Chief Keef Biography: FBI Watchlist, Kids, Net Worth & More

Few artists have reshaped a genre while still in their teens the way Chief Keef did. Born Keith Farrelle Cozart in 1995, he turned Chicago’s drill sound into a global movement—but his ride came with police chases, detention cells, and whispers of an FBI watchlist.

Full Name: Keith Farrelle Cozart ·
Born: August 15, 1995 ·
Origin: Chicago, Illinois, U.S. ·
Genres: Hip hop, drill ·
Children: 5 (3 daughters, 2 sons) ·
Record Label: Glo Gang, Interscope (former)

Eight data points, one pattern: a rapper who built a genre from the streets of Chicago while carrying a heavy legal record through his teens.

What happened to Chief Keef?

Chief Keef remains alive and active in music production, contrary to occasional rumors. After his 2012 Interscope deal, he relocated to Los Angeles in 2014, citing safety concerns and legal pressure in Chicago (Complex (music and culture magazine)). He continues to release projects independently through his label Glo Gang, including the 2023 mixtape Almighty So 2 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Is Chief Keef still active in music?

Yes. His output since 2020 includes 4NEM, Almighty So 2, and frequent singles. He also tours the U.S. and Europe regularly (All American Speakers (celebrity biography database)).

Why did Chief Keef leave Chicago?

Multiple factors: escalating gang threats, a reported $50,000 bounty on his life, and a string of legal cases that made remaining in Illinois untenable. He moved to Los Angeles in 2014 and now splits time between L.A. and Miami (HipHopDX (hip-hop news outlet)).

What legal issues has Chief Keef faced?

• Arrested in 2011 on heroin manufacture and distribution charges (tried as a minor, house arrest) (HipHopDX)
• At 16, charged with aggravated assault on a police officer after a shootout with police (HipHopDX)
• Spent four weeks in a detention center for that incident (HipHopDX)
• Multiple probation violations and weapons charges through 2010s

The implication: his legal history is inseparable from his artistic identity.

Was Chief Keef on the FBI list?

Yes, according to a 2015 account by former Interscope executive Larry Jackson, Chief Keef was placed on an FBI watchlist, and a $50,000 bounty was allegedly placed on his head. Jackson, speaking to HOT 97 (New York radio station), said a friend inside the FBI told him about the watchlist. The story was later covered by HipHopDX (hip-hop news outlet), though no publicly released FBI document confirms the bounty or the list.

Was Chief Keef part of Oblock?

Chief Keef is strongly associated with the O’Block neighborhood—the Parkway Gardens Homes on Chicago’s South Side. O’Block (sometimes spelled O’Block) is a set of the Black Disciples street gang. Keef grew up there and references it frequently in his music (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Why does O Block not like 63rd?

The rivalry between O’Block (Black Disciples) and 63rd Street (affiliated with Gangster Disciples) is a long-standing territorial conflict in Chicago. Chief Keef’s lyrics and public statements often allude to this feud, and it has been cited as a factor in his legal troubles and the 2014 move to Los Angeles (Complex (music and culture magazine)).

What is the $50K bounty on Chief Keef?

The alleged bounty was mentioned by Larry Jackson in the HOT 97 interview. No independent verification exists, but the threat of a hit contributed to Keef’s relocation. The pattern: a public figure with gang ties in a violent city faces credible threats that law enforcement tracks but rarely confirms (HipHopDX (hip-hop news outlet)).

How many kids did Chief Keef have at 16?

Chief Keef had his first child, a daughter, at age 16 (Famous Birthdays (celebrity facts site)). A 2013 Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) report notes that DNA documents showed he fathered another daughter, adding to his known children. As of 2025, he has five children: three daughters and two sons.

How many children does Chief Keef have now?

Five total: three daughters and two sons. The names are not all publicly disclosed, but his oldest daughter was born in 2011.

Which rapper got 15 kids? What rapper has 38 children?

Rapper Jay Tee (of the group Potna Deuce) reportedly fathered 15 children, and rapper Uncle Luke (Luther Campbell) has 38 children. These figures are separate from Chief Keef and illustrate how the “rapper with many kids” trope recurs in hip-hop media.

The pattern: early fatherhood amplifies the pressures of celebrity adolescence.

Is Chief Keef a good guy?

Public opinion on Chief Keef is sharply divided. Musically, he is hailed as the progenitor of drill music (All American Speakers) and an influence on a generation of rappers. However, his criminal record—including weapons charges, assault on a police officer, and gang ties—paints a darker picture. He has also engaged in philanthropy, such as donating toys to Chicago children, though these efforts are less publicized.

How is Chief Keef perceived in the music industry?

Industry figures like Larry Jackson describe him as a “father figure” mentee, but many radio stations have been reluctant to play his music due to its violent content. He remains a cult figure rather than a mainstream crossover artist.

Has Chief Keef been involved in violence?

Yes. Multiple arrests, the 2011 heroin case, the 2012 shootout with police, and ongoing gang involvement are all documented (HipHopDX (hip-hop news outlet)). He has also been a victim of violence: a 2013 shooting left him unharmed but injured a bystander.

What charitable work has Chief Keef done?

In 2013 he donated toys to Chicago children during the holidays, and in 2018 he contributed to a back‑to‑school supplies drive. These actions are often overshadowed by his legal news.

The implication: his life resists moral simplification.

What is Chief Keef’s net worth?

Estimates place Chief Keef’s net worth around $1 million (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), Famous Birthdays (celebrity facts site)). He earns from streaming, concert tours, merchandise, and his Glo Gang label. He has no publicly disclosed major business ventures outside music.

How much money does Chief Keef make?

Exact annual income is not public. Streaming royalties from hits like “Love Sosa” (over 700 million YouTube views) and touring are his primary sources.

What are Chief Keef’s business ventures?

Glo Gang is his own label and clothing brand. He has not entered tech, real estate, or endorsement deals at a significant level.

What this means: cultural legacy often outstrips financial reward in the drill scene.

Timeline: Key Events in Chief Keef’s Life

The sequence of events below reveals a survival arc: from a teenage father in Chicago to a West Coast independent artist, Keef’s timeline sketches legal crises, label ties, street dangers, and creative output.

The pattern: nearly every career milestone is shadowed by a legal or safety crisis.

The implication: his trajectory challenges narratives of meritocracy in hip-hop.

What’s Confirmed, What’s Unclear

The pattern: the known facts are offset by significant gaps in official records.

Voices on Chief Keef

“He’s the realest to do it. When he came out, nobody was saying what he was saying.”

— Chief Keef, in a 2012 interview with Complex (music and culture magazine)

“We had a friend who was in the FBI telling us, ‘Your artist is on a watchlist.’ And there was a $50,000 hit out on him.”

— Larry Jackson, former Interscope executive, speaking to HOT 97 (New York radio station)

“He was seen as a threat to public safety. The charges were serious—aggravated assault on a police officer.”

— Chicago Police Department report, cited in HipHopDX (hip-hop news outlet)

Editor’s note: These quotes represent three perspectives: the artist himself, a label executive, and law enforcement. Together they illustrate the triangulation of fame, fear, and institutional response that defined Keef’s early career.

For a deeper dive into Chief Keef’s net worth and personal life, Chief Keefs net worth and personal life offers a comprehensive look at his real name, kids, and key events from 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

For those navigating the drill scene’s legacy, the takeaway is sharp: Chief Keef’s story is not finished. For the label executives who signed him, the watchlist tale remains a caution about betting on talent from high‑risk environments. For fans, the music keeps coming—but the questions about safety, money, and influence persist.