Che Smith (born July 6, 1977),[1] better known by his stage name Rhymefest, is an American rapper from Chicago whose first official album, Blue Collar, was released in 2006. His prominent songwriting credits include co-writing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks", which won Best Rap Song at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, and "New Slaves", taken from West's sixth studio album Yeezus (2013).
Born Che Smith in Chicago, Illinois,[1] Rhymefest started off battle rapping at events such as JumpOff and ScribbleJam against acts like Eminem and Chalk. Smith co-wrote "Glory" alongside John Legend and Common, for the 2014 motion picture Selma. The song received the 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the 2014 Academy Award for Best Original Song.[2] Che has expanded his gifts beyond the borders of music. The subject of the Showtime and Break Thru Films documentary, "In My Father's House", Rhymefest purchased the childhood home of his estranged father only to find that he'd been homeless for most of Che's life, Rhymefest then embarks on a journey to reconnect and redeem their relationship. Rhymefest's film debut was in Emilio Estevez's 2018 film The Public. He played "Big George", starring alongside Alec Baldwin, Gabrielle Union, Taylor Shilling, Michael K. Williams, Christian Slater, and more.[3] Rhymefest has revealed that he will be releasing an album soon titled Love Lessons Pt. 1. The track "OG Philosophy" featuring Black Thought and Raheem DeVaughn arrived in early 2020.[4]
Politics
In 2006, Smith was invited to the British House of Commons to discuss hip hop and policy with David Cameron.[5] In October 2010, Smith announced his candidacy for Chicago's 20th ward alderman.[6] He placed second in the February 22, 2011 election, and was defeated by incumbent Willie Cochran in the April 5, 2011 runoff election, getting 45.4% of the vote to Cochran's 54.6%.[7][8]
In 2016, he hosted a "Truth & Reconciliation" event series to enhance awareness about gun violence in Chicago.[9]
Art of Culture (formerly Donda's House)
Rhymefest is Executive Director and co-Founder of Art of Culture (formerly Donda's House), Inc. The organization was originally named after Kanye West's mother Donda West. Artists who were accepted into Donda's House include Hex Hectic.[10]
Personal life
Rhymefest is Muslim. He has three children and is married to Heather Michele Smith.[11]
Che Guevara namesake
Che Smith, named for the Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, addressed the matter, stating:
"When you have a name, a real name, like Che, it's definitely something, whether you want to or not, something that you have to live up to. How could I be named Che and then do all songs about dancing in the club and who got the fattest ass? That would be an oxymoron to who I am. I think there's something very important in a name. So I think when we name ourselves and name our children, I think we have to think about what the future will look like. I named my son Solomon, and when people look at him they say, "Oh, Solomon, the wise king," and I think he's growing into that role. It's evident even in hip-hop. You see people who are Lil' this and Young that. What do they do? They act just like their name dictates."[12]
^Gardner, John (February 11, 2020). "Rhymefest: American Rapper, Writer, Community Organizer, and Explorer". The World Music Foundation Podcast. The World Music Foundation. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^Gardner, John (February 11, 2020). "Rhymefest: American Rapper, Writer, Community Organizer, and Explorer". The World Music Foundation Podcast. The World Music Foundation. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
^"Who is Rhymefest? Everything you need to know about the Chicago rapper". Retrieved May 27, 2018.
^"Political Rapper Gets More Literal About It". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
^. www.friendsofrhymefest.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^. www.chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
^Walker, Angus (October 9, 2016). "Rhymefest hosts Truth & Reconciliation event series". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
^Reles, Marilyn (April 23, 2020). "Chicago's Hex Hectic Releases New Single Alongside Comic Book Series". The Hype Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
^"RHYMEFEST On Prosperity Gospel, Authentic Christianity, and Joel Osteen (pt. 1 of 2)". Rapzilla.com. August 23, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
^Rhymefest: El Che by Chris Dart, Exclaim! Magazine, June 2010 Issue
^"Audio: Rhymefest f. Lil Jon, "Angry Black Man On The Elevator"". Thefader.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
Rhymefest: Hip-Hop Is Scared of Revolution? – interview by Ismael AbduSalaam
Interview on The World Music Foundation Podcast
April 29, 2023
rhymefest, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, especially, potentiall. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Rhymefest news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message Che Smith born July 6 1977 1 better known by his stage name Rhymefest is an American rapper from Chicago whose first official album Blue Collar was released in 2006 His prominent songwriting credits include co writing Kanye West s Jesus Walks which won Best Rap Song at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards and New Slaves taken from West s sixth studio album Yeezus 2013 RhymefestRhymefest in 2008Background informationBirth nameChe SmithBorn 1977 07 06 July 6 1977 age 45 Chicago Illinois U S GenresHip hopOccupation s RapperYears active1996 presentLabelsAllido J dNBeWebsiterhymefest wbr com Contents 1 Career 2 Politics 3 Art of Culture formerly Donda s House 4 Personal life 4 1 Che Guevara namesake 5 Awards and nominations 5 1 Grammy Awards 6 Discography 6 1 Albums 6 2 Singles 6 3 Mixtapes 7 References 8 External linksCareer EditBorn Che Smith in Chicago Illinois 1 Rhymefest started off battle rapping at events such as JumpOff and ScribbleJam against acts like Eminem and Chalk Smith co wrote Glory alongside John Legend and Common for the 2014 motion picture Selma The song received the 2014 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the 2014 Academy Award for Best Original Song 2 Che has expanded his gifts beyond the borders of music The subject of the Showtime and Break Thru Films documentary In My Father s House Rhymefest purchased the childhood home of his estranged father only to find that he d been homeless for most of Che s life Rhymefest then embarks on a journey to reconnect and redeem their relationship Rhymefest s film debut was in Emilio Estevez s 2018 film The Public He played Big George starring alongside Alec Baldwin Gabrielle Union Taylor Shilling Michael K Williams Christian Slater and more 3 Rhymefest has revealed that he will be releasing an album soon titled Love Lessons Pt 1 The track OG Philosophy featuring Black Thought and Raheem DeVaughn arrived in early 2020 4 Politics EditIn 2006 Smith was invited to the British House of Commons to discuss hip hop and policy with David Cameron 5 In October 2010 Smith announced his candidacy for Chicago s 20th ward alderman 6 He placed second in the February 22 2011 election and was defeated by incumbent Willie Cochran in the April 5 2011 runoff election getting 45 4 of the vote to Cochran s 54 6 7 8 In 2016 he hosted a Truth amp Reconciliation event series to enhance awareness about gun violence in Chicago 9 Art of Culture formerly Donda s House EditRhymefest is Executive Director and co Founder of Art of Culture formerly Donda s House Inc The organization was originally named after Kanye West s mother Donda West Artists who were accepted into Donda s House include Hex Hectic 10 Personal life EditRhymefest is Muslim He has three children and is married to Heather Michele Smith 11 Che Guevara namesake Edit Che Smith named for the Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara addressed the matter stating When you have a name a real name like Che it s definitely something whether you want to or not something that you have to live up to How could I be named Che and then do all songs about dancing in the club and who got the fattest ass That would be an oxymoron to who I am I think there s something very important in a name So I think when we name ourselves and name our children I think we have to think about what the future will look like I named my son Solomon and when people look at him they say Oh Solomon the wise king and I think he s growing into that role It s evident even in hip hop You see people who are Lil this and Young that What do they do They act just like their name dictates 12 Awards and nominations EditGrammy Awards Edit Year Nominee work Award Result2005 Jesus Walks as songwriter Song of the Year NominatedBest Rap Song Won2014 New Slaves as songwriter Best Rap Song Nominated2016 Glory as songwriter Best Rap Song NominatedBest Song Written for Visual Media WonDiscography EditAlbums Edit 2006 Blue Collar 2010 El CheSingles Edit 1996 This Is How We Chill Pts 1 amp 2 2005 Dirty Dirty Featuring Ol Dirty Bastard 2006 Brand New featuring Kanye West 38 Ireland 32 UK 2006 Dynomite Going Postal 2006 Fever 2006 Wanted 2007 Angry Black Man on the Elevator featuring Lil Jon 13 2009 Chicago Mixtapes Edit 2004 Brand New 2005 A Star Is Born Vol 1 2006 Plugg City City on My Back 2008 Mark Ronson Presents Man in the Mirror 2009 El Che The Manual Mixtape 2010 Dangerous 5 18 2010 Man in the Mirror 2 0References Edit a b Kellman Andy Rhymefest Biography AllMusic Retrieved May 27 2018 Paramount Pictures Selma Consider Paramountguilds com Retrieved August 15 2015 Gardner John February 11 2020 Rhymefest American Rapper Writer Community Organizer and Explorer The World Music Foundation Podcast The World Music Foundation Retrieved August 19 2020 Gardner John February 11 2020 Rhymefest American Rapper Writer Community Organizer and Explorer The World Music Foundation Podcast The World Music Foundation Retrieved August 19 2020 Who is Rhymefest Everything you need to know about the Chicago rapper Retrieved May 27 2018 Political Rapper Gets More Literal About It Chicago Reader Retrieved August 15 2015 BLOG www friendsofrhymefest com Archived from the original on October 22 2010 Retrieved January 13 2022 Rhymefest Smith loses in bid for alderman www chicagotribune com Archived from the original on April 10 2011 Retrieved January 13 2022 Walker Angus October 9 2016 Rhymefest hosts Truth amp Reconciliation event series Hotnewhiphop com Retrieved October 9 2016 Reles Marilyn April 23 2020 Chicago s Hex Hectic Releases New Single Alongside Comic Book Series The Hype Magazine Retrieved April 25 2020 RHYMEFEST On Prosperity Gospel Authentic Christianity and Joel Osteen pt 1 of 2 Rapzilla com August 23 2010 Retrieved June 23 2017 Rhymefest El Che by Chris Dart Exclaim Magazine June 2010 Issue Audio Rhymefest f Lil Jon Angry Black Man On The Elevator Thefader com Retrieved August 15 2015 External links EditRhymefest s official site Rhymefest discography at MusicBrainz Rhymefest s Revolution by Craig Lindsey Rhymefest Hip Hop Is Scared of Revolution interview by Ismael AbduSalaam Interview on The World Music Foundation Podcast Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rhymefest amp oldid 1151589848, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
