Chy Cartier

The wisdom and understanding encapsulated in the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is deep-rooted within the cultural fabric of communities in the diaspora. For Chy Cartier, it manifests through the intergenerational relationships she experienced growing up with her mother and grandmother: “I was an only child, but I grew up in my grandma’s house, with [her] and my mum,” she proudly admits.  

 

Experiencing a family structure like this went on to provide Chy with a strong sense of resilience, identity and family support, with her grandmother serving as a pillar of strength and prudence, passing down a lineage of cultural heritage through family ties, equipping her with the appropriate weapons to navigate race and gender in an ever-evolving society. “It instilled a work ethic in me, seeing my grandmother and mum work hard,” she says. “They motivated me to have ambition and achieve whatever I want as a Black woman.”  

 

While frolicking around her childhood house at the tender age of seven, Chy Cartier’s ears would be exposed to the electric musical genres of her mother’s playlists that would cleanse the place she calls home. “When I was growing up, my mum used to play different songs around the house, like hip-hop, R&B,” she recalls, her voice laced with nostalgia as she speaks. Chy’s early exploration of fearless lyricism and the larger-than-life persona of three trailblazing women in rap left an indelible mark on her craft growing up: “Lil Kim, Foxy Brown and Nicki Minaj were a big influence on me,” she smiles, “I used to recite all their music.”  

 

As I enquire further, I am eager to unravel the threads of Chy’s journey. Her response is immediate, tinged with a reverence for Tottenham, the place she calls home. “Yeah, it’s just growing up on a day-to-day basis. You had different music because there are so many different cultures in Tottenham,” she asserts, her words carrying the weight of lived experience. “And you’re at school; everyone’s got different views. When I was in secondary school, there was a lot of drill and rap music. I feel like everything’s influenced me.” 

When exploring her relationship with her peers in Tottenham, she reflects on her community’s pervasive influence and the tug-of-war peer pressure had on them. “Peer pressure is a huge thing, especially coming from Tottenham and being at school,” she admits. “But I never really gave in to peer pressure. I’ve always been very headstrong regarding things like that.”  

 

Her advice for other girls facing similar challenges of wanting to appease their peers is a gospel of self-belief and perseverance. “If you’re ambitious and want to achieve things that people may not understand, just strive to achieve what you want,” she advises. “Know that where you’re from, or the area you grew up in, is not your be-all and end-all. Keep tunnel vision and stay focused on your goals.” 

 

As our conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that Chy Cartier’s journey in the music industry is about much more than just making music—it’s about breaking barriers and paving a concrete road for future generations of female artists. When asked about her thoughts on receiving recognition from established artists like Stormzy and Digga D, Chy’s response is humble yet stained with empowerment.  

 

“Yeah, the feeling is crazy,” she begins, her voice resonating with excitement and gratitude. “It’s a nice feeling to have your art taken in by older ones. Do you know what I mean?” Chy’s acknowledgement from her musical predecessors holds immense significance. Growing up listening to icons like Stormzy, she recognises their influence on her journey and sees their recognition as validation of her talent and hard work. 

Chy’s response is thoughtful and deliberate when flirting with the idea of collaborating with established artists like Stormzy and Digga D, speaking volumes about Chy’s commitment to authenticity and artistic integrity. In an industry often driven by trends and commercial success, she remains steadfast in her belief that collaboration should be meaningful and organic. “I feel like it has to make sense,” she explains, “100% when the time’s right.”  

 

One of the leading singles that went viral and put her in the first-year class of pioneering new talent was her single ‘Like Magic’, which explores themes of individuality and defiance. Without hesitation and with a meek spirit, Chy dives into the core elements that influenced the overarching themes in the single. “So, for ‘Like Magic’, the message I hope to convey is that I’m an anomaly in this generation,” she explains. “I see myself as unique, not like everybody else, and I hope others can relate as well, just as individuals.” This tenacious commitment to authenticity puts her on a pedestal compared to many new artists in the game. While many claim to be unique, Chy Cartier’s distinguishable flow and genre-defying approach to music truly set her apart.  

 

During the early days of hip-hop in the 1970s and 1980s, rap music often featured slower tempos, with many tracks hovering around the 90-bpm mark. This tempo provided artists with a comfortable pace for delivering their rhymes and allowed for greater emphasis on storytelling and lyrical content, something which Chy is unafraid to follow through with. “I feel like my flow, the genre that I am doing, is different,” she notes. “It’s real rap – 90-bpm – but when you hear it, I want people to think, ‘What is this genre?’ It’s rap, but it’s not your typical rap.”  

 

Indeed, Chy’s music defies categorisation, blending elements of rap, R&B, and soul into a sound uniquely hers. And it’s not just her music that pushes boundaries, Chy’s visuals are equally striking and cinematic, adding an extra layer of depth to her artistry. “We – myself, my manager, and the director – we come together,” she explains. “We’ll give them ideas, tell them what the song’s about, how we want to convey my message through the visuals. It’s very collaborative.” This approach is evident in her music videos, which often feature stunning visuals that complement the themes of her songs: from gritty urban landscapes to dreamlike sequences, Chy’s videos are a testament to her artistic vision and attention to detail.  

With poise and confidence, Chy reflects on the importance of a robust support system. “I have a very good manager,” she explains. “The whole nine yards, there’s a plan for everything.” But beyond the logistical aspects of management, Chy’s manager also plays a vital role in creating a safe space for her to explore her creativity and expression: “he helps in solidifying the vision of things,” she explains, “it’s very well thought out.”  

 

Chy Cartier’s words resonate with a sense of empowerment and strength, highlighting her ability to command attention and demand respect across various audiences in a male-dominated space. “I feel like I fit into the industry,” she asserts. “It’s not a problem that I’m female because everybody can relate to what I’m rapping about; everybody kind of gets it, so it’s not hard.”  

 

With her sharp wit and undeniable talent, she effortlessly navigates the complexities of the rap game, challenging stereotypes and redefining norms. But she is fully aware of the challenges many female rappers endure along the way: “I feel like when you come in, and you’re rapping about certain explicit topics as a female, you’ll experience many challenges,” she explains.  

 

Going into depth about her future projects and collaborations, Chy didn’t hold back, revealing that she has an EP set to drop in the summer. “I want it to be around 90 to 100 beats per minute,” she shares, “I want it to be very ambiguous, where you don’t know what genre it is when you hear it but you know it’s a Chy Cartier-type beat.”  

 

Overall, her innate desire is to build a legacy and leave a solid trail on the UK rap scene. “I’m just trying to make my style, my own lane,” she declares, “It’s gonna be crazy.”