Chief Keef
Biography
Keith Farrelle Cozart, known professionally as Chief Keef, was born on August 15, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois. Raised in the city's South Side, specifically the Parkway Garden Homes in the Washington Park neighborhood, his environment heavily influenced his music. He began rapping at the age of five, using his mother's karaoke machine to record his early material. Estranged from his father, Keef was raised by his grandmother, who became his legal guardian. He dropped out of Dyett High School at 15.
Rise to Fame and Drill Music
In 2011, Chief Keef started to gain local attention with his mixtapes, "The Glory Road" and "Bang". During a period of house arrest for a weapons charge, he began posting videos to YouTube which are considered forerunners of the drill subgenre of hip hop. His song "I Don't Like" became a local hit in Chicago and captured the attention of Kanye West, who remixed the track with several other prominent rappers. This remix propelled Keef to national fame, leading to a bidding war between major record labels. In 2012, he signed a multi-million dollar deal with Interscope Records, which also included his own label imprint, Glory Boyz Entertainment (GBE).
Finally Rich
Chief Keef's debut studio album, "Finally Rich," was released on December 18, 2012. The album featured the hit singles "I Don't Like" and "Love Sosa," the latter of which became a massive commercial success and has been certified quintuple platinum. "Finally Rich" peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart and is considered a highly influential album in the drill genre, capturing the raw energy and lyrical style that would define his career. The album included guest appearances from artists such as 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, and Rick Ross.
Independent Career and Later Work
Chief Keef was dropped by Interscope Records in 2014 but continued to release music independently through his new label, Glo Gang. He has since released numerous mixtapes and albums, including "Bang 3" (2015), "Dedication" (2017), and "4NEM" (2021). His prolific output has solidified his status as a cult figure in hip hop. He has also ventured into production, producing tracks for himself and other artists like Lil Uzi Vert. In 2019, he released a collaborative mixtape with producer Zaytoven titled "GloToven".
Influence and Legacy
Chief Keef is widely credited as a pioneer of the drill music subgenre, which is characterized by its dark, aggressive beats and violent, nihilistic lyrical content. His simplistic, yet impactful, lyrical style and melodic, often mumbled, delivery have influenced a generation of artists, including Lil Uzi Vert and 21 Savage. His impact extends beyond music, influencing fashion and slang within the hip-hop community. Despite numerous legal issues throughout his career, Chief Keef remains one of the most influential rappers of his generation.