STAKKS has a simple philosophy that says a lot about where he is creatively: “If you ain’t getting better, you’re getting worse.”
Some records are carefully written from beginning to end. Others happen when an artist walks into the studio, catches a vibe, presses record and simply lets the night speak for itself. For West Side Chicago artist STAKKS, “C MURDA” came together exactly that way.
Produced by 99LA and recorded at Audio Wizards Chi, the track gives listeners a raw snapshot of STAKKS’ mindset, lifestyle and energy at the time he stepped into the booth. There was no notebook full of lyrics and no second-guessing every bar. STAKKS says he didn’t write the record. He simply said whatever came to mind and didn’t change it.
FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE BOOTH
STAKKS’ relationship with music started long before he started recording. Growing up on Chicago’s West Side, STAKKS moved through several different neighborhoods as his family relocated around the city. At home, music was always present. His family were heavy consumers of music, with different sounds playing throughout the household.
One sister gravitated toward R&B, while another was listening to rap and Chicago artists. That early exposure helped create an artist who wasn’t boxed into one sound or perspective. For STAKKS, taking music seriously wasn’t something that happened at a particular age.
“I really always took music seriously because I know it can change lives,” he says. “I know the impact music can have on people.” That belief remains at the center of his approach.
THE MEANING BEHIND “C MURDA”
STAKKS says “C MURDA” plays off his longtime observation of Monica continuing to hold C-Murder down while he’s been incarcerated, while also keeping his name and legacy alive.
For STAKKS, that connection also goes back to his childhood relationship with the No Limit movement.
“The whole No Limit movement was something I was tapped into as a kid,” he explains. That influence gives the title another layer. What initially sounds like a wild title is actually rooted in nostalgia, music history and STAKKS’ own perspective.
A MONTHLY RECAP IN RAP FORM
The record was inspired by something simple: the mood in the studio. STAKKS describes the night as one of those sessions where everybody was “popping shit,” but underneath that energy was something more personal.
The song essentially became a monthly recap of what had been happening in his life. Rather than sitting down and carefully constructing a story, he let everything spill out through the music. That spontaneous approach is one of the biggest differences between “C MURDA” and some of his previous work.
“This one, I just let it flow,” STAKKS says. “I didn’t write it. I said whatever came to my mind and didn’t change it.” That gives the record an unfiltered quality. It’s less about perfection and more about capturing the energy of the moment.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR STAKKS?
With “C MURDA,” STAKKS gives listeners another glimpse into his world while showing a more spontaneous side of his artistry. The record came from a real moment, a real mood and a willingness to let the music happen without overthinking it.
Now the question is whether listeners will catch the same energy STAKKS felt in the studio. One thing is clear: he’s not approaching his music like someone who’s content to stay in the same place. He’s focused on getting better.
If “C MURDA” is any indication, STAKKS is letting the next chapter speak for itself.
Listen to “C MURDA,” turn it up and decide for yourself if STAKKS is an artist you need to keep on your radar. Link below⤵️
