Jerome "RomeJ." Johnson

A winning Chicago Bears season is driving crowds and dollars to this South Side Black-owned lounge • The TRiiBE Even after falling to Green Bay, The Family Den Lounge buzzed with optimism, music and decades of tradition as Bears fans embrace a season that finally feels different.

Hey, Chicago. Read this piece by @romej.thetriibe.com, if you wanna smile 🐻⬇️

thetriibe.com/2025/12/a-wi...

Chicago raised her. Hollywood sharpened her. Director Sam Bailey returns home to create on her own terms • The TRiiBE Fresh off directing for Marvel’s ‘Ironheart,’ Bailey returns to her hometown ready to get back to the collaborative Chicago artistry that first fueled her art.

@romej.thetriibe.com just wrote what I think is one of the best profiles we’ve ever produced. If you are an artist who has tried to make it in L.A.—or an artist period— read this. thetriibe.com/2025/11/chic...

Check out my latest story, a review of the 5th annual Englewood Music Festival which took place last Saturday!

Yea at the moment he definitely had the bulk of the crowd. He was the only notable artist performing on Friday between 4:30-5:30 in my opinion. We weren’t packed though, and no set felt uncomfortable or unsafe

I will say that the crowds were a lot better this year. Compared to previous years where I felt the crowd was just too much.

Perfectly said!

😂😂

Thanks man. Fortunately the weather wasn’t too bad this year. Still, by day 4 I was exhausted lol.

I love that when I went to see Durand Bernarr DJ here and he explicitly told the white crowd they can’t sing it. Because exactly.

I went to Lolla for the first time in 2008 (I believe?) when Common, and 1st album Kanye performed. I was screaming out those 1st album Kanye song lyrics…but realized I couldn’t see a Black person anywhere.

So yeah, this is why I no longer go to Lolla.

This is good. Years ago at Pitchfork, Noname stopped her set to instruct white folks about what to do when that word came up in her songs. I used to joke that part of why white kids went to rappers sets was to joyfully, boisterously bellow the n-word. I looked at one girl and she just stopped. Cold.

This is the one Lolla recap I think is really worthwhile

Covering Lolla is still one of the highlights of my year. Check out this article, where I take you through some of the moments I witnessed while attending all four days at the festival.

Very few Lolla stories do much to put me in the crowd; the best ones focus on single sets that feel closed off from the total experience of being there. Rome J. not only brought me back to being in a Lolla crowd, but invited me to see the event through his eyes. Crucial perspective and approach!

Appreciate that Leor!

Thanks for this and thanks for reading y’all!

Yea he told me at his personal sets, he will give instructions lol. Unfortunately at lolla we’re just outnumbered

Thanks for reading!!

During retirement tour, Derrick Rose gave back to the city that raised him • The TRiiBE No longer just a kid from Chicago, Derrick Rose wants to spend his retirement mentoring youth and doing good deeds for underserved communities.

Had a great time this past weekend covering the different events thrown by and featuring D.Rose. I’m grateful for having a chance to meet, and talk to him, if even for a moment. He deserves his flowers 🌹 Check out my latest piece, chronicling this past weekend’s events.
thetriibe.com/2025/01/whil...

A look back on one of my favorite pieces from 2024. Check it out!

Hall of fame? It’s all a possibility for the youngest MVP in NBA history. Read my latest to dive in.

So cool!

Love being in conversation with these guys 🙌🏾

Writing this was an honor. Chicago’s 🐐. Read my newest story on D.Rose and the impact of his 16 yr career.

This new Juice WRLD album is more uptempo than the last one which was dark as shit! Im also glad this is the last one because his legacy deserves to be kept pristine rather than ran to the ground.

Come through for news night at Kiosk on 12/2. I’ll be there in conversation with other amazing journalists.

DMX should be here for the Drake slander 🥺.

Is Matt Eberflus the right coach for the Chicago Bears after Hail Mary loss to Commanders? • The TRiiBE For Chicago Bears fans, sports analysts and more: Matt Eberflus, you're on the clock!

Chicago been questioning whether Flus was the right coach for rookie QB Caleb Williams even before the draft.

But after that Hail Mary loss a few weeks ago, @romej.thetriibe.com wrote that Eberflus was on the clock.

His time ran out today.

thetriibe.com/2024/10/is-m...

😂😂

Drake is doing everything he can to make sure they won’t be playing “Not Like Us” before going to a commercial break during the Super Bowl 😂