Chief Keef: Rapper Bio
Keith Farrelle Cozart — born August 15, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois — is one of the most consequential figures in the history of modern rap. Known as Chief Keef or Sosa, he launched the drill music movement from the South Side of Chicago while still a teenager, recording I Don't Like while under house arrest at age sixteen. The song attracted the attention of Kanye West, led to a major label deal, and directly birthed the sound that would eventually conquer the entire world through UK drill, Brooklyn drill, and every subsequent drill subgenre.
Early Life
Raised by his grandmother on Chicago's South Side in an environment of profound poverty and gang violence, Keef was recording and posting videos to YouTube by age fifteen. He was placed on house arrest following a firearms charge, and recorded I Don't Like (2012) while wearing an ankle monitor. The song went viral, Kanye West remixed it, and the music industry came calling.
Career Overview
Finally Rich (2012), released on Interscope Records, was his major label debut and contained I Don't Like, Love Sosa, and Hate Bein' Sober. He was seventeen years old. The album's production — minimal, ominous, 808-heavy — became the global template for drill. His personal life was chaotic — legal problems, label disputes, and a major 2012 controversy after rival Chicago rapper Lil JoJo was murdered and Keef appeared to mock the death online. He later lost close Glo Gang affiliates, including his protégé Capo and his cousin and collaborator Fredo Santana. He has released an extraordinary volume of material independently through his Glo Gang label, pioneering a streaming-era independent model that influenced how many subsequent artists released music.
Discography
| Year | Release | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Back from the Dead | Breakthrough mixtape; the drill blueprint (prod. Young Chop) |
| 2012 | Finally Rich | Interscope studio debut; "I Don't Like," "Love Sosa" |
| 2014 | Back from the Dead 2 | Independent; cult favorite |
| 2015 | Bang 3 | Second studio album (independent) |
| 2017 | Dedication | Glo Gang; independent |
| 2021 | Back from the Dead 3 | Continued independent output |
Legacy & Impact
Chief Keef's influence on rap is staggering relative to his commercial output. He is the architect of drill music, which became the dominant global underground sound of the 2010s through UK drill and then Brooklyn drill. Every city that developed its own drill variant — London, Brooklyn, Chicago, Baltimore — traces a direct line back to his 2012 recordings.
FAQ
How old was Chief Keef when he blew up?
He recorded I Don't Like at sixteen while on house arrest and signed to a major label at seventeen.
What is drill music?
Drill is a subgenre of trap music originating in Chicago's South Side, characterised by dark, minor-key melodies, slow-rolling 808 bass, and lyrical themes rooted in street violence. Chief Keef is its primary originator.
Where is Chief Keef from?
The South Side of Chicago, Illinois — specifically the Englewood and Woodlawn neighbourhoods.
Is Chief Keef still making music?
Yes — he releases music prolifically through his own Glo Gang label and has maintained a dedicated fanbase despite operating almost entirely outside the mainstream music industry.