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CHRISETTE MICHELE: Back with a new album

THE UGLY face of hip-hop was on show again last week when US rappers Rick Ross and Young Jeezy fought backstage at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards.

It would seem that Ross has a history of making a scene at music awards. At the 2010 Soul Train awards he allegedly stormed out of the ceremony because he was beaten to the Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year trophy by Eminem.

But not everyone in the industry appeases the Aston Martin Music star’s antics. Singer Chrisette Michele, who was at one time a close friend of the rapper, took to the internet to reprimand Ross for his actions at the awards.

In fact, she issued a scathing statement against the genre, which led to the ending of Michele and Ross’s relationship.

Since the public spat, which happened over two years ago, Michele has reassessed her feelings about hip-hop, even if she has not made up with Ross.

“When I met Rick we had this chemistry from the day we met,” said the 29-year-old. “As soon as I saw him I thought, ‘that dude is so cool.’ I have this thing for rappers, I love hip-hop, I love the culture, and so I was really upset when we stopped talking.”

Speaking about the 2010 awards ceremony where Michele and Ross were due to perform together before he walked out, the Be Ok singer explained that she felt betrayed by the rapper and his actions.

“I was so mad and hurt by Rick Ross. It was the first time that Soul Train had aired hip-hop on their show and for me that was a big deal. My entire existence in the music industry was about being a soulful girl that hip-hop embraced. It was my chance to say to all the older folks who said hip-hop doesn’t have a place in our community, that it does. Watch us be unified and watch me and Rick Ross change that. And I was upset with Rick because he didn’t know how important it was to me. I felt like, with all that I had given hip-hop, I felt like it had abandoned me.”

It was around this time that the US songstress decided to take a break from recording, being disillusioned with the business and unsure of which path to take next. But for the Lost One performer, music was never far from her heart and during her musical pause she penned her fourth and newest album Better.

“I took a year and a half out from recording, to stop listening to everyone else’s ideas and questions to become more self-reflective. While I did that I came up with the songs for Better, and the songs and the album were my therapy,” she explained.

HAPPIER TIMES: Chrisette Michele and Rick Ross

“Before that I was getting so overwhelmed that I didn’t have time to stop and think. I began to do things to myself and my body that I didn’t like; I gained 40 pounds because I ate junk. When I got upset I didn’t want to drink alcohol or do drugs, so I ate pizza and it would be four slices at a time,” Michele continued, pointing out that “while I was introspective I lost all the weight and I fell back in love with my body and myself again.”

Loving yourself is not an easy thing to do, especially when you have people judging your every move. When Michele went for ‘the big chop’ and shaved off all her hair at the beginning of 2010, she was scrutinised by her fans and the black community.

The Grammy award winning artist found that she had to justify the cutting of her hair, but for a long time she could not understand why.

“After I cut my hair it was really scary; all of a sudden I was black! I didn’t know I had to only be a race; I thought that I was this free individual, this hip girl. So it was disheartening. I had to answer these questions about what it means to be black; when I really just didn’t feel like having a relaxer anymore,” recalled the musican.

Putting all of the drama behind her the New York-born songwriter is now happy, rejuvenated and ready to release Better. She admitted that her new album has taken a different direction from her previous three and is more reflective of her current situation.

“My last three albums were about heartbreak, I really did go though lots of heartbreak. But with this new album I just want my fans to know that there’s hope for love. I want them to know that I’m not this angry black woman. When I shaved my head I felt like I had turned into this angry black woman and I’m not that, I’m a really bright person and that’s the vibe that I want to put out.”

Still the singer admitted that as a recording artist it can be very hard to control the music that she produces, especially when there is a major label involved.

Currently signed to Def Jam records Michele admitted that although she had considered going independent, because she feels like she “really doesn’t know the people” she works with anymore, she wouldn’t out of respect for the company.

“When I first got signed with Def Jam, we would go out for coffee and we would go to each others houses, we would be at each others weddings and baby showers, now it’s more like a nine-to-five."

“I’m a little tempted to go independent, but I try not to say it because I do not want to be insulting to the people who have been so generous and so kind,” Michelle explained.

“It’s so tough with commercial releases because you finish an album and you get it out, but then it goes into the hands of so many handlers who help you put it out, and their intentions are good but a lot of the time they add to it.

“So you hope the fans see the rawness of what it is you’re trying to put out.”

For more information on Chrisette Michele visit www.thisischrisettemichele.com