Ep 07 - The Power of Music w/ Award-Winning Artist Chiyanti

On today's episode, Ellie is joined by award-winning songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Chiyanti, a Brooklyn-native based in Houston. Chiyanti is a body-positive advocate, merging the sounds of Lizzo, Cardi B, and Missy Elliott. She has quickly gained a following on social media and is the CEO and founder of her own record label, Engrave Music Group.

To help you get the most out of today’s episode, feel free to skip around to what is most relevant to you in this moment. Here’s the breakdown:

• 03:22 - Chiyanti’s World
• 09:28 - Thangin Music Video Story 
• 14:51 - Take the Leap…Respectfully
• 17:03 - Plus Size in Entertainment
• 25:13 - Chiyanti As A Mother
• 28:38 - Divorced and Dating
• 39:11 - Owning Your Happiness
• 49:29 - 3 Things You Should Know Before Getting Into Entertainment
• 55:52 - Resources To Get Started in Music
• 59:53 - Chiyanti’s Inspirations
• 1:06:08 - The Final Three

Follow Chiyanti on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @chiyanti_ for more of her music, good vibes and sound advice.

Additional Resources
Chiyanti’s Music
Akai Beat Machine
Effects of Music on the Body
Nija Charles  - Songwriter of the Year Nominee
Hrdrv

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Theme Music by @naypoleon. Big Girl Besties has been granted written permission to use this song. Check out more from @naypoleon here.

Medical Disclaimer:
The information on this podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Big Girl Besties makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice.

Transcript

A lot of the times people around you, you feel like they don't really understand you. But when you hear, like, music or people who have expressed the exact feelings that you're going through, or they're able to put it in a way that encourages you or in a way that motivates you, people be surprised what music can do in terms of changing somebody's mood. It.

Speaker B 00:00:29

Welcome to another episode of Big GIrl Besties, where we believe accepting bigger bodies is good for all bodies. I'm your host Ellie Mariyo and on this podcast we do three things debunk harmful myths about the plus size experience, facilitate healing of our bodies and minds and celebrate big people doing big things. Because representation matters, our hope is that you walk away feeling more confident in who you are, more comfortable in your skin and more capable to create the amazing, fulfilling life you deserve. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe, share and leave us a review. We'd love to hear from you. On today's podcast, we've got Chiyanti. Who's next in the world of music. The Brooklyn native is proving to be a multifaceted powerhouse with no limits in terms of songwriting and producing. She's an award winning songwriter and has been active in this for over a decade. Though she's only been producing for under five years, she is a force to reckon with the self taught phenom, is a body positive advocate and plays a wide range of instruments, including piano, and is furthering her development with the bass, guitar, drums and cello. She takes pride in being able to do everything. Chiyanti is an epic merger of Lizzo Cardi, B and Missy Elliot, aiming to represent sexiness, women empowerment and artistry. During the 2020 quarantine, Chiyanti built her following on social media in three months, from 600 followers to 16,000 and counting. Through her debut RMB single space, she gained attention from Kay, Michelle Ll Cooljay Kiki Palmer, Jesse Wu, Sway in The Morning, Esther Dean Jazzy, Faye Trey, The Truth and many others. Her second single, Than, was a viral hit among female listeners and with this, Chiyanti was featured as a semifinalist in the Hot 97s Destination to Summer Jam contest. Her country single Big Ol Wagon has amassed over 218,000 views on Facebook, over 107,000 views on Twitter and over 100,000 views on TikTok. For this Chiyanti was featured on Apple Music's Color Me country radio show. As the CEO and founder of her own record label, Engrave Music Group or Emg, she manages and releases all of her music. Her debut album, the introduction of Chiyanti was released in November 2021. She currently resides in Houston, Texas. Chiyanti, or like you say, it, Chiyanti. I love it. I am doing well. I'm so excited to have you on the podcast. Look, tell me what has been going on in the world of Chiyanti. That is what I want to know because you've done so much.

Speaker A 00:03:28

Honestly, right now, really just juggling different roles, right? I'm like Chiyanti the artist and then Chiyanti the producer, and Chiyanti the mom and Chiyanti the job professional. So just kind of like balancing everything and still trying to pursue and of course, the music and put out more content and make more videos and all that stuff. That's what I've been got going on right now.

Speaker B 00:03:52

Okay. I always feel strange with asking this question because I never know if it's a positive question or a negative question, but it's like, how are you juggling.

Speaker A 00:03:59

All of it prioritizing, really? I mean, the baby is always my first priority, and his dad has been able to help out with that. So that kind of alleviates certain things and then working and making sure things at work or at least organized and trying to finish within a certain time frame and then coming home and just having the ideas with the music and being able to write out those ideas and get the beats produced and come up with the concepts and just write. And a lot of the times I write while I produce, so I have the concept while I'm making the beat and I just keep going.

Speaker B 00:04:37

Okay, when did you first know you wanted to do music?

Speaker A 00:04:42

That's a funny story. So I noticed when I was younger, like in elementary school, I always took a liking to music. If I was upset, sometimes it would calm me down. Like, I had a music teacher in Mr. Leviton. He taught orchestra, and I played the cello in elementary school. So that was like my first real love for music. But my family was like, they weren't until you about to go to school for performing arts, you know what I mean? That wasn't their thing. Yeah, I was always academically bright, so I was always on honorable and stuff, but they weren't like, we're not about to put you on a performance high school like that. But when I went away so I became a teenager and I went into the group home system when I was 14. And the only positive outlet that I had at the time and system, we didn't buy a lot to use the computer and have Internet and stuff like that, but my grandmother, before I left, asked me did I want to take my keyboard? I had a little 61 keyboard in the house, and I was like, all right, whatever. And before, I would listen to songs on my little Mp3 player at the time, teach myself how to play songs and watch YouTube, tutorials sometimes and try to teach myself, when I went away, I had a lot more free time on my hands and I was like, to myself, kind of girl. Anyway, I didn't really fit in that much with a lot of them, so I would just go in my room and listen to songs and replay back what they were, what I heard. And then once I learned how to play other people's songs, I started to write my own. So starting at, like, 14, that's when I really started playing keys and really making it like my it was more than just a hobby. It was like a coping thing. It was how I expressed myself.

Speaker B 00:06:20

That's such a beautiful story. So we know how you got into music, but tell us a little bit about your music. What do you hope to accomplish through your music?

Speaker A 00:06:31

Honestly really want to relate to people, and I really want them to feel connected, to, like to feel like somebody understands them or to have a piece of me that is like it relates to them in a way where they feel like they're heard or they feel understood. You know what I mean? Because a lot of the times people around you, you feel like they don't really understand you like that. But when you hear music where people have expressed the exact feelings that you're going through, or they're able to put it in a way that encourages you or in a way that motivates you, people be surprised what music can do in terms of changing somebody's mood. Yeah, it does. It affects your mood. And I really feel like I like all kinds of music. Right? I like to express any kind of emotion. Whatever comes out, comes out. But I specifically like making upbeat music because I like to uplift people. I feel like especially people who may be going through depression because I've experienced that or certain things. It's easy to turn that off when you have someone or something to push you out of that. And a lot of the times, putting on, like, an upbeat song like that, like Thing or like Big Old Wagon.

Speaker B 00:07:50

I was just about to say, like thing.

Speaker A 00:07:52

Yeah. Big old wagon. You start hearing that she got a you like, he just somewhere else.

Speaker B 00:07:58

You got a big old wagon. Yes.

Speaker A 00:08:02

Yeah, that's honestly a babbage just walked in the room. Upbeat records I really enjoy and have fun making because they bring joy to other people.

Speaker B 00:08:12

And I love that you're seeking to connect with people because it's so funny how, okay, we're more connected than ever, right? We've got the Internet, we've got social media, we've got texting. We are so much more connected than we've ever been. But anxiety is on the rise. Depression is on the rise, right? So many mental health issues are on the rise. And that begs the question, are we really forming connections with people?

Speaker A 00:08:42

Right? Exactly. Checking on people, forming connections, creating an open door when people feel comfortable to talk to you. Even just on my platform alone, so many girls have reached out to me, and one was in the UK. And I have never been to the UK. And she's like Chiyanti. She's a Jamaican dance hall artist. And she was like, I've been going back and forth on doing my music video for this song. It was so cute. Like her accent, I loved it. And she's like, when I came across and I heard you do that thing be thing, and you really motivated me to go ahead and do my music video, and now my music video is coming out and all this stuff, and she just encouraged me because you didn't even think about stuff like that. Doing something. The story behind the thing and music video, I had already made the song. And fun fact, when I was making the song, I made it on Instagram live. And it was only like four people in my life at the time because it was late at night. And Poppy Year is the same producer who produced do We Have a problem with Nicki Minaj, the little baby? He produced Book in a Minute by Tory Lanes. He produced a few big records. He popped in my life. And while I was making the song, he commented, fire in my life while I was making the beat. So I was like, hey, I screenshot. So that was like way back in when I was making the beat in 2021. So when I was finishing making up the beat, when I got off alive, and I'm playing, and I'm just trying to come up with the hook, and I'm just like, damn, that thing, beat thing, it just came out of nowhere. So anyway, I made the song when I was like, I ran into music video. I had this piece of equipment. It's a beat machine that I had. And the beat machine cost like sixteen hundred dollars. And the beat machine, akai is they're on back order. Like everybody bought them out. They're like a real hot demand. So I didn't have any money at the time to shoot the music video. So I sold my beat machine, I took it to the pawn shop and I sold it. And I was like, all right, I'm going to sell this beat machine, and I'm going to take this money. I want to shoot my very first music video. So I called this guy who I knew, and I was like, all right, I'm going to shoot my video. So I got my little nails done. I had this wig in the closet, that pink wig. It was literally in my closet. Never wore it, nothing. And I had went and got them out of bathing suits. One of those, I tore it. I was like, February 21. And I got my little nails, and I got my face beat. And I literally that day I posted on instagram, I'm going to shoot my very first music video at the beach. It was like 45 minutes out from Houston, and I just jumped. I said, if you want to be in my music video, meet me there. And all the girls in that video, except for one, showed up that day, even the skaters. I called one girl. So I need some roller skaters in my video. And she was like, all right, I'm going to call my friends. When I got there, I was just so shocked. Oh, my God. All these people showed up for me. She had, like ten people, almost ten to 13 people. She bought one her. They were on skates. I had run it, the slingshot, put it in the video, and I literally made that play in 24 hours. I just jumped and just did it. And I was so surprised to see how many people showed up for me. It was nice. And then I was walking out the house. I had the electric cello sitting there. I know I was going to the beach, and I said, I'm going to bring that with me. And I just grabbed my cello and.

Speaker B 00:11:58

You were playing it?

Speaker A 00:11:59

Yeah, I took it to the beach and I was just do. I said, this has never been done in hip hop before. You've never seen Big Girl but a pink wig on, but an electric cello on the beach.

Speaker B 00:12:10

I love it. I love everything about the milk.

Speaker A 00:12:14

Never seen this done in hip hop before, you know what I mean?

Speaker B 00:12:18

Wait, it was that slingshot. Was that the vehicle? Is that the car that you had? Okay, I've never seen that before. That's my first time seeing that, too.

Speaker A 00:12:25

It's a slingshot. So if you go to the beach, like boardwalks and stuff, they have those little zip. They go fast and you can drive them. They're not real cars, but you can.

Speaker B 00:12:34

Drive them around on the beach. Okay.

Speaker A 00:12:36

I rented it out for a few hours, and then I drove it back. But it was nice. It was a cute little situation. And I shot a thing in video and I just jumped. I just jumped and I just did it. And I felt like sometimes occasions you're just going to have to jump. You can't really be afraid or wait for nothing. You just have to do it. And I felt so accomplished. I made that thing happen. And when I got the video back, my jaw dropped. I was like because I couldn't believe that that was me on the camera. Yes, I look like that. And then I was like, oh, my God. I remember that the beach and the ladies was cheering me on. I was in the water, and I'm over here watching it in the water, and I'm like and they're over there, like, cheering me on. These older ladies looking at me. I'm like, oh, my God. I'm kind of embarrassed, but okay. And then I'm just, like, going along with it. And then when the video came back, I just could not believe that was me, because I never saw myself in that light before. So I was just like, oh, my God. Then it inspired other girls, like the artist I was telling you about who reached out to me all the way in the UK and another girl who told me that she was in a bad relationship with her man. And my songs made her feel like she had that confidence and that self worth to leave those relationships and just like certain things that people reaching out to me, like, your music is really helping me. You know what I'm saying? So things like that are always really encouraging to know that what you're putting now is helping somebody is reaching somebody.

Speaker B 00:14:07

Yeah. I think that's the hardest part about when you're starting as an artist, even as a content creator, it's like, you know that you're not alone, right. Or for content creation, at least in my case, I was like, I know I'm not alone. I'm not the only one who has these thoughts. Right. And then with your music, you're like, I'm not the only one who would benefit from this song right now, right. Who is feeling hype from this song. And so to get that external validation, it's encouraging, it's inspiring. It like, this is who I'm to see the people that you're actually creating it for come to you and just share it's so encouraging. And it's why we do what we do. You all it's why we do what we do.

Speaker A 00:14:49

Right? Exactly.

Speaker B 00:14:51

I wanted to hit on something Chiyanti, though, because you talked about how sometimes you just have to take the leap, I think. Yes, you have to take the leap. But I love how you had a vision because you were like, I got to have roller skates. You brought your cello with you, you rented the vehicle, so you had a vision and you were like, everything. We don't know what it's going to look like when we all get here, but we're going to make it work well. Right.

Speaker A 00:15:13

So let me clarify, because sometimes people will take that and it can definitely get misconstrued. One, you have to make sure that when you are taking the leap, that it's not like a self detrimental leap, right. Like, you're not putting yourself in a position that's going to hurt you bad. You know what, I'm to the point where it's kind of recovered. So if I knew that I needed to pay my rent, like tomorrow, but I really want to do this music video, obviously I'm not going to go ahead and take a leap like that or something like that, but I just mean in terms of following your dreams, if it's not so detrimental, one and then two. Yeah. If you are going to do something like this, take the time to think about how you're going to see it through. Right? Like, how can I see this through to the best way that I can? Which is as much as in my power to do. So, me, I'm like, if I'm going to spend this money, I'm going to have the best video that I can possibly have. So what is in my reach. I didn't have to buy for a wig. I had one out of the closet. I'm going to put that on myself. I didn't have the money to pay a hairstyle to do it. So I went on YouTube and watched how to do my hair and I did it and it was good enough for that video. I had the cello already in the house. When you're going into a space like that, you got to get creative, wound up, nothing but people around. So how can I stand out on the beach? So that's why I got those really bright pink bathing suits and bright pink hair and big black shades and big black cello. And though it had the training lines on it, the training lines had different colors that match the colors on my baby. So just certain things like that. You just want to work within your hand. Work what you got. Work it. Because it ain't going to work unless you work it.

Speaker B 00:16:56

Oh, my goodness. Chiyanti, this is so inspiring. I want to understand because okay, entertainment industry, we don't see a lot of people who look like us, right? Have you had to deal with anything related to your body? How have you overcome that? What has that been like? What has that journey been like?

Speaker A 00:17:16

Well, one, I gained some weight. So dealing with me in my head.

Speaker B 00:17:22

Yeah, people never want to talk about that, right? That was me during my marriage. Like when I was like.

Speaker A 00:17:32

Yeah, anyway, I'm getting a little bit bigger. I still want to put stuff out, but I don't want to look like this. Me not wanting to put anything out because of my weight, that was one reason why I didn't shoot thing for so long. I was like, maybe if I get a little bit skinnier, I can shoot the video and I'll look more pleasing to the song. But then I was like, I'm not about to sit here and wait. I have to walk in my confidence. Even if I'm this size, weight loss can still be a go for me. But I'm not going to let my fear or my mindset of how I might feel about myself, which can be totally incorrect, stop me putting out something that I really believe in. A lot of the times we get caught in our feelings and we get caught our emotions and our perception of ourselves. And it's like, no, you got to step out of that. And even me walking into thing and it's like I also act too. So I had to act like, become this artist. Even if you feel like you don't have confidence when you step your foot in that water and you start calling that water, you better be the baddest bitch on Baywatch.

Speaker B 00:18:39

I love that. When I saw that video come across my timeline, I was like, one. I was like, this is about to be it. I said, this is a big girl. I stand by what I said a year ago. This is a big girl Summer and.

Speaker A 00:18:52

Thumb, you know how many big girls took that song? And I was just like, I mean, I'm a body inclusive, right? So I believe it no matter what size. They're skinny girls, too, and I say they think the same.

Speaker B 00:19:02

I tell people, you don't have to be a big girl to be a big girl. Basketball.

Speaker A 00:19:05

No, exactly. That's what I mean. You don't have to be that. Of course I'm an advocate for my big girls, but I'm saying it's really open for all females because like I said, confidence is something that lack of confidence doesn't discriminate against anybody. It doesn't have a preference in just big girls. You know what I'm saying? Music is universal, so it's not like it's just one audience, but absolutely, I dealt with me first that I had to get out of my head, and then after I dealt with me. Yeah, you're going to receive backlash. Like, when I did Bad Bitches Walked in the Room, people were like, Where's the bad bitches in the room? Like, they were trying to tell me to save me and my big girls. And I did the video wasn't bad, and they were just talking shit, and I didn't give a fuck because good press, no press is still pressed. Bad press is still pressed. So you're still talking about it. It's still doing something. But honestly, I know Babbit just walked in the room. Hasn't even hit the level that I know it could really hit or going to hit. But I did, on purpose included big girls of all body types in that video. On purpose, because I wanted people to see that you can still be a badass bitch walking in the room and it don't matter what size you are. And I specifically had a plus size stripper. I had all kinds of big girls, all sizes in it on purpose. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I dealt with me. When you ask me what else I dealt with, do you mean like in the industry? Do I feel like I got any blockages from other people because of my size or anything like that?

Speaker B 00:20:36

Maybe not because of your size, but what was it like getting started in the industry?

Speaker A 00:20:41

I'm still getting started, but when I started with Space, you are miles ahead.

Speaker B 00:20:49

Of a lot of people. Did you hear your bio? Did you hear your bio?

Speaker A 00:20:53

Listen, my foot is not in the door at all yet to me, but my friend says it is a little bit like it is. But I mean, I'm like I guess because I haven't really worked I personally haven't worked with any really big names like that, but I talk to certain people. I don't know. Anyway, for me, I'm still kind of getting started and working, like putting myself out there. People will a lot more quicker receive me as a songwriter, producer before they receive me as artists. But the thing is, Lizzo has broken down those barriers for big brown skinned girls who are more so in the forefront. Right. But it's still not broken all the way. So you have lucala coming out and you have the rappers like Ching Diamond.

Speaker B 00:21:45

Did you know Lucala's song was on Jenny in Georgia?

Speaker A 00:21:48

No, I didn't know that.

Speaker B 00:21:50

I heard it. I heard it yesterday. I was watching the episode Anomaly. I was watching it and I heard Don't Count me out. Like her song? I was like, oh, my gosh.

Speaker A 00:22:01

Amazing. Yeah. TV placements. I mean, the beautiful thing about lucala is she is working with the same person who was working with Nisha. I don't know if you know who Nisha is. Black girl songwriter. She's written, like, really big songs like Beyonce and Ariana Grande.

Speaker B 00:22:20

No, I didn't know that.

Speaker A 00:22:21

She's nominated this year at the Grammys for Songwriter of the Year. And it's the very first year that Songwriter of the Year has ever been a category. And she's a black woman nominated in that category. That's just the representation alone. But the same management, I think it's management that she's under, I believe they're called. This is legion. Lukala is underneath them, and Amnesia has been extremely successful. So for me, that just only shows that she's going to have just as much great traction working with the same group of people. So I'm really excited for Luke Holler.

Speaker B 00:22:57

It was so cool to hear that.

Speaker A 00:22:59

We'Re working on that, right? So that's one thing I'm working on. They'll probably ask me that later, but I'm working on a lot of sync licensing. So sync licensing is just pretty much music getting placed in either ads, TV shows or movies. So that's what I'm working on, trying to get more of my music placed into TV. I do believe, like, Big Old Wagon is definitely a song for TV. Certain songs for TV. I feel like I'm really good at making stuff like that a Bad bitch.

Speaker B 00:23:25

Just walks in the room. I could literally see, I mean, I'm imagining the scene that it would go with, you know what I mean? Okay, miscongeniality, remember? I don't know if it would have fit that particular portion, but the scene where she comes out yeah, she comes out after.

Speaker A 00:23:45

Yeah. Getting music on TV is something that I really am working on. But just building my name, breaking into the industry a little bit more, producing more quality records. Quality is a big thing for me. Content structure of the songs and marketing and promotion, like, yeah, that's another thing I'm tapping into. Like, when Lizzo Reposted Baby just walked in the room, I was like, oh, that was just me, like, pushing the song. So imagine once we really get going and we have a budget and stuff, like, the sky is the limit.

Speaker B 00:24:19

I absolutely love your mission behind your music, Chiyanti, I love your commitment. I mean, just your commitment to quality, your commitment to uplifting people.

Speaker A 00:24:30

Thank you.

Speaker B 00:24:30

Beautiful.

Speaker A 00:24:31

I appreciate that. Yeah. I just want to make people happy. I want to bring people joy. I want to put smiles on people's faces. That's what I enjoy doing. People could be sad and then they look at me and then all of a sudden I made their ass laugh and I'm going to be trying to that happens all the time and I'm just like, okay, obviously this is a part of my personality. I just make people laugh when I have fun. I would say that my music is very reflective of my personality. Like when I make songs, they reflect a piece of me somewhere.

Speaker B 00:25:04

Okay. I think something our listeners would really want to hear about, because you're doing all of this and you're also a mother. So we talked about prioritizing, but how is that being in this industry, trying to break into this industry, working a full time job while also having a family.

Speaker A 00:25:23

It's different because my baby is still small. He turned six on the 25 January, so he's a big.

Speaker B 00:25:31

I cannot wait. His birthday is on 25 January. I know like five people. Whose birthdays? What is it with January 25?

Speaker A 00:25:41

I don't know. It's something about that Easter.

Speaker B 00:25:44

My calendar is like I can't have enough space to put the birthdays for the people, january 25.

Speaker A 00:25:52

It's something about that Easter air in April, the hormones getting going. I don't know. But yeah, anyway, he's six, he knows Mommy does music. I took him to a performance I did one time and he said, mommy, you making your beats. And he sees me making beats and he knows my songs like Big Old Wagon. He'll say certain lines and stuff, so he knows I do music and stuff like that. But I don't know. My kid is kind of like growing into his personality and he's just doing him a little bit, so a lot of the times it doesn't really move him as much and then he's a little bit older. So as I get older it's easier because you don't have to micromanage them. When he was smaller, I had to sit him right there while I made beats and he watching me, you know what I mean?

Speaker B 00:26:48

Right.

Speaker A 00:26:48

I was singing to him while I write songs to keep him entertained because they'd be wanting to do what they want to do. So as he gets bigger, as I get older, it gets easier. But for me, right now, multitask is really just a part of our everyday thing. Not every day I'm cooking up. It's my studio, you see a little bit. I'm not cooking up all the time, every day, but when I am, he's either playing his game or he's playing with his toys or he's doing his sight words or right now he's into what he likes. So as. Long as he's not bothering anybody and he's not bothering me, I let him do what he's doing. And his homework is done. He's fed. He went to the bathroom. Child, let me focus on what I'm doing. And I can let him do his thing because he's just right next to the next room on his little iPad. Yeah, it works out a little bit easier for me now that he's a little bit bigger, but that's kind of how Jjuggle would be in the mom thing. And also setting certain days, certain times to try to stick to as best as I can ahead of time. But most of the time my music happens on the weekends because the week I'm super busy unless, like, an emergency project where I have to get something out. During the week, I'll try to go to studio or make something, but usually during the week, he's getting ready for school, I'm getting ready for work. So I try to limit it to the best way I can.

Speaker B 00:28:19

Yeah, look, I asked the question, I think, because I feel like other moms who are listening, they're like, of course, Ellie. This is obvious. And I'm like, I'm not a mom yet.

Speaker A 00:28:32

Don't rush it. It's going to happen.

Speaker B 00:28:33

Look. Yes, we just going to see, I don't know if I told you this, but I just got divorced at the end of 2022, so I'm kind of.

Speaker A 00:28:43

Like, yes, it's okay. I'm divorced.

Speaker B 00:28:46

Yeah, I'm okay. It was a good decision.

Speaker A 00:28:51

It was me, right? You get divorced. What's all sad for? We should have thought.

Speaker B 00:28:58

We'Re still friends. That's the weird part, I think, for a lot of people. They're like, but you guys are so amicable. And I'm like, yeah, I know. I was like, I'm sad about this part, too.

Speaker A 00:29:09

That's the same thing with angels. I don't have any issues. We coparent very well.

Speaker B 00:29:17

Some things there's certain things that don't work out. And in my case, it was like, well, one person can't work on a relationship. No, if you're not willing to do these things. And I'm trying to do everything because you're not willing to do these things.

Speaker A 00:29:34

And sometimes things come as a blessing in disguise, too. You know what I mean? Like, you get freed up to be able to pursue things that you wouldn't be able to pursue because when you're married, it's totally different, right? You have a whole nother human being, especially if you don't have kids that you are committed to. And it's not always about you and your dreams. It's about how you can help someone else pursue their dreams also. So when you're married, it's different. It's a joint dynamic. And when you got things you really want to birth out of you, it's just more easier when you buy yourself.

Speaker B 00:30:06

Honestly, we're not saying that's the reason to get divorced. That's not the reason we say we're.

Speaker A 00:30:12

Not condoning any of that. I'm just talking from no, I'm letting the listeners know to you all with happy marriages. Okay?

Speaker B 00:30:22

Yes.

Speaker A 00:30:24

Just saying from over here, we two business woman trying to make it right now.

Speaker B 00:30:28

Thank you. Send somebody to my DMs who help me level up. They're going to contribute. Partnership. I want the partnership. What can you do?

Speaker A 00:30:43

You help the business.

Speaker B 00:30:44

I already know. This is what I do. Right. This is what I do. How can you help us over here?

Speaker A 00:30:53

Right, exactly. I'm over here making the beast. Can you edit? Let's make it a joint thing. Okay.

Speaker B 00:31:03

The partnership aspect is so important to me because that's how I saw my parents. They did everything together. They've been married for they're hitting, I think it's year 38, married, almost 40 years of marriage.

Speaker A 00:31:19

That is incredible. Yes. The partnership helping each other out and building towards one common goal. That's what it is. That's incredible. Congratulations to your parents. It's amazing.

Speaker B 00:31:31

Thank you. I'm proud of them. Look, as I get older, I'd be like, oh, my mama, she got patience. Patience.

Speaker A 00:31:39

But you know what? We're in a different time right now, right? Like, we're in a whole different era, and the dating scene right now is a little bit different.

Speaker B 00:31:47

Are we going to talk about a u girl?

Speaker A 00:31:49

We should, but maybe not right now, but we definitely should. We can talk about that. Okay. I'm sure the ladies, when they hear about that, I'm down.

Speaker B 00:32:00

I'm down to talk about Dana, because.

Speaker A 00:32:07

We might as well okay, well, you go ahead. I'm down. I'm game.

Speaker B 00:32:15

What are you going to say?

Speaker A 00:32:17

I was just saying that the dating scene right now got poopy in it. I feel like yeah, I do. And I just feel like not every guy is bad. Right. There's some really good guys out there, but it sometimes could be different depending on what you're doing. I feel like the best thing is for you to focus on you and let them find you because I'm there.

Speaker B 00:32:38

I am there with you, because even with the dating apps, I've been just like, what is it? Silent? I have not been even messing with them because I'm just like, this is exhausting.

Speaker A 00:32:51

I'm terrible at them. I will download it. I'll be on there for that night. I'll respond to you. I'll put that for, like, seven days. I go off the grid at the.

Speaker B 00:33:03

Same time, though, I'm like, well, don't give me your number after the first interaction, though. I'm not giving my number out like that.

Speaker A 00:33:13

I'm terrible. I make a voice note. If they don't want to voice note me by, I make some voice note.

Speaker B 00:33:17

I need to hear what, FaceTime? Yeah, FaceTime, voice note. Like, all of that.

Speaker A 00:33:23

All that.

Speaker B 00:33:24

I'm with you.

Speaker A 00:33:25

I do pre vetting before I even go anywhere, but you have to vet you before you meet or let's say you do want to date with somebody like me. I have to see you the same way. I want you to see me, all of that, know what you're getting into and hear from them, and I would prefer to at least talk to them a few times before going to see them, but I feel like a lot of guys don't like doing that. They just want to see you. As soon as the minute they say.

Speaker B 00:33:46

Hello, they're like, I'm not interested in being pen pals. Let's meet up. And I'm kind of like, okay, I get it on the one hand, but on the other hand, time got to be crazy.

Speaker A 00:33:58

So, no, I have to protect myself.

Speaker B 00:34:00

One thing I'm noticing is the last few dates I went on, the reasons why I'm kind of like, you know what? I'm okay with dating apps. They can find me at an event or something is because I noticed I was meeting guys who want all of the benefits of being in a relationship without the responsibility that comes with that. And I don't mean that in, like, they got to take care of me way, but it's just like, you have to think about this other person, like, that type of responsibility, I think, especially, like, being at the level of success, right. Or even just like, I don't know what it is. I don't know if I'm successful. Like, that successful. I guess maybe there's, like, some success, but I guess I'm not where I need to be or where I want to be. So in my head, I'm like, I got ways to go. But for some of them, it's like, wow, you're so successful, you don't need anybody. And I'm like, who told you this? Who is telling this lie on me?

Speaker A 00:35:02

That's different. I feel like men who say that got to be like I'm trying to really word my words here. I'm really trying to be really wise about how the wording about this let.

Speaker B 00:35:18

Me pick the euphemism, right?

Speaker A 00:35:21

Men who say that are probably men who probably somewhere along the line didn't probably make the best decisions with themselves at the time they could have. So when they probably get around your age, they are a little bit more behind.

Speaker B 00:35:35

Yeah. When I meet guys who are like, they're so enamored with my ambition, but at the same time, they're just content to watch me be ambitious, and I'm.

Speaker A 00:35:46

Like, where is your ambition? You know what I mean?

Speaker B 00:35:51

Maybe one thing at least come with me, watch me.

Speaker A 00:35:56

It would be one thing if you okay. You fell on some hard times. I'm saying you had to go ahead and get this job real quick, but you're working on something. As women, we know how to vet. So if I have a conversation with somebody, I know how to vet. Right. I know how to talk to them and see what's going on first. I'm listening to the way you talk. Is the intellect there? I'm listening to how you carry conversation I want to know if I ask about your I'm watching how you treat.

Speaker B 00:36:20

Other people and talk about other people. I watch that religiously. I've been talking to, like, I'm 30. I've been talking to 40 year olds who are where you're talking about, and I'm like, what did you do with the last, let's say 15 years? Not even 2025.

Speaker A 00:36:37

You understand what I'm saying? That's what I mean. I don't want them to think I'm condescending or I'm just judging somebody because of that.

Speaker B 00:36:44

But I have questions. I just have questions, lots of questions. If that's the case right now, we're.

Speaker A 00:36:51

Just talking about but that's why I said I think it goes back to probably didn't make the best life decisions at that time.

Speaker B 00:36:58

So then the question becomes, are you growing? Like, how have you grown? How are you moving forward now that.

Speaker A 00:37:04

You know, what are your goals? Exactly. So if you're coming to me, I'm not going to necessarily dub somebody who makes $15 an hour working at a warehouse, but I need to hear plans. I need to hear plans. I need to hear a vision. I need to hear, like, what are you doing with yourself? You know what I mean? Men expect women to come to the table with something. Don't they say that from the guys that I've seen? A lot of them see that they're dealing with broke women or they feel like women don't have any money. And I feel like it's the flip side. I feel like women deal with that with the men. But then I have realized that I feel like it's the type of guys excuse me. The type of females that guys are going for sometimes.

Speaker B 00:37:47

I have a friend who he's dealing with his girl. He feels like she's lazy, like she doesn't have any ambition. She's not really working on anything. Every time he brings it up, she gets offensive about it.

Speaker A 00:38:01

Why is he interested in them? What is it that makes him want to go she must have a snap in turtle. It's a snap and TURLA, right? Exactly. You need to see some actions. I mean, I don't know if he's a man who's about his business and he takes care of he's supposed to take care of him. He's a good dude. He properly ends that and starts looking. I mean, I don't see why he couldn't find a woman that but I feel like there's a lot of women out here that's really on their stuff. They really doing it, and I don't feel like there's a shortage. I don't feel like the ratio is even of a man finding a woman who's on her stuff versus a woman who's looking for a man. I feel like the ratio is very uneven and more favorable where it's easier for a man to find a woman who's on her stuff. That's what I personally feel like. But that's actually a really good, open discussion to talk about is it fair to guys? Because a lot of guys, I feel like, will say it's not like they feel like it's harder for them, but I disagree.

Speaker B 00:39:10

So I know that the type of guy that I'm looking for exists. Right. What I mean by that, the ambitious, has a vision, goal driven, kind, generous, like all of that, because there are guys in my life, my brothers, close friends, who are that guy. Right. So I know that person exists. But yeah, typically what I come across when it is that type of guy is because they're that type of guy. For us, when we get to a certain level, our pool gets smaller, but when they get to a certain level, their pool yeah. And it's all of a sudden, hey, I'm not really looking for anything serious. What am I supposed to do with that?

Speaker A 00:40:05

Right?

Speaker B 00:40:05

This is why we focus on our businesses right now, because at least that's bringing something. And I'm like, I'm not trying to wait on you to create the life that I would like, maybe at 20.

Speaker A 00:40:17

But I'm like, I'm 30 now at this point, not even now. I feel like everyone needs to be responsible. You're responsible for creating the life that you want. You're responsible for creating your own happiness. No matter who you get with, you could get with the man in your dreams. He's not responsible for creating your own happiness. That is a you thing. And that's something I feel like every woman should take ownership and accountability for. Like, I make me happy. I don't codepend on anyone else to make me happy. You know what I mean? So I feel like that's just really important in not being a hypocrite, in making the right decisions in your own personal life, so you don't end up in that situation like some of the people who we have mentioned.

Speaker B 00:41:00

So what you were saying about the woman being in charge of her own happiness, now, I have come across and I feel like I don't know why. Have I seen everything under the sun? I'm going to say no, but I've seen a lot of things recently, really since I've got back in the world of dating. And there are some guys who they don't like that you're happy on your own. They want you to need them.

Speaker A 00:41:23

And those are the guys you don't talk to.

Speaker B 00:41:25

Yeah, I'm just letting you know that. I'll let you know it'd be like.

Speaker A 00:41:31

Because that's not healthy to begin with. Why would I even involve myself in something that's not even healthy to start with? Because I'm not expecting you. I'm not going to place those expectations on you, you know what I mean? That would be unfair for you. If you're around me all the time and I'm unhappy, you don't deserve to be around that, you know what I'm saying? That's not your obligation. So why are you placing me underneath that you know what I mean? No, that's not the case at all. So? Yeah. I don't know. I'm really different. I'm very strong when I deal with guys sometimes not me, because I feel like if you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything. So I feel like you have to be very upfront sometimes and very direct, and a lot of guys know what they're doing, so you just got to yes.

Speaker B 00:42:18

You know what? Let's talk about this. This is a vulnerable moment for me because I feel like, okay, growing up, one of the tactics, right, that one of the tactics that people would use to try to get me to lose weight would be like, oh, don't you want the little boys to talk to you at school? Don't you want to have a boyfriend? That was one of those things. And all that did was make me seek male validation. So if a guy likes me, then, okay, I'm good. I look pretty enough, you know what I mean? And so I'm actually, in the last year, I would say, been learning to set better boundaries with guys, because that wasn't something that I had consciously understood about myself.

Speaker A 00:43:01

This is such a good topic because no, for real, like, boundaries. And I wish, like, you're saying I had that understanding of what I know now at like, 18, 1617, you know what I mean? Because it's just like, at that age is so hard to comprehend and get that, you know what I mean? Like, right now, for example, people might be like, oh, I think I'm too big, or they think I might not talk to people. And I just feel like you only know exactly who I talk to. But anyway, but even separate from that, right, it's like, I understand to say no to things that I know I don't deserve, you know what I mean? I understand not to stay around for certain things that I just know, ain't it? And just because he's not making like, me, for example, I know going into something, what is my ideal situation, right? So single woman, one child. For me, I prefer the same, right? I'm not going to talk to anyone who may not have two children, but if he does have two children, I expect for him to be extremely financially stable, right? Not a whole bunch of situations going on because I don't have all those situations going on, so you know what I mean?

Speaker B 00:44:19

Just like you require of them the same things that you have established and.

Speaker A 00:44:23

Require clear requirements, clear expectations, so that when something challenges that, you have a base point, you know what I mean? You have a reference where you understand, I'm not going to compromise to this place, and I don't have to compromise because I know my worth.

Speaker B 00:44:40

And I think also for me, I would be like, oh, you know what? I'm not really feeling them. This is like me years ago. I'm not really feeling them, but I don't have a real reason to not be filling them. So I guess we'll keep talking. No, not filling them is reason enough. That's a reason. That is a reason.

Speaker A 00:44:59

You don't have to push yourself to not feel anybody. You're not feeling them. You're just not feeling them. You know what I mean? It's okay. Yeah, I think that is so good. Just, like, establishing boundaries for yourself, you know what I mean? If I was talking to my friend and she was like, I don't know if we're going to get this candid on this, but I'm just going to throw it out there. So, like, females who are I'm going to use the word more sexually free within themselves, right, who may feel like if I'm growing, I want to go there with a guy. It's not everybody's business, you know what I mean? But even in doing that, she still had boundaries for herself. When she was talking to me, she was like, she told him straight up, if we do this, we choose to do that. Don't just be acting like you're expecting something for me to do it up front. Think this is what I am. If I get over there and I vibe with you and that's something I want to do, then I will. But don't be expecting that I'm just going to walk in and just do anything with you. Yeah, letting him know. Don't expect that. This is what I say to them.

Speaker B 00:46:05

Hey, we're keeping this PG. And I'll be like, man. They'll be like, man. PG. And I'll be like, have you seen PG movies?

Speaker A 00:46:15

Keep it up.

Speaker B 00:46:16

But they still know it's stopping at a certain point.

Speaker A 00:46:22

Right? Don't expect that from me. It happens organically or something goes down there. If I want to go down there, then I will. But coming around, you don't think that, oh, I'm just about to hit, and this is just what this is going to be. And you don't treat me like that either. I've never heard that. You know what I'm saying? So listening to her say that, I was like, oh, okay. I respect that because it's just like you said, even though some people might disagree and be like, you shouldn't be doing that with somebody anyway, you still set some sort of boundaries for yourself. You still set some sort of and everybody's different.

Speaker B 00:46:59

Everybody's boundary is different.

Speaker A 00:47:04

I don't know. I just think it's different for every female, you know what I mean? But the most important thing really is knowing your worth, knowing your value, whatever is you doing, being safe about it and understanding that. You don't have to settle for bullshit. You don't have to compromise for bullshit. Your size does not mean that you take the short end of the stick. Just because I'm fat doesn't mean that I have to talk to men that don't make any money.

Speaker B 00:47:28

Old, older, men, girl. I got traumatized at 14 when my mom asked me to go in the store and get some sugar. And this old man who worked at the store, I mean, he was like 70, okay? He hit on me and was like, asking for my number, all of this. And I was so traumatized, I left the store without getting sugar, but I didn't want to tell my mom, so she was like, Why don't you get the sugar? And I was like, I don't know, I couldn't find it. Like older men, what is the deal? What is the deal?

Speaker A 00:48:04

That's what I feel like. People feel like. They feel like, oh, just because you're a big girl that nobody fine might want you?

Speaker B 00:48:10

Are you going to take anything, right? Yeah, that's not the case.

Speaker A 00:48:14

Whatever you could get.

Speaker B 00:48:17

Just going off appearances. Like, all of my previous people have been gorgeous, okay? Gorgeous.

Speaker A 00:48:27

Period. And you'd be surprised what people are interested in, right? When I even just have a conversation with guys, I'll have a conversation and they like, yo, I don't fuck with your vibe. Like, you have a really dope personality. I'm funny and I don't even be trying to make them laugh, but I guess that's my personality or like certain things about that people. I say this, ladies, if you could like an ugly guy because he made you laugh, then not saying that you're not ugly, but I'm saying don't think this size stops a guy from liking you. Like the vibe that you admit, just you being light around them, the energy. Like when you walk in the room, not letting your own perceptions ideations of yourself get in the way. And you're just free and who you are and you carry yourself in that image and that light, you will be surprised who is drawn to you and connected to you. You know what I mean?

Speaker B 00:49:21

I hear you, girl, and I 100% co sign.

Speaker A 00:49:25

Right?

Speaker B 00:49:27

What advice would you give to a big girl bestie looking to break into the music and entertainment industry?

Speaker A 00:49:35

That's a really good question. Okay, one.

Speaker B 00:49:40

Well, tell us. Okay, there was one video you did. It was one video you did. This was maybe like six months ago, and you were talking about how you have to understand, like, something about how you have to what was it you said? People in the industry will try to take advantage of you or something about how you need to understand how it works. You need to have your things together, like be a boss in your own right with your music, something like that.

Speaker A 00:50:03

You were saying wasn't singing.

Speaker B 00:50:07

No, it wasn't a song. This was like a story that you.

Speaker A 00:50:09

Made, oh, six months ago. Really? I'm trying to remember a while ago.

Speaker B 00:50:14

It was a while ago.

Speaker A 00:50:16

Don't give me the lion. Okay, well, yeah, so one thing about me that I'm just very big on is ownership. Ownership ownership. Ownership. I don't care. I am huge on that. And that's one of the reasons why I became a producer, because I found out and learned that there's but so much you can make in songwriting, and everybody swears that songwriters make the most money and it's like they make money. Yeah, but it's a real skimp chance you're going to get hit the lotto. Like, you got to network your way up and you're sending out songs constantly all day long. And it's networking with the right people, getting in the right circles with the right playmakers. And there's a lot of politics and songwriting. And same thing with music production, specifically in hip hop and R and B is what I'm referring to. But I learned that when you become a producer, you open up your opportunities for revenue. And for me, for somebody who I am pursuing this professionally and this is something that I really want to make a career, I'm not going to settle for just the songwriting portion of things. I need to be able to get the whole pie. So how can I do that? So maximizing your opportunities as an independent artist, right? When you're signed to a major everybody always wants to get signed, get signed, get signed. But they don't understand what comes with that. A lot of the times when you.

Speaker B 00:51:44

Sign that's what you said that video, by the way, that was the beginning of that video. Okay, keep going, keep going.

Speaker A 00:51:48

When you sign to a major record label, it's slower. And it's funny because this guy was talking about how big girls sometimes can be slower than skinny girl. I don't always agree with that, but anyway, pretty much bigger label, record labels, they're slower because they're a machine. So there's a lot of approvals and processes things have to go through. They got more than one artist that they're dealing with, right? They got more than one producer. So when you're trying to get a music video out or roll out out or goes through marketing, shit takes a really long time. But you as an independent artist, the only person that you have to really go through is you. So that really speeds things up, you know what I mean? So taking advantage of the independence that you have to be able to drop music on a quicker time without much approvals going directly to the audience, there's a lot of benefits of being independent. So the thing is, being a plus size artist, what I say about ownership, there's ways around ownership without making beats, right? It's just you having your paperwork together. So considering instead of you leasing that beat for $30, if you're going to lease a beat for $30, find your producer that's willing to sell you the rights to the song, let you lease it up front for whatever. Amount. And then just don't take payments until the beat is paid off and get a contract saying if they signed it away to you. At least now you own something, right? And if that song does really good, then you collect 100% of royalties. You don't have to split anything down or hiring someone. I go to work for hire. There's ways around it if you don't do it now, me, I know I'm trying to do this consistently, so I probably don't have that luxury of paying somebody every single time. I need to learn how to do it on my own. But just really thinking about ownership, because when those record labels come to you, they don't have to jump through multiple hoops to be able to get you exactly. You know what I mean? And then, two, you get yourself up to a level that's really big, and you're the one eating off of those checks. So I just really value ownership and encourage bigger artists to own your shit. Any artist, really. I'm just an artist, independent artist, advocate of owning your stuff. Right. Ownership is key. And two, don't sell out. Don't feel like you have to rap about a certain thing or sing about a certain thing to be welcomed or to be accepted. My first song that people loved was a song about space, and it literally was just about, I need some space and times from people that's relatable enough. Men were singing space. Like, men all ages. Four year olds going to need space sometimes, and 84 year olds going to need space. I literally just found a relatable concept. So if you can find something that you feel that, you know, people can relate to, sing or rap about that you don't have to do what everybody else is doing to feel like you got to fit in, like, say true to yourself with whatever kind of music you put out. And don't feel like nobody wants to hear what I got to talk about. Yes, they do. There's always somebody that wants to hear what you're talking about.

Speaker B 00:54:55

That's what I was going to say. We've learned that, especially with social media, right? There's so many different topics that people find interesting and they want to learn more about. You will find your audience, you will find your tribe.

Speaker A 00:55:10

Exactly. So, yeah, I will say that. And then I would also say be confident. A lot of things that sell my music is the confidence. I'm going to talk my stuff, and I'm going to stand ten toes behind it. So don't sing about a topic that you feel like you personally can't back up as a human being. You find a topic that you want to put out, and you believe in that topic. Stand ten toes behind that topic, whatever that is. And no matter what backlash or what people come your way, be ready to defend that, because that's your art and that's who you are, and that's your music and your beliefs. So I would say that as well.

Speaker B 00:55:49

I have a follow. Up question to that though. Chiyanti, any specific resources for people getting started? Whether it's equipment, software, even just a place to go and find more information.

Speaker A 00:56:02

So there's this new company, well, it's not new. Mickey Shallow has been running it's called Hard Drive Hrdrv and she's a really good she's kind of like starting this thing where it's like a record label for independent artists almost, but they have really good resources. If you want to get like beats, sign or cover art, like network with other independent artists, hard Drive is a good resource for independent artists. YouTube, YouTube, YouTube, I'm going to tell you again, people sleep on YouTube. YouTube will tell you and teach you everything you need to know. You want to learn about business, music business. YouTube, you want to learn how to make beats. YouTube, you want to learn how to write better songs. YouTube is all going to help you become a better person. So use your resources. Me, I look at credits on Spotify consistently. So if a song comes out that you like and you vibe with that song, go into the credits and look up the names of the people who made that song and then go on Google and type in the names of those people who made that song and find their social medias and go follow them. You'd be surprised how many per users got 2000 followers, got 900 some followers. And they're just within reach for you to be able to talk to and connect with and network with. I've met a lot of people that way. So checking credits, that's really good too, and making really good music. At the end of the day, if you're going to be an artist, you got to put out good music because I don't care how fat people think you are. If that song is catchy and that song is doing numbers, some DJs don't care about how fat you are. You could be £600. That song is going in the club, you're going to be on everybody's podcast. £600, you're going to be booked at everybody's club event at £600. Because it's not about you, it's about them covering what's hot right now. So you got to understand, don't ever, like I said earlier on, let your size get in the way of anything. Just make a really good product. Make a really quality product. Make music that release to people thoroughly. Think about how you're going to market the songs when you're marketing them. If you have a topic, think about the time you're going to market it. Like, for example, I have a song, I'm probably going to bring it back because we're approaching February, but dick Extractions. I have a whole song called Dick Extractions. Like, that is such a topic. That is. This reminds me of the Dick Sand Dick Extractions. But I dropped it on one Valentine's Day. Right? Because this is such a relevant topic. A lot of girls are in love with a lot of girls. Also dealing with Dick strations on Valentine's Day. It's just kind of like this. We got to certain things where it's just like, okay, yeah, I'm in love. But I'm also like why you always come around with a time I'm trying to do right. Like, Dang, you always want to comment, you know what I mean? So it's just a relatable thing that us grown women go through sometimes. You be wanting it, but you don't be wanting it. So stuff like that, I don't want to add that cost different things. A song like that, think about times that you're going to drop your songs. How what you can tie your songs to, to make it more relevant. What artists or what influencers really, really work with your brand and what you push thoroughly. Think out things. Don't just put shit out. Like think it out, have a strategy in place and your song will probably do really better. I sell thinking off the strength of people just say that it's catchy and it's stuck in their heads. They just say, I can't get a song out of my head. I woke up singing, Damn, that thing be thinking it sounds like that. And people are like, oh, my God, I like that song. And then catchy concepts. They'll find you something that really works.

Speaker B 00:59:54

Chiyanti, who is someone that has inspired you?

Speaker A 00:59:58

A lot of people, like, personally in my life or like an industry, let's do both. Personally. Somebody who's inspired me is my grandma. She passed away, but she was always the most genuine person to me, and she always left an impression on people when she was around them. And even when her funeral came, people would just tell me that they just love how dignified she was as a woman. And when you're gone and people speak about you like that, that just really shows your impact. Another woman told me that my grandmother my grandmother went and bought them an unlimited Metro Car or something for them to go to work. But they said that was such a blessing to them at the time because they didn't have something. And to think that my grandmother was thinking about them going to work and bless them with that, like, certain things. So for me, I try to take away from that. Like, when I give people positive words of encouragement, when I just tell people to just keep going, or I just try to be an inspiration to other people. I feel like I'm sort of leaving behind the legacy of my grandmother on how she kind of changed people's lives. Not changed their lives, but affected impacted their life in a positive way when she was here. So I try to do that a lot with my music. And not only just my music, with my personal connections and interactions with people, like the way I do business. I try to be very integral I try to make sure that when people do business with me, they have a positive experience. They know that they can trust me and that I take whatever it is they're doing seriously. And I'm really there to help. I really value first impressions, and I really value leaving a positive taste in someone else's mouth about me. It's important. It goes a long way. So that's something that I kind of learned from my grandma and I try to implement a day to day basis. Yes, somebody's personal like my grandmother inspired me. And in the industry, somebody that has inspired me a lot. Well, I think you've heard it in my bio. You said, It my two people that inspired me. Well, no, my main person, I must say, she's my main person, but she really inspires me is Cardi B. And I love Cardi because growing up in New York City is different. When you see Cardi B blow up, it's one thing when you anywhere else in the country. Not saying she doesn't inspire other people, but specifically in New York, because you look at her and you like, that girl went to the same after school programs that I did. That girl walked up the same. She was on Fordham shopping, getting the same low thought leggings we used to go shopping for, and we used to go to the parties. She was eating at the same Chinese spots. She was at the same record stations, radio stations, with the DJs that I'm trying to network with right now. When you see her and you see how everybody counted her out, you see how they said she wasn't worthy, she was never going to make it. She too ghetto. Her shit is trash. They treated her like shit. Furthermore, you see her story of how she started off as a stripper out of high school, and she talked about how she's getting shit beat out, about her boyfriend and all type of shit. That you look at people at the bottom of the barrel and you'd be, like, judging them, or you feel like they not competent. And to know she's one of the biggest names in the world with a diamond record, some people don't ever see that. I think she's almost on the way to get maybe more diamond records. People don't even see that in their career at least once, and they've been in the game for over 20 years. You see that girl and you'd be like, damn, god really has his hand on you, girl, and you really beat the heart. So she just inspires me a whole lot because she comes from the same hoods that I can't come from. She come from the Peas the way I do. I came from the Peas in Brooklyn. She came from the Peas in the Bronx. We both went to high schools that was off the fucking walls. And we both dealt with gang violence in the schools. It's just like when I look at that girl, and I'll be like, we got so much in common. Even from the attitude, I can definitely be more vibrant. I'm kind of tired right now, so you're not really getting my whole personality. But we just have a lot in common. So she really inspires me how she really beat the odds, and she still keeps going. And she's not afraid to uplift other women. She's always looking to help other people, other women up. She doesn't push girls away. She helps other girls. That's coming up. And she's always real. You never have to guess she's pretending or she's fake. Like, she's going to tell you exactly how she feels. And those are just things that not just me, but other people relate to about her. So she just inspires me in the industry a lot.

Speaker B 01:04:51

Yeah, I have a lot of respect for Cardi B. I love her. It was this article I read. I'm trying to think of what I mean, she'd been in so many magazines. I don't remember which magazine, but this was like my first kind of understanding of where she came from and just her background. And I was like, wow, she's amazing.

Speaker A 01:05:13

This is from the Bronx, and people judge her so much. But I feel like if people don't.

Speaker B 01:05:19

Judge people to the end of days right.

Speaker A 01:05:21

But I feel like a lot of people who judge her, if you was dealt the same card that she was dealt with, do you think that you would make it to the level she made it? Because the cars that she was dealt with wasn't no easy cards. And you can't control the cards that you dealt with in your life. You just got to play the hand. So I just feel like, don't be so quick to judge somebody because could you really walk a mile in their shoes? I don't know. That's why I just fuck with her. And I really lowkey. Really want to work hockey, want to work for her. I don't care if it's making a beat. I don't care if it's helping with a hook. I don't care if it's whatever I could do. I really want to work for her because she's incredible.

Speaker B 01:06:05

Yeah. No, that's real. Yeah. We are coming to a close with the podcast, and there's three questions that I ask everyone.

Speaker A 01:06:14

Okay.

Speaker B 01:06:15

The first one would be something I say often, is that accepting bigger bodies is good for all bodies. What does this phrase mean to you?

Speaker A 01:06:24

It means stop being a dickhead and judging people based off of how they look because your shit stink, too. And just because they don't stink the way they shit stink don't mean that your shit don't fucking stink. So stop being a dickhead and love everybody, because you're going to want to be loved at one point in time, too, regardless of your imperfections and your flaws. So stop being so holier than thou, high mighty and humble yourself and treat everybody with respect because everybody deserves to be loved and opportunity to be loved the same way you do. That's what that means to me.

Speaker B 01:07:01

I love it, girl. Yes.

Speaker A 01:07:04

I don't know if Ellie is going to edit this cousin, but I'm apologizing to them for fucking up and down her damn podcast.

Speaker B 01:07:16

Look, I didn't even look up what you can and can't say. I need to look it up.

Speaker A 01:07:22

Like, damn, her audience going to get sick of me.

Speaker B 01:07:25

No, they're going to love you. They're going to love you. Okay, second question is, what is one thing you want to leave our listeners with?

Speaker A 01:07:35

One thing I want to leave you all with is peace, love, light. Enjoy the journey. Don't think, don't stress too much. Whatever you're looking to happen, it'll happen in the right time. Just take your time, trust the process, and everything is going to work out just fine.

Speaker B 01:07:55

Amen. All right, Chiyanti, where can people go to find out more about you and what you got going on?

Speaker A 01:08:00

You can follow me on all platforms as Chiyanti underscore. I don't know who this other girl Chiyanti is, but she tried it with the name, so I had to put underscore under all my accounts. She auntie. C-H-I-Y-A-N-T-I. Underscore. You can follow me on TikTok, Instagram, wherever you want to follow me on Facebook, I'm there. Don't be afraid to slide into DMs and say, hey, see me in person. Shout out, say, hey, girl. I'm very friendly. I talk to people. And, yeah, you can follow me there. And there you go.

Speaker B 01:08:33

Thank you. Thank you, Chiyanti, for joining me today. I know our listeners so much value from our conversation today. We hit on so many things that going to help a lot of people change a lot of lives, and that's what it's all about.

Speaker A 01:08:48

Awesome. I'm glad. Thanks for having me. Ellie.

Speaker B 01:08:54

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