Meet Hip Hop’s 2020 MVP: Che Noir
Tags: 2020, Music, New York, Hip Hop, Rap

Che Noir

A year ago, Buffalo, NY’s Che Noir was admittedly starving with just her name, but in 2020 she’s gained more fans by dropping multiple projects that are being featured in a lot of best 2020 lists. Her come up was no mistake or on accident, she focused on her craft, dropping three projects and doing over 50 features while also starting her own business. After she made the decision to write or record music everyday more fans and praise followed.

Her first 2020 project, Juno produced by her Trust labelmate, 38 Spesh built on the chemistry they built on The Thrill of the Hunt 2. She dug deeper, sharing more about her upbringing, but it’s not all tragedy and grimy hood stories. The circumstances made her more determined and wise, and gave her the chip on the shoulder that makes her shit talk hit harder. In 23 minutes, she showed why she’s the Queen of Upstate and left me looking forward to her LP.

Che shared that her next 2020 project, As God Intended, produced by Apollo Brown was the project that changed her life. She says that finishing up the record showed her what she could do if she committed to working towards her goals everyday. She spit effortlessly over Apollo’s soulful, plush Boom Bap, diving more into storytelling, most notably After 12 and Daddy’s Girl. Her street knowledge, wisdom, and cockiness comes through on every track and was complimented perfectly by Apollo’s production. This album put her in more best MCs conversations and gave her a strong AOTY contender.

At this time she could’ve relaxed until 2021, but she stayed in the studio working on her next project and doing features. After seeing people’s response to her first two projects she had to keep at it and keep giving people what they needed. She still had a lot to say, and in the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor incidents, she provided guidance and hope. Che stated, “I live and grew up in impoverished areas in Buffalo and Niagara Falls my whole life. Witnessed police brutality countless times as a kid. It scars you but also gives you a voice.” She used her voice inded, giving knowledge to people in similar neighborhoods that she grew up in and giving outsiders a look at what many consider their everyday life.

As Che worked on her next project and made features she enjoyed some of her favorite 2020 albums, including Ransom & Nicholas Craven- Director’s Cut 3, Sa-Roc-Sharecropper’s Daughter, Lil Baby- My Turn, and Jhene Aiko- Chilombo. Not strictly a Hip Hop fan she mentioned Snoh Aalegra’s Dying For Your Love as one of her favorite tracks of the year.

Earlier this month she dropped After 12, an EP that is also self produced. To my surprise, Che shared that she started off as a producer, but took a break to focus on rapping. She hadn’t lose a step behind the boards dropping beats that had a chilling, late night feel that fit the After 12 theme. Seemingly a victory lap, her pen is more focused, even sharing knowledge gained during her 2020 run. Her confidence, which includes her rightfully bragging about being three for three with her 2020 releases, is great to see because she spent 2020 working harder than most. If Hip Hop triple had crown like sports, releasing a joint EP, collaborative album, and a self produced EP in the same year would be the criteria I’d consider.