Meet Chella H. The self-proclaimed First Lady of Chicago whose music is raw, uncut and unfiltered. A rap mastermind on the heels of superstardom, carving her own lane in a once described drought of female MCs. Born and raised in the city’s roughest projects, Chella uses music to catapult past harrowing childhood memories of a fatherless home and a drug addicted mother.
Despite mix tapes like The Abortion (2011), The Morning After (2012) and The Realist B*tch In It (2013) all receiving controversial feedback, Chella’s passion and grit, topped with an unbeatable confidence, birthed an ever-growing fan base in Chi City.
Creatively mixing streetwise storytelling and boss anthems with sexually laced bars on her latest tape No Filter, Chella a.k.a. “Jennifer LowEnd” is only getting started.
The Source caught up with the Windy City native as she got candid about her new tape, how she compares to other femcees and more.
What can fans expect from your No Filter mixtape?
They can expect a dope ass project. It hits all subjects that everybody can relate to with great production. It’s the best project from a female I’ve heard in a while and I’m not saying that just ’cause it’s me.
You just dropped the video to your track “Fleek” with Soulja Boy. How’d that collab come about?
Basically Soulja recognized a real b*tch when he saw one. He slid in my DM and we took it from there. I sent him “Fleek,” and he hopped on it. Then I hopped on a first class flight to Cali and we shot the video.
What separates you from other female MCs, specifically those from Chicago?
For one, I write my music and push my brand myself. While I do respect other females from Chicago, I think a few are packages—which may work for them, so I’m not knockin’ them, but your girl grinds and make moves like no other. It’s bigger than YouTube or a co sign.
Which musical artist would you like to collaborate with the most and why?
Of course Nicki Minaj. I think she probably had bad experiences with other female artists, so I would want to change her mind and put her in the presence of a real b*tch. I want to work with other street artist like Yo Gotti and Rick Ross, too.
I want to work with artists in the “28 and Up” club. I think people think you have to be a teen to be hot, but really you got to live and experience some real situations in order to talk about them. And that’s where I come in.
You’re raising a son in Chicago. How do you keep your son out of trouble?
Basically you got to beat the f*ck out them! But for real, my thing was keeping him busy in sports and showing him the real. We witnessed multiple people we know personally get killed or get 20+ year jail sentences, so he had me always on his back, reminding him which way not to go.
I put him in different schools, too, that way he knows there’s more out here. He’s no angel, but I’m grateful that he listens. He’s certainly not in the field and for that I’m forever grateful.
The key is to bond with your son. His dad and uncle died when he was six so he only had me, but he knows I know so he respect it.
What can be done to stop gang violence in the city? Does it start in the home, police, community? It seems as if the problem is worsening.
We have very few real leaders, therefore it’s no respect. People try to be cool with the youngins and can’t discipline them. Nobody steps in to provide opportunities either; they’re more worried about getting an Instagram shout out.
We don’t have Boys & Girls Clubs anymore and the police don’t be on them like that, because they can go online and stop stuff if they wanted to, but they don’t care and are probably scared because the [teens] guns are bigger than theirs.
For example, I got a song talking to the youth called “Aye Lil Boy (The Real Chiraq).” It’s very relatable and breaks down things that will make them rethink their actions. I presented it to both of Chicago’s main radio stations and although they liked the song, they felt the youth didn’t want to hear it. But they will play songs that contain violence, drug use and negativity. That’s because they’re into the business. Nobody gives a f*ck.
What do you think of the presidential race?
Honestly, I don’t know much about Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders or none of they a**. I can’t remember one way I benefited from any president.
I’m not a fan of [Donald] Trump hair, so he lost my vote anyway. I like [Barack] Obama because he’s cool and I respect his brand, but other than that, I mind my business. I agree as adults we need to be more dependable on self instead of handouts, but I’m a Democrat just because that’s what I grew up on.
