Rickey Hendon | Facebook
Rickey Hendon | Facebook
A former state senator is trying his hand at a new career path — as a rapper.
Rickey “Hollywood” Hendon released his first song in December, titled, “Rona Money” featuring Skye Raquel.
Hendon, a former West Side Democratic state senator from 1993 until 2011, has spent most of his life using controversial theatrics, including calling himself the Black Sarah Palin.
Hendon said the video was inspired by the financial struggles those in his hometown neighborhood in Chicago have suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic when small businesses were shut down and jobs were scarce.
"My family, we're creative and trying to be happy. Writing and comedy gave me an outlet to grieve,” Hendon told Patch. “In honor of losing my daughter, I started writing like crazy. This was during the time when people were talking about getting and needing that coronavirus money from the government. And you know, Black folk always need to shorten something to slang. That's how the idea for ‘Rona Money’ came about.”
Hendon served as the assistant majority leader, the co-chairman of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee, the vice-chairman of the Environment and Energy Committee and as a member of the Labor and Commerce Committee and the Black Caucus during his time as a state senator.
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