Chief Keef: The Father of Modern Rap (2024)

In 2012, the current hip-hop scene was revolutionized when sixteen-year-old rapper Chief Keef uttered three simple words: “I Don’t Like.” His delivery in the sensational song “I Don’t Like” is angry and catchy; he loathes everything from fake True Religion jeans to overzealous women. The music video features a young Keef, confined to house arrest at his grandma’s place after shooting a gun from his car, dancing with his friends. He and his crew are all shirtless, pointing guns at the camera, smoking copious amounts of marijuana, flashing money while angsting to the hypnotic beat. This song, in all its simplicity, would dramatically alter the hip-hop landscape.

Chief Keef was quickly able to build a massive following with his unique sound and persona. He romanticized his lifestyle, captivating both city and suburban kids alike. Young listeners were drawn to the criminal lifestyle portrayed in his songs — a sign of genuineness in the perception-focused hip-hop world. His antics were proof that he truly lived the life he portrayed in his songs. In neighborhoods riddled with gang violence, Chief Keef gave hope that anyone could find success.

Contrary to Chief Keef’s appeal to younger audiences, he has been criticized by everyone from law enforcement, elected officials, and even hip-hop purists who accused him of making a mockery of real rap. Mayor Rahm Emmanuel accused him of “promoting violence.” He barred Keef from performing shows in Chicago, a city that had been dubbed “Chiraq” — a combination of Chicago and Iraq, a reference to the sickenly high number of victims of gun violence. Even today, Chief Keef is still prohibited from doing shows in his hometown, despite condemning the violence he raps about. His controversies only added to his appeal; he was one of the first rappers to cultivate a distinct image by capitalizing off the dissension his presence caused. Whether they liked him or not, people kept up with his antics, creating more buzz around himself and the city.

The song’s success lifted Chicago's “drill-rap” out of obscurity — adopted from the slang term “drill” meaning to shoot someone. The drill-rap scene was unique, compared to the mainstream precedent set for rap. The songs focused on the trials and tribulations of a criminal lifestyle. The videos were often shot in a low-budget fashion to be produced quickly. The beats were eerie and rapid; the flow was aggressive and bold. His songs’ popularity attracted outsiders to explore the Chicago drill scene. The genre’s appeal caught on fast. The drill movement produced a generation of Chicago rappers, Lil Bibby, G Herbo, and Fredo Santana, following Keef’s trail of success.

Chief Keef’s influence is apparent outside the city of Chicago as drill rap has revolutionized the rap world dramatically. The violent and nihilistic content, the relaxed mumbly delivery, and the reliance on controversy and buzz to create a career have become the norm in mainstream rap music. Much of the popular slang in modern rap comes from the Chicago rap that Chief Keef popularized with phrases like “opp,” “thot,” “glo up,” and “no cap” being regular parts of teen slang today. Chief Keef’s success marked a crucial shift in hip hop, focusing more on image and novelty than complex lyrical content. Chief Keef’s success is a precursor to other “internet rappers” — rappers who have larger-than-life media personalities and rely on streams more than album sales. Chief Keef has been credited by rappers such as Playboy Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Ski Mask The Slump God for inspiring their music.

Today, Chief Keef has been relegated to the title of washed-up “one-hit wonder” by most hip-hop fans, bemoaning what Chief Keef could have been if he stayed out of trouble. Both of these claims are unfounded. Chief Keef should be celebrated for what he is, an icon. His impact on pop culture and rap is monumental: he pioneered drill rap, gained a massive following, and reimagined the rap scene with his unique style. Chief Keef’s three simple words, “I Don’t Like,” caused immense controversy, changing the hip-hop world forever. Cementing himself as a legend. Despite the varied perceptions of Chief Keef, it is indisputable that Chief Keef has made a lasting impression on the hip-hop world and has inspired the culture for years to come.