For many, the name Chicken P is interchangeable with Milwaukee hip-hop. Hailed for his emotive lyricism and bass-heavy sound, the rapper first emerged onto the scene during the 2010s and cemented himself as a hometown hero through his extensive work with influential Midwest videographer TeeGlazedIt, tracks like 2021’s “Money Counter” (5M Streams), and the first two installments of his BussaBrick mixtape series, which featured the street anthems “Dawg Ass Chicken” (4M Streams), “Rollin” (10M Streams), and “People’s Favorite” (10M Streams). The momentum reached a tipping point in early 2024 following the release of BussaBrick Vol. 3 and a string of features with fellow Milwaukee newcomers Certified Trapper and Myaap, effectively catapulting him into underground rap’s upper echelons. Chicken P has since caught the eye of Sexyy Red, Peezy, YTB Fatt, and Jalen Green and has also received co-signs from rap heavyweights like Veeze, Rylo Rodriguez, Skilla Baby, and Babyface Ray. Now, after playing a pivotal role in pioneering Milwaukee’s street rap scene, Chicken P is taking his city’s sound national — and helping to lead its mainstream ascendance in the process.
Fresh off his recent feature for XXL, who hailed the Milwaukee rap star as “a leading force in the city’s vibrant hip-hop scene”, and his link-up with Chicago drill legend G Herbo for “Peter Piper”, Chicken P has just shared his new project Lights, Camera, Action — out now via Really Rich Empire/10K Projects. Alongside the aforementioned “Peter Piper” (feat. G Herbo), the 15-track project also follows recent singles “How It Goes” (feat. Hunxho), “In Cahoots”, and “Mad Too” and arrives on the heels of Chicken P‘s headlining nationwide 4Ever Lit Tour, which wrapped last week. Lights, Camera, Action marks his second full-length project of the year following the release of his Lit 4 Ever mixtape, a featureless, 10-track outing that boasted production from Pi’erre Bourne on “My YN”. A punchy exhibition of the Midwest staple’s boundless range, the tape found Chicken P expanding on the melodic sound showcased on November project Chick James, Vol. 1, a soul-inspired ode to pop icon Rick James that featured smash hit “Look Like” (11M+ Streams), and followed his collab with YTB Fatt on “1:45 In Milwaukee”.
With candid portraits of his come-up within Milwaukee street life, Chicken P has set himself apart from the rest of his state’s artists by refusing to adhere to the Midwest’s regional “lowend” sound on every release. Following tracks like “Venting” (15M+ Streams) and the “People’s Favorite” Remix (feat. 42 Dugg), Chicken P’s Chick James, Vol. 1 tape capped off a breakthrough year that also saw him put out BussaBrick Vol. 3, Hardest N****a Livin’ (#10 on Apple Music’s Hip-Hop Chart), 4EvaLit, and Still Bussin. Having racked up co-signs from rap staples like Sexyy Red, who brought him out as a surprise guest at her Milwaukee show, as well as Peezy, Veeze, Rylo Rodriguez, Skilla Baby, and Babyface Ray, plus NBA star Jalen Green, Chicken P has also recently made waves performing alongside 42 Dugg on his nationwide 4eva Us Neva Them Tour.
