It’s a typical summer day in Atlanta, humidity strangling the air as traffic ambles down narrow street corners. An unidentified air conditioner battles the opened windows of a small room as the door shuts behind a tall, slender figure. His white t-shirt juxtaposes the colorful nature of his shoes and hat, a silent confidence filling the room as Chilly Chills approaches. He momentarily greets everyone in the room before righting himself in a small black chair. His expression is unreadable behind the thick frames of his sunglasses.
Not a single word is wasted when Chilly Chills speaks, a thoughtful pause coming before every statement. Born in Chicago and raised in Atlanta, Chills’ casual style and stoic demeanor suggest that he’s from somewhere far away, a beachfront neighborhood in Los Angeles, perhaps.
“I’m from Mechanicsville, bro,” Chills assures. “I went to Maynard Jackson High School, so I’m really from right down the street.”
Wasting no time on introductions, Chills delves right into his earliest experiences with music and the sounds that inspired his passion early on.
“It’s all instinctual; my family played a lot of different music when I was little,” Chills says. “I heard a lot of James Brown, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, and Kenny G as a youngster. I’m from the hood, but those are the tunes played by my elders. Of course, when it came to rap, it was Tupac, Biggie, DMX and Eminem. I really loved the Marshall Mathers LP, that was my real introduction to music on my own, forming my own opinion of what music was. That explains why I do music and the way I do it.”
Although Chills credits a number of influences with the development of his sound, he places a strong emphasis on hometown hero Sammy Sam. In Chills’ opinion, Sam played a big role in giving him the confidence to become the artist he is today. Specifically, he mentions the inspiration of a peculiar terminology he‘s coined, known as “sophisticated ignorance”.
“Even though many parts of me are sophisticated, I still have some levels of ignorance within. Everyone does, in their own way,” he says. “From the highest to the lowest of economic standpoints. For example, Bill Clinton getting impeached from the highest office in America for receiving what he received from his mistress is a perfect example of sophisticated ignorance.”
Where It All Started
Chills has established a name for himself as a rapper unique from any other due to his ability to blend his street experiences and perspective with conscious, thought provoking lyrics. As he gains steam in the music industry earning co-signs from artists such as Kanye West, his fan-base continues to expand alongside him. He states that although his unorthodox take toward music has only recently taken on a popular appeal, his style has been present since the beginning.
“I’ve always been very diverse with the music I listen to. In high school I was one of the only ones listening to N.E.R.D and Coldplay,” Chills says. “I was listening to Parachutes before that even hit our culture. My range goes from soulful to EDM, and the styles I like vary. Because of that I can go street, I can go poetic and I can sing. I’m everywhere at once.”
“I never really cared about other people’s acceptance of my music because of where I come from. Where I’m from, all you’re worried about is surviving.”
Chills went on to explain how his poetic interests led to him taking a shot at rap.
“I was a poet first. Originally, I entered this program that taught us to make skits raising awareness about STD and drug abuse prevention for cash prizes, Chills says. “I really impressed the instructor, and she entered me in the V103 poetry slam. From there, I ended up on the Quiet Storm at 16 years old. I was classmates with guys like Jose Guapo, Trouble, and Lucci, but at that time I was very shy as a rapper because I was so into my poetry. I knew that what I intended to deliver rap-wise would be very different from what was popular at the time.”
Due to his lack of interest in producing rap songs that sounded like a majority of the artists coming out of Atlanta during the time, Chills had to use alternative techniques to get exposure.
“I had to find other ways to make myself relevant as an artist. I went to things like Art, Beats, & Lyrics, and traveled to a lot of other cities to really get my sound heard,” Chills says. “I never really cared about other people’s acceptance of my music because of where I come from. Where I’m from, all you’re worried about is surviving.”
Chills credits positive influences early in his life with establishing his confidence to be different. While the untrained eye may see his attitude as egotistical, a closer look shows that it stems from strong spiritual beliefs he unapologetically stands by. Living through his tribulations has given him the ability to conceive and manifest powerful music that promotes positivity.
“Luckily, the community I grew up in and the people I was blessed to be around helped me become conscious enough not to settle for a mainstream sound,” Chills says. “They really helped me develop my third eye, if you will. I had to find creative ways to blend my subject matter with a catchy sound, further attributing to my sophisticated ignorance. Because I was able to grow up and live through a lot of the scenarios that these rappers just talk about, I have a confidence that allows my music to be aggressively positive rather than aggressively negative, which is all you hear today. I was groomed into that because it’s my destiny.”
Chilly Chills’ cool temperament and succinct wording make it difficult to believe that he grew up in some of the harshest conditions one can imagine; his style and appearance blanket the fact that he’s previously lived a life in the streets. But appearances are often deceiving, and Chills is grateful for having had the opportunity to find his way in Atlanta.
“I moved to Atlanta from Chicago before high school, so I was already conditioned in an intense environment. Growing up in the struggle, you don’t notice the obstacles you face everyday because to you it’s just normal life,” Chills says. “Atlanta forced a certain calmness into me. In Chicago, at 9 years old you’re already a teenager mentally due to the experiences you go through. Atlanta is so community based and family oriented that I instantly felt a sense of love here. I want to preserve that.”
“Because I was able to grow up and live through a lot of the scenarios that these rappers just talk about, I have a confidence that allows my music to be aggressively positive rather than aggressively negative”
Letting the Music Speak
In the last year alone Chills has made tremendous waves with his records. Earning the respect of his city has played a large part in his success, but Chills admits that it hasn’t been easy. Ironically, he says the hardest part of his journey hasn’t been getting backed by the hood, but more so from the music industry and Hip-Hop fans.
“By the time i was ready to release my project Poppin In Here, I had already built up enough confidence to take over the world,” Chills says. “I was fed up with the way people wanted to receive music. I have such a positive intent in mind, but I know many listeners don’t want to water that plant in their brain. I already had the support from the hood, but the crazy part was that people who controlled these major media outlets viewed me as ‘too street’, they marginalized me. That’s when I made Poppin in Here to trick the masses. I had to do that to let people know there’s a double consciousness within me.”
Chills’ awareness of self and his message are a recurring theme in his artistic narrative, which is a refreshing take in the midst of an era with surface-level lyrics and sparse musical accountability. As he’s asked about his take on the current state of Hip-Hop and his place in it, Chills further proves why he’s truly in his own lane.
“You have two demographics of people. There’s the people who care about the substance within their music, and you have the people who just want to heard by the masses,” he says. “Personally, I believe music will make its transition to having a positive influence, but in order to make that change, it’s going to take a genius; I say that in the sense that he’ll be able to convince the masses to accept uncompromising quality music and digest it. Once he sets that trend, everyone will follow. The current state of Hip-Hop can’t last forever.”
Chills then explains how he chooses to lead by example, noting his song “Hell Yeah” speaks on loving women rather than denouncing them.
“That song is all about women and my love for them,” Chills says, an increased passion coming from his voice. “Our Black women are the most vulnerable people on Earth, and I thank God for the Bryson Tillers and Drakes out there, because women need that. They need someone to connect to emotionally. Whether we accept it or not, women run the world. As an artist you’re only popping if women love your work.”
In continuation, Chills gave his perspective on why artists that promote love and acceptance rather than violence and money don’t get the same exposure by the music industry.
“The reason why the big labels don’t want to deal with us is because they fear that our voice will take away their control over what people think and value. If their success was based on being soulfully rich instead of a bottom line, I guarantee you’d see a difference in what we hear. The concept is no different from looking for diamonds, gold, and anything else of value. As a Hip-hop artist you have to dig deep within to unearth great music, but once it’s been done, you’re able to offer something that’s priceless.”
Whether we accept it or not, women run the world. As an artist, you’re only popping if women love your work.”
Chilly Chills is currently putting the finishing touches on his next project, Cut Corners, available August 31st. Calculated as always, he remains cryptic about the details surrounding the EP.
“My next move is going to be very big, which is why I’ve really just been working in silence and privacy,” Chills says. “I don’t like posting any pictures or hype on social media; when it comes it comes. I will say that you can expect production from Charlie Heat, as well as some collaborations with Black Metaphor. Outside of that, I also have some tracks in the works with DJ Toomp and 808 Mafia. You know I have to keep that sophisticated ignorance at a premium.”
For more information about Chilly Chills, follow him on Instagram and Soundcloud, or visit www.chillychills.com
