Today we’d like to introduce you to Chandra Rhyme.
Chandra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
At the age of three, I started in dance. It’s what came naturally to me. While in dance, I also divided my time as a gymnast. As I moved up the ranks in both worlds, I had to choose between which of the two, I would invest more time in. So, I went with dance. At school, I would juggle my studies, band, and athletics. After school, I would travel to my dance class to train. I also took voice lessons while I studied all forms of dance but my main focus was primarily classical ballet. This would continue up until my junior year of high school. I was then faced with another decision; only this time, the choice was between dance and sports.
Fast-forward to after graduating high school. I trained further in New York and New Jersey. After seeing a poster for a college, I applied to Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. Later, I auditioned and was accepted into their dance program. After four years, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in dance. I danced and taught professionally in Pittsburgh, PA. It wasn’t until July of 2017 that I began expressing myself through words, creating my rap name, “Rhyme.” I released my first single “Sis Please” and would perform in the Pittsburgh music scene. I was then offered the opportunity to open up for Warren G in June 2018. In 2019, I divulged more of my time as a singer and songwriter working with a production team in the city of Pittsburgh, creating my latest material as “Chandra Rhyme.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not a smooth journey for me. Especially as a dancer. Some of the struggles I faced was getting to know myself and constantly dealing with the idea of perfectionism. Body image is something a lot of dancers and young women face. Many of us struggle with loving ourselves. I would encourage all young women to form a positive relationship with themselves. When you truly love who you are, you will begin to notice love flourish in all aspects of your life.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’m a rapper, singer, and songwriter who specializes in dance and choreography. Though I’m still navigating to solidify myself as a brand, I can say that I’m most proud of opening up for Warren G so early in my career as an artist in the Pittsburgh music scene. I have an EP titled “Goin Up” that’s available on Soundcloud and recently released two singles called “Hit It Right” and “Relate” available on both Spotify and Apple Music.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
To acquire as many skills as you can and learn how to apply what you need for yourself. It’s unlikely that you will have a team or staff that can handle certain tasks for you when starting your career. If you are truly passionate about what you do, master everything you can in all areas of your chosen profession. Therefore, you can develop an eye for what you like and dislike, and have a hand in everything.
Contact Info:
- Email: chandra.rhyme@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchandrarhyme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realchandrarhyme/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5TSCMNWWZioUJczAZA6gLj?si=ombYK19gTKKJO0VtxsNoMg
Image Credit:
Jordan Armstrong, Morgan Richards, Tony Moux, and The Village Media.
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