Interview by Bryant Bowens (@Arete88)
We can all agree that Chicago has the hip-hop world’s attention right now. It’s all eyes on us — word to Pac. The voices of the men who contribute to this movement are finally being heard on a national level — but what about the ladies? Well, if you’ve been paying attention, then you know there’s a batch of female MCs who are every bit as fierce as their male contemporaries. And it’s their time as well.
One of the most notable, is the golden locked diva, Chella H. Her unique brand of crazy/sexy/cool (and somewhat risque) music has kept her in the FSD headlines for years — but it appears 2012 is breakout season.
FSD catches up with Michella Obama, as she discusses her upbringing in the Low End, her start as a ghostwriter, and her upcoming project, The Morning After Pill. Ladies first.
FSD: First and foremost we appreciate you taking time out for your busy schedule to come rock with FSD.
Chella H: FSD is one of, if not my favorite website.
FSD: One of your favorites? Who are you cheating on us with?
Chella H: ChellaChicago.com!
FSD: I see the plug.
Chella H: [Laughs]
FSD: Your music is very sex driven, do you ever worry about the backlash you might receive from other females?
Chella H: The only backlash I might receive is with the kids. I don’t really give a fuck how the bitches feel. My music isn’t just sex driven — it’s really just street driven. It’s real life music, I just so happen to make songs like “Poke It Out” and “Pay 4 This.” Even with “Poke it Out,” it’s not even saying anything about sex. Have you seen my video for “Baby Daddy?”
FSD: Of course…
Chella H: That’s like a real life story, so it kind of balances out. I am a grown up, I rock with the kids, but I make big girl music for real bitches from my area. There ain’t no Barbie’s over here — it’s real in the field.
FSD: With the emergence of the Chicago hip-hop scene, do you feel that you and your female comrades are getting your just due?
Chella H: Well yeah, I’m good. I get a lot of love. I’m grateful, I’m pretty sure that they are grateful. Right now, I’m pushing Chella and just staying positive. I think it’s a good look for everybody. Shout out to everybody doing their shit. I fuck with everybody. I mess with all of the artists that are from here, the Low End, the real artists that’s from here — the ones that actually grew up here.
FSD: So there’s a lot of them faking it? [Laughs]
Chella H: Yeah, but that’s another story! I’m not tripping because I know I’m from here.
[Click Below For Next Page]
s/o 2 FSD 4 SHOWIN ME LOVE & S/O 2 A FEW VERY SPECIAL PEOPL I LEFT OUT, KRYSTAL P,PORTIA, & DOUGHFROMDAGO /MR STACK OR STARVE, ALSO KING LOUIE IS ON THE “GO DUMB” RECORD I MENTIONED U CAN CHECK THAT OUT ON HERE AS WELL “THE NEW CHICAGO” MIXTAPE , S/O ZAYTOVEN,PLUKE & ALL THE PEOPLE THATS TEAM CHELLAH #RBA
#DRILL
TeamChella
interesting…
Chella tha realest bitch in this shit and she hold ha city dwn she my favorite female rapper s/o 2 FSD 4 reaching out LOWEND krazy…B.O.P
Chella weak as he’ll OMS, she need 2 give it up. The game for them hoes that’s 25 & under
we fuck woth Chellz she keep it 100 & I aint go lie at first i want feelin u but u be making them bangers in real life yo u put on for the streets no chick can fuck wit Chella they aint been threw nothing like her and we rootin for you all the way from the wild 100’s
what school did you goto? i would like to know so i can tell everyone i know NOT to send their children to it!
First let me start by saying I like Chella! I like her look, I like her endurance, she been around for a while. With that said her rap skills are the worse. I find myself embarrassed when I’m listening to her songs! Now be clear this is not a diss, it’s more like a recommendation. Maybe she should get herself a ghostwriter and work on a better delivery. It’s the delivery that’s wack as hell. Next thing that bothers me is, I remember chella before the new teeth. She was pure dope then, straight gutter, well ain’t much changed except new veneers. Just cuz u from the low don’t mean u have to stay low. Again this is not a diss, but you 40 years old and still rappin bout the hood. The market has evolved, it’s okay for u to evolve also Chella. And the Michella Obama reference is disrespectful and stupid! How u boosting and beating bitches up, then u the presidents wife. Cella your ignorance and insistence on remaining ghetto is holding you back. I’m telling you because the people around you know you’re to sensitive to hear it from them. Again, this is not a diss, I just wanna see a better u!
I agree with you 100%. Just to add on to this comment, I respect Chella’s hustle. But I feel that the hustle doesn’t match up with the music. Her production & beat selection are usually decent but its not enough to hide those elementary bars & hooks. If her delivery was better then maybe she could get away with it but she is lacking in this area also. I have nothing against older rappers either, but your skills have to match up, which hers doesn’t
As far as the image she portrays, I feel as if she needs to grow up a little bit. She wants to display the “hood bitch” image so bad that it makes her seem ignorant to a certain degree. Its ok that Chella reps the hood but reading her replies in this interview shows that she can’t even hold an intelligent convo without cursing and being overly “ghetto”. What label is going to invest in somebody like her?! She has no main stream appeal, especially with the type of music she makes.
Then how dare she call herself “Michella Obama”. Michelle Obama is a woman of class & dignity, everything Chella is not. If she wants to display a negative image of herself then thats fine but don’t bring the presidents wife into this. That right there showed me how ignorant she was.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t wish bad upon Chella’s rap career. I just hope she realizes that she can grow up as an artist. Its ok to get help and assistance, and its never to late to change things up. Hope she realizes that its ok to expand her music catalogue to a variation of styles and sounds. Her claim that she has ghostwritten for artists makes me laugh because she is not a good writer at all. I hope she gets someone to help her with her writing and her communication skills. Since she is older in age, its now or never for her. She either gets it together now or its never going to happen for her.
40s J-LO to others are looking better than mid 20s ANY DAY including mi sis i am 20 ish she was born 70s look great and always will,lif is too short to mention age n shit,but my prob is she can’t flow,as a real mujer en vida should,perod. real ladies from 18 and UP . should want to sing,nd rap about other things than high,smoke that IMO stink a chick up period. wack,and i think also she is OK not gorgeous sorry and but look nice for her age forties, age is just a # but also plz do not rap or mention MICHELL .OBAMAS are classy people sorry. and YOUR just a wanna be nikki minaj, whose in her 30s and SUCK period… your already a failure to me and ma peeps,because you should rap about other things, not the same nickel n dime sh-t. SMH.adios 1 wack wack wack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lwzLjRbMQ
SO, she “doesn’t give a fuck how bitches feel”? IF her ghetto ass is referring to the entire gender, just who the fuck does she THINK is going to buy/rock her music?? certainly not men, maybe Chi men that know her, but other than that, can’t see straight men bopping to “poke it out”. i see why she hasn’t been picked up yet. she’s a mess!
Bitch this,and high that. SMH WACK, and i agree on the fact why say don’t care wat bitches say, hood this hood tha,t oh lawd, SMH just do somethin DIFF, damn i iss the 90s REAL HIP HOP REAL WOMEN REIGN, when i was in high school. and age has no factor my sis as i said above STILL bangin at 40’s! and look late 20s shout out to sis Nikki my older sisters bangin,and healthy focus in life,but do not walk around talkin bout getti high,drinkin or where ma nigga up LMFAO plz RAP ABOUT SOMETHIN else so much GOOD things to write about,then again i m hearing CHELLA do not write! and what about the black brothers,and ma latinos being kill 1 by 1 week by week or month by month in krazy hood of chicago,i would respect any women 18 or 40s who are talented yes i said TALENTED ENOUGH TO REALIZE, such type of music is a original,and not th same high shit, or chella talking bout the same shit nikki and other WACK fake ass females talk about. do not bring up also Michelle Obama is a tall lovely strong blk indepndent class act. REAL WOMAN CHELLA.until your changin up your stupid “rap”lyrics, your not one.adios 1 just a follower. peace 1
I f#cks with Chella…. Some of her songs r pretty dope n she’s from the chi.. I like her vibe n she seems really down to earth.. give her a chance