This week's Showcase features a Christmas freestyle challenge with the Q Brothers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Long before the world had "Hamilton," Chicago had the Q Brothers and their "ad-rap-tations" of classic plays. This week's holiday Showcase features the brothers GQ and JQ, along with Jackson Doran, Postell Pringle and DJ Super Nova, all currently starring in "A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
In the video, GQ, JQ, Doran and Pringle choose never-before-seen holiday-themed words from a stocking and freestyle on the spot. They manage to rap about Fezziwig, Kwanzaa, Cratchit and a mix of other festive words in a performance that's as C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S as N-O-T-O-R-I-O-U-S.
"A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol" brings a hip-hop beat to the story of Scrooge and his erring ways with a Marley who's more Bob than Jacob, a Lil' Tim who always has his Big Daddy Kane by his side and a Ghost of Christmas Past who's more like Kurtis Blow than any ghost at the Goodman.
"A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol" runs through Jan. 3 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.