Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Although Chief Keef is often regarded as one of the decade’s most influential rappers, his recent commercial output hasn’t been met with the same success as his early work. Today, however, the 23-year-old Chicago rapper achieved a major career milestone by earning his first Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Keef’s new Lil Uzi Vert collaboration, “Bean (Kobe)” debuted at No. 19 on the chart this week, the highest chart position of his career. His previous high came with “Love Sosa,” which peaked at No. 56 in 2013, followed by “I Don’t Like” at No. 73. Uzi’s Chief Keef-produced track, “Chrome Heart Tags,” debuted at No. 43 last week, although Keef isn’t credited as a featured artist on that song.
The Chicago rapper continues to release music at a rapid pace (with five projects dropping last year), but he’s also developed his hand at behind-the-scenes talents. He’s become an adept producer, and in a recent interview with Kerwin Frost, explained how he taught himself photo and video editing skill.
“Photoshop, I know how to do Adobe After Effects,” Chief Keef said. “Around the same time I wad doing [mixtape] covers, I was doing beats, I was rapping, and in the streets, and going to school. I was doing everything.” Last month, a video of him using Adobe Photoshop to create the cover art for Tadoe and Lil Yachty’s “Get It Bussin” went viral:
“Bean (Kobe)” appears on Uzi’s Eternal Atake (Deluxe) – LUV vs. the World 2, which the Philly rapper dropped last week. It’s one of several unreleased collaborations Keef teased with Uzi. Clearly their working relationship is paying off for both artists.
Genius previously broke down how Chief Keef’s career impacted the music industry:
Listen to the song above and read all the lyrics to Lil Uzi Vert’s “(Bean) Kobe” featuring Chief Keef on Genius now.
