Mr Chief Heavy Rotation (Ft. A.G. Lyonz)

Listen up hater. Yeah, you, making false notions that Mr. Chief is an Eminem wanna-be (Chief sites Mr. Mathers as an influence growing up, but, who wasn't?). Sure, both artists are Caucasian and grew up in two different Michigan neighborhoods, just over twenty miles apart. Both artists express anger, frustration, and ambition in harmony. This is where the juxtapositions end.

A YouTube video for Chief's "City Boy" (from 2006's Relapse, are you reading that right?) confirms 123,000+ views, which features a sped-up sample taken from Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." Regardless of whether you like this song for it's universal message or not, his drive cannot be denied.

Mr. Chief (otherwise known as Dave) has nine releases as of now.  One of those releases was a collaboration group called Past Due, which had a song called "All Mine" produced by Haircut (Mayer Hawthorne). Assuming Power drops on March 8, and his website advertises a free download.

Mr. Chief's delivery has developed more confidence with each record. He rhymes of retrospect, regret, escape, and truth on opener "Assuming Power." On "Just Let'm," he is addressing anyone who may question his lifestyle or career. The song delivers a haymaker to the non-sympathetic/empathetic scene which burdens so many poetically inclined artists, because the scene would rather conform.  

Elsewhere, Guilty Simpson turns up for an introducing co-signature verse on "I Can't Stand It" along with Wrekonize (iMAYDAY!). There is a variety of production on the album (notably from Chanes and Apollo Brown), but, the standout track is "With You" from Miami Beat Wave. Mr. Chief knows his audience well, and his appeal is easily passed on without having to be a hardcore hip hop fan. Anyone can relate.