THE SOUTH SIDE ARTIST TAKES CENTER STAGE AS THE FREE COMMUNITY SERIES CONTINUES TO PUT CHICAGO’S NEXT VOICES IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chicago has no shortage of artists with something to say. The challenge has always been creating real spaces where those voices can be heard.
That’s where Voices of the City comes in.
Presented by Metro by T-Mobile, in partnership with WhatsTheWordTV and Streetz 95.1, the community-driven series continues its mission of putting Chicago artists, culture and community at the center of the conversation.
And the next voice stepping into the spotlight is Xella Red.
MEET XELLA RED
On Saturday, August 29, Xella Red will take the stage during the next edition of Voices of the City, bringing her unique sound and South Side energy to the Metro by T-Mobile community.
The event begins at 2 PM and is FREE to attend.
For Xella, this isn’t just another performance.
The Chicago-born artist has been building her identity through music since she was young. She began releasing music at 12 after recording with family members who were also musicians, eventually developing her own sound and carving out a lane as both an artist and producer.
Her catalog has continued to grow, with recent releases including “Believe What You Heard,” “Through,” “SOSA FLOW,” “CRASH THE WHIP/MTV” and the RAVAGE EP.
Her music has also taken her beyond Chicago, including a 2025 performance of “STEPMOM” on On The Radar in New York.
Now she returns to her city for a stage built around exactly what Chicago does best: putting its own people on.
MORE THAN A PERFORMANCE
Voices of the City has grown into more than an artist showcase.
The series is designed to connect music, culture, community and opportunity, while giving local artists a platform to perform directly in front of the people who live in the neighborhoods they represent.
Previous editions have featured Chicago artists including Zion Ali and Lil M.U., with the December 2025 “Reppin’ Out South” edition bringing Lil M.U. to the stage at the Metro by T-Mobile location on 4259 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
For the upcoming Xella Red edition, the music will be curated by Kid Breeze, continuing the series’ emphasis on putting the right Chicago sounds behind the artists representing their communities.
FROM THE RADIO TO THE STREETS
The partnership between Streetz 95.1, WhatsTheWordTV and Metro by T-Mobile gives Voices of the City an important combination: media, music and direct community engagement.
Streetz 95.1 has positioned itself around Chicago hip-hop and R&B while using its platform to connect with the city’s artists and culture.
That connection is especially important for an event like Voices of the City.
This isn’t about waiting for an artist to become famous before giving them a platform.
It’s about recognizing the voice while it’s still developing.
THE VOICES OF THE CITY LEGACY
Voices of the City has always been about more than putting an artist on a stage.
It’s about representing Chicago, neighborhood by neighborhood, sound by sound and voice by voice.
The series has already highlighted artists representing different corners of the city, including Mike DFG and Philmore Green, who represented the West Side, bringing their own perspectives and experiences to a platform built around Chicago culture.
The West Side representation is especially important because Chicago’s music scene has never sounded like just one thing. From the neighborhoods west of downtown to the South Side and beyond, every part of the city has its own stories, influences and artists carrying those stories forward.
Previous Voices of the City events have also featured artists including Zion Ali and Lil M.U., continuing the series’ mission of giving Chicago talent a platform in the communities they represent.
Now, the spotlight moves to Xella Red.
The Chicago-born artist represents another chapter in the city’s constantly evolving music scene, bringing her own sound, perspective and energy to the Voices of the City stage.
THE DJS BEHIND THE VOICES
The artists may be the faces of Voices of the City, but the DJs help create the energy that brings each showcase to life.
Over the course of the series, Chicago DJs have helped set the tone for artists representing different parts of the city.
DJ D93 has provided the soundtrack for both Mike DFG and Lil M.U., connecting two artists representing different sides of Chicago while keeping the crowd locked into the music.
Kid Breeze has also become part of the Voices of the City sound, curating the music for Zion Ali and now returning for the upcoming Xella Red showcase.
And representing the West Side, DJ Q Hefner provided the music for Philmore Greene, adding another layer to a series that continues to highlight Chicago artists and the neighborhoods that shaped them.
INTRODUCING “PASS THE AUX” FROM THE STORE TO THE RADIO
Voices of the City is expanding.
For the next chapter of the series, WhatsTheWordTV, Streetz 95.1 and Metro by T Mobile are introducing a new opportunity for Chicago artists to take their music beyond the stage and directly into the ears of radio listeners.
Introducing PASS THE AUX.
The concept is simple: artists pull up, pass the aux and let the music speak for itself.
During Voices of the City events, artists will have an opportunity to bring their music into the Metro by T Mobile store, play their records live and give the team behind the platform a chance to hear what they are creating.
The goal is to take that music from the store to the radio.
Artists selected through Pass the Aux can have their music featured on Streetz 95.1, giving emerging Chicago talent an opportunity to reach an even bigger audience.
CHICAGO, PULL UP
If you know Xella Red, this is your opportunity to see her perform in a community setting.
If you don’t know her yet, this might be the introduction.
METRO BY T-MOBILE’S VOICES OF THE CITY FEATURING XELLA RED
📍 Metro by T-Mobile
📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 2 PM – 4 PM
🎤 Live Performance: Xella Red
🎶 Music Curated By: Kid Breeze
🎟️ FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
Guests will also have the opportunity to enter to win a $250 card during the event.
Presented by Metro by T-Mobile, WhatsTheWordTV & Streetz 95.1.
Chicago has a lot of voices.
This is where they get heard.
