BJ the Chicago Kid might have seemed like a newcomer when he earned Grammy nominations for "Studio" (2014), his Top 40 collaboration supporting ScHoolboy Q, and for In My Mind (2016), his debut album for Motown. However, the singer and songwriter had been developing his streetwise mix of vintage and modern R&B styles for nearly a decade, gathering experience as a background singer, guest vocalist, and songwriter with work for the likes of Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, and Lalah Hathaway. Since emerging as an acclaimed headliner in his own right, BJ's secondary discography has expanded with appearances on prominent LPs by Solange, Rapsody, and Anderson .Paak, and the artist has issued the follow-up 1123 (2019), likewise a deeply collaborative work. He remained active heading into the next decade with numerous singles and the 4 AM EP.