CHY CARTIER IS ALREADY A STAR

Looking back on Chy Cartier’s musical career so far, what initially stands out is her dedication to delivering an inventive take on UK rap that is wholly her own. While still early in her career, Chy – real name Chyna – has forged her own path through the notoriously treacherous music industry independently, building a loyal fan base eager to hear more of her quick-witted lyricism and see more of her captivating personality.

Blowing up in late 2023 with her already iconic single BOSSED UP, the 20-year-old North London-based rapper has carved her own lane in the somewhat overcrowded UK rap scene. Capitalising on her distinctive sense of style, impeccable beat selection and her memorable adlib, “BAP”, Chy’s presence, lyricism and attitude has created the perfect foundation for a UK rap star to be born, even without support from the industry, guest features or placements. Organically building a dedicated fan base, Chy’s talents are speaking for themself, and the proof is in the impact she has made amongst the upper echelons of UK rap. For Chy, this initial positive reception has been paramount in propelling her forward and has kept her motivated in making more music: “seeing how people connect with my energy and my lyrics, you know, it just makes you want to continue what you do and be the best at it.”

With co-signs from the likes of Central Cee, Skepta, Corteiz’ Clint, Novelist and many more, Chy seems set on her course to music stardom. With a distinctive sense of originality, her flow, wordplay and lyricism has seen her craft a strikingly fresh and modern sound, filtered through a sense of nostalgia for the late ‘90s and ‘00s. As I ask Chy about what originally drew her to music in a moment of respite during the Air Max Dn8 shoot for Nike, it’s clear that her connection to music has been longstanding and familial in origin: “I've been rapping since the age of seven, so I feel like music's always been a part of me. Growing up, my mum used to play different music in and around the house. Garage, hip hop, rap, R&B, all different genres. Music was just always my way of expressing myself.”

Expanding on her first foray into making music, Chy reminisces about her formative experiences performing for her family: “I remember one time when I was little, I performed one of my first ever rap songs to my older cousin and my mum and just seeing their reactions, how they were amazed, it really made me realise that I had something special.” From this original performance, Chy graduated to rapping at school; “I always used to rap, like in the school playground, and all of my friends would gather around the older kids, and just hype it up.” To those that know Chy, it likely seemed as if destiny was being fulfilled when she first started dropping music. Following the release of her Show Me Love Freestyle back in 2022, where she first exhibited her unique style over a beat sampling the iconic 1993 house track by Robin S, Chy has gone from strength to strength, delivering hard hitting raps over beats with an experimental sonic palette that offer a truly novel approach to the genre. The tracks that Chy has dropped so far are always rooted in a darker sound with a “menacing bass”, as she puts it, but subtly pepper influences from a wide variety of different genres, exhibiting the breadth of her musical passions. On branching out further, Chy made her intentions clear: “I definitely want to tap into dancehall and I want to explore more rock sounds. I feel like that’ll be hard!” Perhaps it’s this openness to different sounds and influences that has been imbedded in Chy since her younger years that is propelling her forward at such an impressive rate – when one note rappers will be left in the dust after trends change, Chy will be there with a fresh sound and her trademark “BAP”.

Further igniting a powder keg of excitement for her uncompromising confidence and impeccable beat selection with her latest single NOT THE ONE and a remix of her single YO with Headie One, Chy’s influences have culminated in her cultivating an inventive approach that doesn’t pigeonhole herself and positions the young rapper as one of the brightest stars in UK rap. But it is also Chy’s dedication to her craft that is ensuring her quick success has longevity as she builds a foundation for her career in the coming years. “Chyna’s quieter and Chy Cartier just gets on the mic and says what she’s feeling,” reflects Chy when asked about her attitude when writing and performing, “Personally, I don’t really talk a lot, but when Chy Cartier gets on the mic, everything just comes out.” This clear delineation between Chyna the person and Chy the rapper illuminates her thoughtfulness when approaching her creative work, and that thoughtfulness and care can only be a good thing as she becomes a bigger and bigger artist, as she undoubtedly will.