Keith Farrelle Cozart, born on August 15, 1995, is better known by his stage name Chief Keef. Chief Keef is a versatile artist, excelling as an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His musical journey began in his teenage years during the early 2010s, gaining popularity among high school students in Chicago’s South Side. Notably, in 2012, Chief Keef’s local hit “I Don’t Like” garnered widespread attention after being remixed by renowned rapper Kanye West, propelling it to the Billboard Rap Top 20 and elevating Cozart’s status in the music industry. The overwhelming success led to a fierce competition among major music labels, with Keef eventually signing with Interscope. His debut album, “Finally Rich,” debuted in December 2012 and included chart-topping singles like “I Don’t Like” and “Love Sosa,” effectively defining the Chicago drill rap subgenre.
Throughout his career, Chief Keef has faced various legal challenges, including charges related to weapons possession, periods of house arrest, and a performance ban imposed by Chicago authorities. Despite parting ways with Interscope in late 2014 and subsequently joining 1017 Records, Chief Keef remained resilient, independently releasing projects under his Glo Gang label. Some of these notable releases include “Nobody” (2014), “Back from the Dead 2” (2014), “Bang 3” (2015), and “Thot Breaker” (2017). By the late 2010s, Chief Keef’s influence on the music scene has been widely acknowledged by critics, with many crediting him as the visionary behind the drill subgenre, highlighting the significant impact of his music on upcoming artists around the world.