Chad Fore on “Lil Spooky”: Before Brad There Was Silky Chad

The short story "Lil Spooky," written by Chad Fore, follows the journey of his high school protagonist, Brad Camacho, as he slowly becomes entangled in a local gang. The narrative takes place in the author's hometowns of Piru and Fillmore, California, and is rich with details and characters that feel authentic and unscripted.

When Fore first drafted the story, he included a link to a song he was featured on during his high school years. Fore and the interviewer discussed the musical influences behind the characters in his story, as well as his own experiences with rap music. Fore shared that his cousin had a rap group in the 90s and early 2000s, which inspired the story's setting.

Fore mentioned that he wanted the story to end at the moment when Brad cannot escape the gang, conveying the feeling of "it was all pretend until the moment it wasn't." The interviewer noted that the story emphasizes the allure of being a gangster, with Fore explaining that growing up in that environment made gangsters seem cool, popular, and influential. Fore also shared that he contributed a rap verse to the song "Flow Trip," which was featured in the story.

Fore's fascination with rap music and its depiction of violence grew from his exposure to rap groups in his hometown. He mentioned listening to his cousin's group, Mikey's, and being influenced by the rapper's gruff voice and the concept of living the life one raps about. Fore acknowledged the artistic skill in the way violence is portrayed in gangster rap, citing GZA as his favorite rapper.