Legacy of BJ The Chicago Kid
Artists and genres BJ The Chicago Kid directly influenced — one hop forward on the family tree of music.
ScHoolboy QartistQuincy Matthew Hanley, better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q, is an American rapper. He began recording in 2007, and released his first two mixtapes, ScHoolboy Turned Hustla (2008) and Gangsta & Soul (2009) to local success. After signing with the Carson-based record label Top Dawg Entertainment, Hanley's debut studio album, Setbacks (2011) and its follow-up, Habits & Contradictions (2012) were both released to positive critical response; both also performed moderately on the US Billboard 200 chart as digital exclusives.
Ab-SoulartistHerbert Anthony Stevens IV, better known by his stage name Ab-Soul, is an American rapper. Raised in Carson, California, he signed with the indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2007, where he formed the West Coast hip-hop group Black Hippy alongside fellow California-based rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. His third album, These Days... (2014), peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200. He is Black Hippy's sole member to remain an independent artist.
Kendrick Lamarartist
Jay RockartistJohnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Southern California, Rock signed with the Carson-based independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005. He secured a major label joint venture deal with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum Records to release his 2008 debut single, "All My Life ". Failing to chart, the mergers fell through and Rock departed from both of the latter labels shortly after. He then signed with Missouri rapper Tech N9ne's label Strange Music in a joint venture deal with TDE in 2011.
Freddie Gibbsartist
Warren GartistWarren Griffin III is an American rapper, record producer and DJ. He is known for his role in popularizing West Coast hip hop during the 1990s, and is credited as a pioneer of its subgenre G-funk.
NekfeuartistKen Samaras, better known by his stage name Nekfeu, is a French rapper, actor and record producer.
Chance the Rapperartist
Big K.R.I.T.artistJustin Lewis Scott, known professionally as Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he began his musical career in 2005. He was signed to Def Jam Recordings by Sha Money XL in 2010, and first gained recognition following the release of his single "Country Shit" in September of that year. The following year, he guest appeared on T.I.'s promotional single "I'm Flexin'", which became Scott's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kanye Westartist
Anderson .Paakartist
Twistaartist
Keyshia Coleartist
Problemartist
Smoke DZAartistSean Joseph Pompey, better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American rapper and songwriter.
- Babylonartist
Lee Jong-min, better known by his stage name Babylon (베이빌론), is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, and dancer. He debuted as an idol in the five-member group N-Train under Media Line Entertainment, where he served as a vocalist from 2011 to its dissolution in 2013. He debuted as a soloist in 2015 with "Pray" and released his debut studio album Caelo in 2018.
SkemeartistLonnie Alphonso Kimble, better known by his stage name Skeme, is an American rapper from Inglewood, California. In 2012, Skeme released his debut studio album Alive & Living under RBC Records, and his second studio album Ingleworld (2013), was released by MADE Headlines.