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BJ the Chicago Kid | |
|---|---|
 Sledge in July 2019 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Bryan James Sledge |
| Also known as | BJ |
| Born | November 23, 1984 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | bjthechicagokid |
Bryan James Sledge[1] (born November 23, 1984), better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid (or simply BJ), is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in 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, Nekfeu, Chance the Rapper, Big K.R.I.T., GLC, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, and Joey Badass, 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 "Impossible", a 2006 song by Chicago rapper Kanye West 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
1984–2008: Early life and career beginnings
Bryan Sledge was born to church choir directors in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Brainerd neighborhood on Chicago's South Side.[2] Sledge became inspired to pursue a music career after seeing Janet Jackson perform on tour.[3] 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.[4] Later, he performed on Kanye West's single "Impossible," which also features Twista and Keyshia Cole.[5]
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.[6]
2012–present: In My Mind 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.[7] 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.[8]
In February 2013, Sledge released the 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 then announced to be released sometime in 2014.[6] Later that year, in December 2013, Sledge released a Christmas-themed extended play (EP), titled A Soulful Christmas, for free online.[9]
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.[10] On December 23, 2014, Motown Records released a song from 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.[11][12]
On February 19, 2016, Sledge released his major label debut album, "In My Mind".
Sledge released his third studio album, 1123, on July 26, 2019.[13]
In May 2023, it was announced BJ The Chicago Kid signed with the RCA Records distributed label Reach The World, which was founded by producer Yeti Beats.[14]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||||||||||||
| Pineapple Now-Laters |
|
— | — |
| |||||||||
| In My Mind | 43 | 7 | |||||||||||
| 1123 |
|
||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Collaborative albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| Gravy (with Yeti Beats) [17][18] |
|
— | — | |
EPs
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| A Soulful Christmas[19] |
|
| The Opening Ceremony[20] |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| A Taste of Chicago[21] |
|
| The New Beginning[22] |
|
| The Life of Love's Cupid[23] |
|
| The M.A.F.E. Project[10] |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Adult R&B | |||
| "Good Luv'n"[24] | 2012 | — | — | — | Pineapple Now-Laters |
| "It's True"[25] (featuring Schoolboy Q) |
2014 | — | — | — | The M.A.F.E. Project |
| "That Girl"[26] (featuring OG Maco) |
2015 | — | — | — | non-album single |
| "Church"[27] (featuring Chance the Rapper and Buddy) |
— | — | — | In My Mind | |
| "The Resume"[28] (featuring Big K.R.I.T.) |
— | — | — | ||
| "Love Inside"[29] (featuring Isabella) |
2016 | — | — | — | |
| "Woman's World"[30] | — | — | 19 | ||
| "Turnin' Me Up"[31] | — | — | — | ||
| "Man Down"[32] (featuring Buddy, Constantine and PJ Morton) |
— | — | — | ||
| "The New Cupid"[33] (featuring Kendrick Lamar) |
— | — | — | ||
| "Time Today" | 2019 | — | — | 20 | 1123 |
| "Bring It On Home To Me" ((with PJ Morton & Kenyon Dixon) featuring Charlie Bereal) |
2021 | — | — | — | non-album single |
| "Spend The Night" (with Coco Jones) |
2023 | — | — | 23 | Gravy |
| "Criminal" (with Alice Ivy and Kah-Lo)[34] |
2024 | — | — | — | Do What Makes You Happy |
| "—" 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"[35] (Kanye West featuring Twista, Keyshia Cole and BJ) |
2006 | —[A] | 54 | Mission: Impossible III (soundtrack) |
| "In the Zone"[37] (David Banner featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2010 | — | — | non-album single |
| "Crazy Generation"[38] (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"[39] (Rapper Big Pooh featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | non-album single | |
| "Ride Out"[40] (Koache featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2016 | — | — | Game Point |
| "Cookie Addiction"[41] (Jay IDK featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | non-album single | |
| "Naturally"[42] (DJ Carisma featuring BJ the Chicago Kid and Casey Veggies) |
— | — | ||
| "Issues"[43] (Gary Soulz featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | ||
| "Cheating on Us"[44] (Salaam Remi featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | ||
| "Lost Wild"[45] (Bobby Hagens featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | ||
| "Forever Black America Again"[46] (Common featuring Gucci Mane, Pusha T and BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | ||
| "Angels Your Love"[47] (Mr Jukes featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2017 | — | — | God First |
| "Real One"[48] (Peter James featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2018 | — | — | non-album single |
| "Us 4ever" (Ledisi featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | Let Love Rule | |
| "Rouge à lèvres" (Nekfeu featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2019 | — | — | Les Étoiles vagabondes : Expansion |
| "Wishing for a Hero" (Polo G featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
2020 | —[B] | — | The Goat |
| "I Believe" (Joy Denalane featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) |
— | — | Let Yourself Be Loved | |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||
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 |