(Photo: Courtesy Glory Boy Entertainment)

By Dan Reagans

Violent street hip hop might not be the norm on today’s Billboard charts but if you ask Chief Keef, that trend may soon shift back to a lost sub-genre of rap. While most would agree that Keef’s banger “I Don’t Like” sounds more like an explicit b-side track opposed to a Billboard charting radio hit, in actuality it’s just another reminder that radio PDs (program directors) may be loosening the reins on the content restrictions. Making a name for himself in a lane that Waka Flocka Flame has kept sizzling, 16 year-old Keef has emerged from gritty Midwest streets to the rap spotlight, spitting and toting a language of the streets.

We all know good music and a fresh out the hood persona go hand and hand in hip hop. But what happens when your hood’s reputation exceeds you? While this scenario may sound all too familiar, it may be an argument Chicago-bred spitter Chief Keef could be confronted with one day. Giving the hip hop heads a candid glimpse of the Chi-town street culture, Keef has already been dubbed the voice of a generation according to Grand Hustle CEO-rapper T.I., who was looking to sign the G.B.E. repper.

Honestly typing the game has become more hood-friendly than ever. While it’s hard to picture the new Interscope signee making a traditional radio-friendly record, one thing is for sure, the focus will be split between the rough environment he hails from and his street sound. Having the responsibility to be the voice of the youth in your city and maneuver in an industry that doesn’t necessarily cater to your sound could be tricky…but we’re waiting to see if the young gunner can live up to the allure of his ever-growing reputation.

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