Chad Marshall (born November 24, 1991), known professionally as Rowdy Rebel, is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York, affiliated with GS9 and signed to Epic Records. As a prominent member of the GS9 collective alongside fellow rapper Bobby Shmurda, Rowdy Rebel gained visibility through his appearance in the video for "Hot Nigga," as well as an official remix of the song featuring Fabolous, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, and Yo Gotti.
Marshall grew up in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, an area sometimes referred to as "the 90s." His childhood nickname "Rowdy," coined by neighbors due to his spirited behavior, eventually became part of his stage name. Marshall is of Barbadian descent, though he was born in New York City. Many members of the GS9 crew, including Bobby Shmurda, also hail from the same Brooklyn neighborhood, contributing to their close collaboration.
Rowdy Rebel gained national attention in 2014, a breakthrough year following the viral success of Bobby Shmurda. Within weeks of Shmurda signing to Epic Records, Marshall also secured a recording contract with the label. That same year, he featured on the official remix of Shmurda’s hit song "Hot Nigga," collaborating with notable artists such as Fabolous, Jadakiss, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Yo Gotti.
Marshall further contributed to the GS9 collective with tracks like "Computers," a standout song from the Shmoney Shmurda project—a collaborative mixtape showcasing the group's Brooklyn roots. In October 2014, he released the solo single "Beam Jawn," which departed from his GS9 collaborations and featured no guest appearances.
In June 2020, Rowdy Rebel returned to music with a feature on "Make It Rain," a posthumous single by Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke. The track, released while Marshall was still incarcerated, marked his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, peaking at number 51. This feature strongly signaled his comeback in the rap scene.
Following his release from prison in December 2020, Rebel was interviewed by Complex, in which he expressed plans to immediately release new music. He spoke of a long-anticipated solo project titled Rowdy vs. Rebel, a theme that symbolized his artistic duality. He also confirmed that he remained under management with Epic Records at the time.
On February 12, 2021, he collaborated with Canadian rapper Nav on the single "Jesse Owens," marking another step in his post-incarceration career resurgence.
On December 17, 2014, Rowdy Rebel was arrested by the New York Police Department on multiple charges including conspiracy, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted assault, and reckless endangerment. The arrest was part of a larger crackdown involving GS9 associates, including Bobby Shmurda and 13 others, on suspicion of gang-related activities and narcotics trafficking.
Marshall initially pleaded not guilty but later accepted a plea deal, agreeing to a sentence of 6 to 7 years in prison. He received nearly two years of credit for time already served while awaiting trial. In August 2020, he was granted parole, and he was officially released on December 15, 2020. Fellow rapper Young Thug welcomed him home with a YSL chain, a symbolic gesture of support and recognition.
Rowdy Rebel has kept much of his personal life private. He is not married and, according to public reports, is currently single. During the height of his early career, he was known to be in a committed relationship, which reportedly continued during his incarceration. However, it remains unclear whether the two are still together as of his release and return to music.
