Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who Is Chief Keef?
Keith Farrelle Cozart, popularly known by his stage name Chief Keef, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Chief Keef is largely regarded as the pioneer of the ‘mumble rap’ and ‘drill’ subgenres of rap music. He rose to prominence during his teen years, where was mostly idolized by high school students from South Side, Chicago.
Although he has pursued a successful career in the music industry, Chief Keef has also been a guest of the state time without number. Some of the legal issues he has faced include being charged for illegal weapons possession, being sentenced to house arrest, and having a performance ban imposed on him by Chicago authorities.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Keith Farrelle Cozart |
| Popular Name: | Chief Keef |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | August 15, 1995 |
| Age: | 28 years |
| Parents: | Alfonso Cozart and Lolita Carter |
| Siblings: | 2 (A younger brother and sister) |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American |
| Education: | Dulles Elementary School, Banner School, and Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | 4 children from 3 different women (Krüe Karter Cozart, Kayden Kash Cozart, Sno Cozart, and Kimora Sosha Cozart) |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | USD 2 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Rapping, Singing, Songwriting, Record Producing, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 6′ 0″ (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 76 kg; In pounds: 167 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Chief Keef was born on August 15, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois, to Alfonso Cozart and Lolita Carter. At the time of his birth, Chief Keef’s mum was 15 and unmarried. The rapper really never got to know his biological father and mostly lived with his grandmother. His stage name was inspired by the name ‘Big Keef’, which was the nickname of his late uncle Keith Carter.
Chief Keef began rapping at the age of five years. He recorded his first unofficial music using his mother’s karaoke machine and tapes. However, it was not until he was 16 years old that Keef broke onto the limelight after releasing the mixtapes The Glory Road and Bang.
But at the same time Chief Keef’s music career was taking off, his legal woes also began. At some point, he was placed under house arrest, forcing him to upload all his tracks to YouTube. His song titled I Don’t Like became an instant sensation and through it, Chief Keef was able to introduce a new rap subgenre called ‘Drill.’ The song became even more popular after rapper Kanye West remixed it with Big Sean, Jadakiss, and Pusha T.
Shortly after, Chief Keef became one of the most sought-after rappers, with many record labels jostling to sign him. In 2012, he signed a $6 million deal with Interscope Records, through which he released his debut album, Finally Rich later that year.
Keef’s partnership with Interscope also included a promise to launch his own label imprint, which would be known as Glory Boyz Entertainment (GBE). As a show of commitment, Interscope advanced $440,000 to Chief Keef towards establishing GBE.
However, the contract also included a clause that allowed Interscope to drop the rapper if his Finally Rich album didn’t sell at least 250,000 copies as of December 2013. Unfortunately, the album sold only 150,000 copies by the stipulated time and in mid-October 2014, Interscope canceled the contract.
Chief Keef remained undeterred even after losing the Interscope contract. He continued self-releasing music, although his career faced a lot of storms.
He has since followed up his debut studio album with three more albums, namely:
• Bang 3, Part 1 (2015)
• Bang 3, Part 2 (2015)
• Dedication (2017)
Chief Keef’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Chief Keef had a net worth of $2 million. He has earned his wealth through album sales.
In addition to album sales, Chief Keef also makes money from touring and as a record producer.
As part of his deal with Interscope, Keef successfully established his label imprint, Glory Boyz Entertainment (GBE). He owned 40% of GBE’s shares, same as his manager Rovan Manuel. The remaining 20% was owned by his uncle Alonzo Carter, his cousin and fellow rapper Fredo Santana, and Anthony H. Dade. Glory Boyz Entertainment went on to sign various rappers, including Fredo Santana and Lil Reese.
After releasing Keef’s debut album, GBE did not produce any noteworthy projects and on January 3, 2014, Keef announced that the label was no more. The rapper went on to launch another label named Glo Gang. Some of the current members of Glo Gang include Chief Keef, Tadoe, Lil Flash, Benji Flo, Ballout, and JusGlo.
Besides the entertainment industry, Chief Keef also draws some of his paychecks from endorsement and sponsorship deals. In fact, his net worth could have been higher were it not for his constant lawsuits. In one suit, the rapper was ordered to pay $230,000 to a promotion company in damages after failing to show up for a scheduled performance.
Critics also believe that Keef’s net worth might be a bit exaggerated, considering that the rapper has been sued for child support and rent non-payment, among other lawsuits that he is yet to pay.
Lessons from Chief Keef
1. Follow your dreams
Chief Keef reportedly did well academically. However, he eventually dropped out of high school so that he could throw his full weight behind his musical ambitions.
2. Don’t let challenges hold you back
Just when his rapping career was taking off, Keef was slapped with two house arrests – the first time for illegal heroin possession and the second time for assaulting a police officer. Keef took advantage of these opportunities to upload his mixtapes to YouTube, most of which were generally well-received.
3. Partner with established brands to grow your own
Chief Keef appreciates the importance of collaborations. He has worked closely with several valuable brands in the hip hop industry, including 50 Cent, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, and Young Jeezy.
Famous Quotes by Chief Keef
“I got away from all the unnecessary trouble, drama, problems. I came out here to where it’s better life-wise, living. It’s better out here than Chicago because I get in so much trouble. It’s crazy, but I like living out here. I think it improved me and changed me to stay and go somewhere bigger from here.”
“I’m glad to be someone that people listen to and look up to. I’m glad that I can help change the situations and the scenery in Chicago… and I love my city still but it is crazy.”
“There ain’t gonna be nothing the same. I’m gonna try to go another way. I like to keep going different ways and keep it the same. I don’t copy. Come up with my own stuff, my own everything.”
“They don’t want to see a young black man to be successful and try to do something good. It’s crazy.”
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
Wrap Up
Chief Keef is one of the most talented and dedicated rappers alive. Which explains why he has managed to command the spotlight despite facing numerous legal issues. Keef’s $2 million net worth may pale in comparison to that of renowned rappers like 50 Cent and Kanye West. But if he only focused more on making music and less on provoking law enforcement authorities, it may only be a matter of time before the rapper’s fame and fortune shoot through the roof.
