Cl’Chè: Clasyfyed & Extraordinary Lady

 

 

 

 

 

“Cl’Chè’s catalog is bigger than most rappers in the south and she’s got twice the grind. If everybody else worked that hard, hip hop would be a better place.” – DJ Who

We here at The Heat Magazine have handled quite a few features and interviews, but I must say I felt as if I were in the presence of greatness with this one. Cl’Chè is a name that rings out all over the South and beyond and she did not disappoint when we recently spoke with her. She is ‘real’ personified, in a fabulous sort of way.

Cl’Chè is a legend in the hip hop game – and she has stood the test of time. Many artists have come and gone, despite having loads of talent and connections. Not Cl’Chè – and that may very well be because she is – well, she’s Cl’Chè. One conversation with her and you just know you are not dealing with the average entertainer.

Cl’Chè has charisma – tons of charisma – but she has something else that we figure has helped her stand the test of time – attitude, determination, intelligence, and a good understanding of the world around her. This is a woman who knows what she wants and she works hard to achieve her goals, however lofty they may be. Cl’Chè makes things happen.

Quite honestly, Cl’Chè aims high and only an entertainer who does, would be able to work consistently with the caliber of artists with whom she has been featured. One would be hard pressed to find an artist who appeared on as many songs, as she has – and good luck to you finding more than a few who have her extraordinary work ethic.

We sat down and talked to Cl’Chè and here’s what she had to say:

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell our readers who Cl’Chè is and what you do.

CL’CHE: For anyone who may not be familiar with my music, my name is Cl’Chè. I’ve been in the music industry for over 16 years now. I’ve been doing music all of my life. Basically, I’ve never worked a 9 to 5. Music has been the art that I’ve pursued. I started out my last year of high school working really hard on the music. I have a fan base in the Southern region, as well as on the West Coast, from doing a lot of collaborations with my best friend. Ms. Toi. I started real young in the game and I’ve been blessed to do a lot of things independently.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Have you ever been signed to a label?

CL’CHE: I’ve never been signed, but I have worked with a lot of major labels, quite a few major artists and many local celebrity artists. I’ve also done a lot of BET features, from being in a lot of different videos – from the Paul Wall “Sitting Sideways” video to the Ms. Toi video when she was signed to Universal. I was in the 8-Ball & MJG video, and DJ Quik video and cameo guest appearances with different artists. I’ve also had my own videos. I’m hoping my new single, “I Told You”, will be played on BET soon. My credentials are out of this world because I have worked with so many different figures in the entertainment industry.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell our readers some of the artists with whom you have worked.

CL’CHE: Some of the key people I worked with – starting back when I first began my journey – are 8-Ball & MJG, Lil Keke, and DJ Screw. I’m one of the original females that’s from the S.U.C. – “Screwed Up Click”. That’s a worldwide name that everybody knows. I am the original female from that era. I’m on the original Gray Tapes that Screw did himself. “Southside Still Holdin” was where a lot of my fanbase originated.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: DJ Screw’s talent and work ethic were two things that are definitely well known. How was it working with such a legend?

CL’CHE: A lot of people know me from DJ Screw’s music and they know my songs. I would have been on more Screwtapes, but I never stuck around long enough. That’s because when you were at Screw’s house, you would have like a whole week‘s worth of work in one day. It was just a family thing and you really just got to be there all the time. I was one that moved around and IT actually took DJ Screw to come and pick me up and hold me hostage from my car. I really am so happy he did that because I’m a part of a major legacy from the South – from Houston.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Outside of Houston, what are some other projects you’ve worked on?

CL’CHE: Aside from Houston, I’ve worked with Ms. Toi, the female from the Ice Cube single, “You Can Do It”. She was on the Up in Smoke Tour. Working with her led me to work with artists like Sole. We did a lot of major television shows such as BET’s Live From L.A., Motown Live that was on UPN, and we did performances on a lot of TV shows as well. I’ve done a lot of mainstream, as well as me doing my thing independently, so I can say I’ve been blessed and never been tied down in a situation I did not want to be in. I have been offered deals that just weren’t what I wanted as far as not just money wise, but the situation itself as far as creative control. A lot of majors, especially back then like in the late ‘90’s, wanted to make the female artists what they wanted her to be. I had a vision for me and what I stand for, so if they couldn’t collaborate with what I’m bringing, I couldn’t see me being a part of it. Some people may call that crazy, but I’m being who I am and not about to fake who I am just for a dollar. I kept doing my thing in music. I never stopped. I worked with different artists. I started out in the game with Rakesh, who a lot of people know him from producing a lot of the artists and  Z-Ro’s albums. This led us to become family based and this linked me to Z-Ro and then the Gorilla Mob was created. A lot of my fans know me from that – Z-Ro’s a household name in Houston and one of the top artists. He’s very talented.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Agreed. Z-Ro is a living legend. On another note, I always pay a lot of attention to female rappers, because there just are not very many. You bring the real and that’s just not something we see very often.

CL’CHE: A lot of people don’t realize who Cl’Chè is, but they know my work. That’s something that I strived for, for a really long time – for someone to know my name and my music. People know my voice and music before they know my name or my face. I haven’t had the major exposure that’s focused just on me, in order that they are able to identify me. They know me by my voice. They know the songs because I have legendary hits out in the street in the whole Southern region. You know the words to my songs and you know the voice – from the Z-Ro albums when you hear that girl singing and rapping – to 8-Ball and MJG’s “Almost Famous” album – to Lil Keke and DJ Screw’s songs. I’m the female on the Screwtapes. They hear those albums and they’re hearing me.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: You must be proud to have worked with such legendary artists.

CL’CHE: I’m glad to be a part of that history – that legendary mark of DJ Screw and Lil Keke and the Southside. I’m glad to be a part of that era and to be the female voice behind it. Years later, a lot of us have separated and everybody is just kind of doing their own thing or are signed to different labels.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Where are you now in your career?

CL’CHE: I’ve released over 10 albums. I have released them independently, with one joint venture with Presidential Records. I’m blessed to be able to say I’ve done these albums independently and with the different producers who’ve jumped in and helped me with the music and the mixing and mastering. I’m also mixing and mastering. I’m well oriented to this music. I own my own entity – Clasyfyd ENT. I’ve always been an unsigned artist. I’m glad because I could have ended up places I didn’t want to be. It could have discouraged me.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: As an artist, how have you grown over the years?

CL’CHE: My fan base constantly broadens. In my late teens, I was performing that hard core, street rap. Everybody loves reality based lyrics, so that did well. When I was able to drop my own album, I was able to do the songs the way I wanted to do them and I could make them sound the way I wanted them to sound. I’m glad to say that I am an independent businesswoman – much more than just an artist. Nobody can take the credit for my work, but God and me.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: You talked about your style in your late teens. Tell us how your style differs now.

CL’CHE: I no longer use profanity. I’ve been in this business for over 16 years, since I was a kid – and you have to mature. How could you be 30 years old, still rapping like you were when you were 17? That doesn’t play right. My music has matured, just as I have matured, with my experiences in life. This is why a lot of people are able to relate to my music.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: What are you currently working on?

CL’CHE: I have “Hustle Hard, Part 4” coming out. My music has changed and matured a lot. For example, a lot of people ask how I have songs about Jesus and then in another song, I’m rapping about stilettos. I answer them, “Because I love Jesus and I do wear stilettos. That’s the truth.” I’m going to keep my fans rocking. I’m going to keep reality in their ear drums. I’m going to motivate, uplift and edify my fans throughout my music. I’m still giving the raw vocals, which catch the audience’s attention.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us more about the Hustle Hard series.

CL’CHE: I’m now about to be on my fourth part of the series. Part 3 is the CD/DVD set that is on www.cdbaby.com/clche1. It can be purchased on CD Baby or fans can hit me up on Facebook on my other network sites. I recently shot the video for “I Told You” and I expect big things to come of it. Big shout out to Brian Rhodes with FindMeInTheH Productions. They shot a wonderful video for me. I’m glad we shot it the way we did – the focal point of the video is Cl’Chè’.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell our readers what else is going on with you.

CL’CHE: Well, I’ve been working on the Hustle Hard series and other projects, but I am also pregnant right now. I’m still putting my music down and putting my work in. I’m a hard worker and anyone who knows me can tell you that. That’s the reason why the series is called “Hustle Hard.” When you get the DVD, if you don’t already know Cl’Chè’, you will by the time you finish watching it. It’s a 4-hour DVD where I take you on the grind all the way from Houston to Cali. I show you everything that I talk about and rap about – I’ve done it and you see it. I take you on a mini-reality show with different celebrities from all over. I show you that I really get out there and grind. My goal is for my music to motivate and uplift people. My songs mentor to them in some kind of way. My message is so profound, that I don’t want anyone to miss it, so I have taken out the profanity so that everyone can gain something by listening to my music.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: That’s great that you have remained true to yourself and that you have been able to continue doing music the way in which you want to do it.

CL’CHE: Well, I’m going to do music until the day I D-I-E. Like I said, I’ve turned down deals because I won’t allow anyone to have the creative control to turn me into something I’m not. I know that’s not what I wanted to do or how I wanted to be represented, so I passed on it. I kept moving. I would be happier doing what I’m doing, helping other people and building my fan base, than to have a million dollars and be somebody that I’m not. I think once a lot of women get into the industry, they fight that same battle because they start off taking the deal, accepting that the label is going to create them into this character – when they want to show their real side, it’s so hard, because it’s like battling against your own deal. Some artists will do anything just to get in the door and then they follow along with it until they crash and fall. Nothing that’s not positive, will last very long. I don’t care what anybody says. I don’t care if it’s the person who went double platinum – it won’t last long. You better hope that God allows you to keep that money that you made off of it, because if he gave it to you, he can take it away. Women need to first find out who they are, because it is harder for us.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: We hear that you are a big part of your community in Houston. Tell us about that.

CL’CHE: I am – I throw positive events all the time in the area of Southpark, Houston. I am a part of the SPC or “Southpark Coalition” and a part of the SUC or “Screwed Up Click”. My plan is to bring unity to the community with my “Hustle Hard Block Explosion”. I’m having the fifth one this year. I put on an all day event where I have the moonwalk for the kids, food, snocones, and positive artists performances. I tell my artists that we are role models and that we have to be careful and be responsible for what we put out. I do not do drugs. I do not drink. I never did. A lot of my fans think because I am S.U.C. affiliated, that I do the types of drugs that some other artists claim to do. That’s not what I do. I strive to have a positive influence on my fan base. Every Fourth of July, I have an event that serves hundreds of people. Artists and people come from all over, to my event in Houston. It’s on my Hustle Hard, Part 3 DVD. You can see everything I’m talking about in action on the DVD. You can see me speaking to the community. You see that it’s so much bigger than us just getting up there rapping. Hip hop is not all about drinking and smoking. I have to get that point across to a lot of different people because I have Christian followers and listeners. A lot of people think down on rap music, but there are so many different types of rap. It’s a lot like food – you have healthy food and bad food – music is the same. I have some fans who usually don’t listen to rap, but they enjoy my music.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: What else are you in to besides the music?

CL’CHE: I act, too. I’ve done movies and TV shows. I also have a large fan base for my music that is overseas, especially in Japan. You have to really apply yourself to see results, and that is what I did. I’ve taken my street grind, into a digital grind, where I market myself online.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: How can our readers connect with you on social networks?

CL’CHE: They can follow me on Twitter – @Clche and on You Tube – mshustlehard. I sell merchandise, ranging from t-shirts to music.

THE HEAT MAGAZINE: What do you want to leave our readers with, as far as Cl’Che’ goes?

CL’CHE: I love my fans and they see that. I’m always going to represent myself in the right way. As a woman of God first, and that is reality. It’s not a holier than thou attitude, either. When I saw that my music was saving lives, I understood my purpose and why God gave me this tool and this talent. I’ve had people tell me that they never heard anything about God until they started listening to my music.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We highly recommend checking out Cl’Chè’s music and social networking sites. She is an accessible, talented woman who has made her mark on music. She’s destined to continue on in that success and we look forward to watching her career grow.

Cl’Che’ “I Told You” from BRIAN RHODES on Vimeo.