About the Artist

Chi TheRealist is a Rochester-based hip-hop and soul artist born in Chicago, Illinois — a city whose name inspired his stage name. Born James Boykins III, he began writing in 2008, channeling a difficult motherless upbringing into pain-filled lyrics and acrobatic flows that balance raw storytelling with messages of healing and vulnerability. A multi-time Rochester Hip-Hop Male Artist of the Year nominee, he is also deeply committed to his community, regularly visiting city schools to inspire and empower inner-city youth.