Rhymefest: The Man. The Music. The Movement.
Chi-Town native Che Smith, AKA Rhymefest, is a thought-provoking visionary who speaks wisdom through his lyrics. His preferred name El Che is the title of his sophomore album that has a May 18th release date. Fans of his debut album Blue Collar can expect a more serious subject matter to emerge. Tracks such as “Prosperity” speak against the hypocrisies of televangelists that “sell forgiveness” to unsuspecting Christian followers. While Smith is not anti-religion or anti-capitalism, he is against using God as a vehicle for monetary gain.
Does El Che have a favorite track? Yes and no. He doesn’t like choosing between his “kids,” but he is very fond of “City is Falling.” It speaks of the drama that befalls us at varying times in our lives that we either rise above or succumb to. It has a melodic blend of blues and jazz, reminiscent of Nat King Cole, one of El Che’s earlier musical influences.
Smith is a lyricist who sees music as a culture, not a career. “Music is who we are, not what we do; once you start doing music, you’re doing it a disservice.” The commercialization of Black music taints its purity. It should be pure soul, pure funk, but never pure capital.
How would Smith categorize his own music? Today, he might say hip hop, but with some hesitation. In his opinion, hip hop is dead. It may morph into “Club Rhythm” or some other spicy catchphrase, but its 80s trademarks of break dancing and graffiti are long gone. Rap singing has become a part of the new hip hop, but Smith remains true to putting the message before the melody.
Now in his early thirties, Smith spoke candidly about ageism and how society tends to embrace the young and discard the old. Certain industries, such as fashion and music, feel these effects at higher levels. When it comes to rappers, your age doesn’t represent a testament to longevity but rather “an expiration date.” In some industries, your age is looked upon with credibility; but in the music industry, “it’s used against you.”
When he’s not engaged in writing rhymes, you might find Smith enjoying a game of checkers with his eleven-year-old son, Solomon. Or perhaps you might find him checking out the Black Panther exhibit at the DuSable Museum of African American History. No matter the scenario, he keeps his mind sharp, and his rhymes reflect that.
What’s next for El Che? Political involvement? Community activism? Executive producer? All of the above are on the horizon, but what’s most important is that he is a “complete man,” one who lives righteously for the betterment of himself, his family, and his community. Given his commitment to growth and his Muslim faith, I have no doubt in my mind that he will do just that.
