Date Signed: December 2024
Label: Warner Records
Type of Music: Hip-Hop, Rap
Management: Estelle Mata
Booking: Independent
Legal: Jasmine Britton, David McGriff
Publicity: Yash Zadeh, Dionté Williams
A&R: Tim Hinshaw
Web: azchikeofficial.com
South Central rapper AZ Chike (pronounced ay-zee chyke) has kicked off a new chapter of his already-impressive career by signing with Warner Records. It’s been a long journey to get to this point, not without its ups and downs, but a major label deal is the just reward.
“I started rapping and writing in 2013, but it wasn’t until 2016 that I got serious about becoming an artist,” Chike says. “My first performance was in 2017 at a Show Banga show at a bar and grill in San Francisco.”
The rapper says that seasoned hip-hop and R&B executive Tim Hinshaw played a big role in making the Warner deal happen.
“When I dropped ‘Love Your Weapons,’ he saw the growth in my sound, lyrics, and visuals and reached out about joining the Warner family,” he says.
"We are thrilled to welcome AZ Chike to Warner Records at such a pivotal moment in his career,” said Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-Chairman and CEO of Warner Records, in a statement. “As an artist who has built
incredible momentum over the past year, Chike, who was brought in byour partner Tim Hinshaw (Free Lunch), has already captivated audiences and proven his impact. His talent, vision, and artistry have set him apart, and we are honored to support and help bring his music to an even larger global audience."
"Whatx2” is Chike’s debut single for Warner, and it comes complete with a video that features baby goats.
“’Whatx2’ is fun, serious, open, and dangerous,” Chike says. “My sound has evolved through maturity—I've been incorporating live instruments and focusing more on structure. It was recorded in North Hollywood with my producer, Asif, about two weeks after I recorded ‘Peekaboo’ in October 2024. It’s a modern spin on '90s old-school hip-hop.”
With the deal and first single in the can, AZ Chike will be looking to build on those accomplishments this year.“
For 2025, I’m focused on building myself as an artist,” he says. “Capitalizing on opportunities and working on an album.”
