Last year was a big one for CHIKA. First, the Montgomery, Alabama artist revealed her latest project Industry Games, a seven-track offering released via her partnership with Warner Records. Then, she joined the likes of NLE Choppa, Mulatto, Jack Harlow, Lil Keed, and Polo G as part of this year’s XXL Freshman class, further solidifying her status as one of the emcees to watch in the coming years.
This past weekend, CHIKA continued that momentum with her new EP ONCE UPON A TIME, which sees six top quality cuts from the young talent. The opening track, “FAIRY TALES,” features assistance from BJ The Chicago Kid and sees CHIKA harmonizing and rapping about about a myriad of both personal and current topics over production from Lido and Brasstracks:
“Fairy tales are stories with lessons and allegories, that tell us about the world that could be, but I see no mention of bad shorties or niggas sippin’ on forties, no heroes inside a book look like me/
I don’t ever mourn my childhood, know my folks is happy that they child good, imperative a narrative reflect what’s up in my hood, figured that the remedy is simple, let’s make a couple hits for all the kids that need a symbol/”
In a past interview with REVOLT, CHIKA spoke on wanting to create music as a toddler:
“I’ve always known I wanted to do this since I was two. … I’ve always had the feeling that I’d end up here, but the journey itself… because you almost think you’re almost there. “Oh wait, no I’m not.” Is it album time? ‘No, okay cool.’”
Press play on CHIKA’s ONCE UPON A TIME EP below. While this should keep her fans well-fed, it’s hopeful that her official debut LP will arrive sometime sooner than later.