Jude McMichan
Across the past decade, hip-hop has experienced a monumental shift in its sound, embracing new subgenres and innovative production techniques that have completely shaken things up. From the gritty beats of trap to the distinct flow of mumble rap, today’s music scene owes so much to the revolutionary influence of Chief Keef.
Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Keef was no stranger to the harsh realities of poverty and gang violence that plagued his neighbourhood while growing up. These early experiences deeply shaped his music, laying the foundations for popular hits such as ‘Don’t Like’ and ‘Love Sosa’ to gain widespread acclaim in the months that followed their release.
It was during this period that the 17-year-old sensation felt he had the keys to Chicago—or so he believed.
His continuous run-ins with law enforcement and violent lyrics eventually led Chicago’s mayor to label Chief Keef as the city’s resident “demon,” accusing him of promoting criminal activity, anti-police sentiment, and drug use. As a result, he was banned from performing at any venue in the state indefinitely.
However, Keef did succeed in his quest to give a Chicago-area performance back in 2015. The only issue was that it lasted three minutes in the neighbouring state of Indiana. Oh, and it was merely a hologram of himself performing under the bright lights of California. Nonetheless, it was the closest many thought they would ever get to experiencing his live shows.
Then, after twelve very long years, everything changed. The now-28-year-old artist captivated the audience with his explosive performance at The Lyrical Lemonade Festival last week in his beloved city of Chicago. The show was so iconic that even other rappers such as Lil Yachty and G Herbo made appearances to witness history finally unfold.
Of course, Sosa performed all of his timeless hits, including ‘Faneto,’ for the first time since it was released back in 2014. A viral video captured the moment mosh pits erupted throughout the crowd, highlighting just how long Chicago had been waiting for him to finally return to his hometown.
The significant occasion followed Keef gradually overcoming the legal and political issues that plagued him from ever performing locally throughout his career, with the unwavering support of his crisis manager, Cheo Patrick. Under his guidance, conversations with the Chicago Police Department and the judges successfully paved the way for Keef’s return to the stage.
For those eager to catch Sosa live this summer, he will be performing at Rolling Loud in Vienna on Saturday, July 6th, marking only his second performance in Europe. Don’t miss it!