When discussing the marble monuments that make the foundations of hip-hop and the true visionaries of the genre, Finally Rich from Chief Keef takes a view from a Chicagoan 17-year-old who resembles a hustler’s spirit and rises to walls of plaques.

Opening with one of the most iconic first tracks in history, “Love Sosa” uses a sample from a Chief Keef fan addressing haters and people who say he isn’t really about it. Describing, and using the full quote out of respect, “Fuckers in school telling me, always in the barbershop ‘Chief Keef ain’t bout this, Chief Keef ain’t ’bout that,’ My boy a BD on fucking Lamron and them He, he, they say that nigga don’t be putting in no work. Shut the fuck up, Y’all niggas ain’t know shit. All y’all motherfuckers talkin’ about, ‘Chief Keef ain’t no hitter, Chief Keef ain’t this, Chief Keef a fake,’ Shut the fuck up, Y’all don’t live with that nigga. Y’all know that nigga got caught with a ratchet Shootin’ at the police and shit.”

The quote continues on to finish, “Nigga been on probation since fuckin’ I don’t know when Motherfucker, stop fuckin’ playin’ him like that. Them niggas savages out there, If I catch another motherfucker talking sweet about Chief Keef I’m fucking beatin’ they ass. I’m not fucking playin’ no more, Y’all know them niggas roll with Lil Reese and them…” When the longwinded sample finally finishes, what follows is one of the most popular and catchy hip-hop tracks of the last century.

The simple verse structure that describes, “These bitches love Sosa, (referring to Chief Keef), O End or no end. Fuckin’ with them O boys, you gon’ get fucked over. ‘Raries and Rovers, these hoes love Chief Sosa.” With this rattling hi-hat similar to an M-16 by Young Chop, the production is flashy and sounds perfect in a whip full of subs. The low-tuned 808s are practically a science to create serotonin for the brain.

Another track that amassed millions of views on YouTube and a remix from fellow Chicago native Kanye West, “I Don’t Like” is a rap song that could be played 50 years from now and still hit the same to a crowd. The energy from Young Chop on most of Finally Rich is electric, at the time was cutting-edge, and felt like a new advancement of youth into hip-hop.

With a chorus describing, “A fuck nigga, that’s that shit I don’t like. A snitch nigga, that’s that shit I don’t like…” He continues on until reaching topics like “Fake True’s that’s that shit I don’t’ like. Fake shoes, that’s that shit I don’t like.” The track comes off as repetitive on paper, but when heard for the first time omits this smile to the face, and images of weapons, shine, and a process in the making flash to the brain.

While Chief Keef is now a veteran of hip-hop and has been since the age of 16, but it takes some later cuts like “Laughin’ To The Bank” or “Understand Me” to take a spotlight off the flash of Finally Rich and show the energy that is unmatched into anyone else at the time. For the watchful eyes that came onto Chief Keef’s rise, hungry stomachs and a million more copycat style artists would follow after Finally Rich hit the scene.

So when Finally Rich turns 10 next year and the retrospective act is upon it, Finally Rich still is one of the most fun rap records even now. It takes the joy of being a young, successful shit-talker who can back it up and brings gold records to a battleground of sound.

Listen To Finally Rich Here!!! – Spotify/Amazon/iTunes