Rapper 4200kory Honors His Far Eastside Heritage in New Music

Chauncey Graham, a 24-year-old rapper known by his stage name 4200Kory, is on a mission to inspire change and honor his hometown of Indianapolis through his music. Growing up on 42nd Street and Post Road, Graham emphasized the importance of community and connection in his work.

“I’m trying to look for ways to be of direct impact to my community at all times,” he said.

Graham’s upcoming album, “Cobra Son,” highlights his roots and serves as a tribute to his late father, who passed away when Graham was a child. The album will release on August 20, the same day as his father's passing.

“A large part of that project is my ode to the city of Indianapolis,” he noted. “I hail from the Far East Side, which I think speaks volumes to who I am and where I’m from.”

Graham has firsthand experience with adversity, having grown up as the oldest of seven children raised by a single mother. He faced poverty, homelessness, and seeing his mother struggle to make ends meet.

“I went through some of the abject conditions of poverty, being homeless, seeing my mother struggle to make ends meet,” he told WRTV. “I think that’s been one of the biggest feats is trying to come to grips with that and trying to lead by example,” he said.

Graham is determined to demonstrate that one's past does not define their future. “A lot of the things that influenced people to do wrong, I took them and I let it develop me into a more positive path,” he stated.

The loss of nearly 20 close friends before turning 21 ignited his passion for advocacy. He released his first project, Rest Easy, after facing a lot of that loss.

“For me, that’s why it hits even closer to home for me to be somebody who advocates for gun safety and the proper knowledge of guns,” he shared.

Marvin Bell, a resident of the Far East Side, echoed Graham's sentiments. “We need it, we need more support, we need more love, everybody in the community does,” he said.

Graham added, leaving a message of hope and community strength, “I just love the city of Indy, and I want people to understand there’s a lot of love here in this city.”

4200Kory is set to release “Cobra Son” on August 20 to honor his late father's memory and the city that shaped him. He’ll also be performing across the country, including at the Chreece Hip Hop Festival on August 23.