Social media, videos fuel gang violence, notoriety chicago news. His current projectworking title hashtags and handgunsfocuses on poverty, violence. Chicago rapper chief keef, shown here performing at lollapalooza 2012. Clearly, it is not always sunny in chicago and chief keef has shown this in his music videos, which glorify the madness. Gang members view a connection between chief keefs successful rap career and the notoriety he gained in connection to the lil jo jo killing. Mtv article on chief keefs music scrutinized in chicago gang violence special. Their model is inspired by the local patron saint of drill rap, chief keef, who. To see why the windy city, now dubbed chiraq, had the countrys highest homicide rate in 2012, vice visits chicago s most dangerous areas, where handguns are plentiful and the police and community leaders are fighting a losing battle against gang violence.
Drill was primarily a local phenomenon until chief keef, then a 16yearold manchild with an extensive rap sheet including charges. A four four corner hustlers gang member who toured with chief keef gets 10 years in prison flipboard. Chicago recorded its highest peak of homicides in 1992 with 943 murders, according to statistics compiled by the chicago police department. A gang war between the rival gangs then ensued, mainly in the form of retaliation killings. From daytoday drugselling operations, to allocating the necessary resources to survive gang wars, his story reveals that current gang violence in chicago isnt simply chaos.
Chicago rapper lil jojo went to his grave for taunting a. Chief keefs music scrutinized in chicago gang violence. At the time of his birth, chief keef s mum was 15 and unmarried. Chief keef, the chicago rapper who broke out as a teenager with gritty singles like i dont like, announced plans to retire from rapping last year. They were up on the latest of basically every gang war in the city. Forrest stuarts first book, down, out, and under arrest. Potential violence brewing over death of chicago rapper lil. Some are music videos produced by youth emulating rapper chief keef whose youtube fame led to a record deal with interscope records. Keith farrelle cozart born august 15, 1995, better known by his stage name chief keef, is an american rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
During a year of intense fieldwork, stuart discovered that music and social media play a significant part in the citys balkanized gang violence. And the biggest name out there is a 17yearold rapper named chief keef, who is signed by a major record label, interscope. Mr stuarts recent book, ballad of the bullet, is an o. My boy a bd on fucking lamron and them he he they say that ngga dont be putting in no work. Feb 10, 2014 chicago recorded its highest peak of homicides in 1992 with 943 murders, according to statistics compiled by the chicago police department. Gangs, drill music, and the power of online infamy.
Police shut down concert because of rapper chief keefs. Chief keef sparks controversy after dissing slain chicago. Does chief keef need to speak up against chicago gang. Ap brown, gakirahs mother, accused rappers of keeping feuds alive by stoking violence among young followers. How poor urban youth in chicago use social media to profit from portrayals of gang violence, and the. Chief keef s motion for drug charge dismissal deniedthe chicago rapper, whose legal name is keith cozart, was arrested in june 2017 at the sioux falls airport when drugs were found in his carryon. It is no secret that the violence in chicago has been linked to gang activity. Cozart has faced ongoing legal issues during his career, including weapon possession charges, house arrest sentences, and a performance ban imposed by the chicago authorities. He was stuck in his grandmothers southside chicago apartment on house. Today, the gangster disciples, black disciples, and latin kings street gangs are operating in chicago s south and west sides.
In his first year of fieldwork, stuart himself was stopped by police 14 times. Gang violence in chicago is the reality right now, and im not going to invite. For a few rappers who earn enough online notoriety, such as chief keef, record contracts and wealth follow. Chief keef gets on abcs nightline inside chicagos gang wars. Apr 19, 2014 chicago rapper keith chief keef cozart. Social media is fueling gang wars in chicago just about any teenager in chicago today can tell you the story of chief keef and lil jojo, two rappers from the south side neighborhood. Chief keef violated probation with pitchfork gun interview.
Oct 17, 2012 chief keef, real name keith cozart, was linked last month to the shooting death of rival teen rapper lil jojo, who was gunned down on a chicago street. Hologram performance by chief keef is shut down by police. Two mayors, including rahm emanuel, ban chief keef. Rapper chief keef appeared via hologram at a hammond hiphop music festival craze fest saturday night, but his performance was shut down by police within minutes. Chief keef arrested on assault and robbery charges rolling. Mr stuarts recent book, ballad of the bullet, is an often gripping account. The rapper really never got to know his biological father and mostly lived with his grandmother. The crew has formed its own recording studio, record label, and gang in a few short years.
He is from a gang called black disciples that is located on the eastside of englewood. On july 11, 2015 marvin carr, better known by his stage name capo, a longtime member of chief keef s glo gang label, was shot and killed in a driveby shooting in chicago. They have attacked the content in his music, his negative image and even his young. Hologram performance by chief keef is shut down by police the. Chicago has a long, rich, hip hop history and the sunny side has been portrayed in videos by common and others. Chief keef is an abc rapper, saying little bitty words, says deandre, one of the young men. Jun 19, 20 the lethal combination of gangs and guns has turned chicago into a war zone. Oct 21, 2012 chief keef gets on abcs nightline inside chicago s gang wars broken. Chief keef praised by families of chicago homicide victims. Yesterday morning, chicago police detained drill rap sensation chief keef born keith cozartin connection with a shooting in suburban northfield, ill. What chicago media gets wrong about chance, keef, and the local hiphop scene. Research by sociologist forrest stuart explains how to talk. Chief keef was born keith farrelle cozart in chicago, illinois when his mother, lolita carter, was 16 and unwed. Jul 27, 2015 chief keef, 19, had billed the performance as a stop the killing benefit concert, meant to raise money for marvin carr, a fellow chicago rapper who died in a shooting this month, and dillan.
Chief keef and the murderers melody us represented. The strange realities of chicagos gang wars war is boring. Your institution does not have access to this book on jstor. Chicago gangs have been infamous over the previous hundred years. Oct 07, 2012 chief keef is the best known of the young generation of chicago rappers, but hes not singular. Dec 22, 2020 chief keef was born on august 15, 1995, in chicago, illinois, to alfonso cozart and lolita carter. In the book, stuart cites a university of chicago study that says black teens. Trying to make sense of chief keef and the chaos in chicago. Sep 06, 2012 police are looking into whether a war of words in the chicago hiphop community, including lil reese and chief keef, is linked to the death of 18yearold rapper joseph coleman, who went by the. Just about any teenager in chicago today can tell you the story of chief keef and lil jojo, two rappers from the south side neighborhood of. We invite you to share condolences for tray savage in our gue.
Research by sociologist forrest stuart explains how to. Chief keef had a long standing feud with joseph lil jojo coleman, a rapper from chicago and a member of the criminal gang gangster disciples, which has a story of beefing with chief keef s gang the black disciples. Chief keef s war is expected to appear on his forthcoming bang 3 album, which is slated to drop march 3. Jul 27, 2015 both chicago mayor rahm emanuel and thomas m. This crew includes chief keef, lil durk, rich homie quan, lil reese, and young chop, to name a few. Chicago new school rappers who had a impact on gang. The face of chicago s rap game is eighteen year old rapper keith cozart, better known by his stage name chief keef. Host diane sawyer began by reporting the grim details of chicago s innercity gang wars, noting that 419 people. In the span of two weeks, chicagobased rapper chief keef has. Jul 29, 2017 the chicago of chances and chief keefs disparate rap tales is the ongoing story of communities at the tail end of a silent and slow fourdecade erosion of resources. Covals new book is a collection of poetry addressing the controversy. Chief keef questions history of the black gangster disciple.
Chief keefs mom lolo carter reflects on raising chief. Oct 20, 2012 chicago has a long, rich, hip hop history and the sunny side has been portrayed in videos by common and others. Police shut down concert because of rapper chief keefs hologram. He proved to be a 16yearold chicago rapper named keith cozart who police say is affiliated with the black. Dec 18, 2012 perhaps the most telling sign of keef s true potential can be seen in how he matches up on the album against the likes of 50 cent, young jeezy, rick ross, french montana, and wiz khalifa. Chief keef wants to be the mayor of chicago because hes. Oct 22, 2012 chief keef is far from the only person experiencing the fallout from the shooting death last month of 18yearold rapper lil jojo. Rontrell turnipseed admitted in 2019 to his role in the gang, which included an august 2012 shooting that nearly killed a 15yearold girl. His crew, gbe glory boyz entertainment, includes lil reese and fredo santana among others. Enough chicago drill stars talk music, violence ebony. Two mayors, including rahm emanuel, ban chief keef hologram. Chief keef is an icon in an industry he doesnt care for. Chicago gang shootings go on as mayor emanuel boasts crime at.
He is named after his deceased uncle, keith carter, who was known as big keef. Chief keef gets on abcs nightline inside chicagos gang. Chicago rapper chief keef has earned himself a major record contract. Former gang members turn their lives around to work with kids. Chief keef questions history of the black gangster. Top 10 most influential artists in chicago rap this decade. Hiphop music an ethnographers study of drill music and gang. Cops investigating whether hiphop feud linked to slaying. Chief keef is arguably the genres most famous practitioner. Chicago police fear lil jojos murder sparked gang war lil. Sep 03, 2020 in chicago drill, despite its gang ties, serves that end. Unpacking chiraq repression, rico, and war on terror. Chief keefs net worth and career highlights inspirationfeed. Cozarts music first became popular during his teen years in the early 2010s among high school students from chicago s south side.
Was chicago rapper inspiration for bored killing in. Chicago gang violence fueled by rap music and social media. His songs and verses described gang violence and life on chicagos south side. An ethnographers study of drill music and gang violence. Rapper chief keef appeared via hologram at a hammond hiphop. Nov 11, 2012 one hundred and forty characters provide a powerful weapon in the hands of 17yearold chicago rapper chief keef. One observer bluntly tweeted, chief keef is whack and he should dead kill himself.
Many gangs produce drill music, a chicago style of hiphop characterized by explicit threats against other gangs. Despite the west side planting its flag throughout the 1990s and 2000s with twista, crucial conflict, da brat, and lupe fiasco, for a while the west sides hip hop scene was relegated. After killing capo, the driver of the vehicle reportedly struck a stroller holding monthold dillan harris killing him instantly. I wanted to learn about their gang and write a book. This gang is large and have many rival gangs trying to kill them and the one member they want is the man known as chief keef. I had one as part of a former job that had a gang violence prevention component. Oct 10, 20 chief keef, who often goes under moniker sosa, has been claiming the street gang since he was an adolescent, even rapping in fredo santanas my lil n song, o block and 300, we cominthem the hoods, and i been there since a youngin. Four corner hustlers gang member who toured with chief. Chicago police fear lil jojos murder sparked gang war. An ethnographers study of drill music and gang violence in. Chicago hiphop war of words turns violent chicago tribune. Oct 22, 2019 historically, the south side of chicago has been the most consistently dominant across the country thanks to shawnna, common, kanye west, no id and chief keef.
Chicago hiphops raw burst of change the new york times. His death starkly punctuated a gang related war of words and music. At least 419 people have been killed across a dozen. Sep 07, 2012 in the span of two weeks, chicago based rapper chief keef has been demonized by a variety of media publications. Chicago new school rappers who had a impact on gang violence.
At the time, chief keef was 16 years old, with a bubbling street single. A performance by the chicago rapper chief keef or rather, his. In chicago drill, despite its gang ties, serves that end. A hiphopfueled deadly gang war is still raging in chicago. Chief keef a focus of chicago gang special, dont shoot. Supposedly a postracial united states of america, the gang wars in chicago feature a lot of black vs. Sep 17, 2012 whet mosers chicago magazine piece, coming to terms with chief keef, dug deeper than most, describing the appeal of keef s music in a way that feels true.
Chief keef a focus of chicago gang special, dont shoot mtv. Chicago struggles to change amid gang war hidden america. Aug 19, 20 if you want an accurate portrait of chicago s modern gang. Apr 29, 2014 the 3hunna crew serves as a prime example of the tightknit group that is building in the south side.
While artists such as chief keef, king louie, katie got bandz. A bitter chicago hiphop feud has deepened with the launch of a remix. In 2012, his popular local single i dont like was remixed by american rapper kanye west and reached the. Research by sociologist forrest stuart explains how to talk to gang.
Oct 23, 2012 chief keef s music scrutinized in abc nightline special on chicago gang violence. With social media emerging as the weapon of choice these days, the young gangsta rapper finds himself in the center of two twitter wars. Jul 14, 2017 the video went viral and with that came the question of who exactly was this chief keef. Sep, 2012 10 things to know about chief keef and the black disciples by a. Oct 22, 2012 chief keef a focus of chicago gang special, dont shoot abcs nightline explores the ties between social media, hiphop and rising gang violence in keefs hometown. The gang book itself is actually a pretty interesting thing. Hes been basically outlawed in chicago, says the hammond, ind. An ethnographers study of drill music and gang violence in chicago. This book excellently portrays a side of the gang violence in chicago that we rarely see. Aug 15, 2020 chief keef s career is a case study in reevaluating how we perceive music industry success. The tough streets of chicago has produced some of the most notorious gangsters in american history.
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