King Louie

King Louie, born Louis Johnson, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois, widely regarded as one of the pioneering voices of the city’s drill scene. Emerging in the early 2010s, he helped shape the genre’s raw, minimalist sound alongside contemporaries, releasing a string of influential mixtapes and street anthems that captured the tension and energy of Chicago’s South Side.

His breakout mixtapes and tracks, including «My Hoes They Do Drugs» and «Val Venis», earned him a devoted local following before he expanded his reach through collaborations with major artists such as Kanye West, who featured Louie’s vocals on «Send It Up» from «Yeezus». That connection helped bring drill’s aesthetic to a wider audience and elevated Louie’s profile beyond Chicago.

Louie signed to Epic Records, further cementing his position within the broader rap industry while still maintaining strong ties to his hometown’s independent mixtape culture. His sound blends menacing, bass-heavy production with blunt, street-focused lyricism, and songs like «Michael Jordan» and «Eastside Shit» showcase the hard-edged, unfiltered style that made him a foundational figure in Chicago drill.