BJ the Chicago Kid
BJ the Chicago Kid | |
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File:BJtheChicagoKid.jpg | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Bryan James Sledge |
Also known as | BJ |
Born | November 23, 1984 |
Genres | R&B, Neo soul, soul, hip hop soul |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | Motown |
Associated acts | Dubb Union, Fly Union, Ab-Soul, Freddie Gibbs, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q |
Website | www.BJtheChicagoKid.com |
Bryan James Sledge,[1] better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid (or simply BJ), is an American singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. Sledge is best known for frequently collaborating with Top Dawg Entertainment recording artists Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Rock. He has also worked with several other prominent rappers, such as Freddie Gibbs, Warren G, Big K.R.I.T., GLC and Kanye West among numerous others.
Sledge's first work in the music industry was on a Dave Hollister record in 2001, titled "For You", which he co-wrote alongside Gerald Haddon. Sledge's vocals were first featured on a high-profile single in 2006; a song by Chicago rapper Kanye West titled "Impossible", released in promotion for the 2006 American film Mission: Impossible III. In February 2012, he independently released his debut studio album, Pineapple Now-Laters. Sledge subsequently secured a record deal with Motown, in August 2012. The label then serviced the Pineapple Now-Laters song "Good Luv'n", as Sledge's commercial debut single.
Life and career
2001–2008: Early life and career beginnings
Bryan Sledge was born to church choir directors in Chicago, Illinois. He became inspired to pursue a music career after seeing Janet Jackson perform on tour.[2] At the age of 19, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became a backup singer for American gospel duo, Mary Mary. He also performed on Stevie Wonder's A Time to Love (2005). He later wrote for R&B and gospel artists such as Crystal Aikin, Shirley Caesar, Lalah Hathaway, Joe and Kindred the Family Soul.[3] Later performed on Kanye West's single "Impossible," which also features Twista and Keyshia Cole.[4]
2009–2011: Mixtapes
In 2009, Sledge released his debut mixtape, A Taste of Chicago, under the moniker BJ the Chicago Kid. Later that year, he followed up with The New Beginning. In 2011, he released his third mixtape, titled The Life of Love's Cupid.[5]
2012–present: Debut album and Motown record deal
In February 2012, Sledge independently released his debut studio album, titled Pineapple Now-Laters, under M.A.F.E MUSIC LLC. In August 2012, it was announced that Sledge signed a recording contract with American record company, Motown.[6] After inking his new deal with the label, Motown Label Services began promoting the Pineapple Now-Laters track "Good Luv'n," at Urban and Rhythmic radio formats in North America and released it as a single via digital distribution.[7]
In February 2013, Sledge released a track titled "Honey." Sledge's collaboration with American rappers Freddie Gibbs and Problem, titled "Smokin' and Ridin'", is featured on Radio Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V, the fifth installment in the critically acclaimed video game series. In October 2013, Sledge revealed he began working on his major label debut, which was announced to be released sometime in 2014.[5] Later that year, in December 2013, Sledge released a Christmas-themed extended play (EP), titled A Soulful Christmas, for free online.[8]
On April 22, 2014, West Coast rapper Schoolboy Q released "Studio", which features vocals from Sledge, as the fourth single from his album Oxymoron. "Studio" acquired Sledge Billboard chart placement and went on to chart in the Top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. On November 19, 2014, Sledge released his fourth mixtape, The M.A.F.E. Project. The mixtape features 12 songs and guest appearances from Freddie Gibbs, Sasha Go Hard, Schoolboy Q and Smoke DZA.[9] On December 23, 2014, Motown Records released a song from the The M.A.F.E. Project titled "It's True", which features a verse from Schoolboy Q, as a single. The single was accompanied by a music video directed by Verluxe.[10][11]
Discography
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Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B | ||||||||||||
Pineapple Now-Laters |
|
— | — |
|
|||||||||
In My Mind | 43 | 7 | |||||||||||
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. |
EPs
Title | Album details |
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A Soulful Christmas[14] |
|
Mixtapes
Title | Album details |
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A Taste of Chicago[15] |
|
The New Beginning[16] |
|
The Life of Love's Cupid[17] |
|
The M.A.F.E. Project[9] |
|
Singles
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B |
||||
"Good Luv'n"[18] | 2012 | — | — | Pineapple Now-Laters | |
"It's True"[19] (featuring Schoolboy Q) |
2014 | — | — | The M.A.F.E. Project | |
"That Girl"[20] (featuring OG Maco) |
2015 | — | — | non-album single | |
"Church"[21] (featuring Chance the Rapper and Buddy) |
— | — | In My Mind | ||
"The Resume"[22] (featuring Big K.R.I.T.) |
— | — | |||
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B/HH |
|||
"Impossible"[23] (Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole and BJ) |
2006 | 103 | 54 | non-album singles |
"In the Zone"[24] (David Banner featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2010 | — | — | |
"Crazy Generation"[25] (Black Collar Biz featuring BJ the Chicago Kid, Muzicgeek and Cash Gotti) |
2014 | — | — | High Grade Artistry |
"Studio" (Schoolboy Q featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
38 | 10 | Oxymoron | |
"Last Dance"[26] (Rapper Big Pooh featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | non-album single | |
"Down for You" (Kehlani featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2015 | — | — | You Should Be Here |
"The Waters" (Anderson .Paak featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2016 | — | — | Malibu |
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Other performer(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Welcome to the Majors" | 2008 | Dubb Union | Snoop Dogg Presents: Dubb Union |
"Westurn Union" | Dubb Union, Daz Dillinger | ||
"Struggle" | Dubb Union | ||
"Miles Away" | |||
"Truly Yours" | 2009 | Diz Gibran | Soon You'll Understand |
"Faith" | Kendrick Lamar | The Kendrick Lamar EP | |
"True Star" | Warren G | The G Files | |
"Fanatic" | Xzibit, Poo Bear | NBA Live 10 soundtrack | |
"All Eyez on Me (The Truth)" | Young Dre The Truth, 2Pac | ||
"The Coldest" | 2010 | Freddie Gibbs | Str8 Killa |
"R.O.T.C. (Interlude)" | Kendrick Lamar | Overly Dedicated | |
"So Real" | GLC | Love, Life & Loyalty | |
"Field Ni*#a Blues" | Mikkey Halsted, Freddie Gibbs | The Darkroom | |
"I'm Good" | 2011 | Schoolboy Q, Punch | Setbacks |
"Show You" | Pac Div | Mania | |
"Almost There" | Ab-Soul | Longterm Mentality | |
"Look Up to the Sky" | Fly Union, P. Blackk | TGTC (The Greater Than Club) | |
"Do It for You" | Fly Union, Pac Div | ||
"Barely M.A.D.E. It" | Freddie Gibbs | Cold Day In Hell | |
"Kush & Corinthians (His Pain)" | Kendrick Lamar | Section.80 | |
"Finest Hour" | Jay Rock, Rick Ross | Follow Me Home | |
"Take a Look Around" | Kindred the Family Soul, Bilal | Love Has No Recession | |
"Lust Demons" | 2012 | Ab-Soul, Jay Rock | Control System |
"Shame" | Freddie Gibbs, Madlib | Shame | |
"Good Good Love" | Rapsody | The Idea of Beautiful | |
"We On (Must Be)"[27] | Marcus Orelias | Rebel Of The Underground | |
"Love = Hate / Ulterior Motives" | 2013 | Casey Veggies | Life Changes |
"Life Is a Gamble" | Big K.R.I.T. | King Remembered In Time | |
"Everybody's Something" | Chance the Rapper, Saba | Acid Rap | |
"Smokin' and Ridin'" | Freddie Gibbs, Problem | The Music of Grand Theft Auto V | |
"Holy Holy" | Vic Mensa, Ab-Soul | INNANETAPE | |
"Shame"[28] | 2014 | Freddie Gibbs & Madlib | Piñata |
"A Project Mind"[29] | Punch, Jay Rock | N/A | |
"Lionheart"[30] | Nefew | Rise of the Antihero | |
"Like Me" | 2015 | Joey Bada$$ | B4.Da.$$ |
"To Be Young"[31] | Fashawn | The Ecology | |
"Slip Slide" | Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, B.o.B, Busta Rhymes, Janelle Monáe | Surf | |
"Windows" | Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, Raury | ||
"Expressive" | Slum Village, Illa J | Yes! | |
"Khalil's Song"[32] | Skeme | Ingleworld 2 | |
"Beautiful Love" | Jill Scott | Woman | |
"It's All on Me"[33] | Dr. Dre, Justus | Compton | |
"Life Song" | Casey Veggies | Live & Grow | |
"Can't Be Still" | Big K.R.I.T. | It's Better This Way | |
"Game Over" | Omarion | Care Package 3 | |
"In the Streets" | Busta Rhymes, MF Doom | The Return of the Dragon (The Abstract Went On Vacation) | |
"The Waters" | 2016 | Anderson .Paak | Malibu |
"Lost Wild" | Bobby Hagens | Colors | |
"Real One"[34] | Achromatik | Where Do I Belong | |
"Blessings" | Chance the Rapper | Coloring Book |
Music videos
Title | Year | Director(s) |
---|---|---|
"Good Luv'n" | 2012 | Jerome D.[35][36][37] |
"Perfect" | 2014 | |
"Real Love Never Dies" | ||
"It's True" (featuring Schoolboy Q) |
Verluxe[38] | |
"That Girl" (featuring OG Maco) |
2015 | N/A |
"Church" (featuring Chance the Rapper and Buddy) |
Scott Lazes[39] | |
"Nothin' But Love" (featuring Joey Bada$$) |
N/A | |
"The Resume" (featuring Big K.R.I.T.) |
Scott Lazes[40] | |
"Love Inside" (featuring Isabella) |
2016 | N/A |
"Turnin' Me Up" |
References
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- ↑ http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/bj-the-chicago-kid-its-true-schoolboy-q
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External links
- Official website
- BJ the Chicago Kid at AllMusic
- BJ the Chicago Kid discography at Discogs
- BJ the Chicago Kid on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Articles to be split from April 2016
- All articles to be split
- Pages with Split section templates needing conversion of 2 to discuss
- Official website not in Wikidata
- Living people
- 21st-century American singers
- African-American male singers
- Motown artists
- Singers from Chicago, Illinois
- African-American singer-songwriters
- African-American songwriters
- Songwriters from Illinois
- American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
- American soul singers
- American hip hop singers
- 1984 births