Chief Keef: The Chicago legend makes his mighty return with the 'Almighty So 2' album
Wait’s over. The much-needed new Almighty So 2 studio album has arrived and Chief Keef’s newest audio gem couldn’t arrive soon enough. Loaded with anthems and packed with anticipation, Sosa returns with a full-fledged studio offering.
Wait’s over. The much-needed new Almighty So 2 studio album has arrived and Chief Keef’s newest audio gem couldn’t arrive soon enough. Loaded with anthems and packed with anticipation, Sosa returns with a full-fledged studio offering.
Chief Keef’s new ‘Almighty So 2’ studio album has arrived
The epic sequel to his unforgettable 2013 mixtape shines as the first official project since 2021’s 4NEM album. Nearly 20 songs deep, everyone from St. Louis rap diva Sexyy Red and fellow Chi-Town native G Herbo to Tierra Whack pull through.
With over a decade in the game and a litany of followers in his wake, Chief Keef pushes rap music forward with every release. Today, the 28-year-old artist releases his highly-anticipated album Almighty So 2, via his own label, 43B, formed last year in a joint venture with BMG and RBC Records. The new album is the sequel to one of Sosa's most acclaimed and influential projects, 2013's Almighty So. Spanning 16 tracks, Almighty So 2 explores beyond the mind-expanding territory staked out in the original, creating a grand-scale epic that ranks among the best works of the proud Chicago native's incredible career.
Crafted over a period of two years, Almighty So 2 is largely produced by Sosa himself. The young auteur mostly eschews melody on the new album–instead, he resolves to showcase his prodigious abilities as an emcee, sharpening his pen and emptying out his arsenal of flows. Sosa throws his entire body into his vocal performances, whether he's building in intensity until he reaches a thunderous crescendo, or delivering his smirking punchlines with an audible disrespect.
Starting with the towering intro "Almighty," which expertly features a sample of Carl Orff's iconic "Carmina Burana," the early part of the album uses liturgical and classical music samples to establish Almighty So as a larger-than-life, nearly mythical figure, who was ready for stardom since before he was even born ("I was born in '95, I been ready since '91/Let's give a thanks to the God, yeah the mighty one/B*tch, I'm almighty, I'll shoot ya with my mighty gun," he shouts).
After he demonstrates his imperial might, Sosa proves that there's no sound he can't warp until it fits his expansive sonic palette. Keef duets with the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown, on "1,2,3" and warps a hidden 70s gem on the Nancy Wilson-sampling "Runner." The haunting "Prince Charming" features Sosa's take on the Detroit sound, with squelching bass and propulsive hi-hats, while the flute-inflected cloud-trap of "Drifting Away" pays tribute to the underground sound he helped inspire before Sosa reminds the audience who really invented drill.
Though the production is a one-man show, Sosa welcomes a series of kindred spirits to share the mic. He and new favorite collaborator Sexyy Red unite over churning french horns on "Grape Trees," while Quavo brings his dulcet melodies and triplet flows to "Never Fly Here," and fellow drill pioneer and South Sider G Herbo joins the fray for the oh-so-Chicago "Neph Nem." Tierra Whackmakes an unexpected appearance on "Banded Up," delivering a double-time verse as blistering as any released this year. Featuring additional appearances from Sosa's 43B signee Lil Gnar and longtime associate Ballout, Almighty So 2 is available to stream on all platforms via 43B / RBC Records.
Almighty So 2 continues an incredibly busy 2024 for Chief Keef. In March, Sosa teamed with Mike-WiLL Made-It for DIRTY NACHOS, an acclaimed mixtape. Hosted by Trap-A-Holics and featuring guest spots from Sexyy Red and 2 Chainz, DIRTY NACHOS finds the two street titans harkening back to the classic mixtape era on singles like the furious "DIRTY NACHOS" and "DAMN SHORTY." Recently, Sosa collaborated with Sexyy Red on two singles from her Hood Hottest Princess (Deluxe)–"Ghetto Princess," and "Bow Bow Bow (F My Baby Mama)," and teamed up with Lil Yachty for "Say Ya Grace," a highlight from All Is Yellow, the first album by Lyrical Lemonade. The song's Cole Bennett-directed video reached the top 5 of YouTube's Trending chart, and racked up over 3 million views in its first week of release (8.5 million total). Chief Keef makes his long awaited return to Chicago on June 16th, performing his first show in his hometown since 2012, at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash.
With Almighty So 2 out now, Sosa continues to build his legacy as one of the most innovative and influential rappers in the history of the game.
Stream Almighty So 2: https://chiefkeef.lnk.to/AlmightySo2
Buy Chief Keef merch at https://chiefkeef.com/