Today we’d like to introduce you to CHE
Hi CHE , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started out loving music as a child, all I ever wanted to do was to make music and be an artist. I was also a product of a dysfunctional household and foster system, so typical resources were limited to me – however as a teen I discovered poetry & writing, which would later inspire me to fully create years later. My father passed away in 2011 and that catapulted me into creating music. by 2013 I had dropped my first project, The Green Mile. By 2017 I had been traveling all over the country, songwriting for other artists, performing & trying to make a name for myself. I came home in 2017 and started working with some folks who would evolve with myself as L.O.V.E Culture. While assuming this new role, I was als0 an activist in the community, advocating for the rights of black and brown lives, while teaching poetry & serving foster youth. In 2021 I had my daughter and took a definitive hiatus from my solo career and just focused on LC. While I also stepped back from community activism. I am very much passionate about what it means to be a woman in a male centered world/industry. I do believe that representation of Men and women working together are important, that we can create beautiful things together snd I’m really proud of what we’ve created as a crew. As of 2024, I’m getting back to my solo music, while still growing with the collective and it’s both exciting and scary at the same time, I feel like the girl back in 2013 with a dream again.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely had it’s ups and downs. When I first started, the landscape for women in rap wasn’t as open as it is now, and it took a toll on me, as I really wanted my music to defy gender. I didn’t want to be objectified, I wanted respect for my lyricism and artistry- and that was hard to come by! The industry was/is based a lot on image/aesthetic, and while I enjoy it a lot more now due to the changes that has allowed women to really do their thing, that also had a lot to do with my mental agility and the need to grow. A lot of the obstacles live in the mind, too – I have C-PTSD and that manifests easily in an industry that is ever-changing. I’m constantly working on myself and growing, it’s is essential to master yourself in a world like this. You have to have a solid foundation to be an artist. You’ll get a lot of Nos, rejections, turnarounds- if it’s not something you really want to do, it’s going to be a difficult journey and will challenge you in many ways. A lot of the way we think of ourselves and how we see ourselves as women is unfortunately male centered, and I had to dismantle a lot of that conditioning in order to see myself as an artist with a voice.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a songwriter, lyricist, poet and activist, I am currently most known for being the Front Woman of L.O.V.E Culture. I am most proud of my stage show and love for performing- what I represent for women in Hip-Hop. I believe what sets me apart is my authenticity and my sincere connection to those around me, and the crowd I am in front of. I’m a polarizing figure, and I challenge people to dig. I’m a mirror. I translate that energy into my lyrics and into my performances. I want people to feel. I want people to see themselves the way I see them. worthy of the love, worthy of the work. That’s always my goal- to invoke feeling, to remind people that they shouldn’t fear themselves.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Solitude can be a good thing. Recognize what you’re living for. Don’t be afraid to slow down and breathe. Your mental health and physical health go hand in hand. Be present, grateful. Life is an inevitable journey of the unknown.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weareloveculture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allofche/
- Twitter: https://x.com/allofche
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cheech-forreign
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@allofche
