At just 23 years old, Chief Keef is already an influential veteran on the Chicago rap scene. He started to garner a following among fellow students when he was still in high school, and his first hit single, “I Don’t Like,” went viral before he turned 17. That song caught the attention of Kanye West, who later remixed it himself, and it sparked a bidding war for Keef among labels.

He’s since collaborated with hip-hop stars including Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa, and thanks to his prolific output of mix tapes, singles, team-ups and studio albums, he’s amassed a substantial body of work in a short amount of time.

That work has also attracted its share of controversy, but if Keef’s lyrics and image are harsh, it’s a reflection of the harsh environment in which he grew up on the South Side of Chicago. His music accomplishes what gangster rap does best, bringing audiences into the reality of life on the streets. At his young age, Keef has already lived through a lifetime of trauma, and he puts that all into his music. It’s no wonder young rappers look to him for inspiration.

House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 6, starting at $20 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster