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RhymeFest - Blue Collar Hip-Hop Music
Interview By: Michael Ivey
 Allido/J Records emcee RhymeFest may be a new face to many, but his presence has been felt indirectly for a few years now; see he came up in Chi-Town with the ROC’s own Lui Vuitton Don (Kanye West). Now RhymeFest seeks to capitalize on the fame he and Kanye created with their Grammy winning song “Jesus Walks”, which RhymeFest co-wrote. His new single, “Brand New”, features West and is picking up momentum on video outlets. The self proclaimed Blue Collar rapper recently spoke to Nobodysmiling.com rep Mike Ivey about his decision not to sign with his friend’s label, a beef that stretches over seas, and how he got his name.
Nobodysmiling.com: How and why did you name yourself Rhymefest?
Rhymefest: My real name is Che, so growing up knowing that I was named after a revolutionary really helped me. In a world filled with names that communicate a bunch of different things, I chose Rhymefest cause that’s what I do. I’m a festival of rhymes. Anyway you want it-battling, song writing, whatever. I remember I was rhyming in a cipha when I was younger and my buddy said “yo, you like a super hero; like a festival of rhymes.” And I said “Ya know you’re right. I am this one you call Rhymefest.” It stuck ever since.
 Nobodysmiling.com: I read that you co-wrote Jesus Walks. How’d that go down?
Rhymefest: You know basically I don’t believe it’s my song and I don’t believe it’s Kanye’s song. I believe “Jesus Walks” is a song given to us by God. Me and Kanye were just the ones transmitting the message. But technically the way it happened was I had the sample and I was like “Kanye here’s the beat right here.” We were originally gonna use it for my demo, but when we went to the record companies they threw us out on our heads like “Jesus walks, oh yeah? That’s what’s going on in the streets?” Kanye said “let me get it and I guarantee you I’ll get it put out there. I think the success of that record shows that you don’t have to conform and fit into a box to sell records. We’re moving it forward to the art of hip hop. It’s progressive
Nobodysmiling.com: Tell me about your new project'Blue Collar'.
Rhymefest: It’s basically about grinding. I grew up in a house full of drug addicts. I grew up with cousins who we thought used to act funny, but found out were molested. The way I came up I dropped out, but I got my GED and eventually went on to University. The thing is we’re only getting one side of it. This is the real streets. Real gangstas don’t ride around listening to nonsense, they listening to the Isley Brothers or something. Real gangstas wanna hear the truth. I feel that’s what I’m bringing.
 Nobodysmiling.com: How’d the conflict with the SAS dudes jump off and what’s the status of that now?
Rhymefest: Well I did a interview with a magazine over there. And so usually if they ask any American artist what they think of UK groups they say they don’t know about any. I happen to enjoy UK groups. When I was over there I got into their battle scene. Plus, I’m not only an emcee, but a fan as well. I signed with Mark Ronson’s label and instead of getting stuff like a chain or car for a signing bonus he took me on a tour through Europe. They asked me what I think of SAS. I told them I wasn’t really feeling that- they printed it up. Everybody wanna beef, I’m not a beef rapper. I’m not here to promote violence in my music, but I’m am a man and I will defend myself.
Nobodysmiling.com: You performed at Howard University’s Homecoming Yardfest in October, and things got kind of out of hand with the crowd. What happened?
Rhymefest: What happened with that was everything was going good, then I heard yelling. I thought they was try to heckle cause all I heard was boos. And that was the first time I had ever been booed, so my reaction was to come right back at them. I found out later that it was the student union booing because I was using profanity. Nobody told me there was no cursing. So it went from cheering to people booing and I reacted accordingly. I didn’t know. I would say I apologize. I didn’t do that intentionally. It was a mistake and I give a sincere apology.
Nobodysmiling.com: Okay, Now how has your association with Kanye affected your career so far?
 Rhymefest: Well me and Kanye grew up together. My relation to Kanye is basically that I believed in dude when you didn’t, you know what I’m saying? When people said “don’t rap, stick to producing” I believed in him. And he believed in me. So the real question might be, not what is it like for me to maintain a relationship with Kanye, but what is it like for Kanye to maintain a friendship with someone who believed in him coming up. Kanye offered me a deal with G.O.O.D. Music, but I turned it down because he’s my friend. It’s a situation where, if I don’t like the way something goes down business wise it might damage our friendship; whereas I can go into business with someone else, and cultivate a friendship from there. But with me and him it’s always family. In the future I’ll probably work on some G.O.O.D Music projects.
Nobodysmiling.com: Who are some artists you really want to work with today?
Rhymefest: I wanna work with Eminem, cause I do like funny, witty emcees. I wanna work with Biz Markie. And I still wanna work with Common.
Nobodysmiling.com: What do the people need to know about RhymeFest and “Blue Collar”?
Rhymefest: They need to know that this album will define a moment in the era we live in. War, politics, love, hate- “Blue Collar” represents you. This is the real streets. I’m talking about what goes on in the lives of everyday people.
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