Detroit Che

Nothing is more refreshing than being able to witness an artist grow musically and as a person — enter the emcee formerly known as Detroit Che. She’s dropped the "Detroit" part of her moniker (which might carry its own symbolism), and she's taking the proverbial next step in her evolution with her EP, Chenges.

The EP’s four song titles — “Seed,” “Root,” “Stem,” and “Leaf” — symbolize Che’s rebirth. It’s not only the maturation of the emcee, but she’s arrived full circle in womanhood and life.



“Seed” is a feel-good anthem that exudes the same vibe as your favorite Corinne Bailey Ray song. The subtle strings and melodic tempo feels like a fresh take on '90s neo-soul. “Root” is a spiritually conscious cut about accepting your inner self instead of avoiding it — her words are heavy with the heaviness of a women speaking from experience. “How many times we’ve been told we ain’t beautiful? How many times our lives reside in cubicles?” she raps.


“Stem” is jazzy and speaks on the pitfalls of life using while alcohol as the metaphor. And the steady piano keys make “Leaf” the only fast-paced cut on the EP as Che continues to expose herself. “I didn’t see no changes, I hated my ways, so I tried to erase with them with a gun to my head but I ain’t gon bang it/ so I’m still here now so I must have angels,” she raps.

Chenges is introspective, heartwarming, and inquisitive but without being too preachy or melancholy. It’s kind of like she’s Lauryn Hill-ish post-Miseducation — but with more musical continuity and more awareness of the artist and person she has become. - Kahn Davison

Che has been featured on 106 & Park, the BET Hip Hop Awards, and toured many parts of the country. She has never wasted an opportunity and continues to give us great music.
Her previous projects have been more hip-hop heavy and served us straight grittiness with a raw edge, but her new project shows us the changes within her music. Full of melodies, encouragement, and personality you can find yourself in everyone of these songs.
With four incredible songs "Chénges" leaves you wanting more of Ché's new and unique style. Each of the 4 tracks is named after important parts of a tree: "Seed, Root, Stem, Leaf".
Every song is notable and amazing, but my favorite from the project is "Root". This song speaks on the daily struggle as a person oppressed by the police, government, and the challenges of the world, something every person in 2017 can relate to in some manner or degree.
This album is not only worth a listen, but it's worth adding to your playlist so you can inspire yourself to change daily.
"Chénges" is available on all major streaming services. - Chantel Watkins

During last week’s BET Hip-Hop Award cyphers, fans saw some familiar and unfamiliar faces. Detroit Che, who was the winner of Sprite’s Hot 16 contest, earned her spot in a cypher featuring Troy Ave, Dee-1, Logic and Lil Mama. Obviously, she killed it, so we needed to find out more about her. In The Break, Che reveals why she gave up hooping to pursue hip-hop full time, her goals in hip-hop and more. Don’t sleep.
Name: Detroit Che
Age: 20
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan. Westside of Detroit.
I grew up listening to: I grew up really listening to a lot of Lil Wayne like back in the day. Like Hot Boys. I just dug the whole swag. The big white tee. That little bandana. I wear bandanas a lot. That has a huge influence. Also, Tupac. I liked how he was very involved with the political issues. That’s something that I really take pride in. It’s not just being an artist, but using my fan base to my advantage and bringing light to tragedies and situations that need to be talked about.
Eminem, that’s one person that I really want to work with. Out of everybody I was saying, I was praying he was in the cypher. Oh my god, I love him so much. Eminem was really dope. Those three they had a lot of influence on me.
MC Lyte, “Paper Thin.” The old school female hip-hop, even Missy Elliott. Not only is Missy Elliott a female rapper, but she can also can apply her talent to choreography. She directs videos. Not only her videos, but she has an artist she has now that she’s very evolved with. MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, and Left Eye. Can’t forget about Left Eye.
Most people don’t know I: Probably between two things – the fact that I love singing more than I love rapping. Music was never my intentions. I never really intended to be a rapper. I love rap but I played basketball all the way into my 12th grade year. I just started taking music seriously in 2013. To reach some of these accolades is really a true blessing. Not nothing to be arrogant about, its an humbling experience to know that you have artists who have been grinding for decades to get where I am at. It’s just a true blessing, just starting last year.
I haven’t really dropped with me singing. I was gonna drop something after the Hip-Hop Awards with me singing, but I feel like I wanted t to wait. I don’t wanna just go into the game doing something because I wanted to be heard ASAP. I feel like if I am continuing to build my fan base, then within a few months, drop a song when I am singing to where they already have an idea of who Che is as an artist. It’s not like “OK, she’s rapping. She’s singing. Who is she?” I want to tell my story first and then that’s when I want to experiment with my other talents.
My style’s been compared to: I cannot escape the Kendrick Lamar comparison. It’s really not a bad thing because I met Kendrick last year. I met him at Chene Park. I went to a meet and greet. And I’m like, “Yo, Kendrick. Can I rap for you?” He’s like, “Yeah.” Long story short, I was waiting for him, the security guard had kicked me out the venue. He thought I was lying, saying I was waiting on Kendrick. I was waiting at least 30 minutes to an hour outside in Detroit. It’s cold in the D. So it’s freezing outside and I am waiting for Kendrick. I finally get to meet him. He walks out the back room and I’m like, “Yo, Kendrick, can I spit for you?” So I get on the tour bus and rap for him. I feel like since he’s one of my top influences, I feel like people hear that influence in my work, but I do try to stray away from that because I do want people to know who Che. Sometimes, I hear Eminem, but I’m honored to be compared to both of them.
My standout records and/or moments to date have been: I have a single called “Talk My Shit.” It’s produced by my friend Jaye Prime. She’s also another female artist. Shout out to her. The fact that she engineers, she sings, she writes her own music and she produces. It’s just inspiring. I think “Talk My Shit” is a nice record.
It was 2013 [when] I dropped [this] after the Trayvon Martin [incident] had happened and its called “H.U.D.” It stands for Harming Unarmed Dark. On it, it goes, “Hood on like Trayvon, bought a melon Arizona / Why the hell I got a hoodie on? / When I’m hot as Arizona.” I feel like people right after that tragedy, some Black kids, we were scared to wear Black hoodies. I wanted to make that song and say, “Why do we have to be scared to dress how we want to dress because we will be racially profiled just because something we are wearing? Since when does a hood mean you are a criminal?” So I wanted to step outside the box. It’s a song right now that not a lot of people are paying attention to, but I think its gonna have a strong impact on the younger culture of kids nowadays.
Noah is the first project that I am 100 percent confident with dropping. I didn’t rush it. Everything just worked out perfect with that mixtape. I also worked with Jaye Prime throughout that whole mixtape. She recorded and mixed and mastered everything. I really pushed myself throughout that mixtape, not just as an artist, but what makes me really love that mixtape is because I am grown as a person. When you can grow as an artist and a person, you see that growth. I don’t know even know if you see the growth, your fans see the growth. This is a good feeling. I have to keep this going.
My goal in Hip-Hop is: My overall goal isn’t necessarily about hip-hop itself, I think its to be that mogul who inspires not only the children and teenagers, but inspires everybody to do what you want to do. I turned down several full ride basketball scholarships because I wanted to follow my dreams. I didn’t want to go to school just to have a backup and just to play on a team. Just to say I got a full ride to so and so. I actually wanted to be able to sacrifice [something].
What I want to do in hip-hop, you can do anything and everything as long as you put your mind to it and as long as you keep the lord Jesus Christ first. And that’s it. Whether it is hip-hop, or if it is R&B, if it is rap, whatever you want to do, I want to be that person that motivated you to do whatever you feel like you can do.
I’m gonna be the next: I don’t want to be next anything, I want to be the first, but I don’t know what the first I want to be. We shall see.


Read More: The Break Presents: Detroit Che - XXL | http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/the-break/2014/10/the-break-presents-detroit-che/?trackback=tsmclip - Eric Diep

While doing some media work at the Kendrick Lamar Concert presented by TDE at Chene Park in Detroit, I ran into a few friends of mine in an underground rap group called: #FadedAgenda. One of which was a girl named “Che”. We had previously met at different events and her passion for her craft definitely reeked from her ora. I first worked with Che while shooting a cypher promo video she was in. I instantly fell in love with flow, style, & humor. When it came to the end of the concert I was fortunate enough to kick it with Kendrick for a while before the meet and greet started. He was a real down to earth fellow and I expressed how much I enjoyed his work & he expressed his recognition for my work. As the meet and greet started and proceeded with pictures with different fans, I saw Che step up to the front of the line. After she took her picture with Kendrick she kindly asked to rap for him. Something in me told me to speak up. So I yelped out:
“Let her rap for you Kendrick! She is the coldest MC in the city!”
He looked at me gave me an assuring nod and told her to stay till after. Security then escorted her out of the building. Kendrick proceeded to take a shower in his dressing room. While in the hallway a security guard approaches a stage manager and asks him:
“Hey, does Kendrick still want that girl to rap for him. She’s been standing outside for 30 minutes!”
I began to include myself in the conversation saying: “Yes!” but was cut off by a stage manager that then said: “Kendrick has a number. Tell her to call him! If he wanted her to rap for him that bad he would of gave it to her!”
I then tried my best to express to the security that Kendrick still had interest in “Che”. I looked down at my phone to text someone in the #FadedAgenda camp only to realize my phone was dead. I prayed and hoped she was still out there.
As Kendrick, his camp, and I exited his dressing room and proceeded out the back I saw Radio Raheem (a faded agenda member) who was calling Che to come here. As Kendrick came out she cried out to rap for him. He heard her and made a “c’mon” motion with his hands. As we walked up security tried to stop her and I mushed him away arguing that Kendrick wanted to hear her rap.
The bus doors opened and Kendrick told me he only wanted her on the bus. I really wanted to capture it on camera but I was just happy she made it on the bus 1 on 1 with him. I could look in the bus and see that Kendrick’s facial expressions were those of interest. At that point I knew something was there. As they both made their way off the bus I asked Kendrick: “Aye Kendrick you messing with her?” He replied: “Hell yea! She is hard!” I flicked the camera on and said let’s do a drop co-signing her and he did.
Stay tuned for what happens next:
*Check out Kendrick Lamar and Che at the 2:00 mark. - Stewe

With Small Talk we get the first full length project in a minute from the emcee Detroit Che. The album’s title belies Che’s rap preeminence. She’s one of the best rappers out of Detroit (or anywhere) right now, and shows why with every bar she spits. No exception on this tape. Production credits on Small Talk range from JonBoyIce to Detroit’s OG Taxx, ALI Keys, Sample, and Jaye Prime.
After a first listen, our Favorites: “What It’s Gon Take”, “The Storm”, and “Kamikaze” - John Struman

It can be difficult to correctly characterize someone you don't know too well. It can be extremely difficult to characterize someone you've spent less than an hour talking to. Let's face it — it can even be difficult to characterize one's own self — like those “pick three words that describe you” interview questions, and God forbid employers then ask you to explain why you feel that way. But luckily for me, the “someone” I spent less than hour talking to was the direct and candid Detroit Che.

Che’s responses to my questions were emotionally rich and effortlessly raw — much like her music. She is far from common, and most importantly, her music, mantra, and mentality are contributing to hip-hop in a constructive way. Che is a particularly progressive thinker with big plans and enough willpower to make them happen. She consciously chooses to stray away from the street rap stereotype, the gun-glorifying gangsta.
Che hails from Detroit, born and raised, but she said she believes her face will be recognized far beyond city borders one day.
“When I go all over the world, I wanted (Detroit) to be on my name,” Che said. “(That way) they will feel like there's a variety of Detroit music.”
But don’t think this means that Che isn't proud of her roots. Just like the globe-trotting dreams Che has for herself, she sees big things in the city's outlook. Detroit’s “bright future” will come when local artists concentrate on not necessarily working together — she isn't a fan of random collaborations — but embracing one another. She reminisced on turmoil-free days of Motown.
“I am one of those bright people and we are gonna bring the brightness out of Detroit.”
She is already doing just that. Take for example “Flaw-Lez,” a track for which Che released a self-directed conceptual video in February of this year. Che speaks on the danger of making temporary decisions that can have long-term consequences. But, as you might have inferred by the track’s title, she isn’t just referring to heterosexual couples.
“If you're bi or gay, you should be looked at differently, which you shouldn't. We all breathe, we all have a voice, our sexuality should not have anything to do with how we're treated,” she said. “It's one of my most powerful songs. I needed to tell people how Cherrish feels, not how Che feels — by the way, Cherrish is my real name.”
These constructive convictions of self-love and solidarity are infused in Che's music. She admits though that self-expression is a balancing act between both pleasing the city and properly representing herself as an artist and as a person. Tracks like “Flaw-Lez” are risky releases, but she chooses to follow the advice one peer gave her: “You'll never know how successful this song is unless you drop it.”
Thus far, it's been nothing but love and positive feedback, which translates into inspiration for Che to continue staying true to her artistry and releasing projects like Noah, her latest tape. The sound is gritty and in your face, but Che managed to make thoughtful topics compliment the bangin’ beats.
“I talked about God and that single (Messiah Complex) has been on the radio.”
Above all, this is motivation. As Che prepped for the release of Noah 2 (due late July/early August), she took the reassuring reactions to heart and decided that “when you have the power to drop whatever you want to drop, that's when you never limit yourself.”
Che is keeping listeners on their toes with Noah 2, but revealed that the vibe will be so different that she is even considering changing the tape’s name. The neo-soul, relaxed feel, reminiscent of Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott, will be Che’s latest divergence from what one stereotypically assumes to hear from an inner-city artist.
“I really feel like I'm ahead of my time. I wanna do a million things within 12 months,” Che said.
It's hard to not see the potential; even Kendrick Lamar praised the promising performer.
Most importantly, Che doesn’t just talk it. She lives it. Her forward-thinking rap persona matches her real personality. Remember the fatal shooting of Renisha McBride, a 19 year old African-American woman, in November 2013? It sparked controversy as claims were made that it was the result of racial profiling. Theodore Wafer, the perpetrator, claims that he believed his home was being broken into. Renisha, however, was seeking help. She was also a good friend of Che’s.
“I never thought it would happen to somebody that I knew,” Che said, “I set music to the side and did what I had to do and used my fan base and reached out to them in a positive way.”
She organized peace walks and campaigning for her fallen friend. It’s a waste of time, then, to doubt the sincerity of Che’s music, her message, as she brings it to life with her actions. - Lejla Bajgoric