Rapper Chief Keef, real name Keith Farrelle Cozart, first burst on the scene in 2008 as a teenager. He earned two platinum plaques for his first single releases by the time he was 21.
The mercurial rap prodigy has routinely run into problems with law enforcement regarding his mixtapes and their content. And he’s even ended up on house arrest. He was one of the first rappers to use the fledgling YouTube platform to promote and release his tracks to a wider audience.
At that time…
You pretty much needed a major record deal to get airtime and exposure. So, let’s take a look at some of Chief Keef’s best songs from his illustrious and industrious career, starting with…
Top 50 Best Chief Keef Songs of All Time
1 Love Sosa
Many rap fans will agree that “Love Sosa” is probably the best-ever Chief Keef song. Of course, these things are subjective, but general consensuses are important. It’s my favorite and also in the eyes of the majority of his fans.
It was the second song released from his 2012 debut studio album, Finally Rich. The album is ten years old, but it still sounds remarkably fresh even today. And it was even a Chicago rap anthem for many years to come.
The track was produced by Young Chop, and it has a very mid-tempo and methodical sound that accentuated Keef’s rhyme style at the time.
As of today…
The track has over 250 million views on YouTube, making it one of the most popular Chief Keef songs in terms of exposure and commercial success. You can’t have the best Chief Keef songs of all time list without “Love Sosa” at the apex or close to it.
2 I Don’t Like It
“I Don’t Like It” is easily one of Chief Keef’s most successful songs and even went platinum. The track sprang to prominence on YouTube. But, it took off when Kanye West remixed it and added rap features from prominent artists such as Jadakiss, Big Sean, and Pusha T.
Keef doesn’t like trolls, fakers, and especially snitches. That’s a message that we could all rock with at the time and for eternity.
Chief Keef was only 16 years old when he made this track…
When you think about that, it’s truly sensational. He was years ahead of his age and even more in front of the game. The original version of the track was first released in 2012, produced by Young Chop, and also featured rapper Lil Reese.
Even now, this is seen as one of the most important songs that gave him the grounding to become the artist we know and love today.
3 Faneto
Modern-day rap tracks seem to be very watered down and inoffensive. But, in the early part of the 2010s, tracks were still centered around gangsterism and street life.
“Faneto” is all about that thug life. And even though it was originally released in 2014, it was still bumping years later in 2018. The lyrics are about Keef’s relationship with the gangster lifestyle and were defiantly a product of its time.
One interesting thing about the track…
Jay-Z flipped the lyrics of “Faneto” on his “APESHIT” track from his Everything Is Love joint album with Beyoncé. You won’t find a better compliment than that. “Faneto” is a hard track with a pulsating beat and forceful and aggressive lyrics. Just the way I like my rap music.
4 Hate Bein’ Sober (feat. 50 Cent & Wiz Khalifa)
“Hate Bein’ Sober” is a song with a message that most people can relate to. He hates being sober, and I know what he means.
The track was released in late 2012 and was featured as the third single from his album Brick Squad Soldier. With a monumental cameo appearance on the track from rap legends 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa, this could well be his most complete track ever.
The beat was once again produced by longtime collaborator Young Chop, and it really does bounce in the best possible way. When this used to hit the club, everyone was bopping. Tracks like this gem are why Keef went on to become a major player in the mainstream rap music industry in the 2010s.
5 Laughin’ To The Bank
If you are new to Keef’s music, this bonafide classic is a great place to start. “Laughin’ To The Bank” hit the streets running and changed the sound of Hip-Hop at the time.
The entire track is Keef bragging about how much cash he was making at the time. But, it’s the sound that is more groundbreaking than the lyrical content or subject matter.
A banger of the highest order…
“Laughin’ To The Bank” was released in 2012 from his debut studio album Finally Rich. The mid-tempo beat is sinister and hardcore to the tee, just how Keef’s fans like it.
I love a good rap about wealth and riches because that’s what people hold most important in life. When this track dropped a decade ago, it put Keef at the forefront of the rap industry for the first time.
6 Uh Uh (feat. Playboi Carti)
“Uh Uh” featuring Playboi Carti is a 2018 track from his Mansion Musick album. It’s one of his newer tracks but is still regarded as one of the best Chief Keef songs of all time. The track was produced by Pi’erre Bourne, and it brought attention to the Chicago rap scene at the time.
This is not the first time that Carti and Keef have collaborated on a joint. They worked together and appeared together on A$AP Rocky’s “Blowin Minds (Skateboard)” track.
The lyrics on this cut are very introspective and talk about Chicago street life and everything that comes with it. At the time, people outside of the city were only starting to realize what was happening on the Chi-Town streets. And this track epitomized that vibe at a specific moment.
7 Hallelujah
When it comes to classic Chief Keef songs, nothing bangs harder than “Hallelujah” from his Finally Rich album. It’s hard as hell and claps like a nuclear bomb. Keef flexes his lyrical muscles on this track.
The entire second verse ends with the same word, and not many rappers can pull that off. Rhyming the same word eight times is a pretty impressive feat of lyricism in my eyes.
Hard beats and intricate rhyme schemes are what make this track essential listening. If you are currently discovering his discography, no one can underestimate how important this rap was for his popularity and reputation at the time.
8 Kay Kay
You’ve probably noticed that the majority of the Top 10 Chief Keef songs are from his ground-breaking Finally Rich album. “Kay Kay” is also from that same record that launched his career in the mainstream.
He spits straight-up street gospel on this song, and it’s one of his most real tracks ever. It’s also important to mention that this track was co-written by Kevin Erondu, who is a Florida rapper better known as K.E.
He captures street life from a unique angle…
And he doesn’t do gangster rap in the normal way. That’s why I called it street gospel instead of gangster rap. There’s always a different twist and angle where the Chief is concerned. That’s a unique thing that has made him such a big name in the industry.
9 No Tomorrow
“No Tomorrow” is yet another classic track from 2012’s Finally Rich. It’s one of the catchier and lighter tracks from that album for a few reasons. The cool synths and driving vocals work perfectly on this cut. They make it pop and stand out on a record that is full to the brim with classic Keef jams.
If you need some advice and inspiration about taking life by the horns or living in the moment, this is the track for you. The tune is intrinsically positive, and the rhyme pattern delivery is on point and almost untouchable.
Mike Will Made-It produced the beat, and what a fine piece of music it is that complements Keef’s rhyming.
10 Kobe
If you know anything about the Chief, you’d already understand that the late Kobe Bryant was his favorite NBA player. Although “Kobe” was originally released back in 2012, it was also added to the Deluxe Edition of Lil Uzi Vert’s Eternal Atake album, released in March 2023.
It got into the Top 20 of the Billboard 100 charts. It’s a track that has spanned almost a decade and still sounds as fresh as ever.
But let’s put all this into perspective…
Keef initially made this track when he was only 17 years old. That’s an impressive feat right there. He was almost a generation ahead of the game at the time, and that’s why he remains relevant today. It’s also nice to know that the Chief gave Kobe the respect he was due before his untimely passing.
11 3Hunna
“3Hunna” was always a very original track, in my opinion. Especially for something that was released back in 2012.
Back in the day, Rick Ross loved this tune and jumped on it right away, and no one could blame him for that. It’s another classic Keef song from Finally Rich, where every track seems to be something to remember. And, for fans, that’s just what that album was.
The tempo is a bit slower than some of his tracks at the time. But it’s still pretty hype and still gets played today over ten years later. It might not be the best or most successful track, but it’s still right up there in the Chief Keef discography.
12 Save That Shit (feat. Soulja Boy)
When his Back From The Dead mixtape hit the streets back in 2012, it made waves so massive that it could obliterate a coastal village.
“Save That Shit” was a massive part of that mixtape’s success and was downloaded over half a million times. Having Soulja Boy on the track also helped its popularity at the time.
Some fans think this is Keef’s rawest song to date…
I would not argue that premise. It’s harder than a streetwalker in skimpy clothing on a winter’s morning on the corner. I couldn’t make this list without finding a place for this hardcore Keef jam, and I know that real fans out there feel what I am saying.
13 Finally Rich
“Finally Rich,” which is the same name as his first album, might not have banged as hard as some tunes on the album. But it was, and still is, impressive.
When it was released in 2012, it reached #2 on the Billboard Rap Charts and #29 on the Billboard 100. This is an award-winning track that shot Keef to mainstream prominence, and he never looked back.
The lyrics were conversational and touched on being released from prison. The album was #14 on the Top 40 Hip-Hop Albums list in 2013. Although, at the time, he was just transitioning from an independent YouTube artist into the mainstream rap industry.
14 Citgo
It’s funny that “Citgo” was only a bonus track on the Finally Rich album, but it has stood the test of time. It was once again produced by Young Chop, and like all these collaborations between the two, it always hits the mark in terms of quality.
It ranked quite high on many different best rap songs for 2013 lists, and that should give you a clear impression of how good it was.
15 Ballin
Considering it was made a decade ago, “Ballin” is quite a fresh track in terms of its unique sound and production value. This is still a tune I listen to today because it’s stood the test of time.
The subject matter showed how the rapper was quite honest about his “Ballin” status at the time instead of lying and embellishing his riches. And, if you get a chance to watch the official video, you should because it works perfectly in tandem with the vibe and lyrics.
16 Diamonds (feat. French Montana)
The Malcolm X monologue at the beginning of “Diamonds” featuring French Montana sets the tone for the track. It’s another decade-old tune from the artists that still sounds amazing today.
I think this is one of Chief Keef’s most underrated songs. It’s sometimes forgotten tracks, but not for me or his hardcore fan base.
It might still only have under 1 million views on YouTube, but success and quality don’t always work hand in hand. They are not mutually exclusive. Some of my favorite tracks of all time were not commercially successful, so views don’t tell the full story where this joint is concerned.
17 Earned It
When “Earned It” was released in 2015, it quickly became one of the best Chief Keef songs of all time, and it still is today.
This is another Young Chop-produced banger, but it wasn’t featured on any specific album. He referenced Barack Obama and Justin Bieber in the verses, and is quite entertaining lyrically if you carefully listen to it.
Other notable information is that the track was co-written by The Weeknd. So, if you are a fan, this should also be of interest to you. The beat is mid-temp and quite simple in its conception, leaving lots of space for Keef to spit the tight flows and lyrics.
18 Understand Me (feat. Young Jeezy)
Everyone wants to be understood, but it can be difficult if you are unrelatable. Fortunately, Keef isn’t unrelatable to his fans, quite the contrary.
“Understand Me” is a classic cut once again from the Finally Rich album. The lyrical content talks about how money needs to be made and that people need to understand that.
Sometimes in life…
We have to go against our morals to make that dough. That might not be a great message for kids, but it’s a very real one rooted in street philosophy.
A cameo from Young Jeezy takes this track to the next level. Every time I hear this joint, it makes me think of the early 2010s and how much simpler life was a decade ago.
19 Superheroes (feat. A$AP Rocky)
A track of this quality would usually be higher on a best-songs list. But because this doesn’t quite hit the spot like some of his other tunes, I cannot place it higher.
Fans might not agree with this decision…
But I only have 20 choices, and the fact this one is included should tell you how great it was. “Superheroes” features the irrepressible A$AP Rocky, and it’s quite a banger, in my opinion.
It was originally released in 2015 from Keef’s Bang 3 album and is still a memorable collaboration today. Make sure you check out the official video for this joint because it includes some amazing visuals and even showcases a jaw-dropping Lamborghini.
Anyone who knows anything about the Chief will tell you how much he loves those kinds of luxury sports cars.
20 Nobody (feat. Kanye West)
“Nobody,” featuring Kanye West, is quite possibly his most musical track of all time in terms of melody. It doesn’t take a Jimmy Iovine to know that putting Chief Keef and Kanye West together would produce something special. Hell, even I could’ve told you that!
But they did get together, and yes, it was great in a musical sense. It might not be the best Keef collaboration, but it’s still right up there.
It was released in 2014 and is very auto-tune-heavy…
Even for tracks of that time. The beat was produced by 12Hunna and was an independent release, contrary to popular belief. The dreamy beat and the vocals from Keef and Ye are fantastic.
If you’ve never heard this song before, it’s about time you did. Although Kanye might not have made the beat, his eclectic style is all over this song.
21Love Sosa
22I Don’t Trust These Bitches
23I Ain’t Done Turnin’ Up
24Macaroni Time
25First Day Out
26Bang Pt. 2
27I Just Wanna (feat. Mac Miller)
28Citin’ the Blues
29Valley
30Almighty So
31Back From the Dead
32Don’t Like (Remix) (feat. Kanye West, Pusha T, Jadakiss, and Big Sean)
33Beetlejuice
34Go to Jail
35I Want Some Money
36Pull Up
37Faneto (Remix) (feat. Lil Bibby and Lil Herb)
38Where’s Waldo
39Save Me
40Let Me Know
41Walnuts
42Where
43Chiraq
44Black Ops
45Winning
46Russian Roulette
47Check It Out
48Lien
49Wheres Waldo
50Can You Be My Friend
Looking for More Great Tracks from Famous Rappers?
Well, have a look at our detailed articles on the Best Drake Songs of All Time, the Best Snoop Dogg Songs of All Time, the Best Kanye West Songs of All Time, the Best Lil Wayne Songs of All Time, and the Best 21 Savage Songs of All-Time for more incredible song selections.
Best Chief Keef Songs of All Time – Final Thoughts
When Chief Keef first appeared on the commercial music scene, he was only 16 years old. Today, he’s still only in his late twenties. And, considering how long he’s been operating at the highest levels of Hip-Hop, he’s still very young. We have watched him grow from a boy to a man.
And, considering how dangerous the music industry can be for young cats, he’s done amazing in keeping it all together and releasing tracks.
Generally speaking…
The very best Chief Keef songs are from 2012 when he released Finally Rich. You can see that by how many of those tracks made this list. It was an absolute classic that launched him from a YouTube rapper to the upper echelons of the game.
He hasn’t been very productive in the past couple of years. But he’s still young and has all the time in the world to evolve more, and we can all look forward to that.
Until next time, happy listening.
