Get familiar with Chester one of the most talented up and coming artist on the West Coast. He grew up in the Low Bottoms, where life moves fast and lessons come early. His mom worked for the school district, holding things down the best she could. His dad was in and out of jail. The streets filled in the gaps. He wasn’t sheltered from the world — he learned it by living it.
Music found him young. At 10 years old, Chester stepped into rap for the first time. His cousin Duke Riddes wrote his first verse. Not long after, his dad connected him with IV Life Records. That early push mattered. So did the guidance from DJ Slip, who took him under his wing and helped him understand what it meant to take the craft seriously. Chester landed his first radio drop on the Steve Harvey Morning Show and recorded tracks with West Coast names like Tray Deee and Goldie Loc. For a kid from the block, those moments weren’t small — they were proof.
He grew up listening to the Eastsiders, Mystikal, and the Hot Boys. That mix of West Coast game and Southern energy shaped his ear. Today, he describes his sound simply: authentic West Coast hip-hop. No gimmicks. No chasing trends. Just real stories told how he lived them.
Most of the music people hear from Chester didn’t start in a major studio. It started in the closet of his spare bedroom. He bought a Focusrite interface, set up his own space, and recorded at home. That’s where he found his flow. Once he locked in, he expanded into local studios like Paramount Studios and The Green House. But the hunger and discipline were built in that small room, working until the sound felt right.
Outside of music, his memories are tied to places that shaped his youth — Skate Depot, Universal CityWalk, and “The Takeover” on Crenshaw. Those were the spots where friendships were built and reputations were tested. Every city kid has landmarks that mean more than they look. For Chester, those places are part of his blueprint.
On February 13, 2026, he released his debut EP, Before the Fame and Fortune. The title says a lot without saying too much. It’s about the grind before recognition, the work before rewards. The project feels personal because it is. It reflects where he’s been and makes it clear he’s not done building.
Chester is quick to acknowledge the people who helped him along the way — Chasity, Pete Millz, Damian Eskridge, Uncle Darnell, Russell Brown, SJ Slip, and Ajaxx. Behind every artist carving out their own lane is a circle that believed early. He doesn’t forget that.
