WHO IS CHI CITY?
January 6th, 2011 | By Chi City
It’s hard to stand out in a city full of stars, but instead of being intimidated by the hype surrounding the Windy City’s overnight celebrities, the 23 year-old rapper is confident he has what it takes to shine with the best of them. Proving himself right, Chi City has begun to garner interest not only in the Midwest but worldwide. He has successfully released over nine underground mix-tapes internationally and been featured on even more. The lyrical master has also collaborated with artists in the US including ATL’s Zac Fresh and NYC’s Grand Finaal as well as artist overseas
such as Zambia’s Crisis. Chi City’s witty and unpredictable lyrics have generated press across the world including the main page of music mogul 50 Cent’s website, ThisIs50.com. His talent has even caught the attention of Atlantic Records for which he was secured to ghostwrite for some of their top artists today. Staking his claim on the World Wide Web, ThisIzChi.com has been launched featuring not only Chi City’s music and news but gossip, interviews with models and other artists including major artist Wiz Khalifa, Nelly’s 2011 Ms Apple Bottoms, Jessenia Vice and more.
1. SO TELL EVERYONE YOUR NAME:
They call me Chi City a.k.a what eva you wanna call me (…laughing out loud)!!
2. WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
South side of chicago
3. WHERE AND WHAT HAVE YOU STUDIED?
I have studied life in the streets of Chicago (…laughing out loud) now that was a hard class to pass. But look where I’m at now !!!
4. WHERE AND WHAT HAVE YOU PERFORMED?
Local talent shows around Chicago and varies other cities, I’ve done shows with Freeway, Bizz, done shows, with Micky Factz, Rick Ross, Plies to name a few and various other big names in the music industry… and I pretty much just performed my music.
5. WHERE AND WHAT HAVE YOU TAUGHT?
I taught dudes how to be the best at what I do. I’m doing great so if they wanna follow in my shoes, then I’m laying the blue print now.
6. HOW DID YOU GET INTO MUSIC? (WHERE WERE YOU? WHAT WERE YOU DOING? HOW OLD WERE YOU?)
I got into music when I was 9, I was at home in Chicago, and I always wanted to do music. Growing up you really didn’t have a lot of kid rappers out, but then the first time I seen Lil Bow Wow appearing on TV. I was watching and thought, “This dude the same age as me so why I gotta wait for”. After that I started really taking it as an actual career…and the rest is history
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY IN MUSIC?
My favorite memory in music is when Jay Z and R Kelly did an album together…. really I was just glad that Chicago was a part of it. They were truly the best of both worlds but as you can see it didn’t work out the way people hoped. But i think just seeing them come together was the start of a movement that is gon start bringing a lot of artists and entertainers together for this love we call music.
8. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DISTINCT ABOUT YOUR STYLE?
I feel my style is distinct from others because of my ability to adapt to the changes in the music industry. Like one minute its all about lyrics, then the next thing you know everyone’s dancing so I feel I can create a space for myself as to where I’m still doing me but everyone’s rocking to it.
9. WHAT ASPECTS OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? THAT YOU DO BEST!
What I like about music the most is that a lot of people come with so many new and creative ways to change the game. I would say the growth of the game gives a lot of artists a chance to shine because what they was doing at first might not be hot but later on it might be the hottest thing out….And what i do best with my music is ” ME ” .
10. WHAT’S YOUR FAMILY LIKE? WHAT WAS YOUR UPBRINGING LIKE? ARE THERE OTHER MUSICIANS IN YOUR FAMILY?
My whole family is wild! It seems like everyone’s divided cause we got our rich side of the family, the ghetto side, the smart side, the trouble side of the family, and then the peaceful side of the family: the ones who always trying make things better but end up making them worse. But me growing up was crazy cause Chicago is a major city so there was always drama, but it was still home to me and always will be. And most of my cousins was doing music but none of them really made it as far as I have. So they really doing other stuff now, well most of them.
11. WHO IS YOUR HERO? AND WHY?
My Hero is, I would have to say, my mom, because even though we have been through so much she always finds a way to rise to the top.
12. WHAT ONE EVENT IN YOUR CHILDHOOD HAD THE GREATEST EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE?
I would have to say growing up in the projects on the South side of Chicago. Minister Louis Farrakhan would always be up the street in the lot preaching to a lot of gang members to stop the violence. For me to grow up right down the street from a historical leader like that has really helped shape a lot of decisions I’ve made in my life.
13. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING WHAT YOU DO TODAY, WHAT OTHER JOB WOULD YOU HAVE?
If I weren’t doing music, I probably would still be in the entertainment business, like writing movies because that’s something I feel I’m good at: creating a space of ideas and bringing them to life.
14. WHAT “SAYING” DO YOU STILL LIVE BY TODAY?
Never be afraid to show out; self expression is the way of the world. (…laughing out loud)
15. WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU HAVE DONE AS AN ARTIST?
The craziest situation I’ve been in is when I was in Chicago, and B2K came and performed at Grant Park. I got to go back stage. So I was walking behind B2k like I was a part of the crew and I was telling chicks I roll with them and I got like 13 numbers. I had some of the chicks come chill with me and my guys on the block, but they eventually found out I was not apart of the entourage. They felt it was cool enough and I got to chill with them anyways so it was a win/win situation.
16. WHAT IS YOUR BEST OVERALL QUALITY?
My personality and my ability to adapt very quickly. A lot of people take notice of me when I speak cause I’m so young yet I love to share what I know with others. One person don’t know everything but everyone knows something…
17. WHAT IS YOUR WORST OVERALL QUALITY?
I hate the fact that I look older than what I am. (…laughing out loud) I don’t know!!!!!
18. WHAT ELSE DO YOU LIKE TO DO BESIDES MUSIC?
I love to travel and extreme sports, oh and luxury cars!! I’m going to have live like 5 one day, you’ll see!!
19. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN MUSIC?
My goals in music are to open up new doors and explore new fields in music that I can say I help start… I want to be one of the those artist that everyone likes because I’m just full of ideas and not scared to try new things out, and of course, to be rich and famous$$$$$
20. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN LIFE?
My goals in life are to make the most out of it while i can and to be able to provide for my family financially.
21. QUOTE ON MUSIC: IF YOU HAD ONE THING TO SAY ABOUT MUSIC, FOR LOVE OR PHILOSOPHY OR LEARNING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? NO PRESSURE.
I would say music gives a lot of youths now a days a chance to express themselves in a non-violent way and give them opportunities to get jobs doing what they love so that they can provide for their family with the things they always wanted.
22. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY SHOUT OUTS OR A FEW WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE FANS?
Yeah, make sure you check out my music and hit me up on twitter at @iamchicity… follow me!!! And also you can find a lot of info about me at www.thisizchi.com. and whatever you believe in stick with it and don’t let anyone stop you from your dreams…..
