@xiamchanx Spilled Ink ***EXCLUSIVE*** An Afternoon with Chan

It’s Saturday afternoon, I was headed to score an exclusive interview with RZA of Wu-Tang after 3 subway trips, a bus, and a swift run to the office I missed RZA by 20 minutes. However I lucked up on one of the industry’s unknown gems and one of my favorite underground female lyricists Chan.  

 

Sitting in an expansive conference room in Legend’s Studios New York offices waiting for an intern to deliver a cheese omelet and a large orange juice from the bodega up the block is a woman just shy of 5 feet dressed in a t-shirt and sweats, diligently writing in a notebook while Universal Music Group A&R play her beats for what could be a new mixtape; as a fan I am both excited and anxious to talk to quiet mystery known as Chan.

“I don’t know what to expect, honestly, I always fuck things up. Story of my life. How are you a fan of mine?” 

And that is how the interview began…

You are one of the hardest females to grace the mic; I am in awe right now watching you choose beats, how do you pick which beats you are going to use? It’s almost like you are intentionally picking the hardest beats in the pack.

C:  For me this is a crucial point in my career,  I am in a male dominated field alone, no crew, no big team backing me, just me so I have to do everything better than everyone else. Even if it’s just in my head I have to convince myself I am better than your favorite rappers favorite rapper.

Is it safe to assume you are working on a mixtape now? And how difficult is it with no crew or male counterpart to promote you?

C: To be honest, I am scared shitless. When you have a crew you can look to the left and get a nod even when things are at their worse. Without that you have to depend on your inner self and hope that in the end it works out. Right now I am going with my gut feeling and hoping it pans out.

Do you think having that thought process will help you succeed or hinder you in the end?

C: I think a little of both, the fear keeps me on my toes.

Tell me about your writing process.

C: I still hand write my music,  it may start off as poem or just a couple of lines that I have jotted down in my cell but eventually it all ends up on paper. When I write it’s usually out of emotion so when I go back in those books, back into those pages I can relive what I was feeling at that moment.  Every once in a blue I’ll hear a beat though and it consumes me almost instantly when that happens, I can usually walk in the booth and go off top right then and there.

You have incredible volume for a female rapper. A lot of women struggle with breath control or trying to sound too hard, your music just flows.

C: Is that the question? Oh…well I am typically laid back.  I have my moments, during 6 foot 7 I almost passed out.

Working on your mixtape do you feel pressure to not necessarily compete with but keep up with the Nicki Minaj’s, the Iggy Azealia’s, the Angel Hazes, or even the Azealia Banks?

C: I am my only competition.

Ok. Fair enough. People talk about the difference in being a rapper and a rock star, specifically with women, what does that mean in terms of representing your sexuality in your career: like by identifying as a rock star, you don't have to compromise how you dress or what you rap about. Where are you at with that distinction? Do you want to be a rock star and not a rapper?  

C: That’s a loaded question, wow. I (pauses and taps her finger on her iPod) ; I think as an artist I know exactly where I want to be and if that means I don’t belong in either world (rapper or rock star) then I will build a bridge and get over it. I think in all aspects of business there’s always a gap and in that gap you can always build a bridge and link the two. So at this point, I am open to make my imprint but if I have to build a bridge I got my hammer ready.

So are you worried that labels won’t see you for you and that it will be a constant battle?

C: (Laughs) Hell yeah, right now I am still telling people look ,”I aint doing this or that.” The first thing labels say is (gestures finger quotes) we don’t want to change who you are. Then they walk in and say some shit like hey we got this tutu here put this on with these 10 inch heels. It will work trust us.

So you have to stand your ground constantly?

C: Yes, which is probably why I don’t have a deal yet. I don't want to conform. I just want to be me.

When can we expect your mixtape?

C: January

Fast forward you’ve signed a deal, five years from now who do you want to work with and what do you plan to have accomplished in that time?

C: I’d like to work with Missy, they just played me a new track she did called G-Dragon whoooo that shits bananas. In 5 years I’d like to put out 3 albums and back away nicely into artist development.

Speaking of Missy, she did exactly what you were speaking about earlier. She came up alone and not in a crew of male rappers is that something you find yourself explicitly avoiding?

C: Right now, yes.  I don’t want to be in a boys club. I am good doing me.

But you never had to have that moment, or have you had that moment, where a dude was like, Chan is the shit. I feel like no one else has avoided that, honestly. Think about it. Iggy Azalea had T.I. Azealia Banks had a lot of cosigns including Kanye, Nicki had Lil Wayne and Drake.

C: Right, and with my mixtape there may come some cosigns but is that something I am looking for no? How did I manage to avoid it, honestly I have no idea. I think it may have avoided me. A couple of months ago I would have probably jumped at the opportunity and to be honest I have been approached by several high profile rappers since I have been in New York saying we should do this that and the third, but right now it’s just not the direction I am looking to go.  

Would one of those artists be Wale?

C: (laughs) I can’t comment on that right now.

Aaah okay, well one last question what’s the best advice you have received to date?

C: I think that would be from a really good friend and stylist check her out on twitter  and Instagram too HairByPhatara (shameless plug – I know) but she told me… Don’t chase my dreams, live them. Plan and Execute.  Probably the best advice I have gotten.

I can’t thank you enough for sitting down with me. I feel like I just lucked up on something really special. Keep in touch and we wish you the best of luck!

C: Thank you, for granting me the opportunity. God Bless.