AZ Chike is the 31-year-old rapper from South Central Los Angeles who spent more than a decade as one of LA rap’s best-kept secrets — and in 2026 he became one of its most undeniable stars. After scene-stealing features on ScHoolboy Q’s Blue Lips and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, he signed to Warner Records and released his major-label debut, No Rest for the Wicked, on 18 September 2026, with collaborations from Pharrell Williams and Tyler, the Creator. On 9 November 2026, GQ named him one of its 13 Breakout Stars of 2026.
This biography covers AZ Chike’s age, real name, early life, music career, the Kendrick Lamar breakthrough, his 2026 album and tour, his personal life and his net worth in 2026.
| Full Name | Damaria Kayshawn Walker |
| Stage Name | AZ Chike (also stylized AzChike) |
| Date of Birth | 28 July 1995 |
| Age | 31 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | South Central Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Occupation | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
| Known For | No Rest for the Wicked (2026); “Peekaboo” on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX; “Burn Rubber Again” |
| Record Label | Warner Records |
| Net Worth 2026 | No reliable published figure (see Net Worth section below) |
Early Life in South Central Los Angeles
AZ Chike was born Damaria Kayshawn Walker on 28 July 1995 and grew up in South Central Los Angeles. He has two younger brothers, and his parents have not been publicly named.
After high school he worked several jobs, including one at Sprouts Farmers Market, while he started rapping seriously in 2013. Around the same time, he and his friends formed AzCult (also written AZ Cult), a four-member hip-hop collective that became the home base for his early releases. In 2015 he quit the grocery-store job to pursue music full time.
AzCult, “Burn Rubber Again” and the Atlantic Years
Chike’s first breakthrough came in 2017, when his song “Burn Rubber Again” went viral on SoundCloud and racked up millions of plays. The track earned him a co-sign from Shoreline Mafia, and he released his debut mixtape, My World, in March 2018, performed at Rolling Loud and toured alongside Shoreline Mafia. His music began drawing attention from outlets including Pitchfork, The Fader and Revolt.
In 2019 he signed with Atlantic Records, specifically its Machine Works imprint, alongside Asylum Records, and released his debut album, Rich & Ratchet, on 24 September 2019. The same year he released the three-song EP AlmightyChike with Almighty Suspect and toured with rapper 1TakeJay. XXL featured him in its “The Break Presents” series in September 2019, marking him as one of the rising names in West Coast rap.
After his brief major-label tenure ended, Chike went back to self-releasing on his own AzCult imprint: the Yor’s Truly EP (2020), then the albums Chike Different (2022), I.S.W.I.L.L (2022), Born to Be Important (2023), Chizzle (2024) and Spooky Summer (2024).
Kendrick Lamar, GNX and the Warner Records Deal
Chike’s ascent accelerated in 2024. He was featured on ScHoolboy Q’s album Blue Lips on the song “Movie”, and in June 2024 he performed at Kendrick Lamar’s historic The Pop Out: Ken & Friends concert at the Kia Forum. Later that year he appeared on Lamar’s surprise album GNX on the song “Peekaboo”, a feature that put his voice in front of a global audience.
The Kendrick co-sign kept paying off. On 21 February 2025, Chike released “Whatx2” as a single alongside its music video, simultaneously announcing his signing to Warner Records. On 24 May 2025, Kendrick Lamar brought him out as a surprise guest to perform “Peekaboo” live during the Inglewood stop of the Grand National Tour at SoFi Stadium. In September 2025 he was featured on Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 3 freestyle, and in October 2025 he fronted a JD Sports and New Balance campaign with singer Amber Mark.
No Rest for the Wicked and the 2026 Breakout
Chike’s Warner Records debut album, No Rest for the Wicked (abbreviated N.R.F.T.W.), was first announced for 24 July 2026, but its release was pushed back — Billboard reported in September 2026 that the LP had “survived a leak” — and it finally arrived on 18 September 2026. The album features collaborations from Pharrell Williams and Tyler, the Creator, including the single “Look Like My Mama”, produced by and featuring Tyler, released on 28 August 2026 with a video reenacting scenes from Napoleon Dynamite, Dead Presidents, Paid in Full, Sinners and Men in Black. It reached No. 41 on Billboard‘s US R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
The album’s other key single, “Packed Up”, produced by Hit-Boy, arrived in June 2026, and “Hit A Nerve” had been released as a single in November 2025. Reviewing the album on its release day, Stereogum called it an “impressive major label debut”.
Chike supported the album with his first solo headlining tour, the Monster Energy-sponsored No Rest for the Wicked Tour, which ran from 5 October to 9 November 2026. On 9 November 2026, the tour’s final day, GQ named him one of its 13 Breakout Stars of 2026, describing him as the West Coast’s hottest up-and-coming rapper and citing the Pharrell Williams and Tyler, the Creator collaborations on his major-label debut.
Personal Life
AZ Chike keeps his private life out of the spotlight. His parents have not been publicly named, and he has not publicly confirmed a relationship or a girlfriend as of 2026. What is known is that he has two younger brothers and that he remains based in Los Angeles, where he records and tours with the AzCult collective he founded more than a decade ago.
He is active on social media under the AzChike name, where he promotes new music, tour dates and collaborations.
Net Worth
There is no reliable published figure for AZ Chike’s net worth in 2026. No major financial outlet has reported his earnings, and the terms of his Warner Records deal have not been publicly disclosed.
The only published estimate found is $2 million, from the celebrity-profile site TheCityCeleb, which is an unverified aggregator estimate rather than a reported total and should be treated with caution. His income comes from streaming and sales of his seven albums, touring — including his first solo headlining tour in 2026 — features, brand campaigns such as the JD Sports and New Balance deal, and his major-label contract. With a well-reviewed debut album, a headlining tour and a GQ Breakout Star nod, his earning power is at its highest point yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is AZ Chike?
AZ Chike is 31 years old. He was born Damaria Kayshawn Walker on 28 July 1995 in South Central Los Angeles, California.
What is AZ Chike’s real name?
AZ Chike’s real name is Damaria Kayshawn Walker. He performs under the stage name AZ Chike, also stylized as AzChike.
How tall is AZ Chike?
There is no publicly reported figure for AZ Chike’s height. No reliable outlet or official profile lists it — even celebrity-profile sites list his height as unknown — so no number is given here rather than repeating an unverified estimate.
What is AZ Chike’s net worth in 2026?
No reliable figure has been published. The only estimate found is $2 million, from the celebrity-profile site TheCityCeleb, which is an unverified aggregator estimate rather than a reported total. His income comes from his albums, touring, features and brand deals, including his Warner Records contract.
Does AZ Chike have a girlfriend?
As of 2026, AZ Chike has not publicly confirmed a relationship, and no girlfriend has been confirmed by any reliable source. He keeps his private life out of the spotlight.
What are AZ Chike’s biggest songs?
AZ Chike’s best-known songs include “Burn Rubber Again” (2017), his viral SoundCloud breakthrough; “Peekaboo” (2024), his feature on Kendrick Lamar’s GNX; “Whatx2” (2025), his first Warner Records single; “Packed Up” (2026), produced by Hit-Boy; and “Look Like My Mama” (2026), featuring Tyler, the Creator, from his album No Rest for the Wicked.
AZ Chike is also known for his AzCult collective and his features on ScHoolboy Q’s Blue Lips and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX. Readers interested in other breakout stars may also like our biographies of Owen Thiele, Pete Scobell and Ross Lynch.
