NEW YORK, NY (December 05, 2022) – Speaking straight from the heart and delivering a must-hear statement, buzzing Chicago phenom KB Mike writes an open letter to his city with a new single and music video entitled “Chiraq” today via Republic Records.
Listen to “Chiraq”: HERE
Watch the “Chiraq” video: HERE
On the track, emotionally charged piano and strings set the scene as KB Mike promises, “I’ll paint you a picture.” He proceeds to portray a town in pain, “I’m from the city where everybody hating, guns be blazing.” The visual depicts an all-too familiar story of tragedy in the neighborhood, intercutting a cinematic narrative with moments of KB Mike rapping as he fights to hold back tears in darkness. Ultimately, he examines “Chiraq” with empathy and fire in equal measure.
It arrives on the heels of “Faces,” and only paves the way for more music to come from KB Mike.
Simultaneously, his debut EP Old Wounds continues to put up numbers. The fan favorite “Used To” has already amassed over 12 million streams and the EP includes other recent songs such as “Thru Worse N Thru Better” and “What We Had.”
KB Mike has built momentum throughout 2022 with tracks such as “Members” with Yungeen Ace. It followed “Keep Yo Head Up” which continues to gain traction on streaming platforms. Just prior, he dropped the powerful “Deserve Better,” which addressed domestic violence head on. Upon arrival, HotNewHipHop claimed, “The nearly three minute track sees the rapper encourage listeners to remove themselves from toxic relationships while spreading awareness about the brutal realities of domestic violence.” Maintaining his momentum, “Deserve Better” arrived on the heels of his latest single and music video “L.O.V.E.” and his breakout anthem “Used To,” which has racked up millions of streams to date. He’s already received looks from Elevator, REVOLT, and many more.
A show of emotion equates to a show of strength. KB Mike doesn’t hold back his emotions. In the process, he asserts himself as a strong, soulful, and spirited voice for not only his native Chicago, but the culture at large. He’s endured his fair share of pain and gained wisdom and perspective as a result. Growing up on the city’s notorious Southside, he watched friends and family fall prey to violence and drugs. At the same time, he gained popularity throughout his high school and community. Stuck at home on house arrest, he honed his voice through a series of freestyles online. During 2020, he established himself as a mold-breaking outlier with a combination of smooth swagger and raw emotion. He brought his Spotify stream tally into the millions on the back of “Addicted” and initial breakthrough “Deep In Love.” He maintained this momentum in 2021 with “Used To.” Perfecting his simmering style with otherworldly melodies and an instantly unshakable hook, it racked up over 3 million Spotify streams as he inked a deal with Republic Records. After piling up over 15 million views and 10 million streams independently and earning acclaim from REVOLT, HotNewHipHop, and more, the singer, songwriter, and artist immediately connects by holding nothing back.
