CHICAGO — On the day before his first album drops, Englewood teen rapper Chief Keef tweeted a picture of himself dressed as Santa holding what appears to be an assault rifle — along with a special holiday messages for the ladies: "These Bitches Love Santa" and "#HoeHoeHoes."
Ironically, the tweet posted at 2 a.m. on the day Cook County prosecutors had originally planned to argue in court that the 17-year-old gangster rap sensation, whose real name is Keith Cozart, should be locked up for violating his probation on charges that he pointed a gun at a police officer. That hearing was delayed to give prosecutors time to review video footage of Chief Keef shooting a gun in an on-camera interview with Pitchfork Media.
Chief Keef, a Banner High School dropout who signed a multi-million dollar record deal with Interscope Records, was ordered to avoid guns, drugs and gangs and pass a high school equivalency exam. His new court date in juvenile court is Jan. 28.
Chief Keef's recent legal troubles involving his probation stem for his penchant for pushing the envelope on social media. After the murder of rival teen rapper Joseph "Lil JoJo" Coleman, Chief Keef posted a tweet on his Twitter handle mocking the boy's death — "Its Sad Cuz Dat Nigga Jojo Wanted To Be Jus Like Us #LMAO."
Chicago police launched an investigation between Coleman's still unsolved murder and social media posts made by Chief Keef and his rap associates. The #LMAO tweet led to an investigation into whether Chief Keef had violated his juvenile probation, police sources said.
Chicago police still keep up on Chief Keef's whereabouts when the rapper, who recently relocated to Los Angeles, is in town for court hearings. On Sunday and Monday, gang and patrol units were notified to give special attention to sections of Englewood and Washington Park that Chief Keef is known to frequent, police sources said.
Part of the investigation into Coleman's murder was to determine Chief Keef's gang affiliation. Many of Chief Keef's tweets include a hashtag notation “#300” — which police say is a known reference to the Black Disciples street gang.
On Monday, the rapper tweeted a message that included the #300 hastag and a reference to his own legal troubles in what appeared to be a birthday message to an incarcerated friend: "Free Slick #300 Happy Birthday To Him I love My Nigga Jus To Busy To show Him And I got my Own Troubles But Free Bro When He Out He Str8."
On Monday police and prosecutors declined to comment on Chief Keef's recent Twitter messages and whether they are a violation of his probation.
At 61st and Normal, police SUVs patrolled Chief Keef's old stomping grounds and the home turf of a fraction of the Black Disciples known as "Lamron," which stands for Normal spelled backwards.
Englewood Community Academy freshman Dashay Howard who was walking her dog Princess said she's looking forward to getting Chief Keef's new album, Finally Rich, on Tuesday.
"I've seen him here, riding around in the car," said Howard, 14. "He stopped and waved. I'm gonna get the album. I just like his songs. People say bad things about out neighborhood, but he's making it out of here. I think that's a good thing."
On Monday, Chief Keef continually sent tweets promoting album sales including this one: "A year ago I didn't have $500 Now that I'm finally rich Im putting a ticket in one of my records worth $5000 if you buy it tweet a pic".
