In case you haven’t noticed, the UK rap scene is having its moment. With top ten singles and crossover collabs with our friends across the pond, the new wave of UK rap is waving our flag and loud and proud, and amongst them is east Londoner Chanté Paris. Dropping her empowering new single “Michelle Obama” a few weeks back, the rapper – formally known as Little C – easily catches the hard-hitting drill beat and tears it up with feverish wordplay and fierce bars. Putting her independence and integrity at the forefront of the single, Paris honours women with a boss bitch mentality while shutting down the critics.

“My producer sent me a beat for my birthday and I began to write my thoughts in the back of the cab on the way back to my hotel,” Paris reveals as she explains the production. “As soon as I landed in the UK, I went to the studio and recorded the song. I was with management at the time who loved the song but refused to give the song a large budget. I kept the song and worked to afford to execute my vision. I shot a great video with the budget I had saved and used the rest to market the single and here we are talking about it. It’s destiny!”

Already creating a buzz in the scene with her boisterous “Consistency” freestyle racking in over 26 thousand views, the rapper has been quietly brewing in the underground scene, honing in on her lyrical ability and style. But now ready to make her grand entrance with acting on the cards, Paris speaks with us on being a part of a new wave of female empowerment in rap, potential collaborations with Shaybo and how she’s ready to create a legacy.

Check out the interview below…

Hey Chante! How has this past year been for you? What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself?
The past year has been crazy for me. I’ve been so busy and have felt so much pressure as I’m juggling so many hats but I’m seeing results and that keeps me going. I’ve learned that you don’t need to have everything figured out. Just start! Everything you need comes in time.

Talk us through your musical upbringing, what made you want to start a career in music?
My parents/ family are big music lovers. Hip hop, Dancehall, Reggae, Pop, Garage and all sorts. My mum loves to dance and sing and I have many talented singers/ rappers within my family. I always wanted to be an entertainer of some sort. I was always involved in choirs, acting classes and performances in school. I loved to act, sing and dance. I was 11 years old and a cousin of mine was doing a rap set with his rap group named Blood Hill. I wanted to take part and I made my cousin write me a 16 bar and begged him to let me take part. I took part but my verse never made the live set. I was fuming, but then I made it my mission to learn to write, I was determined to show I could do what my cousins did. My dad would be in my bedroom playing PS2 with my brothers helping me with my vocabulary so I was able to execute my thoughts in more depth. I would then study rappers, write my own songs and beg my parents for £25 pounds to record in the studio for one hour. I did that for a few years until I felt confident to share my music. Let’s just say practise makes perfect and I began performing and recording consistently. This felt like my purpose which is why I’m here today. Music allows me to express my thoughts. It allows me to express who I am ” Unapologetically”. I can be, happy, sad or cheeky. It’s my therapy.

You grew up in east London which is a melting pot of culture and sounds, do you think growing up here inspired your sound?
100%. You are what you surround yourself with and what you see and listen to. At one point, east London was all I knew so it’s in my DNA. east London plays a big part in who I am.

You used to be named Little C, why the name change?
Well, I can’t imagine being called Little C when I’m 40. I needed a name that I’d be comfortable hearing when I have my kids and I’m collecting them from school.

You’ve just dropped your new single “Michelle Obama”! Talk us through the production process!
I was away with my mum in Marbella. It was my birthday. I sat and thought “jeez I’m getting old.’ I thought about the kind of woman I wanted to be. Michelle Obama came to mind as she is classy, well dressed, she speaks well and she inspires. My producer Rxz sent me a beat for my birthday, and I began to write my thoughts in the back of the cab on the way back to my hotel. As soon as I landed in the UK, I went to the studio and recorded the song. I was with management at the time who loved the song, but refused to give the song a large budget. I kept the song and worked to afford to execute my vision. I shot a great video with the budget I had saved and used the rest to market the single and here we are talking about it. It’s destiny!

You named it your single after the former FLOTUS, what about her inspires you?
She’s amazing. She has so much drive, class, she seems down to Earth and has worked hard to be who she whilst staying true to herself. I love that!

What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want them to take away the fact that I’m just like them. I want to be relatable but most of all I want young girls to realise you can get attention and be popular with intelligence, talent and class. I’m just expressing myself and I hope the execution of my thoughts can inspire in some way.

How does it feel to be joining a wave of new UK-hailed up-and-coming female rappers? Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
It feels amazing. I’ve been waiting for this forever. I’d love to collaborate with Shaybo. She shows me love and her energy seems dope. I like her music too.

Who would you say inspired you musically growing up?
Lauryn Hill. She was everything I wanted to be: beautiful, she could sing, act and rap and spoke on some great topics. She was a good role model for women.

Looking to the future, what can we expect from you? What are you most excited for?
Loads of music, some acting and just generally showing my fans who I am. I feel like sharing your personality is important. Sometimes being a rapper creates a whole new image of who you are. I’m just a chilled girl that loves cake and has a way with words. I’m excited to create my legacy and hug my parents and tell them “I did it!”