 |
| Photo courtesy of Michelle Adams via IG @Chelle_5hock |
In the ever growing world of social media, there are not many videos that I come across that render me speechless. Thanks to platforms such as FaceBook, Instagram and now the popular SnapChat, we are given up close and personal access to everyone’s daily life. From the biggest celebrity to your everyday average joe. For this very reason, social media has become a major key in the success of many up and coming talents. Recently, I had scrolled upon a video of a beautiful young lady. What I assumed to be just another video of a talented female artist, turned out to be an eye opening entrance to the life of an artist. This isn’t your typical artist in the making either. While she does use social media quite frequently to share her talent with the world, her videos and messages are a bit different.
Allow me to introduce you to the woman behind the camera. Michelle “Chelle 5hock” Adams is a 28 year old Tennessee born, Georgia raised, female artist on the rise. Her lyrical content and her delivery is something that automatically grabbed my attention. Not once paying attention to her surroundings in her videos, it wasn’t until a few videos later that I came to realize that she was definitely someone that was very unique. Michelle, is currently serving a sentence at a federal halfway house facility in Tennessee, and this is where the introduction begins.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Michelle Adams |
Michelle Adams is an up and coming female rapper, born in Tennessee and raised in Georgia to the age of 15, she returned to Chattanooga where she says she was heavily influenced by New Orleans rapper Torrence “Boosie BadAzz” Hatch and the ability to relate to his music, much like other young black teens. While she has been doing music for close to three years, Michelle states, she started writing lyrics and playing around with rapping prior to her federal incarceration, but credits other women in the prison for encouraging her to pursue a career in music. After serving a 30 month federal sentence at the FCI Tallahassee for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit money, she also served a 3 year state sentence for a resale of crack cocaine charge. She was released to the federal halfway house on November 7th, where she is currently still residing. Having access to the internet and social media during her incarceration is definitely a tool that will help share her story and her talent with the world. In addition to doing music, Michelle is planning on writing a book about her life story.
Michelle Adams, is a solo female artist by the name of Chelle 5hock, a name she was given in prison. Also known by the moniker “FedBaby”, a nickname picked up after gaining popularity after her federal bid, she states that her incarceration and her lyrics are something that make her stand out from other female artists in the city of Chattanooga. She describes the music scene in Chattanooga as diverse, with an abundance of local artists trying to make their debut. While female artists in Chattanooga are highly underestimated and not taken seriously in regard to their music, Michelle is coming thru with a no hold bars approach. She delivers each bar with a fire that is certain to grab your attention. Did I mention she can drop her bars in both English AND Spanish???? Yes, Ms. Adams is also bi-lingual, you can check a clip of her freestyle here > Chelle 5hock Freestyle
When asked who she would compare herself to musically, she says it’s the easiest question of all. No one. She doesn’t compare herself to anyone in the music business and has not been compared by others either. I asked if she felt being incarcerated sets her apart from other female rappers who also served time, such as Remy Ma and Lil’ Kim. She says, that it is the circumstances around her incarceration that set her apart from those artists. “My experience from my indictment up to my release has influenced my music tremendously, I didn’t take my music seriously before my incarceration”, Michelle says, a reflection on how her time has helped mold the artist she is today.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Michelle Adams |
If given the opportunity to work with three artists Michelle states, she would like to work with Boosie first, with much excitement, “I don’t just hear his music, I see it”, she says. I personally understand this as I have that same feeling, listening to artists like Tupac Shakur and Kendrick Lamar. Michelle would also like to collaborate with the Queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige, she says because of her raw voice that is full of emotion. I for one, would love to hear that track. Lastly, she would like to work with Omeretta the Great, a 21 year old, Atlanta rapper, highly known for her music via Instagram. In Michelle’s words, “Omeretta is so talented and she is not going to let up off the necks she is stepping on. I love her energy and her lyrics.”
Michelle is definitely confident in her style and ability and that is something that is going to help boost her talent. From watching her videos, she has so much ambition and drive in her voice that you can tell the moment she steps into a booth, she is going to unleash some real rap. While agreeing that music is evolving, like everything else around us, she believes that Hip Hop and Rap will return to the sounds of the 90s and 2000s, and she isn’t saying that her music will change the direction of rap or the music industry, but she is sure that she will make her presence known. Currently focusing on her rap career, she isn’t against venturing into other music genres, if necessary. Her goals, however for her music career is a combination of being signed by a major label, putting her hometown music scene on the nationwide roster and venturing into other areas of entertainment.
During a time in music when controversial rap beefs are ever present in mainstream music and often help those involved increase record sales and fan followings, a lot of local rappers have trouble going mainstream or signing deals based on beef with other artists. I asked Michelle her take on the rivalry between local artists and if she feels it’s good publicity or a result of jealousy. Her answer was straight forward. She says, “Rap beef is good publicity if your opponent is a known artist, and jealousy is the root of rap beef whether it be local or in the industry.”
Michelle “Chelle 5hock” Adams, aka “Fed Baby” is definitely an artist to keep your eyes on. She is making a name for herself and doing so with great effort. I refuse to put her into the category of rappers who end up in prison and their music tends to fade. She has the talent to go far, she has the motivation to succeed and the passion to make it happen. Michelle recalls sitting in prison watching the BET Awards and all of the other girls saying, “Chelle, we’re gonna be watching you in a couple of years.” She says, that is what is trying to make happen with her music and use that to feed her family. It’s evident that she is not going to allow her time to keep her from reaching her goals, but in fact use that time to push herself to where she needs to be. In closing, she leaves this advice for anyone looking to be involved in the music business, “ Never let anyone else influence your motivation to follow your dreams and reach your goals, unless it is a positive influence. Always handle up and pray.”
Make sure to follow Michelle Adams on Instagram and Facebook with the links below for videos and upcoming info.
**On behalf of Misses S.A.M™© and Misses S.A.M’s Music Juice™©, we would like to thank Michelle Adams for the opportunity to cover her story. We look forward to hearing more from her musically and working with her in the future. Please remember all photos included in this article are property of Michelle “Chelle 5hock” Adams, unless otherwise specified. This work is not to be replicated without the proper written authorization of Misses S.A.M™© April 5, 2018 for publication via www.samsmusicjuice.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/samsmusicjuice and redistribution on behalf of Michelle Adams for and by Michelle Adams. Any other duplication without proper credit is considered fraudulent. Contact Misses S.A.M.™© for publication authorization: 1misses.sam@gmail.com or Facebook @samsmsuicjuice.
