About
Also known as: BJ, BJ The Chicago Kid, Bryan James Sledge
BJ The Chicago Kid, born Bryan James Sledge and raised in Chicago, makes the kind of soul music that critics reach for superlatives to describe. His 2016 major label debut album In My Mind, released on Motown, earned an 84 on Metacritic and a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album, with one reviewer calling it "the most earnest soul album in years." The record was built on real friendships: longtime pals Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper both appeared on it, and a Twitter connection with Big K.R.I.T. led to the collaboration "The Resume." The whole thing was recorded in about 30 days, with BJ sleeping in the studio on more than a few of those nights. That kind of dedication fits a man whose career has been described as a 15 year grind rooted in genuine craft.
