The rap on city council has always been that Chicago's aldermen are under the thumb of Mayor Daley.
Now that Daley's leaving, at least one rapper plans to run for a council seat.
Grammy Award-winning rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith plans to announce his bid for the 20th Ward seat Thursday October 21. He'll have to battle incumbent Willie Cochran who's running for re-election for the district that covers Woodlawn, Englewood and Back of the Yards.
In a YouTube video previewing his announcement, Smith, says he plans to develop, unify and rebuild those South Side communities.
Smith won his Grammy for co-writing "Jesus Walks" with fellow Chicago native Kanye West. A community activist, he was the first rap artist invited on PBS's Chicago Tonight public affairs program, and once met with now-U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron as a Goodwill Hip Hop ambassador.
Smith's named for Che Guevara, and appeared in puppet form on the opening of the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers performing it's theme song.
