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RHYMEFEST’S BIO
As a recording artist, songwriter, humanitarian, and trailblazer; Che “Rhymefest” Smith has shattered countless negative stereotypes in Hip Hop. His creative contributions to the culture have earned him GRAMMY Awards, a Soul Train Award, a Golden Globe and countless nominations and accolades for his Academy Award Winning works. In his current role with Golden State Entertainment, as an artist and strategic advisor, Smith is preparing to release his first creative project, “James and Nikki: A Conversation”, based on the 1971 sit down between James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni, which was presented on WNET’s “Soul!”
This Chicago native expanded his gifts beyond the borders of music as the storyteller and subject of the Showtime and Break Thru Films documentary “In My Father’s House”, which chronicles the process of Che purchasing his estranged father’s childhood home, during which he discovered that his father had been homeless for most of Rhymefest’s life. He then embarks on a journey to reconnect and redeem their relationship. Rhymefest considers himself a global citizen, partnering with organizations like “The Abolition Institute” as he fights against modern day slavery in places like Mauritania; from there Che’s relationships have found him making diasporic Fusion Hip Hop with the Griot and Wolof tribes in Dakar, Senegal. You might even catch him in Cartagena, Colombia freestyling with the Palenque. It’s Rhymefest’s belief that music should be used as a tool to heal wounds and bridge connections between cultures.
Rhymefest debuted his acting prowess in the Emilio Estevez written and directed film “The Public”, starring alongside Gabriel Union, Michael K. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Alec Baldwin and Emilio Estavez. He’s made guest appearances on the HBO Max comedy series “South Side” and was a central character in the Kanye West, Netflix documentary “Jeen-Yuhs”. Never straying from his love of music and community service, Rhymefest co-founded the nonprofit organization Art Of Culture, where he mentors youth, teaches writing classes and exposes young people to the world around them with 7-day youth cultural retreats.
“True Power Is The Power To Empower Others” – Rhymefest