King Chip

King Chip, formerly known as Chip Tha Ripper, has been scratching and clawing behind the scenes for the attention he is so deserving of. I have witnessed this struggle first hand. In 2010, Chip Tha Ripper opened for Kid Cudi at the University of Connecticut's Spring Concert. The majority of the crowd, made up mostly of drunk college kids who wanted nothing more than to hear "Day and Night" and "Make Her Say," booed the talented up and comer as he performed an extended set to cover for Cudi's delayed appearance on stage. Reminiscent of the reception Lupe Fiasco got during Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour, I felt bad for Chip, and even worse for the audience who missed out on true talent due to a combination of impatience and ignorance.

Chip has been quietly accumulating a humble, yet passionate fan base with six mixtapes and one studio album  to date. His most recent and most popular tape, entitled "Tell Ya Friends," which featured the likes of CyHi Da Prynce, KiD CuDi, and Bun B, has helped carry Chip's name further than ever before. A partnership with Chunk Inglish, the breath-of-fresh-air rapper/producer from Cool Kids, has led to some of the greatest voice/instrumental pairings I've ever heard. "Everyday Chillin'" is a perfect example of such, as the combination is so seamless that it's as if the two share the same creative mind.

Perhaps the greatest relationship Chip has made thus far, however, is Kid Cudi. Mutual friends led these two Ohio emcees to hook up and it wasn't long before Chip Tha Ripper was introduced to hip hop fans the world over. Cudi immediately saw great potential in Chip, giving him his first glimpse at the mainstream with a guest spot on "Man On The Moon: The End Of Day," Cudi's debut studio album. The mutual respect was evident, as Cudi gave Chip the first two minutes of the three and half minute song all to himself, to show the world what he was capable of. The opportunity was not wasted. Smooth lyrics and laid back flow only mask the lyrical intensity that King Chip brings to the table. In an interview with VladTV, Chip describes Cudi as the "brother he never had," an appreciation far too uncommon in the competitive world of hip hop.

(Everyday Chillin' - King Chip)

(Kid Cudi Interview With VladTV)