Persistence may pay off in the long run, but long runs don’t keep the lights on. Such is the detrimental mentality most rappers like Redford, MI’s Chief are faced with daily.

Despite status as a locally-cherished artist to many in the Mitten, on deep cuts like “Days I Remember,” this self-embattled MC still finds himself howling his sorrows over a Ben Price production that sounds as somber as the kid’s soul. After callousing work over eight releases, collabos with Detroit’s finest and nationwide spins on Shade 45, the fact homie’s still “…goin’ broke, buying the dreams that they sellin’ me…” is a God damn shame.

The ultimate irony is that casual fans will probably remember “Days” more for the Nas-lift from HHID’s acapella treasure “Hope,” than they will for Chief’s half-full glass of hip-hop reality.

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Download — Chief – “Days That I Remember”

The Broken EP drops February 14 on Mega Royal Records.