Gerard Spinks UndagroundMilli

“When much of your buzz can be attributed to one song, it may seem like you’re an overnight success story. But for Chalie Boy, his odyssey to become the next Lone Star State rap superstar began way before his bouncy, self-esteem boosting anthem, “I Look Good,” took over Texas’ airwaves this year. His desire to ascend to the top is nine long years in the making.

Raised in Calvert, Texas, Chalie’s musical tastes were shaped by various influences. His mother, a schoolteacher who played piano at church, got him involved with the Church Choir when he was three. In addition to showing him how to sing in tune, she taught him about song structure and tempo. His father exposed him to blues artists like Bobby Bland, B.B. King, and Johnny Taylor, while he devoured the sounds of Run-DMC, Sugar Hill Gang, and Grandmaster Flash with his friends.

However, Chalie’s desire to rhyme didn’t materialize right away as he focused on his grades and playing football, golf, and tennis. He began dabbling with bars when he was a junior in high school after a Texas legend gave him creative inspiration. “Around the time I was really tough on my UGK,” he recalls. “I’m a big fan of Bun B and his whole style and how he brought words out. He’s a real smart Southern rapper. I was thinking in my head, if I was to rap, I want to have a style and that gangsta lyricism as Bun B did.”

Inking a deal with Battery/Jive Records this past August, Chalie Boy is already working hard on his untitled debut, which will include a blend of celebratory street anthems and R&B songs showcasing his vocal chops. “My diehard fans are going to get everything they’ve been getting from me as Chalie Boy,” he says. “I’m not from a major city, but I have a voice, sound, and style that grabs your attention. I want people to know that I make good music, bottom line”.