Latest news with #TIF
CairoScene
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
TIF & ElGrandeToto Unite on a Timeless Trap Confessional 'Kafini'
While Kafini might have already set the bar for collabs this year, it isn't about theatrics or trying to impress. Instead, it reflects each artist's truth and back stories without falling into cliché. Jul 29, 2025 TIF and ElGrandeToto, two of the region's rap giants, link up on a joint single titled 'Kafini', a reflective diary-entry-like tune delving into their rocky ascent to the pinnacle of Arab hip-hop. Built on a minimalist and cloudy trap beat, imbued with woozy synths floating over crisp 808s, the track doubles as a reflection on the scars and the contradictions of the life the two rappers have lived and the one they are still building. There is no hook in the traditional sense of the production; rather, the refrain -"Gros c'est pas si mauvais / La vie d'artiste en fait' (The life of artists might not be so bad after all.) -hits with weight, delivered with equal parts irony and truth, as TIF and Toto navigate the thin line between their come-up stories and the temptation toxicity of fame. Algeria-born TIF sets the tone with poetic introspection, rapping about hunger being his only compass when money was nowhere in sight. His delivery, though calm, is sharp and assertive, wrapping years of sacrifice and grind and silence into deliberate bars, like 'J'suis toujours le meme mais en plus fort' ('still the same, only stronger now.'). ElGrandeToto follows with a more detached tone, spitting verses in a blend of Darija and French that flex his survival in the scene like a badge of honour and flicks off fake friendships and industry expectations. At one point, he nonchalantly throws in a verse, 'Machi nta li tgoulina ch'han dirou,' (You're not the one who'll tell us what to do), with a quiet rage in his voice that feels like someone who's already paid the price for his success. Both TIF and Toto have been steadily dropping collaborative tracks with artists across the North African hip-hop scene, so it was only a matter of time before they linked up in the studio. And while Kafini might have already set the bar for collabs this year, their joint effort isn't about theatrics or trying to impress. Instead, it reflects each artist's truth and back stories without falling into the black hole of cliché.
CairoScene
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Lella Fadda & Zeyne to Perform at COLORS' Tones of Paris Oct 25-26
Built on a multi-disciplinary concept, Tones of Paris is an extension of COLORS' new large-scale project to introduce a refreshing spin on traditional music festivals. Jul 23, 2025 Egyptian rap superstar Lella Fadda and Palestinian-Jordanian artist Zeyne are set to perform at COLORS' Tones of Paris festival on October 25th and October 26th, respectively. Built on a multi-disciplinary concept, Tones of Paris is an extension of COLORS' new large-scale project to introduce a refreshing spin on traditional music festivals through city-wide curated programs that reflect France's vibrant cultural and musical interests. Last year, Tones of Paris featured regional heavyweights Saint Levant and TIF, who were joined by international superstars like James Blake. This year, COLORS' Tones of Paris will be taking place at the stunning Centquatre. Joining Lella and Zeyne on the lineup is a roster of up-and-coming talents from across the globe, such as French-Gabonese R&B sensation Anaïs Cardot, French indie-rock duo Ibeyi, RUBII, one of the UK's most promising neo-soul artists, Dutch-American multi-instrumentalist Leven Kali, best known for his work on Beyoncé's 'Renaissance', and Sage Faye, hailing from Stockholm. The two-day festival will also feature a series of workshops, talks and exclusive listening sessions, bringing an audio-visual experience and all sorts of communities all weekend. Tickets will go on sale on COLORS' official website this Friday, July 25th, at 11 AM CET and 12 PM Cairo time.
Chicago Tribune
17-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Lansing considers TIF district at struggling Torrence Avenue shopping center
Lansing officials are studying whether to create a tax increment financing district at the long-struggling Landings Shopping Center on Torrence Avenue, north of 171st Street, could boost economic development there. The Village Board made way Tuesday for a feasibility study to determine the eligibility of properties within the shopping center for a TIF district. TIF money can be used to pay for public improvements as well as incentives for developers. 'We just have a lot of vacancies up there, and we haven't been able to do anything about it,' Lansing Administrator Dan Podgorski said Thursday. Podgorski said the village considered creating the Landings TIF district about five years ago but decided to wait until more of the strip mall's abandoned properties were off the tax rolls. The village owns one such property, the former Ultra Foods at 16831 Torrence Ave., which Podgorski says has sat empty for about a decade. He said establishing a TIF district could encourage another grocery store or other retailer to move into space that is now tax exempt. 'This would be a TIF that would be project driven — that we would need in order to bring those developments,' Podgorski said. 'We would need the incentive.' In a TIF district, property taxes for all government bodies are frozen at levels at the time it is created and any increase due to higher property values, the increment, is used to pay for improvements or incentives TIF districts typically expire after 23 years but can be extended to up to 35 years Other taxing bodies, such as school districts, don't see increased property tax revenue from any development until after the TIF expires, and don't have a share of any community's sales tax money redevelopment might create. The board agreed to pay adviser SB Friedman, which similarly surveyed the long-vacant Sears store at Orland Square shopping center, an estimated $64,500 to survey the Landings Shopping Center. The area the firm will study includes several vacant retailers, some of which still have their old signs. On the north side of the strip mall, adjacent former clothing stores Factory 2-U and Givona Jolie stand empty, adorned with banners indicating their availability for sale. Cars begin to crop up further south in the parking lot, as Forman Mills and Burlington continue to attract sparse traffic. The area being studied also includes breakfast restaurant Golden Bear Pancakes and Crepery Restaurant, at 16851 Torrence Ave., and Kenny's Ribs and Chicken, at 16825 Torrence Ave. Podgorski said he is excited about the future of Lansing's economy as the village focuses on ushering in businesses on other parts of Torrence Avenue, including the additions of a Starbucks, Chipotle, Taco Bell and Chick-fil-a. 'You've got a dozen or more new businesses in that corridor — we feel we're like just getting started,' Podgorski said. He said there are other properties throughout Lansing the village hopes to acquire and redevelop. 'We're building that momentum,' he said.
Ya Biladi
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Jazzablanca 2025 : From Jazz to urban poetry, TIF and Alfa Mist light up Anfa Park
The 18th edition of the Jazzablanca Festival delivered an exceptional evening on Wednesday, spotlighting two distinctive artists: TIF, a rising star in the rap scene, and Alfa Mist, a British pianist and composer known for blending jazz with hip-hop influences. Opening the night, Alfa Mist mesmerized the audience with a sophisticated performance, weaving together elements of jazz, soul, and hip-hop in his compositions. Joined by his accomplished quintet, the artist delivered a set marked by seamless transitions between instrumental pieces and rap vocals, creating an intimate atmosphere that resonated deeply with the crowd. The precision of the performance and the richness of the musical palette were met with enthusiastic applause. On a different note, the Casa Anfa stage welcomed rapper TIF, who captivated the audience with his lyrical depth, live vocals, and dynamic instrumentation. Performing standout tracks such as Hinata, Amnesia, and No Party, TIF drew from his two EPs, Houma Sweet Houma and 1.6, to explore a range of personal and social themes. TIF's performance stood out for its emotional intensity, artistic commitment, and musicality, forging a strong connection with a young, energetic audience drawn in by a fresh and unconventional take on rap. This unique double bill highlighted Jazzablanca's ongoing commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of today's musical landscape, uniting artists with singular artistic journeys on its stages. Running through July 12, Jazzablanca continues to offer an immersive experience that lies at the heart of its identity. At Anfa Park, festivalgoers enjoy a thoughtfully designed space featuring two main stages, food courts, chill-out zones, and a welcoming atmosphere that fosters community and creativity. In addition, as part of the festival's 18th edition, the Nouveau Souffle stage has been set up in the Arab League Park, offering four free concerts featuring Daraa Tribes, Mehdi Qamoum, Anas Chlih Quintet, and Soukaina Fahsi.
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
State grant to fuel improvements at 55th Street and Western Avenue in Clarendon Hills
Clarendon Hills has been approved for a $1 million legislative grant for planned intersection improvements at 55th Street and Western Avenue. The state grant was garnered with support from state Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton, D-24th, and state Rep. Martha Deuter, D-45th, according to Clarendon Hills Village President Eric Tech. 'Staff is working diligently with DuPage County to get the residents south of 55th Street safe access to the north side of town,' he said. Village Manager Zach Creer said there is documented desire for improving this intersection, going back to the South of 55th Subarea Plan adopted in November 2017. He said a 2022 development proposal for a Dunkin Donuts, which was voted down by the Village Board after numerous residents expressed opposition, refocused interest in the intersection. He said a tax increment financing district was established last year 'as a way to find a funding source for the intersection improvements.' 'The intersection has a lot of car crashes,' Creer said. 'It is a long distance between pedestrian crossings, and this area should be connected to the rest of the town. It's still easily within walking distance of the train station and downtown.' Creer said there have been 18 vehicle crashes at the intersection between 2019 and 2024. A major component of intersection improvements sought by the village is the addition of a traffic signal. 'The Dunkin Donuts proposal was rejected, in part, due to concerns about children trying to cross there without a signal,' Creer said. He said approval would be needed from DuPage County to add a traffic signal at the intersection. 'The warrants for a stop signal upgrade require a certain amount of traffic and a certain amount of crashes,' Creer said. 'In order to justify the warrants for a signal, additional traffic needs to be anticipated.' He said the $1 million grant from the state could take up to a few years to receive, and the village likely would use TIF funds to make up the difference between the grant money and any additional costs. The total anticipated cost of the project is design dependent, Creer said, with a basic traffic signal expected to cost upward of $1 million. 'However, adding lanes or straightening the road could be extremely expensive,' he said. 'It's somewhat development dependent. In order to justify the warrants for a signal, additional traffic needs to be anticipated from the redevelopment of the Tracy's Tavern site (at the southwest edge of the intersection). The village has continued to seek a developer for the former Tracy's Tavern site. 'The last development proposal for a daycare seems to be on pause,' Creer said. 'No new proposal has come forward. If the intersection improvement was unable to move forward, then the money could be repurposed to another village project. The grant is not dependent on any development.' A new two-townhouse development has been approved by the village for an empty lot at 5740 Concord Lane, about a mile and a half from the 55th Street/Western Avenue intersection. Community Development Director Ed Cage said the property is approximately 0.20 acres and is adjacent to a similar property developed in unincorporated DuPage County. Estimated costs for the completed townhomes will be between $300,000 and $400,000, depending on upgrades and options, he said.
