Chief Keef is the rapper who invented drill music as the world knows it. Born in Chicago’s South Side and signed to Interscope Records at just 16, Keith Farrelle Cozart turned street reality into a global genre — and built an estimated net worth of $5 million along the way. Here is everything you need to know about the man behind “Love Sosa,” “I Don’t Like,” and one of hip-hop’s most influential catalogs.
| Full Name | Keith Farrelle Cozart |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 15, 1995 |
| Age | 30 years old (2026) |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rapper, Producer, Label Owner |
| Net Worth | $5 Million (2026) |
| Label | Glo Gang (independent) |
| Known For | “I Don’t Like,” “Love Sosa,” Finally Rich, drill music pioneer |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chief Keef
What is Chief Keef’s net worth in 2026?
Chief Keef’s net worth is estimated at $5 million in 2026. His wealth comes from streaming royalties on his extensive catalog — particularly “Love Sosa” (5x Platinum) — touring income, his Glo Gang label, and music licensing. Some estimates range between $4.5 million and $6 million depending on the valuation methodology used.
What is Chief Keef’s real name?
Chief Keef’s real name is Keith Farrelle Cozart. He was born on August 15, 1995, on Chicago’s South Side, and was raised by his grandmother, Margaret Carter, in the Parkway Garden Homes housing project — also known in Chicago as O’Block.
What did Chief Keef invent?
Chief Keef is widely credited as the originator and pioneer of drill music — a subgenre of trap characterized by dark, menacing production, heavy 808 bass, and lyrics drawn from street life on Chicago’s South Side. His sound directly inspired drill scenes in New York, London, and globally, making him one of the most influential figures in 21st-century hip-hop.
How did Chief Keef get famous?
Chief Keef gained national attention in 2011-2012 when his song “I Don’t Like” went viral, eventually receiving a remix from Kanye West. He signed a major label deal with Interscope Records at just 16 years old. His debut major-label album Finally Rich (2012) featured “Love Sosa” and “Hate Being Sober” and cemented his status as the voice of a new Chicago rap movement.
Is Chief Keef still making music?
Yes, Chief Keef continues to make music independently through his Glo Gang label. After parting ways with Interscope Records in 2014, he has operated as an independent artist, releasing projects on his own schedule and maintaining a devoted fanbase. In 2024, he performed in Chicago for the first time in over a decade, headlining Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash festival.
Where does Chief Keef live now?
Chief Keef has primarily lived outside of Illinois for much of his adult life, residing in Los Angeles and Las Vegas due to legal restrictions that prevented him from returning to Chicago for extended periods. As of 2024-2026, he has been able to perform in Chicago again following resolution of those legal matters.
Career Overview: Building the Drill Blueprint
Chief Keef’s journey from O’Block to global notoriety is one of hip-hop’s most remarkable stories. Raised by his grandmother in one of Chicago’s most notorious housing projects, he began rapping as a teenager and posting videos to WorldStarHipHop and YouTube. “I Don’t Like” — recorded when Keef was still on house arrest — spread rapidly online before Kanye West heard it and recorded a remix, catapulting the teenage rapper into mainstream consciousness.
His debut album Finally Rich (December 2012) debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 and featured “Love Sosa,” which has since been certified 5x Platinum and accumulated nearly one billion streams. Despite commercial success, his relationship with Interscope became troubled — the label shelved several of his follow-up projects — and they parted ways in 2014. Since then, Keef has operated independently through Glo Gang, releasing music at his own pace and maintaining significant cultural relevance without major label machinery.
His influence is hard to overstate. Drill music spawned by Keef’s early recordings directly inspired the entire Brooklyn drill movement (Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign), the London drill scene (Headie One, Central Cee), and dozens of regional variants worldwide. Artists from Kanye West and Drake to more recent stars like Young Thug and Future have cited Keef as a direct influence on their sound and approach.
How Does Chief Keef Make Money?
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Royalties | $1–2M/year | Annual (personal) | “Love Sosa” (5x Platinum) and catalog generating consistent passive income |
| Touring and Live Shows | $500K–1M/year | Annual (personal) | Festival bookings and headline shows; 2024 Chicago return drove major demand |
| Glo Gang Label | $200K–500K/year | Annual (personal) | Revenue from artists signed to his independent label |
| Music Licensing and Sync | $150K–300K/year | Annual (personal) | His drill catalog widely sampled and licensed for film, TV, and games |
| Estimated Total Net Worth | $5 Million (2026) | ||
Personal Life
Chief Keef has several children from different relationships, and has been open about the importance of fatherhood in his life. He has largely kept his romantic relationships out of public view. His grandmother Margaret Carter, who raised him, has been a consistent source of support throughout his career. Despite years of legal troubles as a teenager and young adult — including weapons charges and parole violations — Keef has largely stayed out of serious legal trouble in his late 20s and early 30s.
Little-Known Facts About Chief Keef
- “I Don’t Like” was recorded while Keef was under house arrest at his grandmother’s home in Chicago.
- Kanye West heard the song online and asked to remix it, which turned a local viral moment into national news.
- “Love Sosa” is certified 5x Platinum and has nearly 1 billion streams, making it one of the most-streamed drill records ever.
- He pioneered the drill aesthetic — dark visuals, lean cups, auto-tune vulnerability — that became the template for an entire global genre.
- Keef was arrested in 2013 for violating probation after posting a YouTube video of himself shooting a weapon — he was 17 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVdr_yBNSME
How tall is Chief Keef?
Chief Keef stands at approximately 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall. His imposing physical presence is part of what made his early videos so striking — a tall, baby-faced teenager delivering some of the most viscerally intense rap of his generation.
How old is Chief Keef?
Chief Keef was born on August 15, 1995, making him 30 years old as of 2026. He turned 30 in August 2025. Remarkably, Keef has now been a professional recording artist for over 14 years, having gone viral as a 16-year-old in 2011.
