Nominated for Best New Artist at this weekend’s Grammy Awards, CHIKA is culture’s realest new voice. The 24-year-old Alabama-born rapper, singer, actress and activist today unveils her eagerly anticipated new EP ‘Once Upon A Time’, which is out now on Warner Records.
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CHIKA’S storytelling takes centre stage on ‘Once Upon A Time’ as she shares tales about the growing pains of life and love. This myth launches with the epic sagas ‘Cinderella Pt. 1’ and ‘Cinderella Pt. 2’ where dreamy keys underscore her raucous rhymes and cool chorus. On ‘Hickory Dickory’ she pops off with quotable declarations announcing, “Bitch, I’m a lady!”
Her kinetic new single ‘Fairytales’ (featuring BJ The Chicago Kid) is an instant vibe. Over a heavenly horn section, BJ The Chicago Kid’s vocals herald CHIKA’s arrival before she bodies a fast-paced beat with her signature rapid-fire flow that’s head-spinning and hypnotic. The track’s music video will premiere soon.
In addition to her Grammy nomination, CHIKA is also up for Outstanding New Artist at the NCAAP Awards on March 22nd-25th and Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist at the GLAAD Awards in April.
CHIKA has established a track record of actively using her platform to advocate inclusivity and challenge societal norms regarding race, gender, mental health, and body image. She opted to kickstart her career on the mic instead of enrolling in the Berklee College of Music
The risk paid off. After starring as the face of Calvin Klein’s #MyCalvin campaign, she introduced a scorching signature style on her 2019 single ‘High Rises’. Cardi B championed her, Lena Waithe welcomed her to perform on ‘Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!’, and LeBron James enlisted the lyricist to perform her single ‘CROWN’ on his Graduate Together TV special for high school seniors. After dropping her critically praised debut EP ‘Industry Games’, she lent her talents to Netflix’s ‘Project Power’. In addition to acting in a cast that includes Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, CHIKA contributed an original song, the rousing ‘My Power’.
Her widespread critical acclaim has included a place in XXL’s coveted 2020 Freshman List, being named as VEVO’s 2020 DSCR Artist and featuring in 2021 new artist profiles from Elle and the Evening Standard. Further praise has included Billboard, C.R. Fashion Book, Essence, gal-dem, Gay Times, Grazia, i-D, Newsweek, NME, NYLON, Out Magazine, Teen Vogue, them., The Face, TIME and V Magazine.
‘Once Upon A Time’ tracklist:
- ‘Fairytales’(featuringBJ The Chicago Kid)
- ‘Hickory Dickory’
- ‘Cinderella Pt. 1’
- ‘Cinderella Pt. 2’
- ‘FWB’
- ‘Save You’
