CHIKA

Jane Chika Oranika known professionally as Chika, is a 23-year-old rapper, model and actress from Alabama. Here’s why you should be listening:

Over the past four years, Chika has cemented herself as one of the most outspoken and political artists in the music industry.

“As a queer black woman raised from immigrants, my entire existence is political,” says Chika.

She's gone viral on several occasions for her disses at fellow rappers that unwaveringly support racist, homophobic and sexist leaders. Chika’s also gone viral for her incredible freestyle flows and verses on body positivity, rightfully so.

She blew up on social media before signing to Warner Records in 2019. The following year, she was included in XXL's 2020 Freshman Class and was just nominated for the 2021 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.

Chika’s work is impactful; she has a short but very impressive discography.

Because so much of her popularity to date had been from her public, political views, she used her debut EP INDUSTRY GAMES to let her fans truly get to know her and show a little vulnerability.

Top tracks that deserve a listen: “Songs About You,” “Crown", and “Industry Games”

Chika is back today with a new, R&B heavy single “FWB," which stands for friends with benefits. Clearly she’s stepping away from that vulnerable side at the moment; it’s a track “for all my emotionally unavailable homies.”

Chika can sing, rap as fast as Busta Rhymes and win you over with her infectious personality all at once.

Check it out for yourself. I’ll just leave her Tiny Desk Concert here: