The undisputed Godfather of Chicago drill rap releases his new single “Smokin Cali” today via Machine Entertainment Group. The Pat Banahan-directed video finds Louie enjoying summertime chi yacht vibes at Chicago’s “playpen” downtown while he floats over the Malcolm Flex-produced beat. “Smokin Cali” is available everywhere now.
A pioneer of Drill rap, Louie gave hip-hop everywhere a colorful view into the darkness of the Southside. He birthed the next generation of Windy City MCs like G Herbo and inspired colossal collabs with homegrown stars like Twista (“Koolin”) and Yeezy (“Send It Up” ). He released 2014’s Tony, which featured his biggest records to date––“B.O.N,” “Live & Die In Chicago,” and “Til I Meet Selena”––and led to his 20-city Tony Tour. Signing his first deal with Epic Record, unaware of the future complications, Louie released his major-label single debut “Val Venis”. Tribulations would arise in 2015, as Louie would suffer a bullet to the head. Surviving death didn’t resuscitate his career as it had other MCs. Instead, depression set in coupled with continued label woes, Louie put the focus on his daughter and began to remember the first half of his stage name – “King.” 2021 marks the return of King Louie with whom rap fans fell in love.
