CHE AK

CHEBorn in Brooklyn, NY to a Jewish motorcycle riding mother and a rock + roll/ guitarist African American father. Raised with his 2 brothers the house record player ranged from sugar hill gang ,Run Dmc to Queensryche to John Coltrane to Salsa. He says “ Hip hop started for me when I looked out my apartment window and saw kids break dancing on cardboard boxes on the sidewalk.” Soon after that, he was the one breaking on the street at 5 and 6 years old on Fulton st in Brooklyn, and 34th st in Manhattan with his older brother Khan. Tho he names Krs-1 as an influence because of his ability to intertwine history and philosophy in his music while still maintaing the integrity of the art of hip hop culture and a powerful commanding stage presence, he admits it wasn’t until he moved to L.A. and N.W.A 1st came out that he really became passionate about rapping. “ I loved the aggressiveness and energy of N.W.A but felt it was the wrong message and image being presented to white middle America.” This was at 11 years old. “ So I figured I could have music just as dope and hard hitting but with at least a sliver of hope for change.” Since then he’s written one verse a day to this day. Named DPROPHIT by his mother, she says it’s because “ Every time he would write a song it ended with a positive message.” Soon he was free styling and battling at every open mic he could find including Project Blowed in Crenshaw, which was Aceyalone s spot. Recording his first demo “Crossfire” a song calling out to stop the senseless street and gang violence that affects children who are innocent bystanders to gunplay. Later he formed a group called “Styles of beyond” which later went on to sign a record deal. This not long after he moved from California back to Brooklyn. “It was frustrating..” the then 17 year old says, “ ..but I just saw it as a sign that my concepts and direction was on the right track.” Starting from scratch he free styled and performed anywhere he could in NYC honing his stage presence. Che received a 424-tascam tape recorder from his Mom and a 4 second loop sampler and started making beats, this because the producers he knew couldn’t give him enough beats everyday like he needed. Tho working with various producers around the city led him to an R+B producer with major credentials and signed the young underground spitter to his label. In a matter of 2 weeks the two quickly and efficiently cranked out an album that was rich in concept and sound quality. Fusing Che’s underground raw raps over and R+B melodic backdrop, which wasn’t common at the time, nor mashing rock and rap, so they found themselves at the threshold of the future. “Leaving u”, and “Born to be wild” both went on to gain momentum. Leaving u, an R+B/rap love song was voted 1 online for 23 straight weeks, while Born to be wild went on to get placed in the opening credits of an Independent movie in Japan and “ Ain't no holdin back” which was a hip hop ring tone most requested for 16 weeks in Tokyo. He says “ I have mixed feelings about that situation cuz I learned a lot performing and working in the studio gaining experience being in that setting but I also feel I wasted some time and time is money…No one’s fault but my own so now I’m back to square one.” Various labels were interested in signing, Atlantic records Craig Kallaman set up meetings but the situation desecrated after a meeting with Che’s label at the time. “ Well politics is politics ya know? Ya just got to roll with the punches and move .. leaving the label he self produced his album entitled “ 7 million stories high” worked three jobs and saved up to fly to Japan with his brother as his manager to see what Tokyo had to offer. While there for 3 weeks he performed in the biggest and most prestigious clubs in Tokyo, got written up in 2 magazines and witnessed the premier of the movie his music was in. All while performing in train stations and street corners to sell enough CD’s so him and his brother could eat that night. Upon returning back to the states, a NY, London based music house owner overheard one of the songs Che produced and asked if he would try composing a track for a Heineken commercial. After landing the high profile job which premiered on the Grammy’s and ran internationally, Che and his team continued to knock out jingles 1 by 1 with compositions for Foot Locker, BMW, Becks, Code red mountain dew, L’Oreal and later with another NY based music house a Toyota commercial. Che started modeling by a chance encounter with a major NY casting director that put him in a spring Banana republic campaign ad. Since then he’s modeled for DKNY, Levis, Banana republic (fall campaign), Rockport amongst others. He sees his modeling and his craft in a very different light. “ With modeling, you’re a puppet, a manipulation of everything that is you to be someone else but as an artist, I’m no ones puppet. Up on that stage I’m a free spirit.” During the time he was composing international jingles, he found time to produce for underground hip hop/groups and R+B singers, as well co-producing a group album with a group called Sound Souljahz. This was a mixture of hip-hop, soul, jazz, and old school R+B that left listeners comparing them to Outkast. Che did most of the writing, recording and mixing. At this time he was asked by a good high school friend and music collaborator to join his rock/hip hop band, (in the vein of Bad brains, Rage against the machine and Roots) called ADM acronym for Architects and Demolition Men. He states “ I love working with these guys cuz the music we do is stuff I wouldn’t normally do on my own so it’s refreshing and therapeutic rockin out to a guitar solo on stage.” He half jokingly states. After a small U.S. tour where they opened up for GZA in Buffalo, they focused their sound more and are currently recording their 2nd album. They filmed a video to a song called “ Consequences of war” an eye opener about history repeating itself and results of the peril of war and the extent to which it affects people. A brilliant cutting edge video directed by Mr. Jacek from Europe, who gives a fresh approach to the monotony of today’s hip hop videos. Che modestly states, “ Its hands down the best video of the year and I’m not saying that just because I’m in it!!” Che is further evolving for now he’s at a happy medium lyrically to maintain a message without coming across too “preachy”, easy listening but edgy, for the people without losing them. Che’s music is reminiscent of a time when artist truly cared about their art. Old school but futuristic, his style is a double antigen in it’s self. “Every time I record I try to out do the last song I just recorded”. He wants people to walk away from his music with an example of good music with a message, while knowing this is his true reason for living. Untill the right situation arises, Che is planning to release his music independently as an artist and producer while composing more jingles and being successful to give back to the world and provide for his family. “Music is my life and Life is my music.”1 LOVE
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