Who Are the Top New Chicago Drill Rappers in 2025? A Comparison of BabyChiefDoit, PGF Nuk & Doodie Lo

Who are the leading new Chicago drill rappers in 2025? BabyChiefDoit, PGF Nuk, and Doodie Lo top the list. This article compares their lyrical styles, digital strategies, and local support systems across TikTok, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

How Has Chicago Drill Music Evolved by 2025?

• Origin: Drill began in the early 2010s on Chicago’s South Side as a raw unfiltered outlet for young people facing violence and economic hardship.¹
• Current Style: By 2025, the genre mixed trap, melodic hooks and experimental production while preserving its gritty core.²

“Drill rappers understood virality in a way that I believe goes unremarked in terms of their genius and their ability to use social media to garner large audiences.”
— Naledge, on how Chicago Drill artists leveraged social platforms to build careers.³

• Virality: TikTok and YouTube now amplify drill tracks from local mixtapes to global sensations within days thanks to algorithmic promotion.⁴
• Community Impact: Drill-inspired youth programs and community music workshops now teach beat-making, lyric writing and conflict resolution.⁵
• Learn more about BabyChiefDoit’s origin story early SoundCloud days and viral breakout in our full BabyChiefDoit profile.

📈 How Are TikTok, YouTube, and SoundCloud Fueling Chicago Drill in 2025?

• SoundCloud & Audiomack: Independent drill artists launch tracks directly & grow grassroots followings through reposts and free downloads also increasing benefit from revenue models favoring unsigned artists.⁶
• TikTok: Short‑form videos spotlight catchy hooks and choreographed challenges. TikTok’s recommendation algorithm helps drill songs go viral overnight by pushing tracks from local Chicago to global audiences.⁷

“TikTok has become a go‑to platform for discovering new music… an essential promotional tool for artists of all genres.”⁸

• YouTube & Shorts: Official music videos, Shorts and community posts offer monetization options and long-form storytelling. Many drill artists build visual identity and sustain fan dialogue on this platform.
• Streaming Playlists: Curated playlists like “Drill Wave 2025” on Spotify and Apple Music generate steady monthly streams and algorithmic recommendations boosting visibility far beyond platform-native uploads.⁹

BabyChiefDoit: The SoundCloud‑to‑XXL Freshman Sensation

Background & Rise

Jayden Whitter Jones aka BabyChiefDoit started uploading tracks to SoundCloud in 2023 and became the platform’s most‑streamed artist in 2024. He was later named an XXL Freshman for 2025 and gained major exposure performing at Rolling Loud California.¹⁰

By mid-2025, BabyChiefDoit’s streaming success and digital presence had translated into real income. See the breakdown in our net worth deep dive.

Style & Lyrics

His sound combines classic drill percussion with melodic & emo‑inflected hooks. His lyrics often reference zoo imagery (e.g. “Zoo Life”) and Chicago’s South Side realities delivered in rapid-fire flows that brings early Chief Keef.¹¹

“SoundCloud gave artists their voice. It turned local tracks into international movements overnight.”¹²

Platform Reach

• TikTok: 1.4M followers and 22M+ likes¹³
• YouTube: 327K subscribers, multiple videos with 1M+ views¹⁴
• SoundCloud: Most-streamed artist in Chicago’s 2024 drill scene¹⁵
• Spotify: 360.6K monthly listeners¹⁶

Local Fan Base & Live Shows of BabyChiefDoit

• Sold-Out Chicago Venues: BabyChiefDoit regularly sells out prestigious local venues like Thalia Hall and Metro key spots in Chicago’s live hip-hop circuit.¹⁷
• Intimate Listening Parties & Pop-Ups: He engages fans through exclusive listening sessions and spontaneous pop-up performances, often promoted via Instagram in real time.¹⁸
• Support from South Side Fans: His core audience originates in Chicago’s South Side, where early mixtape releases and community listening events fueled word‑of‑mouth buzz among local supporters.

• Festival Appearances: In addition to city shows, BabyChiefDoit performed at Rolling Loud California 2025, expanding his live presence while maintaining strong local loyalty.¹⁹
• While artists like Ray Vaughn dominate lyrical hip-hop on the West Coast, Chicago drill stars like Nuk and BabyChiefDoit are forging their own path. See how Ray Vaughn’s 2025 rise compares to these Midwest names.

Production Innovation & Visual Aesthetics of BabyChiefDoit

• Experimental Beat Production: BabyChiefDoit collaborates closely with a beat-making collective that draws inspiration from jazz, gospel sampling, and classic Chicago drill sounds connecting tradition and experimentation.
• Instagram Live Producer Battles: Regular live beat-building battles on Instagram highlight local producers, encourage community collaboration, and cultivate competitive creativity.²⁰

“Drill rap is defined by slow, dark rhythms and blunt honesty—the music becomes a vivid mirror of daily life.”²¹

• Distinctive Visual Identity: Known for gritty urban backdrops, high-contrast color grading, and rapid editing cuts in his music videos, reinforcing a cinematic yet raw drill aesthetic.
• Streetwear Partnerships Rooted in Identity: BabyChiefDoit has been involved in capsule streetwear drops with local brands, emphasizing South Side pride and connecting his fashion to community identity.²²
• BabyChiefDoit’s rising fame isn’t limited to music his social media presence has sparked fan speculation and meme moments. Explore more in his dating and TikTok profile.

🎤 Who Is PGF Nuk? South Side Rapper Known for “Waddup” and Street Stories

Background & Breakthrough

From South Side region Virgil Gibson known professionally as PGF Nuk broke through in 2021 with his viral single “Waddup.” The track earned a prominent Polo G remix in 2022 increasing its reach beyond Chicago.²³

Style & Lyrical Themes

PGF Nuk is known for sharp, fast-paced lyrics over haunting & stripped-down beats.. His lyrics has loyalty, survival, betrayal and life in Englewood with occasional melodic hooks on tracks like “ASMR” and “Bounce.”((Source: Wiki Waddup))

Virality & Platform Reach

While his TikTok presence is modest his music regularly features in viral duets and drill mashups. His YouTube views for remixes and freestyles exceed 30 million across multiple channels.²⁴

“My music is my reality—I rap what I live. That’s why people connect with it.”²⁵

SoundCloud & Spotify Stats

Active on SoundCloud with exclusive freestyles and indie releases. On Spotify, PGF Nuk boasts around 348K monthly listeners and Songstats reports 1.33M cross-platform followers, 403M streams, and 54.6M playlist reach explains his fans support.²⁶

Local Fan Base & Live Performances

PGF Nuk has built a loyal following through guerrilla-style shows in Chicago’s DIY venues on the South Side. His past legal issues and street struggles have earned him deep respect from loyal fans.²⁷

Collaborations & Community Engagement

PGF Nuk teams up with local muralists and indie videographers to showcase authentic community visuals. He also holds pop-up ciphers in parks by keeping freestyle culture alive.

🎤 How Doodie Lo Uses OTF Backing and Gritty Storytelling to Reach a Mainstream Audience?

Under OTF and Major Collaborations

Doodie Lo is part of Lil Durk’s OTF crew and has worked with big names like King Von and Rio Da Yung OG which has helped him reach a wider audience.²⁸

Musical Style & Themes

His music combines raw, gritty verses with melodic layers and heavy piano sounds. Songs such as “My Bruddas Keeper” and “Throw It In They Face” showcase this dark storytelling style.²⁹

Platform Reach & Statistics

He has about 550K monthly listeners on Spotify and songs like “Me and Doodie Lo” and “Did Shit To Me” have earned tens of millions of streams.³⁰³¹

Local Fan Engagement & Live Performances

Doodie Lo performs at Chicago block parties and OTF events using his OTF ties to land festival gigs and tour support.

Brand Collaborations & Media Features

He partners with streetwear and beverage brands for merch drops and sponsored music videos. His music has also landed in sync placements for series like “Power Book IV: Force” highlighting his mainstream appeal.

How Do BabyChiefDoit, PGF Nuk, and Doodie Lo Compare in Style, Reach and Loyalty?

Style Spectrum

• BabyChiefDoit delivers emo‑drill with self‑produced beats and zoo-themed visuals.
• PGF Nuk focuses on raw storytelling over sparse & intense production.
• Doodie Lo blends melodic hooks with aggressive drill flows under OTF’s influence.

Lyrics & Themes

• BabyChiefDoit channels youthful confidence and Chicago streets.
• PGF Nuk raps about survival, betrayal and South Side codes.
• Doodie Lo explores crew loyalty, vengeance, and introspection in OTF mode.

Virality & Platform Reach

TikTok

• BabyChiefDoit leads with ~1.4 M followers
• Doodie Lo has ~53.8 K
• PGF Nuk shows up via user-created duets and mashups.

YouTube

• BabyChiefDoit has ~327 K subscribers
• Doodie Lo ~148 K
• PGF Nuk’s videos on drill channels accumulate over 30 M views.³²³³

Streaming Platforms

• BabyChiefDoit was crowned 2024’s most‑streamed SoundCloud artist and holds ~360 K monthly Spotify listeners.
• PGF Nuk reports ~348 K monthly listeners on Spotify, with strong cross‑platform engagement (403 M streams, 1.33 M followers).
• Doodie Lo counts ~552 K monthly Spotify listeners; his tracks like “Me and Doodie Lo” and “Did Shit To Me” each have tens of millions of streams.³⁴

Local Fan Engagement

• BabyChiefDoit connects through South Side pop‑ups and local shows.
• PGF Nuk builds loyalty via DIY performances and authentic storytelling.
• Doodie Lo leverages OTF showcase events and festival appearances to grow his fanbase.

🔚 Conclusion: The Future of Chicago Drill in 2025

• Drill is changing: Artists like BabyChiefDoit, PGF Nuk, and Doodie Lo show how drill music is growing with new styles and smarter promotion.
• Success needs more than talent: To stand out, artists must understand how to use platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify while also building a strong connection with fans.
• Real stories still matter: What makes drill powerful is the honesty in the lyrics. But today, combining that with smart marketing is what leads to real success.
• Looking ahead: In 2025, Chicago drill is about more than just music. It’s a movement built on stories, strategy and community.

Disclaimer: This article was fact-checked and edited by a human with light assistance from AI for structure and formatting efficiency.

Kanika Dhingra

Kanika Dhingra is a pop culture writer with 5+ years of experience decoding celebrity fame. From hip-hop trailblazers to viral chart-toppers, she delivers smart, stylish profiles that resonate with fans and critics alike.