Every Monday at 8 pm, “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” viewers are used to seeing bad girls dominate the show. But, this season, there is a new bad girl in town and she is originally from Philadelphia. Her name is Che Mack and she has appeared in several scenes with longtime cast members, Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez.
Of course, being on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” has boosted the profile of Che Mack, but she has a history in the game. Before appearing on television, Che Mack was a well-known tattoo model. In addition to the modeling, Che Mack was and still is a rising rapper.
Hip Hop Vibe had the chance to speak to Che Mack about her moves in this ever-changing industry. During our interview, Che Mack spoke on both her background in music and her love for tattoos. She also explained how she wound up being a regular on the popular “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” and her relationship with Stevie J.
Read the entire interview below:
Can you tell us about your background in the music industry and some of the people you have worked with? Yeah. I just started doing music two years ago. It always has been a hobby because I like music, then I had my manager and he linked me with Stevie J. But, I recorded with a couple of people like Lloyd, Cap1, and a few artists before, but I never had a writer until now. I had producers that I would network with on Twitter and Instagram that would send beats and then I met DJs working at the bar, just networking.
Being from Philadelphia, tell us your take on the growth of the scene and the position you feel you have within the city’s hip hop scene? Well, I have been in Atlanta for five years, so I don’t know a lot of the people coming up in Philadelphia. I stay in contact with Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, and the rest of State Property. All of the people in Philadelphia I used to know are not actively making music, or they are in jail. Meek Mill is cool and he is doing his thing, but for the most part, that’s it.
Should fans expect to hear you on tracks with any other leading Philadelphia hip hop artists? I hope to. I am just waiting on people to send me songs. Philly is kind of different now, whoever thinks you’re hot is who is going to work with you. They don’t reach out, so I don’t reach in.
In addition to the music, you are also a tattoo model, can you speak on this and your love for tattoos? Yeah. That has been a thing of mine for eleven years, I started when I was eighteen. I always loved tattoos, but I had to follow the rules of my mother’s house. But, tattoos are my thing, got my first one on my birthday, I like them, I love them.
Obviously, Atlanta is a major hub for hip hop right now, but can you tell us your reason for moving there? The reason I moved to Atlanta is to expand my mind. Back home, there were a lot of things going on with my family and friends that I did not want to be a part of. I moved and I have not been back, some come to visit me.
Being in Atlanta helped get you on “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,” but what decision made you agree to join the show? Just because I wanted people to see me. I always wanted to be on TV and then I also had a chance to show people who I really am. They see me in magazines, on videos, and on Instagram, now they get to see me speak and it is a great way to expose myself.
What type of impact do you feel you have had on the rest of the cast? I really don’t know. I don’t speak with the rest of the cast. When I see them, I’m cordial, but I don’t really interact with them. I really don’t know, that’s a question to ask them.
How did you and Stevie J meet in the first place and what type of input does he have on your music? Me and him met just through me being in the club and doing the show, it was just like that. We knew of each other and we had mutual friends, but we never really met until I was on the show. I emailed him my music and then I met him on the show. He doesn’t have an impact on my music, I just want a song from him and I want his approval to put it up. But, he does not have much of an impact on anything I do, I just wanted the song, that’s all.
There is a lot of new music dropping from artists all over the place, who are some of your favorite artists out right now and why? Iggy Azalea, she is beautiful, different, I love her, she is the total opposite. I like Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, I love Jay-Z, and that is all I listen to and focus on. All of those guys have albums either out, or coming, and those are my top five.
Can you give us your social networking addresses so fans can follow you? My Twitter is @CheIsMack, my Instagram is @mackische , and I don’t do Facebook.
