BJ the Chicago Kid

Biography

Bryan James Sledge (born November 23, 1984), better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid (or simply BJ), is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Chicago, Sledge is best known for frequently collaborating with Top Dawg Entertainment recording artists Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay Rock. He has also worked with several other prominent rappers, such as Freddie Gibbs, Warren G, Nekfeu, Chance the Rapper, Big K.R.I.T., GLC, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, and Joey Badass, among numerous others.
Sledge's first work in the music industry was on a Dave Hollister record in 2001, titled "For You", which he co-wrote alongside Gerald Haddon. Sledge's vocals were first featured on "Impossible", a 2006 song by Chicago rapper Kanye West released in promotion for the 2006 American film Mission: Impossible III. In February 2012, he independently released his debut studio album, Pineapple Now-Laters×Pineapple Now-Laters21 February 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Pineapple Now-Laters (intro)1:592East Side High 2012 & Forever1:093Sex X Money X Sneakers3:324Fly Girl Get'em3:215Good Luv'n3:496The Big Payback2:457"Aiight"3:338Good Love3:469White Picket Fence (interlude)0:2810Sex Is the Best Breakfast2:1311Plai Boi3:3612Other Side3:4613I Want You Back/Lady Lady5:0814Dream II5:4715His Pain5:2916King Kong2:2017Hood Stories Vol. 13:50. Sledge subsequently secured a record deal with Motown, in August 2012. The label then serviced the Pineapple Now-Laters song "Good Luv'n", as Sledge's commercial debut single.

1984–2008: Early life and career beginnings

Bryan Sledge was born to church choir directors in Chicago. He grew up in the Brainerd neighborhood on Chicago's South Side. Sledge became inspired to pursue a music career after seeing Janet Jackson perform on tour. At the age of 19, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became a backup singer for American gospel duo Mary Mary. He also performed on Stevie Wonder's A Time to Love (2005). He later wrote for R&B and gospel artists such as Crystal Aikin, Shirley Caesar, Lalah Hathaway, Joe and Kindred the Family Soul. Later, he performed on Kanye West's single "Impossible," which also features Twista and Keyshia Cole.

2009–2011: Mixtapes

In 2009, Sledge released his debut mixtape, A Taste of Chicago×A Taste of Chicago22 June 2009 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Change Gon Come1:502Friday Night1:503Nasty2:594Who’s?1:515Make It Right4:246Call Me4:057Sexual Healing2:088Pimp Hard5:119Denial5:3810Of All Time4:4211Truly Yours5:13, under the moniker BJ the Chicago Kid. Later that year, he followed up with The New Beginning. In 2011, he released his third mixtape, titled The Life of Love's Cupid×The Life of Love's Cupid9 September 2011 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Intro #Killeverythangmovin0:282Electric Feel3:063Feel Like Making Love3:404How Does It Feel2:265Can You Stand the Rain1:476Heartless4:4672wice3:058I Wanna Know2:279Party3:4010It's a Man's World3:53.

2012–2016: In My Mind and Motown record deal

In February 2012, Sledge independently released his debut studio album, titled Pineapple Now-Laters×Pineapple Now-Laters21 February 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Pineapple Now-Laters (intro)1:592East Side High 2012 & Forever1:093Sex X Money X Sneakers3:324Fly Girl Get'em3:215Good Luv'n3:496The Big Payback2:457"Aiight"3:338Good Love3:469White Picket Fence (interlude)0:2810Sex Is the Best Breakfast2:1311Plai Boi3:3612Other Side3:4613I Want You Back/Lady Lady5:0814Dream II5:4715His Pain5:2916King Kong2:2017Hood Stories Vol. 13:50, under M.A.F.E MUSIC LLC. In August 2012, it was announced that Sledge signed a recording contract with American record company, Motown. After inking his new deal with the label, Motown Label Services began promoting the Pineapple Now-Laters track "Good Luv'n," at Urban and Rhythmic radio formats in North America and released it as a single via digital distribution.
In February 2013, Sledge released the track titled "Honey." Sledge's collaboration with American rappers Freddie Gibbs and Problem, titled "Smokin' and Ridin'", is featured on Radio Los Santos in Grand Theft Auto V, the fifth installment in the critically acclaimed video game series.
In October 2013, Sledge revealed he began working on his major label debut, which was then announced to be released sometime in 2014. Later that year, in December 2013, Sledge released a Christmas-themed extended play (EP), titled A Soulful Christmas×A Soulful Christmas23 December 2013 · EP · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1S.C.C.S.T.T.G.3:572My New Christmas List4:033Chestnuts3:594This Christmas5:345Merry Christmas (Free Feature)3:326Baby3:27, for free online.
On April 22, 2014, West Coast rapper Schoolboy Q released "Studio", which features vocals from Sledge, as the fourth single from his album Oxymoron. "Studio" acquired Sledge Billboard chart placement and went on to chart in the Top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. On November 19, 2014, Sledge released his fourth mixtape, The M.A.F.E. Project×The M.A.F.E. Project19 November 2014 · Studio album · Mixtape/StreetSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Strawberry Bubblegum ;)3:132B.A.M.3:303Wednesday Weekend3:294One in a Million8:355Perfect / Skit4:116Gimme Mo4:187Good Karma3:578Go Girl3:589Can't Hold My Liquor / It's True9:4510Real Love Never Dies3:1011What You Do to Me2:2212Soul of a Woman4:08. The mixtape features 12 songs and guest appearances from Freddie Gibbs, Sasha Go Hard, Schoolboy Q and Smoke DZA. On December 23, 2014, Motown Records released a song from The M.A.F.E. Project titled "It's True", which features a verse from Schoolboy Q, as a single. The single was accompanied by a music video directed by Verluxe.
On February 19, 2016, Sledge released his major label debut album, In My Mind×In My Mind19 February 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Intro0:412Man Down3:293Church4:474Love Inside3:485The Resume6:036Shine3:197Wait Til the Morning4:558Heart Crush4:399Jeremiah/World Needs More Love5:4210The New Cupid5:2111Woman’s World3:3612Crazy4:0313Home3:3014Falling On My Face4:0315Turnin’ Me Up4:29 (2016), featuring collaborations with Chance the Rapper, Big K.R.I.T., and Kendrick Lamar. The album’s standout tracks, including "Church" and "Turnin’ Me Up," solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary R&B.

Continued success and Grammy recognition (2017–present)

Sledge continued to release music that resonated with fans, including the mixtapes The Lost Files: Cuffing Season (2016), and A Tribute to Confessions (2017). In 2018, he released the EP The Opening Ceremony×The Opening Ceremony11 May 2018 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Going Once, Going Twice3:442Nothin Into Something3:503Rather Be With You4:26.

His third studio album, 1123 was released on July 26, 2019. The album earned him two Grammy nominations for Best R&B Album, and Best Traditional R&B Performance for the song Time Today×Time Today26 April 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Time Today3:20.
In May 2023, it was announced that BJ The Chicago Kid had signed with the RCA Records distributed label Reach The World, which was founded by producer Yeti Beats. Primarily produced by Yeti Beats, Sledge released his fourth album, Gravy×Gravy10 November 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Best Night Of Your Life (Intro)3:422Spend The Night3:133Never Change4:174Forgot Your Name3:395Liquor Store In The Sky3:206Get Loose3:377Who Cares3:488Honey3:299Long Time3:4810Smoke Break2:1011Feel Something Do Something3:1012Feel Good4:1613Crazy Love3:1514Nobody Knows2:1415We'll Be Alright (Outro)3:2416Never Change4:0417Crazy Love (Live from The Sun Rose)3:2018Forgot Your Name (Live from The Sun Rose)3:25 (2023), further showcasing his evolution as an artist.