Author: Madeline Thomas
(All photos courtesy of the artist’s personal website)
My school’s radio station is sending me to see Chief Keef. Unfortunately, the show will not be performed by a hologram version of the 23-year-old rapper; only two novelty performances were completed after his first endeavor with holograms was shut down in Hammond three years ago. The good news is, he’ll be performing at Neumos not just once, but twice, first on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
Though he’s originally from Chicago, Chief Keef now lives in my hometown, the San Fernando Valley. There’s not much to say about the Valley; it’s brown, hot, and full of 7-Eleven’s. It’s also a hot spot for home invasions. My apologies to the Chamber of Commerce for issuing these statements. Lo and behold, the stereotype rings true—Chief Keef’s home was broken into on Sunday night. The incident ended with the burglars shooting at police, one individual absconding with money stolen from the home, and two individuals being placed in custody. No statements have been issued by the rapper’s representatives, so fans can, most likely, count on Chief Keef performing in spite of all the madness.
Personally, I opted for the Thursday show (it’s almost the weekend, meaning I feel more justified in any mayhem which occurs), but a wild Wednesday is a surefire first step towards a successful weekend on the hill. Both shows offer an opportunity to indulge in the Chief Keef VIP Experience. What does the Chief have in store for VIP fans? Not only is a meet and greet on the table, but a personal photograph, early access to the show, an autographed photo and a fancy-flex VIP lanyard is also included. Fingers crossed the hype-beast population shows up and shows out for the back-to-back performances. Consider this a formal invitation to all sneaker heads—wear your shiniest chain, your slickest kicks, and be prepared to mosh.
Chicago boasts an impressive rap scene, with a wide range of sub-genres loosely defined by the artists’ neighborhood or more precise background in the city. Chief Keef hails from the Southside and rose to the forefront of the city’s rap culture when he was 16-years-old. Putting out videos for his first hits, the singles day-one fans still know by heart and blast while driving down the 5, placed him on the radar of industry professionals. Once he began his endeavors in drill music, he continued to amass a steady increase of fans.
P.S.—Don’t call him Keith Cozart but know the name. He’s more than earned the respect.