Damaria Kayshawn Walker, better known by his stage name AZ Chike, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. After a brief tenure with Atlantic Records, he self-released five albums before signing with Warner Records to release his seventh album, No Rest for the Wicked (2026).
Early life AZ Chike grew up in South Central Los Angeles. After high school, he worked several jobs, including one at Sprouts Farmers Market, but quit in 2015 to pursue making music.
Career AZ Chike has rapped since 2013. Around the same time, he and his friends formed the AZ Cult, a four-member hip-hop collective. In 2017, his song "Burn Rubber Again" went viral and garnered millions of listens on SoundCloud. Shortly after, he received a co-sign from Shoreline Mafia, released his debut mixtape, My World, and performed at Rolling Loud. He also toured along with Shoreline Mafia.
In 2019, AZ Chike signed with Atlantic Records, specifically its Machine Works label, and Asylum Records. He also released his debut album, Rich & Ratchet, and went on tour with rapper 1TakeJay. The same year, he released a three-song EP, AlmightyChike, with rapper Almighty Suspect. One year later, in 2020, AZ Chike released Yors Truly EP. From then on, his singles would court attention from publications like Pitchfork, The Fader, and Revolt. In 2022, he released the album Chike Different.
In 2024, AZ Chike was featured on Schoolboy Q's album Blue Lips on the song "Movie". At Schoolboy Q and Devin Malik's show at The Roxy Theatre, he performed a 30-minute set. AZ Chike performed at Kendrick Lamar's The Pop Out: Ken & Friends in June at the Kia Forum. The same year, he appeared on Kendrick Lamar's album GNX on the song "Peekaboo".
On 21 February 2025, AZ Chike released "Whatx2" as a single along with its music video, simultaneously announcing his signing to Warner Records.
Kendrick Lamar brought him as a surprise guest to live perform "Peekaboo" during the last Inglewood concert at SoFi Stadium of the Grand National Tour, on 24 May 2025.
On 10 September 2025, he was featured on Kai Cenat's Mafiathon 3 Freestyle, where he rapped over an untitled instrumental later to be revealed the one for "Hit A Nerve".
On October 2025, JD Sports and New Balance teamed up with him, along with singer Amber Mark, for an exclusive limited edition sneakers release and campaign.
On 14 November 2025, AZ Chike released the single "Hit A Nerve", along with a music video on YouTube, in which he promoted his upcoming album titled N.R.F.T.W., which was labeled multiple times through the video. Eight days later he performed live during the 11th edition of Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival, on November 22.
In June 2026, AZ Chike released the single "Packed Up", produced by Hit-Boy, along with a music video.
In August 2026, he announced the single "Look Like My Mama" featuring Tyler, the Creator, and revealed the album cover for his album No Rest for the Wicked, abbreviated N.R.F.T.W., released on September 18th of the same year. "Look Like My Mama" was released on August 28th, along with a music video directed by Stacking Memories, reenacting scenes from different films, including Napoleon Dynamite (2004), Dead Presidents (1995), Paid in Full (2002), Sinners (2025), and Men in Black (1997). AZ Chike will headline his first solo tour in support of the album, the Monster Energy-sponsored No Rest for the Wicked Tour will last from October 5 until November 9.
Personal life AZ Chike was born in July 28, 1995, and has two younger brothers.
Discography Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsRich & Ratchet Released: September 24, 2019 Label: Machine Works, Atlantic Format: Digital download, streamingChike Different Released: March 23, 2022 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingI.S.W.I.L.L Released: September 21, 2022 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingBorn to Be Important Released: August 25, 2023 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingChizzle Released: March 8, 2024 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingSpooky Summer Released: July 22, 2024 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streamingNo Rest for the Wicked Released: September 18, 2026 Label: Warner Format: LP, digital download, streaming
Collaborative albums TitleAlbum detailsKourtesy of Us Released: October 8, 2021 Label: Mackk&Cult, Empire Format: Digital download, streamingDon't Die Yet Released: October 11, 2024 Label: Low the Great, Duetti Format: Digital download, streaming
Commercial mixtapes TitleAlbum detailsMy World Released: March 21, 2018 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streaming
Extended plays TitleAlbum detailsCult Up Released: July 27, 2017 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingChike the Great Released: September 9, 2017 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingAlmightyChike Released: February 1, 2019 Label: Almighty Millionaires Format: Digital download, streamingFuckWaiting Released: August 31, 2019 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingYors Truly Released: April 29, 2020 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingGee Oh Dee Released: August 20, 2020 Label: AZCult Format: Digital download, streamingAlmighty Chike 2 Released: November 18, 2020 Label: Almighty Millionaires, AZCult Format: Digital download, streaming
Singles + List of singles as lead artist, showing year released Title Year Peak chart positions Album USR&B/HH "Burn Rubber Again" 2017 — Chike the Great "Burn Rubber Again (Remix)" — rowspan="21" "The One" 2018 — "Tweakin'" — "How" — "Strapped Up" 2019 — "Shoes on My Feet" 2020 — "One More" — "Heated" 2021 — "Brand New" 2022 — "The Road" 2024 — "Numbers" — "Fuck It Up" — "Right 2" — "Back" — "Love Yo Weapons" — "Whatx2" 2025 — "Thuggin Not Clubbin" — "Game Time" — "Start Dissin'" — "Hit a Nerve" — "Get Brackin & Come Back"(with Rucci and RJMrLA) 2026 — "Packed Up" — No Rest for the Wicked "Look Like My Mama" 41 "All That Matters" — Love Is the New Gangsta
Concert tours No Rest for the Wicked Tour (2026)
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