Interviews Next Wave

Chicago Powerhouse Jelani Lateef Provides Hope and Inspiration With “I’m A Star” & “Can’t Stop Now”

Chicago hip-hop powerhouse Jelani Lateef is a swift current of perseverance and inspiration—infusing vulnerability and hope into each of

By TCR Staff

March 24, 2025

Chicago Powerhouse Jelani Lateef Provides Hope and Inspiration With “I’m A Star” & “Can’t Stop Now”

Chicago hip-hop powerhouse Jelani Lateef is a swift current of perseverance and inspiration—infusing vulnerability and hope into each of his meticulously crafted tracks. Garnering critical acclaim over the last fourteen years as a musician, producer, and CEO, his street tough hip-hop style is a “breath of fresh air” that gives voice to the blue-collar grind, people like Jelani himself, who wears many hats to get by and build a meaningful life. “I’m a Star” and “Can’t Stop Now” are just two of many examples of his tenacious spirit—nearly all of his tracks radiate confidence and possess an unquestionable capability to uplift. Resilience isn’t just a theme in his music—but in his greater story. With a new album on the horizon, a highly-anticipated sequel to his EP, For the Record, he remains keenly focused on keeping up the momentum, inspiring others to fight through their challenges with their head held high—because good things will come to those who press on.

“I’m a Star” is a seamless follow-up to “Can’t Stop Now.” Reflecting on “surviving the perfect storm,” the track serves as both an anthem of self-belief and a reassuring hand on the shoulder. With years of experience under his belt, Jelani delivers fluid, earwormy verses with finesse over a crisp boom-bap beat. He understands the frustration, disappointment, and dejection of being overlooked despite his talent, yet he refuses to let anything dull his shine or stand in his way. Instead, he channels his unwavering positivity into everything he creates—reminding listeners that accolades are just one part of a person’s journey—and it doesn’t solely define success.

The music video puts Jelani front and center—a living example of the resilience needed to chase one’s dreams—having made it out the other side. At first glance, this self-edited music video may seem understated—there’s none of the bling, cars, or cameos often expected in mainstream hip-hop videos. But it’s all by design—his engaging performance is both grounded and electrifying—perfectly matching the track’s anthemic qualities. Bringing his vision to life in every aspect of the production process, filmed by his ten-year-old daughter, the overlaid effects add an eye-catching layer of grit and vibrancy, proving once again that one can never count this star out of the game.

Both tracks tell his story, but “Can’t Stop Now,” digs deeper—an honest, thoughtful reflection of Jelani’s character, mettle, and drive. Despite facing numerous hardships in life, there’s one thing he never does—give up. In “Can’t Stop Now,” he vows to keep pushing forward—even when the road gets tough—because he knows deep down he always has a will and a way. Dripping with soul—the track offers a laid-back yet melodic glimpse into his story and the trials that shaped him.

In the music video, he delivers his truth straight to the people of his hometown—setting up a mic on the streets of Chicago and letting it all go. Inspired by his perseverance, his niece—who dreams of becoming a star gymnast—begins practicing with newfound determination. Even when she stumbles, she doesn’t call it quits—his words lingering in the back of her mind, “Since I made it this far, I can’t stop now.” After relentless effort, she finally nails a super-satisfying sequence of flips—throwing her hands in the air in triumph. Looking back, it’s clear that Jelani truly never stopped either. If anything, he’s more driven than ever, ready to pack a punch into his latest projects. Though it’s been a bumpy road—his journey is far from over.

What do you enjoy about making music? Have you always known you wanted to be a musician?

I enjoy the satisfaction of starting with an idea in my head and then making that idea a reality. I enjoy watching others connect with what I’ve created in a genuine way. Music is a language that crosses lines of race and culture and connects people. I was obsessed with music long before the thought of being a creator ever crossed my mind. I didn’t always know I would make music. I didn’t develop that belief or confidence right away.

Could you talk to us a little bit about the writing and recording process for these two tracks? Do you always follow the same process or does it vary from song to song?

I usually write with no beat playing. For some reason that can be distracting to me. As a matter of fact I record a lot of my vocals to a basic drum break just to get a tempo, then I make the actual beat for the song later. As we speak I have a hard drive full of vocals that I go through when I’m inspired and then I work on a track to fit the mood of the vocals. I’m sure that sounds a little strange but that’s been my process at least 80% of the time.

You have a “street tough” hip-hop style, yet, you strive to infuse positivity into your music. How do you go about balancing these two things?

The aggression comes from the competitive nature of emceeing, but the message is based on my own system of beliefs. I always looked up to rappers like Rakim, KRS-One, Chuck D and Q-Tip who always had that balance.

Would you consider “I’m A Star” and “Can’t Stop Now” sister tracks, despite not being released together? What themes do these two tracks share?

A lot of what I create is themed around overcoming things and striving to be the best at whatever you want to achieve. Can’t Stop Now was me reflecting on my journey and saying “keep going”. I’m A Star was me reminding myself WHY I should keep going.

Was it especially impactful for you to sing the song on the streets of Chicago, your hometown, for the “Can’t Stop Now” music video?

Absolutely! I love that I was able to use the city I was born and raised in as the backdrop for the video. I also love that I was able to show a side of the city that isn’t all gloom and doom, which is often how Chicago is portrayed in the media.

What motivated you to take a more stripped-back approach for the “I’m a Star” music video? What was the process of self-editing like?

I liked the idea of doing a simple performance video as opposed to a story driven concept. I kinda treated it like an audition video and did the edit based on how I want to be seen as a rapper/performer. No glamour and glitz, just pure rhymin.

Resilience is a big part of your personal and musical identity—do you hope to inspire resilience in others with your music?

This year is going to be the most active I’ve been in a long time. I have several projects lined up including a series of videos with a live band that I’m REALLY excited about. If things go according to plan I’ll be releasing two more albums in 2025.