NOIRXSOUND

Getting to know Chase Shakur through his music has been a one-of-one Godsend.

I remember being deeply consumed in my AirPods during my corporate job — one I strongly disliked. My lunch hour was a 60-minute safe haven filled with noise-cancelled music and whatever cheap lunch my pockets could manage. One afternoon, sitting in my car and scrolling through SiriusXM, I landed on Channel 42 — Drake’s OVO Sound Radio — just as the intro to Chase Shakur’s “Too Far Close” started playing.

Within the first 10 seconds, I was hooked. The intro alone put me in a euphoric state — suspenseful and smooth. Then the first lyric dropped, and I couldn’t help but make the meanest stank face, nodding my head at how effortlessly he slid on the beat. I instantly added the song to my library, curious if there was more.

Soon after, I found Chase’s Apple Music page — and that’s when it hit me: I’d just struck gold. In 2022, good music was around, but my playlists were missing something. Chase’s sound filled that void completely.

Not long after, I dove into what I later learned was his first album, It’ll Be Fine. The project was everything you could want from a first impression — bold, personal, and pure. Listening to it felt like being invited into Chase’s world. The more I indulged, the more I connected. For months, the album stayed on repeat, practically going triple platinum in my car speakers.

Then I found out Chase was performing in Chicago. Without hesitation, I copped a ticket — I knew this show was going to be special.

November 11, 2023. The venue was a cool little speakeasy called Dorian’s. Not what I expected, but the vibe was right — good energy, good people, and the DJ had the crowd in sync. Twenty minutes after I walked in, Chase hit the stage and delivered exactly the kind of performance I’d hoped for. He performed everything I wanted to hear (and then some), passed out roses to the women in the crowd, and closed with the song that started it all: “Too Far Close.”

That moment — everyone rapping every lyric in a packed space, feeling the same energy — was one of those rare, unforgettable experiences.

After the show, my friends and I were still buzzing, talking about how great the set was. As we stepped outside, one of my friends suddenly stopped me. I turned — and there he was. Chase Shakur, just outside the venue.

Without thinking, I walked up, dapped him up, and told him how incredible the show was. It was surreal — meeting one of your new favorite artists right after witnessing him own the stage. That moment sealed it for me. Fast forward to this past summer, I saw Chase again on his Wonderlove Tour, and the energy was just as powerful — if not more. A year apart, two unforgettable shows, and music that keeps getting better.

Chase’s music found me at a time when I needed an escape — and somewhere along the way, it became part of my soundtrack for growth. Watching him evolve while I do the same makes every listen feel like coming back to something familiar yet new.