Miami based Rapper, Chelzzz, has been making waves in 2019 with her SXSW performance, her national tour, and her C3 brand curated events. She is a unique voice in the hip-hop landscape and shared some of her insights at this year’s Grit Daily Live! Miami Art Summit. Between her music and her activism, Chelzzz is an artist looking to make an impact beyond Miami.
From the Basketball Court to the Studio
Chelzzz fell in love with hip-hop early. Her time on the basketball court was spent playing ball and rhyming with other kids in Detroit. It was at that young age when she realized the talent she hard for wordplay.
Honing her skills throughout her school experience, Chelzzz took a brief hiatus in high school when she found herself getting in some trouble. She would return to hip-hop when she was introduced to Nicki Minaj and was inspired, falling in love with the craft all over again.
The art of rap has done a lot for Chelzzz, giving her new opportunities and helping her stay out of trouble. After relocating to South Florida and finding a home in the local scene, she decided to pay it forward and help create opportunities for other up and coming artists.
Finding Comfort in a Vibe
The solace Chelzzz found in creating music is something that has unquantifiable value. This is why a big part of her musical goals is to reach out to others who may be going through issues in their personal lives. By crafting songs that tell a story or encompass a vibe, Chelzzz is able to help people relate to things while they deal with their everyday troubles.
Coming up as a Lesbian rapper in a historically male dominated industry, where female acts are often marketed based on hetero-normative sex appeal is no easy task. Simply flourishing in the industry is an act of LGBTQ+ advocacy and that is a responsibility that Chelzzz does not take lightly.
With the cultural shift that has taken place in recent years celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, there is no better time than now for Chelzzz to help the hip-hop industry take a step in that direction as well.
Love and Light
Chelzzz is not just a champion of the LGBTQ movement. She focuses her energy on spreading “selfless love and light” in all aspects of life. She advocates for animal rights as well as equal and affordable healthcare for all.
It is only natural for Chelzzz to put together her two passions, activism and music, and do what she can to have each one support the other.
She did just that when she organized a benefit showcase under her C3 brand for local non-profit, HOPE South Florida. This organization focuses their efforts on combating homelessness and providing aid for veterans.
C3 Cultivated Events
The C3 brand Chelzzz has created has been instrumental in aiding her promotional and activist missions. Her monthly showcase in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, “RFTU” (Rise From The Underground) has been helping her flaunt her skills and put on other local artists.
She recently took RFTU to Baltimore, Atlanta, and her native Detroit, and put together a showcase in Austin for this year’s SXSW Festival as well.
She will be back in Atlanta on January 10th and tickets are available via Eventbrite. Be sure to keep up with Chelzzz on her Instagram page and stay current with the C3 brand on its dedicated account.
Turn up your headphones and check out the music video for her latest single “Stormin” below!
