Pusha credits Keef’s authenticity for drawing him into his brand.
“First of all, I am solely the reason that there’s a Chief Keef remix [on Cruel Summer]. I am. I saw him on Worldstar[HipHop.com] and I never click Worldstar rappers but the picture for some reason drew me. It was for “3Hunna.” So I clicked on it and I called [manager Steven] Victor and I said, “Victor. I want to sign this kid. Go online and check this kid out. It’s authentic.” That’s what I like about him. This isn’t Nas at 16. Like c’mon, understand for a minute. He didn’t call me back, so I called him back like, “Yo! What happened?” He said, “Oh, I thought you were joking!” I said, “I hate you for this.” He said, “Listen man. We have other stuff to deal with. They have, like, guns and stuff. What’s wrong with you?” I said, “Fine. Whatever.” I do a little research and say on Twitter , “I like Chief Keef.”” (Vulture)
The Clipse rapper also reveals how he put Kanye West and other G.O.O.D. Music artists up on Keef.
“Fast forward to I’m in New York finding beats for my album. Me and Ye are … everybody from Chicago happened to be in the room at this time. I was like, “Yo, what’s going on in the Chi man? Y’all ain’t f*cking with Keef?” They were like, “What? You like Keef?” Ye was like, “Who is Chief Keef?” I go to the computer, plug it up to the big speakers and he [Kanye] says, “Oh my God. This is incredible. This producer is incredible. I love it as a whole but this producer is incredible.” I was like, “Yo, for real, he’s a young kid from Chicago. We should probably just do a remix, throw him a bone.”” (Vulture)
A few months ago, “King of the South” T.I. admitted he considered offering the youngster a record deal offer.
T.I. said there was an opportunity for Keef to join his Grand Hustle family, but he respects the young rapper’s decision. Tip is just happy that the go-getter was able to make a way for himself. “The opportunity existed, but I never put my own personal wishes before the best interest of the next person,” T.I. said. “I’m just happy that he’s able to do whatever’s best for him and his family and to move forward as a person and to progress in life. As long as he’s doing that, I’m happy.” (MTV)
Pusha may still have a shot at signing Chief after rap star 50 Cent recently revealed Interscope Records nearly dropped him.
“There was some energy there in the [Interscope] building, they was actually thinking about dropping him,” 50 said in an interview. “I was like, ‘D*mn you can’t just like drop him.’ That’s what hip-hop culture is. It’s an opportunity for you to make it from anywhere. If you from the bottom right now you could listen to this music that comes on, write something and put them cards back they gave you and deal yourself some new ones.” (Hot 97)
