The Chicago Tribune is reporting that rapper Chief Keef has added to his lengthy arrest record. The incident occurred in Atlanta yesterday, after security at a hotel reported the smell of marijuana coming from Keef’s room.
Since Chief Keef’s sudden explosion onto the rap scene, he has amassed a loyal following with his heavy-hitting trap beats, aggressive, straightforward lyrics, and violent, machismo-centric videos. If you're not familiar with Chief Keef's music or videos, watch his video for "I Don't Like" here.
The dedication and obsession of many young males with Keef’s music and persona is mind-boggling and troubling. I have spoken with several young men who follow Keef obsessively and consider him a role model, yet they are candidly unwillingly to defend his talent as a musician or rapper. (Indeed, these young men's most common response when I challenge Keef's skills is, "But you wouldn't say that to his face, though!", as if that is literally their measuring stick for a role model.)
But perhaps the most troubling aspect of this young man’s saga is this: Chief Keef is 17 years old. He’s a kid from Chicago who happens to be a rapper. To be fair, his musical output is just as much a response to his surroundings as fellow Chicago teenager Chance the Rapper’s, no matter how different.
A lot can be said about Chief Keef – his questionable talent, his massive following, the consequences of saturating the airwaves with violent imagery – but at the end of the day, this is a 17 year old kid. I can’t help but think of the trouble I would’ve gotten in, had somebody given me several million dollars at age 17.