Chicago's next rising star: rapper Femdot

Chicago’s-own Femdot is making an impact in the music world.

But music doesn't have to be his only career option, because he's also a recent graduate of DePaul.

With a sound reminiscent of 90's New York City hip hop, Femdot was heavily influenced by the music of A Tribe Called Quest, Nas and Jay-Z. But early on it was his older brother, Kola, whose rapping inspired him the most.

"Just being a younger brother, you wanna be like your older brother,” Femdot said.

Late one night, at the tender age of six, Femdot joined his older brother and his friends as they rhymed, paving the way for his future rap career.

As a first generation Nigerian, Femdot's parents instilled in him a value system that has guided him throughout his life.

"Being Nigerian in general, discipline is a thing, self-discipline is a real thing that may have given me an advantage,” he said.

It was this upbringing that allowed Femdot to graduate from DePaul this past spring with a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies -- simultaneously juggling a full time academic schedule with a blossoming music career, which was two very different worlds that often collided.

"I was doing the final in the green room during the Soulja Boy show and I flew back the next day to do the rest of my finals,” he said.

In February, Femdot visited South Korea to watch his older sister, Seun, compete on one of the world's biggest stages at the Olympics as part of the first ever Nigerian bobsled team. Already a doctor by profession, Seun has motivated her younger brother as a student and an artist.

"I can really do whatever I want to cause the person I love the most has done it,” Seun said.

This week, Femdot released his new album "Delacreme 2” -- a project that shows an evolution from his previous work and one that he believes will eventually lead him to be one of the all-time greats in hip hop.

"I have to be somebody that people can believe in and that people can see themselves in without being unauthentic in doing so,” Femdot said.

And being a part of the Chicago music scene during this historic period is something that Femdot does not take for granted.

"Ten, twenty years from now, people are going to be talking about the past 7 years and to be even included in that conversation, it's pretty dope,” he said.