Rapper Calogano Chambers, who performs as SeeFour, has been part of Boston’s hip-hop scene since he was 14, performing across the city and standing out in rap competitions and music showcases. Recently, he took his talents to a national stage as a contestant on the second season of Netflix’s hip-hop reality competition “Rhythm + Flow.”
The 23-year-old Mattapan native, known as “Spirit” for his energy, personality and style, made his mark on the show, appearing in five episodes and competing against world-renowned talent.
“It was a fierce competition,” he said. “It kind of gets overwhelming when you realize how many people were there from different places.”
On the show, Chambers participated in cypher competitions and one-on-one rap battles, including a face-off against female rapper Sur Ali.
“I think the way I represented it is kind of like how our basketball team does,” he said. “I wanted to go out there with a standard — when you do it, do it to the best of your ability.”
The high-energy style Chambers brought to the show has been a trademark of his performances since the beginning. It caught the attention of Robert “ROB.” Kelley-Morgan, who first saw him perform as a teenager at The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Cambridge.
“The first time I saw him perform, I got shivers,” Kelley-Morgan said. “Our relationship built from there.”
Now Chambers’ manager, Kelley-Morgan is committed to uplifting local artists. He is the creator of the independent media platform PUTINWORKTV, co-owner of the Dorchester Art Project, and co-founder of Boston’s Future Forward Festival.
“I trust him to do what he does at a high level, and he trusts me to do what I do at a high level,” Kelley-Morgan said. “I’ve known him since he was young — there’s respect there.”
A formative moment in Chambers’ career was his participation in “Masters of the Chamber,” a local rap competition that has showcased many up-and-coming artists. Chambers was among the first participants and credits the competition with helping him gain exposure.
“Organizations like that, and people like that — you can’t do it without them,” he said. “It only takes one person to believe in you.”
Chambers continued his growth on “Rhythm + Flow,” where he saw representing Boston’s rap scene and Black artist culture on a national stage as both an honor and an opportunity.
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“It was like, ‘I am from Boston, and you’re gonna know I am from Boston,’” he said. “That was the biggest thing for me — that I could put my city in a greater light than it’s ever been before.”
Although Chambers was eventually eliminated, he said the fast-paced environment pushed him to grow and recognize the power of his artistry.
“I basically did the job of what a rookie would do in a good year — what a vet would do in five,” he said. “All exposure is good exposure.”
While some might see a national competition as the pinnacle of success, Chambers views it as a stepping stone to propel himself forward and continue showcasing Boston’s music scene.
Chambers recently released the deluxe edition of his 2023 debut album “Spirit of a Warrior,” a project aimed at redefining and correcting misconceptions about Boston’s hip-hop culture.
The album rollout included a promo video featuring text bubbles with common misconceptions: “There are Black people in Boston? There’s a Boston hip-hop culture? There’s not one rapper that comes to mind when you think of Boston.”
“I see these comments daily,” Chambers said. “For me, being a representation of the city, I had a good chance to show what’s going on here and glorify that.”
The album also marked a major artistic milestone for him. “It was definitely a coming-of-age project for me,” he said.
Produced by GIB DJ with support from Kelley-Morgan, the album showcases Chambers’ versatility.
“Whether it’s a knocking beat or a smooth, laid-back vibe, we wanted to show that versatility,” Chambers said.
But beyond the sound, he hopes the project resonates with listeners on a deeper level.
“I just really wanted to provoke thought,” he said. “It was time to put the project out and understand that I am representing Boston while doing it.”
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