this sista has blessed four continents with her skill and passion. and for those of you that have been to a joint when Chela is DJing, you know, this woman will have you hollering "that's my joint!". quick.
playing and mixing everything from Hip Hop and Latin Rhythms to Classic Soul and Rock, she is establishing a reputation for being true to the art and redefining for women and girls exactly what a sista can do on those 1's and 2's.
she does it all: clubs, mixtapes, radio and live shows, finessing blends and scratches with a focus on emerging talent. at the 2009 Winter Music Conference DJ Chela placed 2nd in the DJ Mix Battle, though some felt she could have been 1st, and for two years in a row she was nominated "Best Female Mixtape DJ" at the Justo's Mixtape Awards. she has since been inducted into Justo Faison's "Justo's Mixtape Allstars" and the elite all female Hip Hop movement Murda Mamis, not to mention her membership in a true Hip Hop Foundation, The Almighty Zulu Nation.
when she hosted the radio show "New Girl Order Radio" at Duke University she was honored with being named as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential College DJ's" by Urban Network magazine. I mean a sista has been putting in the work to be able to share her talents with the world because beyond all of that her mixtape discography includes: "Chela for President", "Embedded Reporter: Live from the Front Line", "High Treason" and "Torch Pass". and I can attest to the fact that a DJ Chela mixtape is gonna have you in the crib or in the whip like, no she didn't. but she did. and she keeps doing it!
she has been featured in The Source, Allhiphop.com and on MTV's Mixtape Mondays, in addition to working with some of the greats: KRSONE, Pharoah Monch, Mystic and Immortal Technique, she has held it down and opened for the likes of Common, Rah Digga and dead prez. I'm sayin. just last week she was behind the turntables at Webster Hall backing up the always prolific Wise Intelligent. I was there, I seent her.
and on top of all that there..she is also a singer/songwriter, Reiki Master and all around nice person. so consider this the head's up because I get the feeling this woman will be around and keeping us grooving for awhile to come! she took some time out her busy schedule to answer a couple of questions for me because although, as you all know by now, I always ask my features questions if I can, but I have always had an interest in, and respect for, female DJ's. we, as women in Hip Hop, are always outnumbered by the boys..lol, but it seems to me that in the art of DJing in particular there seem to be very few women that hold it down and are truly respected for the proficiency they all work so hard to achieve. so it was a special treat for me to have Chela give us her insight into this medium in which she herself is evolving and growing everyday:
me: let's talk turntablism...are women turntablist as few and far between as they seem to be? or rather, do you feel this is a skill/art form that is disappearing for women?
DJ Chela: There have been a few notable female turntablists over the years. I’ve noticed women have their runs with it and then it seems like they get burnt out. I don’t feel like there’s ever been a time where female turntablists have been at the forefront, but there are many ladies that are pretty hot now stepping up their game. I feel like DJing is more available to people now than ever before, so here’s to the next generation as well. DJ Shortee, Kuttin Kandi, DJ Annalyze, DJ Kayper, Cocoa Chanelle, DJ Sparkle(s) are a few women that I can say really get down. There are many others as well, but those are the ones that I’m most familiar with and most inspire me.I’m certainly not one of the top female turntablists out there. Nor do I want to be known for just that, because at a certain point it gets to be kind of insular and nerdy. I do love it absolutely, and I give it my all. I’m not just going for precision and technique, but also creativity, feeling and expression. I ultimately hope that I inspire my crowd with my passion for what I do and that I can influence others to take it further.
me: how often do you practice you art?
DJ Chela: I’m working in music *almost* every day. Whether I’m practicing on the turntables or another instrument, it takes consistent effort, and my relationship constantly grows with what I do as I practice. I take days off too of course, I create best when I live fully!
me: how long will it usually take you to put together a battle routine as opposed to mixtape?
DJ Chela: A battle routine takes time to put the pieces together, and then you need to practice it to feel comfortable with it until it become second nature. I need two-three weeks minimum for that. A mixtape takes longer usually because I like to add so many elements to it, give it room to breathe, etc. I would say at least a month for a mixtape ideally.
me: what sage advice would you give young women who want to do what you do?
DJ Chela: As my sensei DJ Soundmachine would tell me, observe the 6 P’s: Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Know your records and be creative with transitions. Express yourself truly, and have fun!! The art of Djing is SO infinite; don’t limit yourself. Respect the craft and the pioneers that came before you. I always tell people to get DJ Shortee’s DJ 101 and 202, because she is so thorough in those videos, its an excellent place to start. Beyond the art aspect of Djing, it’s important to focus on the business side. You become an entity greater than yourself, where you are the product. Handle it like any business: strategize so that you will be fulfilled in relation to your whole life purpose, and your career will be sustainable in the long term. Handle yourself professionally and be careful of all the twisted dynamics in the industry, because it can be some rough on-the-job training when you’re in the spotlight. Most importantly, be YOU, be creative, be an artist. KRS ONE said it best: “love yourself and your expression, you can’t go wrong.”
so there you have it good peoples. Hip Hop is made up of many things and I don't ever want my readers to get the impression that I don't appreciate and have the ultimate respect for all those that "build their skill" (-KRSONE) in ALL the facets of this wonderful amazing trip that we call Hip Hop. and no, when I listed them earlier, I did NOT forget about all my producers out there also that give us the beats in this beats, rhymes and life world we Hip Hop heads live in. I'ma get to y'all, no worries..lol, but for right now this week is all about my lady DJ's and the gifted and blessed DJ Chela! big ups to you mama for handling the grooves and your business, and making sure we keep rockin!
til latrs peoples! y'all stay up stay strong stay positve and stay tuned for "She's So Fresh"! big tings agwan with these sistas in this movement and I will keep you posted!
peaceandblessings
rox
"She's So Fresh" Showcases!
6/26/09
on the 1's and 2's...
peace good peoples!
so it's that time again, "She's So Fresh" Fridayz!!! now all of you who check here on the regular know that I usually profile a female MC, however this week we are gonna take a journey into sound. there are four generally agreed upon tenets of Hip Hop: MCing (of course), breaking, graf and last but certainly not least, DJing. for an MC the DJ is one of the catalysts, and DJ's themselves have their own art form. and this week, I feature a DJ that is taking this art form and giving it to the next generation, and in the process giving back through her activism and dedication.
DJ Chela.
this sista has blessed four continents with her skill and passion. and for those of you that have been to a joint when Chela is DJing, you know, this woman will have you hollering "that's my joint!". quick.
playing and mixing everything from Hip Hop and Latin Rhythms to Classic Soul and Rock, she is establishing a reputation for being true to the art and redefining for women and girls exactly what a sista can do on those 1's and 2's.
she does it all: clubs, mixtapes, radio and live shows, finessing blends and scratches with a focus on emerging talent. at the 2009 Winter Music Conference DJ Chela placed 2nd in the DJ Mix Battle, though some felt she could have been 1st, and for two years in a row she was nominated "Best Female Mixtape DJ" at the Justo's Mixtape Awards. she has since been inducted into Justo Faison's "Justo's Mixtape Allstars" and the elite all female Hip Hop movement Murda Mamis, not to mention her membership in a true Hip Hop Foundation, The Almighty Zulu Nation.
when she hosted the radio show "New Girl Order Radio" at Duke University she was honored with being named as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential College DJ's" by Urban Network magazine. I mean a sista has been putting in the work to be able to share her talents with the world because beyond all of that her mixtape discography includes: "Chela for President", "Embedded Reporter: Live from the Front Line", "High Treason" and "Torch Pass". and I can attest to the fact that a DJ Chela mixtape is gonna have you in the crib or in the whip like, no she didn't. but she did. and she keeps doing it!
she has been featured in The Source, Allhiphop.com and on MTV's Mixtape Mondays, in addition to working with some of the greats: KRSONE, Pharoah Monch, Mystic and Immortal Technique, she has held it down and opened for the likes of Common, Rah Digga and dead prez. I'm sayin. just last week she was behind the turntables at Webster Hall backing up the always prolific Wise Intelligent. I was there, I seent her.
and on top of all that there..she is also a singer/songwriter, Reiki Master and all around nice person. so consider this the head's up because I get the feeling this woman will be around and keeping us grooving for awhile to come! she took some time out her busy schedule to answer a couple of questions for me because although, as you all know by now, I always ask my features questions if I can, but I have always had an interest in, and respect for, female DJ's. we, as women in Hip Hop, are always outnumbered by the boys..lol, but it seems to me that in the art of DJing in particular there seem to be very few women that hold it down and are truly respected for the proficiency they all work so hard to achieve. so it was a special treat for me to have Chela give us her insight into this medium in which she herself is evolving and growing everyday:
me: let's talk turntablism...are women turntablist as few and far between as they seem to be? or rather, do you feel this is a skill/art form that is disappearing for women?
DJ Chela: There have been a few notable female turntablists over the years. I’ve noticed women have their runs with it and then it seems like they get burnt out. I don’t feel like there’s ever been a time where female turntablists have been at the forefront, but there are many ladies that are pretty hot now stepping up their game. I feel like DJing is more available to people now than ever before, so here’s to the next generation as well. DJ Shortee, Kuttin Kandi, DJ Annalyze, DJ Kayper, Cocoa Chanelle, DJ Sparkle(s) are a few women that I can say really get down. There are many others as well, but those are the ones that I’m most familiar with and most inspire me.I’m certainly not one of the top female turntablists out there. Nor do I want to be known for just that, because at a certain point it gets to be kind of insular and nerdy. I do love it absolutely, and I give it my all. I’m not just going for precision and technique, but also creativity, feeling and expression. I ultimately hope that I inspire my crowd with my passion for what I do and that I can influence others to take it further.
me: how often do you practice you art?
DJ Chela: I’m working in music *almost* every day. Whether I’m practicing on the turntables or another instrument, it takes consistent effort, and my relationship constantly grows with what I do as I practice. I take days off too of course, I create best when I live fully!
me: how long will it usually take you to put together a battle routine as opposed to mixtape?
DJ Chela: A battle routine takes time to put the pieces together, and then you need to practice it to feel comfortable with it until it become second nature. I need two-three weeks minimum for that. A mixtape takes longer usually because I like to add so many elements to it, give it room to breathe, etc. I would say at least a month for a mixtape ideally.
me: what sage advice would you give young women who want to do what you do?
DJ Chela: As my sensei DJ Soundmachine would tell me, observe the 6 P’s: Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Know your records and be creative with transitions. Express yourself truly, and have fun!! The art of Djing is SO infinite; don’t limit yourself. Respect the craft and the pioneers that came before you. I always tell people to get DJ Shortee’s DJ 101 and 202, because she is so thorough in those videos, its an excellent place to start. Beyond the art aspect of Djing, it’s important to focus on the business side. You become an entity greater than yourself, where you are the product. Handle it like any business: strategize so that you will be fulfilled in relation to your whole life purpose, and your career will be sustainable in the long term. Handle yourself professionally and be careful of all the twisted dynamics in the industry, because it can be some rough on-the-job training when you’re in the spotlight. Most importantly, be YOU, be creative, be an artist. KRS ONE said it best: “love yourself and your expression, you can’t go wrong.”
so there you have it good peoples. Hip Hop is made up of many things and I don't ever want my readers to get the impression that I don't appreciate and have the ultimate respect for all those that "build their skill" (-KRSONE) in ALL the facets of this wonderful amazing trip that we call Hip Hop. and no, when I listed them earlier, I did NOT forget about all my producers out there also that give us the beats in this beats, rhymes and life world we Hip Hop heads live in. I'ma get to y'all, no worries..lol, but for right now this week is all about my lady DJ's and the gifted and blessed DJ Chela! big ups to you mama for handling the grooves and your business, and making sure we keep rockin!
til latrs peoples! y'all stay up stay strong stay positve and stay tuned for "She's So Fresh"! big tings agwan with these sistas in this movement and I will keep you posted!
peaceandblessings
rox
this sista has blessed four continents with her skill and passion. and for those of you that have been to a joint when Chela is DJing, you know, this woman will have you hollering "that's my joint!". quick.
playing and mixing everything from Hip Hop and Latin Rhythms to Classic Soul and Rock, she is establishing a reputation for being true to the art and redefining for women and girls exactly what a sista can do on those 1's and 2's.
she does it all: clubs, mixtapes, radio and live shows, finessing blends and scratches with a focus on emerging talent. at the 2009 Winter Music Conference DJ Chela placed 2nd in the DJ Mix Battle, though some felt she could have been 1st, and for two years in a row she was nominated "Best Female Mixtape DJ" at the Justo's Mixtape Awards. she has since been inducted into Justo Faison's "Justo's Mixtape Allstars" and the elite all female Hip Hop movement Murda Mamis, not to mention her membership in a true Hip Hop Foundation, The Almighty Zulu Nation.
when she hosted the radio show "New Girl Order Radio" at Duke University she was honored with being named as one of the "Top 10 Most Influential College DJ's" by Urban Network magazine. I mean a sista has been putting in the work to be able to share her talents with the world because beyond all of that her mixtape discography includes: "Chela for President", "Embedded Reporter: Live from the Front Line", "High Treason" and "Torch Pass". and I can attest to the fact that a DJ Chela mixtape is gonna have you in the crib or in the whip like, no she didn't. but she did. and she keeps doing it!
she has been featured in The Source, Allhiphop.com and on MTV's Mixtape Mondays, in addition to working with some of the greats: KRSONE, Pharoah Monch, Mystic and Immortal Technique, she has held it down and opened for the likes of Common, Rah Digga and dead prez. I'm sayin. just last week she was behind the turntables at Webster Hall backing up the always prolific Wise Intelligent. I was there, I seent her.
and on top of all that there..she is also a singer/songwriter, Reiki Master and all around nice person. so consider this the head's up because I get the feeling this woman will be around and keeping us grooving for awhile to come! she took some time out her busy schedule to answer a couple of questions for me because although, as you all know by now, I always ask my features questions if I can, but I have always had an interest in, and respect for, female DJ's. we, as women in Hip Hop, are always outnumbered by the boys..lol, but it seems to me that in the art of DJing in particular there seem to be very few women that hold it down and are truly respected for the proficiency they all work so hard to achieve. so it was a special treat for me to have Chela give us her insight into this medium in which she herself is evolving and growing everyday:
me: let's talk turntablism...are women turntablist as few and far between as they seem to be? or rather, do you feel this is a skill/art form that is disappearing for women?
DJ Chela: There have been a few notable female turntablists over the years. I’ve noticed women have their runs with it and then it seems like they get burnt out. I don’t feel like there’s ever been a time where female turntablists have been at the forefront, but there are many ladies that are pretty hot now stepping up their game. I feel like DJing is more available to people now than ever before, so here’s to the next generation as well. DJ Shortee, Kuttin Kandi, DJ Annalyze, DJ Kayper, Cocoa Chanelle, DJ Sparkle(s) are a few women that I can say really get down. There are many others as well, but those are the ones that I’m most familiar with and most inspire me.I’m certainly not one of the top female turntablists out there. Nor do I want to be known for just that, because at a certain point it gets to be kind of insular and nerdy. I do love it absolutely, and I give it my all. I’m not just going for precision and technique, but also creativity, feeling and expression. I ultimately hope that I inspire my crowd with my passion for what I do and that I can influence others to take it further.
me: how often do you practice you art?
DJ Chela: I’m working in music *almost* every day. Whether I’m practicing on the turntables or another instrument, it takes consistent effort, and my relationship constantly grows with what I do as I practice. I take days off too of course, I create best when I live fully!
me: how long will it usually take you to put together a battle routine as opposed to mixtape?
DJ Chela: A battle routine takes time to put the pieces together, and then you need to practice it to feel comfortable with it until it become second nature. I need two-three weeks minimum for that. A mixtape takes longer usually because I like to add so many elements to it, give it room to breathe, etc. I would say at least a month for a mixtape ideally.
me: what sage advice would you give young women who want to do what you do?
DJ Chela: As my sensei DJ Soundmachine would tell me, observe the 6 P’s: Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Know your records and be creative with transitions. Express yourself truly, and have fun!! The art of Djing is SO infinite; don’t limit yourself. Respect the craft and the pioneers that came before you. I always tell people to get DJ Shortee’s DJ 101 and 202, because she is so thorough in those videos, its an excellent place to start. Beyond the art aspect of Djing, it’s important to focus on the business side. You become an entity greater than yourself, where you are the product. Handle it like any business: strategize so that you will be fulfilled in relation to your whole life purpose, and your career will be sustainable in the long term. Handle yourself professionally and be careful of all the twisted dynamics in the industry, because it can be some rough on-the-job training when you’re in the spotlight. Most importantly, be YOU, be creative, be an artist. KRS ONE said it best: “love yourself and your expression, you can’t go wrong.”
so there you have it good peoples. Hip Hop is made up of many things and I don't ever want my readers to get the impression that I don't appreciate and have the ultimate respect for all those that "build their skill" (-KRSONE) in ALL the facets of this wonderful amazing trip that we call Hip Hop. and no, when I listed them earlier, I did NOT forget about all my producers out there also that give us the beats in this beats, rhymes and life world we Hip Hop heads live in. I'ma get to y'all, no worries..lol, but for right now this week is all about my lady DJ's and the gifted and blessed DJ Chela! big ups to you mama for handling the grooves and your business, and making sure we keep rockin!
til latrs peoples! y'all stay up stay strong stay positve and stay tuned for "She's So Fresh"! big tings agwan with these sistas in this movement and I will keep you posted!
peaceandblessings
rox
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