So Chi Promotional Group began in 2003 when its founding members Derrick Green, Avri Coleman, and Jay Davis discussed their post graduate plans on a trip to Baltimore, MD. After a large and successful 21st birthday party of Avri Coleman which consisted of over 100 people at a house party, the team knew that event promotions was something they could take to a higher and wide-reaching level. So Chi
debuted its first event, ”Black Wednesday,” at Kompel in 2003 in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, followed by “Eve of the Eve” and pre- New Year’s Eve event at DVine in Wicker Park. From there the team went on to host residencies under Crocodile Lounge, 212 on the River, Zed 451, O Lounge, K Lounge, Suki Bar, Minx, Tantrik, and Rumba amongst others. Their events have hosted celebrities such as Usher, Cee-Lo, Megan Good, and De La Soul, DJ McBoogie, and Rhymefest. They have held corporate accounts with Bombay Sapphire, Alize, Bacardi, Don Julio, and Sony BMG. They have also worked with charities such as Convey, Swish Dreams, The Luol Deng Foundation, Red Pump Project, and Lupid Life Works. Today the 6-man team includes Avri Coleman, Derrick Green, Jay Davis a.k.a DJ Jay-iLLa, Red Tindall, Will Brown, and Reese Johnson with in-house DJs DJ Jay-iLLa and DJ Bornswift, both of whom are successfully marketed and well-known. So Chi is the embodiment of people who are young, ambitious, tight-knit, and looking to have a great time at the end of a long week. So Chi’s hope is that anyone who sets foot in one of their events will leave having had an experience they will long and fondly remember, a guaranteed good time.
