By Music Times UK Staff Writer
St. Louis, Missouri — In the crowded world of hip hop and R&B, authenticity is currency. Few embody that spirit more rawly and honestly than Chyracks, a rising artist blending soulful storytelling with gritty rhythm, straight out of the heart of the Midwest.
From church pews to front porch studios, from surgical wards to talent shows, Chyracks’ journey to the mic has been far from typical. But it’s precisely that journey that makes her one of the most compelling voices emerging from the St. Louis scene today.
We sat down with the Alton, Illinois-born artist for an exclusive interview that peels back the layers of pain, passion, and perseverance that fuel her music.
—
“I Didn’t Even Know I Wanted to Sing”
“I started singing in church with my grandma,
” Chyracks recalls, laughing softly at the memory.
“When I was younger, I knew I could sing—but I didn’t really think that was going to be my thing.
I wanted to play basketball, believe it or not.
”
That dream came to a halt at just 13 years old, when a serious leg injury hyperextended her
knee, forcing her to stop playing.
“That moment changed everything,
” she says.
“I couldn’t play
anymore, and for a while, I felt lost.
”
But the seeds of creativity were already planted.
“In fourth grade, I had this notebook—man, I
wrote songs in it all the time. I even tried to get my friends to be in a girl group with me,
” she
laughs.
“One day, I got it taken away for not paying attention in class. I snuck over to peek, and I
saw my teacher reading it… and she was smiling.
”
—
Finding a Voice in a Small Town
Though born in Alton, Chyracks grew up in a small country town just 30 minutes out.
“It was
rough,
” she admits.
“My parents were in and out of the picture. But my grandparents held me
down.
”
At 16, she recorded her first song—on her friend’s front porch.
“It wasn’t fancy,
” she remembers,
“but it was real. That was the first time I heard myself like that, and it just clicked. I knew I had
something.
”—
“Old Nigga” and the Spark of Success
By 21, Chyracks independently released her debut single,
track that instantly resonated online and in her community.
“Old Nigga”
—a bold, emotionally raw
“I put that song out and everything changed. It popped. That was the first time I really said,
‘Yeah, this is it. This is what I’m meant to do.
’”
Her confidence and grind took her to local and regional showcases, where she caught attention
at talent shows and even landed a meeting with Roc Nation.
“That showed me how real this
could be. It wasn’t just a dream anymore.
”
—
The Birth of “50/50” and a Summer to Remember
One of her standout tracks,
a friend’s birthday party.
“50/50,
” was born in a moment of solitude—sitting in the car outside
“It was summer, the vibes were right. I was in the car, just feeling all these emotions, and I
started writing. That song came from a place of honesty, of imbalance—wanting something real,
but feeling like it wasn’t mutual. It’s about not settling.
”
—
Setbacks, Surgeries, and Silence
Just as her momentum was building, Chyracks faced a crushing series of setbacks.
“I developed vocal nodules. My voice was done. I couldn’t sing, and I had to go through voice
therapy. That recovery was tough,
” she says quietly.
Then came a cruel twist: the return of her knee problems. At 24, she underwent surgery—again.
“I couldn’t walk. Couldn’t work. Couldn’t sing. Couldn’t write. I was stuck in this place where I
didn’t know what life was supposed to be anymore.
”
As if that wasn’t enough, her other leg gave out, forcing yet another operation.
“That was my
lowest point.
”But in silence, she found strength.
“I had to start from the ground up. Physical therapy, healing my voice, finding myself again. It
was painful, but it gave me clarity.
”
—
“All In or Nothing”
Now 26, Chyracks is fully locked in on her path.
writing again. I’m focused.
”
“This time, it’s all or nothing. I’m healthy. I’m
Her music today blends soulful vulnerability with confident lyricism, touching on themes of
loyalty, betrayal, healing, and hope. With her powerful presence and fearless honesty, Chyracks
is not just an artist to watch—she’s a movement in the making.
—
Exclusive Q&A: Chyracks
Music Times UK: What was the first song you wrote that made you realize you had something
special?
Chyracks: “Probably ‘Old Nigga.
’ That was me being 100% real with what I felt. And when I saw
how people connected with it? I knew.
”
MTUK: How would you describe your sound now?
Chyracks: It’s a mix of hip hop and R&B with a raw edge. It’s soulful, but I’m not afraid to talk my
sh*t either. It’s pain, love, truth.
MTUK: What keeps you going when life gets tough?
Chyracks: Honestly? God. And knowing there’s somebody out there that needs to hear what I
got to say. Music saved me—so I want to give that back.
MTUK: What’s next for Chyracks?
Chyracks: More music. More visuals. More everything. I’m working on a new EP right now—it’s
going to tell my full story. I’m not letting anything stop me this time.—
From the back roads of Illinois to the stages of St. Louis, Chyracks is proving that resilience is louder than adversity. And as her voice grows stronger, so does her impact. Keep an eye—and
an ear—on this rising star.
*Social Media*
Spotify-https://open.spotify.com/album/6EeYwrLKka3a1apm7S8cYM?si=vXJTpmblQxOmJIBMV1CFzQ
