Rhymefest
{{Short description|American rapper}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rhymefest
| image = Rhymefest 2008.jpg
| caption = Rhymefest in 2008
| birth_name = Che Armond Smith{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/503178252|title=Repertory|website=ASCAP|access-date=August 19, 2023}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|7|6}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| genre = Hip hop
| instrument =
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1996–present
| label = {{hlist|Allido| J| dNBe}}
| website = {{URL|cheworldwide.com}}
}}
Che Armond Smith (born July 6, 1977),{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rhymefest-mn0000471711/biography|title=Rhymefest Biography |first= Andy|last= Kellman|website=AllMusic| access-date= May 27, 2018}} better known by his stage name Rhymefest, is an American rapper and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for his work with fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West, with writing credits on his songs including "Jesus Walks" (which won Best Rap Song) in 2004 and "New Slaves" in 2013. He also co-wrote "Glory", for Common and John Legend in 2014, which received a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
As a recording artist, he signed to Mark Ronson's Allido Records, an imprint of J Records in 2006, where he released his debut album Blue Collar in July of that year.
Career
Born Che Smith in Chicago, Illinois, 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.paramountguilds.com/selma/consider/|title=Paramount Pictures – Selma – Consider|website=Paramountguilds.com|access-date=August 15, 2015}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=John |title=Rhymefest: American Rapper, Writer, Community Organizer, and Explorer |url=https://wmfpodcast.org/rhymefest/ |website=The World Music Foundation Podcast |date=February 11, 2020 |publisher=The World Music Foundation |access-date=August 19, 2020 |ref=6}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=John |title=Rhymefest: American Rapper, Writer, Community Organizer, and Explorer |url=https://wmfpodcast.org/rhymefest/ |website=The World Music Foundation Podcast |date=February 11, 2020 |publisher=The World Music Foundation |access-date=August 19, 2020}}
Politics
In 2006, Smith was invited to the British House of Commons to discuss hip-hop and policy with David Cameron.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/who-is-rhymefest-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-chicago-rapper-2326451|title=Who is Rhymefest? Everything you need to know about the Chicago rapper|website=NME |date=May 27, 2018 |access-date=May 27, 2018}} In October 2010, Smith announced his candidacy for Chicago's 20th ward alderman.{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2010/10/18/political-rapper-gets-more-literal-about-it |title=Political Rapper Gets More Literal About It|newspaper=Chicago Reader|access-date=August 15, 2015}} 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%.{{cite web |url=http://www.friendsofrhymefest.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=2&Itemid=4 |title=BLOG |website=www.friendsofrhymefest.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022110724/http://www.friendsofrhymefest.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=2&Itemid=4 |archive-date=October 22, 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-rhymefest-smith-losing-in-bid-for-alderman-20110405,0,1059147.story |title='Rhymefest' Smith loses in bid for alderman |website=www.chicagotribune.com |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410023514/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-rhymefest-smith-losing-in-bid-for-alderman-20110405,0,1059147.story |archive-date=April 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}
In 2016, he hosted a "Truth & Reconciliation" event series to enhance awareness about gun violence in Chicago.{{cite web |url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/rhymefest-to-lead-vigil-to-remember-those-killed-by-guns-in-chicago-news.24638.html? |title=Rhymefest hosts Truth & Reconciliation event series |last=Walker |first=Angus |date=October 9, 2016 |website=Hotnewhiphop.com |access-date=October 9, 2016}} He ran for an elected position as a member of the Chicago school board in the inaugural 2024 election for the post, and won in the 10th district, which is located on Chicago's south side.{{cite news|last=Kapos|first=Shia|title=The Buzz|date=March 28, 2024|newspaper=Politico Illinois Playbook|access-date=March 28, 2024|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2024/03/28/its-a-council-war-00149505}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2024/11/05/school-board-election-results-2024/|title=Election 2024: Here’s who won Chicago’s first school board elections|publisher=Chalkbeat|access-date=March 21, 2025}}
Art of Culture (formerly Donda's House)
Rhymefest is Executive Director and co-Founder of Art of Culture (formerly Donda's House), Inc.{{Cite web|date=June 5, 2018|title=Kanye West's Charity Changes Name, Becomes Art Of Culture|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/adriennegibbs/2018/06/05/kanye-wests-charity-changes-name-becomes-art-of-culture/?sh=11847a43188a|access-date=May 23, 2021|website=Forbes|language=en-US}} The organization was originally named after Kanye West's mother Donda West.{{Cite web|last=Garcia|first=John|date=June 5, 2018|title=Donda's House, charity named for Kanye West's mother, renamed after social media spat|url=https://abc7chicago.com/3565880/|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=ABC7 Chicago|language=en}} Artists who were accepted into Donda's House include Hex Hectic.{{Cite web|last=Worsham|first=Malcolm|date=April 19, 2020|title=OnTheRadar- Hex Hectic- "Wanna Be Me"|url=https://respect-mag.com/2020/04/ontheradar-hex-hectic-wanna-be-me/|access-date=September 17, 2022|website=Respect Mag|language=en}}
Personal life
Rhymefest is Muslim. He has three children and is married to Heather Michele Smith.{{cite web|title=RHYMEFEST On Prosperity Gospel, Authentic Christianity, and Joel Osteen (pt. 1 of 2)|url=http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/features/interviews/2381-rhymefest-on-the-prosperity-gospel-authentic-christianity-and-joel-osteen|website=Rapzilla.com|date=August 23, 2010|access-date=June 23, 2017}}
= Che Guevara namesake =
Che Smith, named for the Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, addressed the matter, stating:
{{blockquote|"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."[http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=144&csid2=865&fid1=46711 Rhymefest: El Che] by Chris Dart, Exclaim! Magazine, June 2010 Issue}}
Awards and nominations
= Grammy Awards =
{{awards table}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|2005
|rowspan="2"|Jesus Walks (as songwriter)
|{{nom}}
|-
| {{won}}
|-
||2014
|"New Slaves" (as songwriter)
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|2016
|rowspan="2"|Glory (as songwriter)
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Song Written for Visual Media
| {{won}}
{{end}}
Discography
= Albums =
- 2006: Blue Collar
- 2010: El Che
- 2024: James & Nikki: A Conversation
= Singles =
- 1996: "This Is How We Chill (Pts. 1 & 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){{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/articles/2007/05/25/audio-rhymefest-f-lil-jon-angry-black-man-on-the-elevator|title=Audio: Rhymefest f. Lil Jon, "Angry Black Man On The Elevator"|website=Thefader.com|access-date=August 15, 2015}}
- 2009: "Chicago"
- 2024: "Creator" (featuring Brittney Carter and Rell Suma)
- 2024: "Pop" (featuring EP Da Hellcat)
= Mixtapes =
- 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 2.0
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://cheworldwide.com Rhymefest's official site]
- {{Musicbrainz artist|id=1f8e7e6f-fb43-4121-83c6-f4c9992b7036|name=Rhymefest}}
- [http://www.newsobserver.com/life/story/175247.html Rhymefest's Revolution] by Craig Lindsey
- [http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2010/05/11/22213798.aspx Rhymefest: Hip-Hop Is Scared of Revolution?] – interview by Ismael AbduSalaam
- [https://wmfpodcast.org/rhymefest/ Interview on The World Music Foundation Podcast]
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Rhymefest
|list =
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:20th-century American male rappers
Category:African-American Muslims
Category:Allido Records artists
Category:Columbia College Chicago alumni
Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music
Category:21st-century American rappers
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century African-American musicians