According to former Interscope executive Larry Jackson, Chief Keef was placed on an FBI watchlist and had a bounty on his head while he was still a teenager.
In an interview with The New York Times’ Popcast, Jackson, who currently leads the music/media company gamma., disclosed that he was informed of significant threats to Keef’s life and liberty following his signing with Interscope in 2012.
“With Chief Keef, it was more than just a vision.” “This is the first occasion that I’ve shared this story, but I received a call from a friend who was in contact with the FBI,” he stated.
“He informed me that this child [Chief Keef] was included on a watchlist.” He additionally mentioned that there is a $50,000 bounty on this kid, and you might want to take action regarding it.
Jackson added: “That’s not the conventional, professional viewpoint of an A&R executive [chuckles]. He got himself into some difficulties. I wrote a letter to the judge myself. My letter was impactful and convincing; it prevented him from going to jail.
“I somewhat took on a ‘father figure’ role.” It goes far beyond just, ‘Sure, let me sign this player because he’s in demand and there’s a bidding war.’ No, this had a much deeper vision — not only for the music but also for his entire life. “And we remain close to this day because of it.”
In the summer of 2012, Chief Keef signed with the major label for $6 million after the widespread popularity of his drill anthem “I Don’t Like.”
He put out his first album Finally Rich via Interscope later that year, but was let go by the label just two years later because of his legal problems at that time.
The Chicago-born individual, currently only 29 years old, has remained free from legal issues for several years.
He was most recently apprehended in 2017 for having cannabis in South Dakota. He entered a no contest plea to the charges and subsequently received a suspended sentence along with several fines.
As a teenager, Keef encountered significant legal issues that began in 2011 when he was arrested for producing and distributing heroin, and he underwent house arrest after being tried as a juvenile.
At 16 years old, he participated in a shootout with law enforcement in which he aimed his firearm at officers who returned fire but did not hit him.
Soon after, he was arrested and faced three charges of aggravated assault with a firearm against a police officer and unlawful use of a weapon. Consequently, he remained in a detention facility for four weeks.
