE BAPTIST Press Clips 2017 December 14, 2016 Sir The Baptist Reflects On Past Career As A Lyft Driver On “Driver Appreciation Day” The company’s ode to their dedicated drivers includes Lyft-sponsored events in Los Angeles and Chicago and a screening of June, directed by John Kahrs (Monsters Inc., Toy Story 2). Lyft also promises to match tips towards drivers for 24 hours. Providing the track “Movin” for June, Sir was inspired by his two years taking on the role as a Lyft driver and the many encounters he had in the process. Speaking to VIBE, his former position ended up shaping up the people in his current team. “I was also using Lyft as a tool, not just to get money, but to build relationships with my community in Chicago,” he said. “I would take the stories from my Lyft rides and use them in my songwriting and inspiration.” Sir also shares with us his thoughts on sharing rides, his favorite moments of the year and more. Check out the interview below. VIBE: If you had to describe “Movin” in three words, what would they be? Sir The Baptist: Driving, uplifting and fun. The song “Movin’” which was used in the short film was created while I was driving for Lyft. I remember creating this song and pulling inspiration from my own story and those of my passengers. Sometimes the toughest times help you realize what life’s all about — human connection. The song is about moving forward and keeping a positive attitude, no matter what setbacks life throws you. What inspired you to work as a Lyft driver? How was it balancing that and working on your music? I was working at Leo Burnett in Chicago for a few years but decided that I really needed to step away and apply my marketing to my music. I was an upcoming artist and would drive 12 hours each day. I had a mobile recording studio under my seat and would put all of the money back into studio time, advertising and advancing my career. I was also using Lyft as a tool, not just to get money, but to build relationships with my community in Chicago. I would take the stories from my Lyft rides and use them in my songwriting and inspiration. I would estimate that nearly 50-60 percent of my team is comprised of people I met while driving and using Lyft. What’s one of your most memorable Lyft experiences? I’ve seen everything, from happy grandmothers to post-breakups, to harrowing stories of people trying to make ends meet and everything in between. I actually met my girlfriend who I’ve been dating for two years while driving. How do you feel about the concept of sharing rides? In the film, June builds a rapport with her customers, but sometimes in real life customers aren’t too engaging; even with fellow riders. I always felt a real sense of community when I was driving with Lyft. There is such a strong connection between passenger and driver. I met new people all the time and was inspired by sharing experiences with all different walks of life. My music tells the stories of the people I’ve met, reflecting their unique perspectives and what I learned from these shared experience and the community I built with others. Your music has a great balance of political, religion and social topics. What inspired you to walk that path in your sound? It’s true to who I am. My father was a preacher in Chicago when I was growing up. When he passed away when I was 11 years old, I was able to get a little further away from the church and find hip-hop, Jay Z and a new scene. At the same time, my mother and brothers are missionaries. So I was always taught to have a strong sense of giving back, political action and community organizing. My music truly reflects this path of growing up in-between the church and secular worlds. What were some of your favorite moments from 2016? Any you would like to forget? 2016 has been such an incredible year. I was able to truly take my passion and love of music and make it my career. But meeting one of my idols, Jay Z, at “Made in America” festival was truly special. Having him come up and tell me that he is following my story and is a fan of my music is something that I will never forget. Then performing later in the year in front of 22,000 people at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on his TidalX concert was another amazing experience. What themes does your new album PK: Preacher’s Kid touch? My upcoming album, PK: Preacher’s Kid, is truly a reflection of life in 2016. You will hear a little bit of everything that everyday people are talking about on the album, from politics to social issues to party songs and everything in-between. My goal is to heal hip-hop. As a genre, its is in a very bad spot musically, but more importantly the messaging in the music, how we treat our women and so many other areas. I hope to be one piece to the puzzle to usher in a new sound and one that will empower the listeners to usher in change. December 31, 2016 Lyft co-founder John Zimmer drove on NYE, and the experience was documented by a Buzzfeed reporter via Facebook Live. John was playing Sir's music along the ride. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFeedTech/videos/1178473585606949/ December 18, 2016 Kapos: Jesse, Sandi Jackson lawyers used to high-profile splits Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being represented by the same legal firm that helped Citadel CEO Ken Griffin win his high-profile divorce case last year. Jackson is citing irreconcilable differences in his divorce from former Ald. Sandi Jackson. He’s asking that the couple’s two teen children reside in Chicago. Sandi Jackson wants to keep them in Washington, D.C., where they also have a home. That’s what makes Jesse Jackson’s decision to hire Barry Schatz interesting. Schatz is a founding partner of Berger Schatz — a matrimonial law firm that counts high-profile names as clients, including billionaire businessman Griffin. The crux of the Griffin divorce, which wrapped up in 2015, had to do with where the couple’s three young children would reside. Griffin wanted them in Chicago. His now ex-wife Anne Dias asked the court to be allowed to move to New York with the children. Griffin won, and their children have stayed in Chicago, sharing time with both parents. By hiring Schatz as his divorce attorney, Jesse Jackson’s sending a message to his estranged wife that he’s prepared to fight to keep their children in Chicago as well. Interesting too is who Sandi Jackson has teamed with for legal counsel: Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, according to a court filing from July. That’s notable because Schiller — also a divorce firm for big names — has a collaborative law division that seeks alternatives to litigating divorce. Hello, mediation. In praise of free admission Jeffery Perry‘s personal story is integral to his support of Chicago Children’s Museum’s push for free admission for people who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend. The museum just wrapped up nearly 100,000 free visits–again. “We’ve pledged that a third of our visitors will be either free or significantly reduced admissions,” says Perry, the museum’s board chairman and a partner at EY, a global professional services firm. It’s all about attracting “people who wouldn’t otherwise come” while finding other ways to boost revenues. In fiscal 2016, which ended June 30, the museum had 403,658 total visits — 84,768 were free and 44,806 entered the door at reduced rates. In fiscal 2015, 412,973 people visited the museum, with 86,724 free and 49,556 entering at a lower rate (teachers and veterans among them). The Museums for All program, which allows food stamp recipients to use their Link card to enter the museum, has been credited in part with the boost in free attendance. The program is drawing praise from the American Alliance of Museums in Washington, D.C. “These are members of the community who might not otherwise come to the museum, so providing a way to bring in that audience doesn’t jeopardize ticket revenue,” says chief program officer Robert Stein. When he was a teen, Perry benefited from the Inroads nonprofit that mentors minorities for a future in business. The son of a Baptist minister earned a scholarship at Babson College, a premier business school in Massachusetts, and later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He’s remained connected to Inroads and served as national board chair. Perry’s move to be board chair came earlier this year and dovetails with museum plans to update its facade, all part of ongoing construction at Navy Pier, where it’s located. Before hip-hop, there was Leo Burnett and Lyft Hip-hop star Sir the Baptist, who headlines Chi-Town Rising on New Year’s Eve, once worked for a big- name Chicago ad firm and then as a Lyft driver. The Chicago native talked about his background during a visit back in his hometown to promote Lyft. The ride-sharing company unveiled a short film about a woman who becomes a driver.