BRIDGEVIEW, ILLINOIS - JUNE 16: Chief Keef performs during the Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash Festival at SeatGeek Stadium on June 16, 2024 in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
Chief Keef recently lit up his hometown, Chicago, with his first performance in the city after nearly 12 years. The ‘Love Sosa’ rapper took the stage as a headliner at the Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash 2024.
Before we explain how Chief Keef ate up his hometown performance, let’s get into what kept him off the stage. The simple answer: city leaders unofficially banned him due to violence. He last performed within the city limits at Lollapalooza in 2012 at age 16.
By 2015, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel waged a war on the city’s thriving drill music scene. At the time, Chief was leading in that genre, and violence in the city was UP! By the end of 2015, TIME reports that 468 murders and 2,900 shootings had occurred.
The mayor’s distaste for drill eventually led to canceled performances, including one where Chief Keef was set to appear as a hologram to raise money for gun violence victims in 2015!
But Mayor Rahm Emanuel labeled the then 19-year-old an “unacceptable role model” who made music with lyrics promoting “violence,” per Billboard. So, the year 2015 marked the last time the rapper performed anywhere close to his hometown, struggling to secure local venues.
He took the stage at the 2015 Craze Fest in Hammond, Indiana, via hologram, but his set was cut short within minutes. Since then, Chief Keef has stayed off of stages in or that close to Chicago, even in hologram form.
Over nine years and two mayoral administrations later, the 28-year-old has returned home — or as close to it as he can get!
Complex reports that the rapper performed in Bridgeview, Illinois, on Sunday (June 16) on the last day of the three-day Summer Smash festival. The location is reportedly about 30 minutes outside of Chicago.
Complex adds that his set lasted for about 45 minutes and featured his biggest hits, including ‘Love Sosa,’ ‘Street Runner’ and ‘300.’
“Chief Sosa is f**king back in the ‘Raq, goddamn! You see me! On folk’s ‘nem grave,” Keef told the activated crowd!
The rapper also reportedly blessed his fans with newer tracks, including ‘Treat Myself.” In addition to bringing out a few of his cousins, Sosa also had G Herbo join him on stage.
“Almighty is the f**king GOAT of Chicago,” G Herbo said on stage.
Keef followed up by performing ‘Faneto’ for the first time ever in his hometown.
Catch a snippet of his performance below.
