# I Self Devine

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{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = I Self Devine
| image           = File:Iselfdevinelive.png
| image_size      =
| landscape       = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt             =
| caption         = I Self Devine performing live in 2014
| birth_name      = Chaka Mkali<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakemag.org/sound-vision/qa-i-self-devine/|title=Q&A: I Self Devine|work=The Wake|first=Zach|last=McCormick|date=April 17, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2014|archive-date=May 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521040826/http://www.wakemag.org/sound-vision/qa-i-self-devine/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| alias           = Self One
| birth_date      = {{birth year and age|1972}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/i-self-devine-mn0000264260/biography|title=I Self Devine – Biography|work=AllMusic|first=Marisa|last=Brown|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref>
| birth_place     = [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [California](/source/California), U.S.<ref name="allmusic"/>
| origin          = [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/150381205.html|title=Friday night wrap: I Self Devine release party, impromptu Beasties tribute|work=Star Tribune|first=Chris|last=Riemenschneider|date=May 6, 2012|access-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref>
| death_date      = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place     =
| genre           = [Twin Cities hip-hop](/source/Twin_Cities_hip-hop)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1237/article12383.asp|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071201115502/http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1237/article12383.asp|archive-date = 2007-12-01|title = City Pages}}</ref>
| occupation      ={{hlist|Rapper|record producer|activist}}
| instrument      =
| years_active    = 1995–present
| label           = [Rhymesayers Entertainment](/source/Rhymesayers_Entertainment)
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
*[The Dynospectrum](/source/The_Dynospectrum)
*[Micranots](/source/Micranots)
*[Semi.Official](/source/Semi.Official)
*[Slug](/source/Slug_(rapper))
*[Atmosphere](/source/Atmosphere_(music_group))
*[Muja Messiah](/source/Muja_Messiah)
*[Jake One](/source/Jake_One)
*[Doomtree](/source/Doomtree)
*[Manny Phesto](/source/Manny_Phesto)
}}
| website         = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''Chaka Mkali''' (born 1972), better known by his stage name '''I Self Devine''', is an American rapper from [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), Minnesota. He has been a member of groups such as [the Dynospectrum](/source/the_Dynospectrum),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/features/minneapolis-is-rhymesayers|title=Minneapolis is Rhymesayers|work=Impose Magazine|first=Blake|last=Gillespie|date=April 18, 2008|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> [Micranots](/source/Micranots),<ref>{{cite book|first=Felicia M.|last=Miyakawa|title=Five Percenter Rap: God Hop's Music, Message, and Black Muslim Mission|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780253345745|url-access=registration|publisher=[Indiana University Press](/source/Indiana_University_Press)|year=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780253345745/page/98 98]}}</ref> and [Semi.Official](/source/Semi.Official).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.thecurrent.org/2013/04/h2-local-highlights-i-self-devine-and-dj-abilities-collaboration-semi-official/|title=H2 Local highlights – I Self Devine and DJ Abilities' collaboration Semi Official|work=The Current|first=Kevin|last=Beacham|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> In 2012, ''[City Pages](/source/City_Pages)'' described him as "one of the most influential voices in Minnesota hip hop."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypages.com/2012-05-02/music/i-self-devine-rhymesayers-legend-returns/|title=I Self Devine: Rhymesayers legend returns – The Sound of Low Class Amerika gets personal|work=City Pages|first=Jeff|last=Gage|date=May 2, 2012|access-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024060242/http://www.citypages.com/2012-05-02/music/i-self-devine-rhymesayers-legend-returns/|archive-date=October 24, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Early life ==
I Self Devine was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota) with his mother when she was accepted to the [University of Minnesota](/source/University_of_Minnesota)'s social work master's program.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Cecilia|title=I Self Devine is playing the long game|url=https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2021/02/25/i-self-devine-chaka-mkali-is-playing-the-long-game|access-date=2021-03-05|website=www.thecurrent.org}}</ref> He says, "The first time that I became aware of hip-hop was in 1979, when my mom gave me <nowiki>[</nowiki>[The Sugarhill Gang](/source/The_Sugarhill_Gang)'s] '[Rapper's Delight](/source/Rapper's_Delight),' the 12-inch."<ref name=":0" /> He experimented with graffiti writing, freestyling, DJing, and breakdancing before starting to invest lots of time into rapping and graffiti.

== Career ==
I Self Devine released the solo debut album, ''Self Destruction'', on [Rhymesayers Entertainment](/source/Rhymesayers_Entertainment) in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/self-destruction-mw0000307556|title=Self Destruction – I Self Devine|work=AllMusic|first=Stewart|last=Mason|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> He released the second solo album, ''The Sound of Low Class Amerika'', on the label in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.1892/title.i-self-devine-the-sound-of-low-class-amerika|title=I Self Devine – The Sound Of Low Class Amerika|work=HipHopDX|first=Edwin|last=Ortiz|date=May 17, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> It was produced by Medium Zach of Big Quarters, DJ Todda, Benzilla, King Karnov, Vitamin D, [Jake One](/source/Jake_One), Proh Mic, and I Self Devine himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reviler.org/2012/05/01/i-self-devine-the-sounds-of-low-class-amerika/|title=I Self Devine: The Sounds of Low Class Amerika|work=Reviler|first=Ali|last=Elabbady|date=May 1, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> The album was preceded by four mixtapes, which were all released in early 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/05/07/stream-i-self-devines-the-shining-path-mixtape/|title=Stream I Self Devine's The Shining Path Mixtape|work=The Fader|first=David|last=Drake|date=May 7, 2012|access-date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> In 2015, he released a collaborative album with [Muja Messiah](/source/Muja_Messiah), titled ''9th House''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21320-9th-house/|title=Muja Messiah / I Self Devine: 9th House|work=Pitchfork Media|first=Paul A.|last=Thompson|date=November 30, 2015|access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref> In an interview with ''[The Current](/source/The_Current_(radio_station))'' radio station, he stated that he was expecting to release two albums in 2021: ''Rituals of Resilience'' and ''That Which Is Hidden''.<ref name=":0" />

I Self Devine is celebrated for his live shows. Spectrum Culture wrote that he "is synonymous with a dynamic live show."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://spectrumculture.com/2012/04/10/interview-i-self-devine/|title=Interview: I Self Devine|date=2012-04-10|website=Spectrum Culture|access-date=2017-02-18}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
I Self Devine has five children and has made efforts to prioritize his family over his career. He told ''The Current'', "To think about emceeing or even being a community organizer – those are great things and have big impacts. But to me, when all of my kids are together, I feel rich beyond belief. I feel crazy wealthy, like I got gold as far as you can see."<ref name=":0" />

==Discography==
{{See also|The Dynospectrum|Micranots#Discography|Semi.Official#Discography}}

===Studio albums===

* ''[Self Destruction](/source/Self_Destruction_(album))'' (2005)
* ''The Sound of Low Class Amerika'' (2012)
*''Rituals of Resilience'' (2021)
*''That Which Is Hidden'' (2022)

=== Collaborative albums ===

* ''9th House'' (2015) <small>(with [Muja Messiah](/source/Muja_Messiah))</small>

===Mixtapes===

* ''LA State of Mind'' (2012)
* ''The Upliftment Struggle'' (2012)
* ''Reports from the Field: In the Trenches'' (2012)
* ''The Shining Path'' (2012)

===Singles===

* "Ice Cold" b/w "All I Know" (2005)
* "The Origin of Urban Crisis" (2012)
* "IOFWUCUC" (2015) <small>(with [Muja Messiah](/source/Muja_Messiah))</small>
*"The Disruptor Suite" (2021)

===Guest appearances===

* [Atmosphere](/source/Atmosphere_(music_group)) – "Flesh" from ''[God Loves Ugly](/source/God_Loves_Ugly)'' (2002)
* [The Opus](/source/The_Opus) – "First Contact" from ''First Contact 001'' (2002)
* [P.O.S](/source/P.O.S_(rapper)) – "I Play the Matador (Redo)" from ''[Ipecac Neat](/source/Ipecac_Neat)'' (2004)
* [Oddjobs](/source/Oddjobs) – "Stone Cold" from ''[Expose Negative](/source/Expose_Negative)'' (2005)
* Omega One – "I Want It All" from ''The Lo-Fi Chronicles'' (2005)
* Cleveland Steamers – "Day by Day" from ''Treasure Chest'' (2006)
* Leroy Smokes – "John Henry" from ''Love Hustle Theater'' (2006)
* Big Quarters – "How to Kill Your Rap Career" from ''Cost of Living'' (2007)
* [Heiruspecs](/source/Heiruspecs) – "Broken Record" from ''[Heiruspecs](/source/Heiruspecs_(album))'' (2008)
* [Muja Messiah](/source/Muja_Messiah) – "Patriot Act" from ''Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy'' (2008)
* [Doomtree](/source/Doomtree) – "Twentyfourseven" from ''[Doomtree](/source/Doomtree_(album))'' (2008)
* Crushcon7 – "Fieldwerk" (2009)
* [Toki Wright](/source/Toki_Wright) – "The Law" from ''A Different Mirror'' (2009)
* St. Paul Slim – "McArthur Park" from ''Bald Headed Samsun'' (2010)
* Villa Rosa – "Chico" from ''Blue Diamond Island'' (2011)
* IBE & Benzilla – "Casual Convo" from ''This, That and the Third'' (2013)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://rhymesayers.com/iselfdevine I Self Devine] on [Rhymesayers Entertainment](/source/Rhymesayers_Entertainment)
* {{Twitter}}
* {{Discogs artist|I Self Devine}}

{{Rhymesayers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:I Self Devine}}
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:20th-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:American hip-hop record producers
Category:Rappers from Minneapolis
Category:Living people
Category:1972 births
Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:Rhymesayers Entertainment artists
Category:21st-century African-American rappers
Category:20th-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century African-American male rappers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [I Self Devine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Self_Devine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Self_Devine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.