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One of my faves, Alabama rapper Chika<\/a>, quietly made her return a few weeks ago with a noodley, lighthearted song called \u201cStimming.\u201d Written about \u201cscovering parts of my neurodivergence as an adult and wishing i could tell younger me that it would all make sense eventually,\u201d according to her Twitter<\/a>, the track marked a decided turn for the former Grammy nominee from the studied precision of prior work to a more free-form flow state. <\/p>\n She continues down that looser, more autobiographical road with her latest, \u201cFloat.\u201d This one is written, fittingly enough, as almost an open letter to old loved ones and simpler times, as Chika reflects on her unexpected brushes with fame flourishing from classroom rap battles. On Instagram<\/a>, she explained, \u201cAs i\u2019ve gotten older, i\u2019ve begun to reflect on where i\u2019m from and how it has shaped me. consider this one a love letter to hometowns everywhere.\u201d That hometown love was reciprocated recently after August 5 was declared Chika day in Montgomery, Alabama.<\/p>\n Chika\u2019s latest music comes after struggles with her mental<\/a> and physical health<\/a>, as well as battles with her former label, Warner Records, over creative control of her music. While her 2023 debut Samson: The Album<\/em> was well-received by critics (and was one of the underrated best albums of that year<\/a>, in my opinion), it did not chart and went basically unsupported, aside from its handful of singles, released in rapid succession ahead of its release. <\/p>\n Since then, she\u2019s collaborated with Fred Again.. and Anderson .Paak on \u201cPlaces To Be<\/a> and popped up on Electronic Arts\u2019 latest FC<\/em> installment soundtrack. It certainly sounds like she\u2019s off to a good start for the next phase of her career, and in a better place overall. <\/p>\n You can listen to \u201cFloat\u201d above. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n