Charles Edward Campbell (born January 23, 1981), known by his stage and pen name, Chuckie Campbell, is an American musician, poet, fiction writer, editor, publisher, and educator. He holds a B.A. in communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Religion from Lee University, an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from Eastern Kentucky University, and a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Campbell is also an emerging hip hop artist. In 2014, he was the winner of the All WNY Music Awards for "Best Hip Hop/Rap Performer" and "Best New Artist." and in 2016, Artvoice Best of Buffalo Best Hip Hop Act and Best of Buffalo Best Original Music. Campbell's work has garnered positive press from online and print outlets such as The Huffington Post, The Source, Young Hollywood, Examiner.com, and UTG Review. His most recent album, Taking Back Tomorrow features Talib Kweli, Ras Kass, Nicole Atkins, Heidi Feek, and more. In 2017, he started the Taking Back Tomorrow Scholarship awarding a $1,500 annual scholarship to one Madison Central High School student, a college-bound high school senior, based on the demonstrated ability to overcome a life obstacle in pursuit of their higher education. Campbell continues to tour the United States, booked by Deep Thinka Records out of Buffalo, New York.
Biography
Early and personal life
Chuckie Campbell was raised in Richmond, Kentucky, attending Madison Central High School. While there, he excelled as an athlete, particularly on the basketball court, playing with high school stand outs Marquis Estill, Kenneal Jenkins, and Brandon Fritz. His play earned him a college scholarship to Lee University, where he would play four years of college basketball. Campbell would graduate in 2003 with his B.A. in communications and a minor in religious studies.
In the summer of 2004, Campbell was assaulted in a street fight by his friend and music mentor Ralph B. Prater. He would have facial reconstruction surgery and not make or perform music again for almost 7 years after the incident.
In the fall of 2004, Campbell began classes at Eastern Kentucky University in work toward his M.A. in English and Creative Writing. He studied under the likes of Charlie Sweet, Hal Blythe, and Young Smith, graduating in 2007. In 2008, he began his coursework toward his PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi, studying under Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, brothers of Donald Barthelme.
Campbell currently lives and writes in Buffalo, New York where he teaches college English and Communication courses at Bryant & Stratton College. As a tutor, teacher, and writer, he holds a number of accolades in the academic world, notably the Eastern Kentucky University Fiction Award (2007), for best critical and creative writing in a graduate course, the Madonna Marsden Fiction Award (2007), for exceptional creative writing in a short story collection, the Julia Visor Award (2010), presented annually by the National College Learning Center Association, the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaurate Achievement Program Grant (2011), a grant provided by the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program for preparing first-generation college students for doctoral studies, and The WNY Distinguished Faculty Award for Full-Time Faculty (2012 & 2016), honoring teachers at Bryant & Stratton College for instructional excellence.
Musical career
When Esente Center Stage selected Campbell as their emerging artist of the week, writer Peter Amara affirmed him as "super-lyrical" with words "that thrust" the listener "in the middle of the scenario," praising the rapper for his "intricate wordplay" and "incredibly fast flow". In early 2013, his song, "The Streets," produced by Marc Jones, struck a chord with listeners all across the nation, when it amassed the most overall votes in The Grammy's Amplifier Contest, accumulating 95,058 amps, listens and shares, more than any other artist in any other genre who participated in the contest. The song would be disqualified from the contest for improper interpolations of other musical compositions.
At the end of 2013, in response to the success of his song, "The Streets," Campbell released his first full-length album, More Die of Heartbreak, to positive reviews and critical acclaim. The album was produced entirely by Willie Breeding of The Breedings of Nashville, Tennessee and featured a number of emerging and established acts.