CHIKA Won’t Play Industry Games
The 23-year-old artist has been an on and off focal point of the web for years, but now she's back and here to stay with a debut EP and a budding rap career.
Written by Josh Whalen and Kriss Conklin
Photo courtesy of Time
Internet sensation and musician Jane Oranika, better known as CHIKA, has been labeled as a plus-size rapper, a female rapper, and a queer rapper throughout her career. But at the end of the day, she's just a rapper. And a model. And an actress. Period.
Hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, CHIKA has taken the internet by storm multiple times, from a viral video that surfaced after the 2016 election to numerous clips on Instagram, where the rapper posts 60-second freestyles. However, CHIKA is nothing like the other viral stars who sit atop their thrones of internet clout. The self-made star's rise to fame defies the attempts of numerous industry plants: she built her ever-growing fanbase with nothing but a once-humble social media presence and her raw talent. Although she signed to Warner Records in 2019, CHIKA has maintained control of her artistic vision from the beginning, as seen in her earlier singles and recent debut EP, Industry Games.
The small details in her music are what distinguish CHIKA from the rest of the rap industry. Her discography, composed of mainly autobiographical songs, reads as one big story from single to single. CHIKA raps about her childhood, insecurities and frustrations, and her reflections on navigating her newfound fame.
CHIKA’s discography may be small, it is mighty. Her music offers something for everyone: soul influences intertwined with heavy bars and funky bass lines to create a dazzling new sound unmatched by her contemporaries. In most tracks, CHIKA’s old-school flow is juxtaposed against modern beats, which pays homage to the MCs who came before her. A few standouts from CHIKA's 15-song discography include “High Rises,” an origin story track driven by a pulsing beat and melodic guitar notes, and “Can’t Explain It,” a fast-paced banger where the Southern rapper joins forces with famed R&B singer-songwriter Charlie Wilson while delving into the indescribable sensation of catching feelings.
Despite the constant praise for her fearless defiance of the industry's expectations, CHIKA never shies away from more personal sentiments. In “BALENCIES,” over dueling vocal harmonizations and a sultry bass line, she reminisces on the late nights when she wrote lyrics in the closet where her new Balenciaga shoes now sit. Soft string symphonies and chants of "I want fake love" can be heard in "DESIGNER," where CHIKA opens up about failed relationships and past mistakes on her path to stardom. Finally, in a display of humanity's core necessity, the rapper explores the desire for connection on the R&B-inspired single, “FWB.” CHIKA's ability to showcase her vulnerability while authentically connecting with listeners through her music makes her a beacon of sound in the industry.
As she slowly ascends to the top of her game, CHIKA’s story is just getting started. She was recently nominated as a Best New Artist contender for the 2021 Grammy awards and was crowned an XXL 2020 Freshman in August. With her earnest lyrics and open personality, CHIKA constantly strives to burst the industry's bubble of rigid expectations. She refuses to be silenced, and she'll continue to use her online platform to amplify her message of doing what she wants while drowning out the haters. Industry games be damned — CHIKA blazes her own trail.