On this day, Dec. 18, in hip-hop history...

2012: After gaining recognition in his hometown of Chicago with acclaimed mixtapes The Glory Road and Bang, drill rapper Chief Keef dropped his debut studio album, Finally Rich, on Dec. 18, 2012 via Interscope Records.

The album's lead single, "I Don't Like," was originally featured on 16-year-old Keef's Back from the Dead mixtape, released in March 2012. The track reached nationwide attention when Kanye West remixed it with Pusha-T, Jadakiss and Big Sean a short time later. After the major cosign, Chief Keef's career continued to catapult when he dropped "Love Sosa," the rapper's highest-charting Billboard Hot 100 track. The record went on to peak at No. 56

Kanye wasn't the only one to recognize the new sound Chief Keef and his cohorts had created. A slew of top-tier MCs ended up lending verses on Finally Rich, including Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, 50 Cent, Young Jeezy and French Montana on "3Hunna," "Hate Bein' Sober," "Understand Me" and "Diamonds," respectively. Famed producer Mike WiLL Made-It notably provided a beat for "No Tomorrow" as well.

The album, which peaked at No. 29 on the Billboard 200, was also a formal introduction to rising drill producers. Young Chop, who produced over half of Finally Rich, is one of Chief Keef's earliest collaborators. Other contributors to the project include YGOnDaBeat, K.E. on the Track, and LeekeLeek ("Ballin'") who passed away on July 26, 2018.

There's no argument that Finally Rich is the most successful project from Mr. Keith Cozart. From his signature "bang bang" adlibs to his catchy, but violent bars, Chief Keef's debut album continues to prove influential as drill continues to thrive.

Interscope/Glory Boyz