I don't think there was a specific song that made me think that Che Noir was the truth – it always sounded like she was a seasoned veteran, like she has been rapping for 15 years and birthed a new generation of female rappers – I do know that I choked on my soda the first time I heard “Let me break it down/ these hoes know I'm Picasso went I paint the town.” 

Like any true fan, I woke up Friday morning in anticipation of hearing Che Noir's new project “After 12,” there has been a lot of buzz surrounding it, and I felt it was perfect to drop in the 4th quarter especially with the incredible projects that have been dropping this year. 

I'm listening, head nodding to the hard ass beats that she produced herself, when Hunger Games come on. While listening to the hypnotizing beat and hearing Che Ginsu the beat (like imagine rapping over an ill beat that you yourself created, ooh the energy that can create) I look at the track listing and my eyes pop out when I see Ransom and 38Spesh aka Trust Gang (These are the three that are usually the most visual) are also on this amazing piece of work. 

Edit – While I was writing the article, the video for Hunger Games dropped so I'm even more amped! 

I never doubted that Che would be able to hold her own, but I was on the edge of my seat ready to hear what schemes and rhymes would come out of this amazing track.... She's always comfortable, but it was easily noticeable on this track, the drums just felt heavy as she continued flowing “I'm just tryna cop me a pool with a crib behind it/ and pass off paper to my niggas like a school assignment” – what???!! 

I've been a fan of Ransom since his early days and real hip-hop fans know his history, so this isn't what this section is about – but do give him his respect for the second wind he has been displaying, easily one of the best rappers out, and I'm still pissed his “1%” E.P. Didn't get the acknowledgment it deserved. I already heard the verse, but when Ransom stepped out from behind Che in the video I was like “oooooooooooooooooh” because I knew it was about to be a murder – just listen to the whole verse and whoever is reading this will understand why his fans go so hard for him (no homo for the immature cats). 

38 Spesh is an artist that I wasn't up on from the jump like many cats, but once I started listening I knew what was up – no one sounds like him, no one moves like him, his brain is calculated, you can hear it in every verse, especially in this one – it sounded like a mini auto-biography and a slap around at the same time “Niggas ain't got the chandelier sitting over the spinning staircase/their fake” 

I'm super excited for the love and support that Che Noir has been receiving as a whole, and also for this project, there isn't a single wack verse, beat, feature, or space of air, it's a great project – give her and her crew the respect they deserve. 

Hopefully after anyone reads this article they'll take some extra time out to listen to my music – I'm a spokenword artist, but overall I have a beautiful mind and I know how to use a pen. 

Joseph Reuben Fuller