It doesn’t happen often. But every now and then, an independent artist makes a song and a video undeniable enough to become an international sensation.
Rich Chigga shook the music world in 2016 with Dat $tick, a trap rap and searing video that opened eyes and ears on both sides of the Pacific, and the teenaged emcee shot to Internet stardom. Part of the reason for the fuss was Rich Chigga’s nationality: there just aren’t that many Indonesian rappers with devoted followings in America.
Nothing gimmicky, though, not even a little bit. Rich Chigga’s production, lyrics, and, most importantly, flow marked him as the genuine article. Here was a kid raised on hip-hop and trap music, and who loved the form enough to be inspired to make some himself. Hip-hop aficionados recognized Dat $tick as an indispensable record.
[Read the review about Best Places for Summer Holidays]
There’s a (slightly) softer side to Rich Chigga, too, and it’s on display on Glow Like Dat, his latest release. Dedicated to a former girlfriend and graced with a mellow, ruminative chorus, Glow Like Dat takes the magic of Dat $tick in an unexpected direction. In so doing, Rich Chigga demonstrates that he’s a multidimensional writer and vocalist, and one with enough depth to far outpace the typical YouTube sensations.
And the dedicated audience that he’s built is right there with him as he evolves: the Glow Like Dat clip was viewed more than four million times in the first seventy two hours since it’s been uploaded to the Web. This autumn, Rich Chigga will headline his first national tour: 31 dates, including concerts in major venues in Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City. His momentum is unstoppable.
You need to get on board with Rich Chigga before the bullet train of Brian and his crew take over this world.