The story so far about Chief Keef

[mortuus est]

What an interesting journey it's been so far.
This feature is a part of Complex's "Finally Rich" Week.

It's hard to believe how far Chief Keef has come in such a short time. The 17-year-old Chicago rapper has progressed from local hero to mainstream success in less than a year. A viral video here, a run-in with police there, and before you knew it a star was born. And once his fame spread beyond Chicago's rap underground, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world caught on.

"I Don't Like," Keef's single with Lil Reese, was the breakthrough track that caught the attention of music fans and fellow rappers alike. Artists felt compelled to spit over the monstrous Young Chop production, and a G.O.O.D. Music remix of the song was included on the album Cruel Summer. It wasn't long before Keef had his own label deal with Interscope Records.

But as anyone who's followed the young Chicagoan knows, the past year hasn't been all about high-profile collaborations and major-label offers. Early in 2012 Keef was sentenced to house arrest for a weapons charge. Then last September, he and his cohorts were allegedly tied to the murder of rival Windy City rapper JoJo. He was also banned from Instagram after posting some rather questionable images.

While Sosa has only been active for a short time, there's never a dull moment with this dude. So as Keef celebrates the release of his debut album Finally Rich, we put together this timeline of his career highlights (and lowlights) thus far. Click below to begin reading.

Written by Eric Diep (@E_Diep)

Chief Keef's "Bang" Video Appears Online
When: August 5, 2011

What happened: This is where it all begins. Just ten days before Chief Keef turns 16, his go-to director, DGainz, uploads the video for "Bang," which also happens to be the rapper's favorite ad lib. Produced by DJ Kenn, the track is more left-field than some of Keef's later work, but it quickly becomes one of his most popular tracks. Washed with a hazy green filter, the visuals depict Keef wearing a bucket hat, rapping alongside his friends (including Lil Durk and Sasha Go Hard), and making trigger-pulling gestures toward the camera. A star is born.

Chief Keef Drops the Bang Mixtape
When: October 11, 2011

What happened: With the "Bang" single and video picking up steam locally via YouTube, Keef links with fellow teenager DJ Hustlenomics for the 16-track Bang mixtape. The bulk of the tracks are produced by DJ Kenn, but "Smash" is produced by an up-and-coming beatmaker named Young Chop who will eventually play a big part in Keef's career. The tape features members of Keef's crew, GBE (Glory Boyz Entertainment), including Lil Reese, SD, Gino Marley and Fredo Santana.

Chief Keef Performs at Adrianna's
When: November 24, 2011

What happened: Keef makes his first public performance, a surprise appearance at Chicago club Adrianna's on Thanksgiving, 2011; portions of the show are captured on a video by DJ Kenn. With his posse behind him, Keef runs through four tracks, including "Bang," and shows off his burgeoning star power. Alex Riley, a 21-year-old cinematographer in attendance, reports that more than 800 teenagers are in the house yelling the lyrics back at Keef.

Police Shut Down Chief Keef Concert
When: November 26, 2011

What happened: Police shut down a scheduled Keef concert at the Harambee House because of concerns about Keef's reputed gang affiliations. The show gets moved to Café Peninsula, in Riverdale, Ill.

Chief Keef Is Arrested by Chicago Police
When: December 4, 2011

What happened: Chicago Police respond to a report of gunshots being fired from a blue Pontiac Grand Prix in the Washington Park neighborhood. It's alleged that someone pointed a gun at the officers and two young men—including Keith Cozart, aka Chief Keef—are arrested. False rumors spread through social networks that he was involved in a shootout with police. Keef is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and, after a period of detention, placed on 30 days of house arrest, followed by 30 days of home confinement.

Young Boy Loses it When He Learns Chief Keef Is Free
When: January 2, 2012

What happened: Upon learning that Keef will soon be freed from juvenile detention, a young boy goes wild and dances around his living room. He expresses his excitement by rapping the lyrics to Keef's "Aimed at You" and spouting the rapper's signature ad libs. When the video is posted on WorldStar Hip Hop, it exposes the name Chief Keef to an audience outside Chicago's south side for the first time. The audio from this clip will later be dubbed onto the intro to the title track for Keef's major label debut album, Finally Rich.

Lil B and Soulja Boy Remix Chief Keef
When: January 21 and 29, 2012

What happened: Only a few weeks after the Worldstar video, Keef receives two of the biggest co-signs of his career—to that point—from Lil B and Soulja Boy. The rappers remix "Bang" and "3Hunna," respectively, and Soulja goes on to further collaboration with the Chicago MC. Keef goes on to receive cosigns from ASAP Rocky, Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Pusha T—among others.

Chief Keef Features King L on "Winning"
When: January 30, 2012

What Happened: Chief Keef hooks up with fellow Chicagoan King Louie, then the city's dominant street rapper, on a track called “Winning.” The track finds Keef and L at their most triumphant; Keef's chorus has an effortless confidence, and his triplet flow steals the show. Winning serves as an indication of how suddenly Keef's popularity has risen within Chicago's hip-hop scene.

Chief Keef's "I Don't Like" Video is Released
When: March 11, 2012

What Happened: “I Don’t Like” is the song that will solidify Keef's stardom. Featuring Keef's GBE cohort Lil Reese, the mesmerizing song captures national recognition and shines a light on Chicago rap. It also catches the attention of Pusha T, who soon introduces the song to Kanye in the studio during a recording session. Keef's accompanying video, again directed by D.Gainz, becomes an iconic snapshot of GBE's camaraderie and loyalty.

 

[BlackZilla]

lol @ c*ntPlex fawning over this garbage ass nikka.

It's like watching someone cheesin' over some week old leftover fast food.

 

[mortuus est]

Chief Keef Releases Back From the Dead Mixtape
When: March 12, 2012

What Happened: The buzz from “I Don’t Like” prompts the teenage rapper to spend his time on house arrest feeding the streets with more new music. His second solo mixtape, Back from the Dead, is another consistent effort with a variety of highlights, including Tyler, The Creator's favorite track "True Religion," the record's first single "3hunna," and the irreverent and sardonic "Save That shyt."

Police Lock Down Chief Keef and Meek Mill Concert
When: April 13, 2012

What happened: After a fight breaks out in the lobby of the Chicago's Congress Theater, police lock down the 5,000 seat venue, refusing to let new patrons enter, although the show does continue—as seen in this video clip. Keef and fellow Chicagoan King L perform to the packed crowd, creating the best kind of musical mayhem. Twista and Meek Mill also performed, although rappers Bo Deal and the L.E.P. Bogus Boys were unable to enter the venue due to police.

A local Chicago alderman had received a letter from the police warning of Keef's gang affiliations. The Alderman responded by hiring extra security for the show, which may have created more tension. Either way the whole thing turned into quite a dust-up. Shortly thereafter, L.E.P. Bogus Boys and Keef were barred from performing during A$AP Rocky's Chicago House of Blues show, although L.E.P. and a few GBE members rolled through regardless

“I Don’t Like (Remix)” to Feature Kanye West, Pusha T, Big Sean, and Jadakiss
When: April 21, 2012

What Happened: One of the major turning points of Chief Keef’s career comes in April when Kanye West remixes Keef’s “I Don’t Like” record, featuring verses from Ye, Big Sean, Pusha-T and Jadakiss. The single helps build buzz for Cruel Summer, while simultaneously launching Keef into iTunes libraries everywhere. Producer Young Chop was dissatisfied with the remix; Kanye had made some changes to the production, and Chop felt they should have stuck to his original sound. But the Chicago producers eventually settle their differences.

Birdman Wants to Sign Chief Keef to YMCMB
When: April 2012

What Happened: Following the success of “I Don’t Like,” the ball starts rolling on a bidding war for the services of the 16-year-old rapper. Keef takes to Twitter to reveal a co-sign from Birdman, sparking umors of a potential deal with Young Money. Birdman himself is quoted saying he would do "whatever it takes" to sign Keef.

Chief Keef Is Working With Young Jeezy, Possibly Signs With CTE
When: May 2012

What Happened: In May Keef his the studio with yet another titan of hip-hop: Young Jeezy. The pair trade verses on “Understand Me,” a cut that becomes a Chicago summer anthem. The collaboration sparks further rumors of a potential record deal with Jeezy’s Corporate Thugz Entertainment label.

Chief Keef Collaborates with Waka Flocka and Bo Deal on "Murda"
When: May 9, 2011

What Happened: Chief Keef has been compared, especially early on, to Waka Flocka. When the two finally work together, on a track called "Murda," along with Chicago's Brick Squad representative Bo Deal, there was a definite creative synergy. Once again the collabo spawneds rumors that Keef might be signing with Waka's Brick Squad Monopoly.

Drake and Waka Flocka Flame Bring Chief Keef Out During Their Club Paradise Tour
When: June 2, 2012

What Happened: Keef’s buzz takes another leap in early June, when Drake and Waka Flocka bring the Chicago rapper out during the Chi-Town leg of the Club Paradise Tour. Sosa performs “I Don’t Like” to the surprise and delight of the hometown crowd.

Chief Keef Signs to Interscope
When: June 17, 2012

What Happened: In mid-June, Chief Sosa puts the rumors to rest, consummating his meteoric rise to the forefront of the rap game by inking a major deal with Interscope and a publishing deal with Dr. Dre. Keef got his own label deal for GBE, movie rights and Beats By Keef headphones; the deal was reportedly worth millions.

Chief Keef Makes His New York Debut at SOB's
When: June 25, 2012

What Happened: After a lengthy press tour in New York, Keef hits the famed NYC club SOBs in late June for his first performance in the Big Apple. The actual show, while strong, pales in comparison to the deafening buzz around the event, as Keef hits the stage for all of sixteen minutes.

Chief Keef Visits Gun Range, Faces Return to Jail Over Pitchfork Video
When: July 2012



What Happened: When PitchforkTV takes Keef to a gun range, the resulting video is in startlingly poor taste, particularly considering the spike in murders taking place in Chicago. The six-minute clip upset Cook County prosecutors as well, who sought a copy of the original footage in an effort to prove that Keef violated his probation by firing guns in the video.

 

[mortuus est]

Chief Keef Performs at Lollapalooza
When: Aug. 4, 2012

What happened: Although the promoters throw him into the dreaded lunchtime slot, Keef and the GBE crew perform their biggest set to date during the second day of Lollapalooza. This occurrs less than a month after he shows up at the Pitchfork Music Festival and rocks the stage as a surprise guest during AraabMuzik's set. Though the show does not attract a heavily rap-oriented crowd, the audience seems more familiar with his work.

Chief Keef Claims Kanye West Didn’t Do Anything for His Career
When: August 12, 2012

What Happened: Although Mr. West’s remix to Keef’s “I Don’t Like” clearly helped him garner national exposure, Keef sounds off on Twitter, downplaying Kanye's importance and stating that he “made himself hot.” While Kanye fans charge that he was being ungrateful, it is true that Keef's career had legs before Kanye came along

Lupe Fiasco and Chief Keef Briefly Feud on Twitter
When: September 5, 2012

What Happened: Lupe Fiasco is known for speaking his mind about hip-hop culture. "Chief Keef scares me," Lupe said in an interview with Baltimore’s 92 Q Jams. “Not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents…. The hoodlums, the gangsters, and the ones you see killing each other and the murder rate in Chicago is skyrocketing and you see who’s doing it and perpetrating it — they all look like Chief Keef.”

Lupe wasn’t too keen on Keef’s music given all the violence in Chicago. In fact, he asserted that Keef was having a bad influence on American youth. Of course, this didn’t sit well with Keef, who directed an angry tweet at him: “Lupe fiasco a hoe-ass nikka And wen I see him I'ma smack him like da lil bytch he is #300.” Keef later claimed that his Twitter had been hacked. Just eight days later, Lupe would shout-out Keef at a concert in Toronto, marking the end of their beef.

Chief Keef Receives Backlash for Tweeting About JoJo's Death
When: September 5, 2012

What Happened: Back in September, an unfortunate incident involving 18-year-old Joseph "JoJo" Coleman received national attention. An alleged gang member who had just begun his rap career, JoJo was gunned down in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood while riding a bike. He was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Keef wasn’t directly associated with the murder, but the two did have some tension. JoJo had made dis videos aimed at Keef's crew, specifically Lil Durk. When word got out about his death, Keef took to Twitter to tweet about it. “Its Sad Cuz Dat nikka JoJo Wanted To Be Jus Like Us #LMAO.” Another tweet was sent referring to his JoJo’s “Brickboyz” crew. “nikkas dry snitching #ShhhhhhhhBrickboyz.”

He received a considerable backlash for his callousness. Later he stated that his Twitter account was hacked, trying to clear the air by extending his prayers to JoJo’s family and assuring Twitter that he had nothing to do with JoJo’s death.

Chief Keef Posts Sex Act on Instagram
When: September 15, 2012

What Happened: Instagram has been Keef’s way of giving us a window into his world. But on one occasion he may have crossed the boundary of good taste. He posted a picture of him and a girl in a sexual act, which made headlines and got him in trouble with Instagram.

Chief Keef Releases "Love Sosa"
When: October 8, 2012

What Happened: Keef releases another melodic street anthem produced by Young Chop, the single “Love Sosa” off his album Finally Rich. Director DGainz captures Keef and the GBE crew doing their thing in the video, and the song becomes an instant hit. With over 20 million views on YouTube, it's also undeniable evidence that Chief Keef is no one-hit wonder.

Finally Rich Will Be Released As Chief Keef's Interscope Debut
When: October 9, 2012

What Happened: After months of talk about Keef’s Finally Rich mixtape, he makes the announcement that it will not be released a mixtape at all, but instead the title of his Interscope debut. The record's initial release date was to be November 27, but it gets pushed back to December 18.

Chief Keef Is Mentioned on ABC's Nightline
When: October 19, 2012

What Happened: During ABC’s Nightline special Hidden America: Inside Chicago’s Gang Wars, a story about violent crime in Chicago, Chief Keef's name comes up. They speak on the rapper’s success, his threatening rhymes, his album deal, and how his “I Don’t Like” video has gotten more than 17 million views.

Chief Keef Endorses President Barack Obama
When: October 28, 2012

What Happened: You may have to be 18 to vote in this country, but that didn't stop 17-year-old Chief Keef from expressing his political views. In late October, Keef took to Instagram to lash out against Republican Party candidate Mitt Romney—and throw his support behind the Democratic incumbent from Chicago.

Chief Keef Releases "Kobe"
When: November 10, 2012

What Happened: Keef follows up the release of “Love Sosa” with another heavy-hitter, “Kobe.” In the Hi-Def-produced video, he shows off his baller status while comparing himself to Kobe Bryant. The visual drew some controversy because Interscope removed Lil Reese from the video after originally appearing in the trailer. This came shortly after a video surface of Reese abusing a woman.

50 Cent Rants About Chief Keef Not Showing Up to "Hate Bein' Sober" Video Shoot
When: November 16, 2012

What Happened: Chief Keef skips out on his shoot for the "Hate Bein' Sober" video in Las Vegas, leaving 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa stranded in the desert, as detailed in Complex's recent Chief Keef cover story. 50 Cent was not pleased; the mogul took to Twitter to proclaim that Keef “didn’t sell any record yet, [Interscope] will pull the plug on him.” Nevertheless Chief Keef's album is still coming out on Interscope today, December 18.

Chief Keef Works With Future on "Dead Broke"
When: November 28, 2012

What Happened: At the end of November, Chief Keef pops up once again with a new track. The fiery “Dead Broke” features Keef getting a little help from the impressive lineup of Future, Fredo Santana and SD over Mike Will Made It production. The track surfaces for a few hours—Fredo Santana leaked the mp3, and the audio appeared on Chief Keef's KeithCozart YouTube channel—before Interscope kills the online availability of the track, which will not be appearing on Keef's debut, Finally Rich.

Chief Keef Releases Debut Album "Finally Rich"
When: December 18, 2012

What Happened: Despite speculation that he will dropped from the label, Chief Keef's debut album releases on Interscope. The album features collaborations with 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy, and Rick Ross.

 

[Money Be Green]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

 

[mortuus est]

enjoy.

 

[mortuus est]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

read it young bul, you youngins need to read more

 

[FRIED MASON]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

The story of a wack ass nikka who flopped.

The End.

 

[The 2020 New Member]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

maybe if his fans read more they would have better jobs and actually buy his records.

 

[Capitol]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

But this is the summary

 

[BlackZilla]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

Jesus Christ, fukking read the damn thing. Ol "I ain't readin nothin' bigger than one paragraph as nikka"

 

[Money Be Green]

Jesus Christ, fukking read the damn thing. Ol "I ain't readin nothin' bigger than one paragraph as nikka"

nikka shut the fukk up & calm down

 

[SwagmundFreud]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

Implying its a lot of words to read

 

[Jone2three45]

I'll be glad when this kid career goes down deep into a early grave.

 

[Vilified not verified]

Can u summarize it, cause I aint reading all that shyt

Young Keef started rapping, got his lil buzz up, shenanigans. Eventually young Keef signs with Interscope Records, more shenanigans. Young Keef's debut album is released on December 18th 2012 but not before even more shenanigans.