No matter if she’s in North Carolina or New York City, DJ Chela is showing off her DJ talent in every way possible. Even when its time to support hip-hop in it’s purest form, Chela knows how to bring it out to keep the art form looking good.

I show appreciation to all DJ's for their talent and the quality of music they push. I appreciate DJ Chela! From the moment I met her at my college (North Carolina A&T), she earned my respect.

Just sitting in the audience watching her scratch with the raw hip-hop sound was amazing. The High Treason mixtape was powerful hip-hop and it made sure the political issues of the world was touched.

The opinions of DJ’s on the current state of hip-hop comes through many minds. We all can agree that the major change due to many reasons. Some argue quality of music, oversaturated market, CD decline, but DJ Chela keeps it simple that it’s a lot going on.

Artist need to take a stand in their craft and spread a message. So if your down to do so in this day and age, you have guaranteed support from DJ Chela. By the way ,the music has to be good and be clever too.

Sixshot.com: How does DJ Chela feel about hip-hop today?

DJ Chela: Hip-hop right now is definitely going through some growing pains. It's kind of collapsing into itself and also having a rebirth. There’s a lot of transitioning going on. Labels are collapsing and now you have corporations starting their own labels. There's no artist development so artist need to put themselves through their own training camp and be ready for whatever may come. Then you have the politicization of the radio with the powers that be making sure only a few records get spins with the money and politics that go with that. People are also tired of the negativity in a lot of ways. You just can't be an artist anymore, like Nas said they are looking for a hero and a leader.

Sixshot.com: So do you think the whole change of hip-hop is for the better or the worse?

DJ Chela: It's got to be for the better, because here we are. Everything happens for a reason. We got to run with that and you can't stop good music. In this period of crisis there will be new voices that carry us on to a new day. Artist like Jay Electronica, Saigon, Immortal Technique, Nas. There are artist that are stepping their game up and evolving with the times. Nas, Andre 3000, T.I., Kanye certain artists get what's going on and their riding the wave. It's like a tidal wave and you can't stop it.

Sixshot.com: As far as all the DJ's in the industry what you think they should do to make a change for the better?

DJ Chela: I think us DJ's need to be grounded in what we want to create. Also the message in what we want to give to our audience and not so much under underestimate people. Come with something and take people on a ride. Were not gonna bring that to them if we keep playing the same playlist that's on the major stations that basically has a paper trail back to the government. We have to find what we want and support artist that don't get that fame, but do have supporters. Like Jay-Z said "I Don't believe you, you need more people".  Let's get with the movement and support music that will inspire people, because that's what we need right now.

Sixshot.com: What was the beginning foundation of DJ Chela wanting to be a DJ?

DJ Chela: I think it was going to house parties and just seeing the vibe of the party. The DJ was kind of in the cut, but still the master of ceremony. The DJ was directing the floor of what was going on and it was a beautiful thing. Creating an environment where people can have their fun and come together as one,that's what really inspired me. All to the beat, the background of good music, you can mix and match piecing it all together. That's what pushed me into DJing and taking off with that.

Sixshot.com: I was on Youtube checking some of your stuff out. I believe you was doing a DJ battle so what made you so skilled at it?

DJ Chela: Appreciate it. It was like I just had to women up, locking myself in a room and practicing [laughs]. The desire really came from wanting to DJ on another level. When you do trick sets or anything like that it really sets you apart. It made me look at DJing on a whole different level. Really using the turntables as an instrument and really having a showcase inspiring people to jump up and down losing their minds [laughs]. That was something totally new and I continued to build on that incorporating that into my DJing overall knowing that that's possible to do with the turntables.

Sixshot.com: One DJ was telling me the different aspects of DJing. You got the mixtape DJ's, the party rockers, radio DJ's, turn tablelist. What is your favorite of all those?

DJ Chela: That's a hard question [laughs], because I've done all of them. I've been on the radio, I love that, because it's something consistent where you can reach people such as listeners and have great interviews. Mixtapes have been major in my career, it's given me a lot of different write ups, nominations, press, and things like that. Party rocking is my major thing right now in terms of creating that environment that I was speaking about. I try to stay well-rounded [laughs] and that's what motivates me for sure.

Sixshot.com: I want to hear some more mixtapes. That one tape you had High Treason that shit was hot!

DJ Chela: Thank you, I appreciate it. It's been a minute since I dropped a tape. I just been refocusing on a lot of things. I will come back with it, because that's what I love.

Sixshot.com: To switch things up a little bit, how you feel about hip-hop's current role in politics, especially the Barack Obama campaign?

DJ Chela: I feel like it's inevitable, because it's so many young people in hip-hop and we need to mobilize the young vote. It's smart to support that, it's inevitable.

Sixshot.com: It's kind of crazy as it's playing a big part in one of the biggest elections ever!

DJ Chela: Yea definitely! It's a big opportunity for folks. That's like Big Boi's track with Mary J. I just keep encouraging people to know they're speaking to a huge audience. They are not just speaking to the hip-hop community anymore. It's your grandmother and kids as to what you want to say to them.

Sixshot.com: No doubt, well I see DJ Chela is gonna keep doing her thing though!

DJ Chela: Absolutely!

Sixshot.com: As far as your career what's next and what people should check for?

DJ Chela: I'mma continue to do the clubs out here in New York and worldwide. I'm about to go on tour for a quick second with Pharoahe Monch, I'm also working with Saigon and other artists.

Sixshot.com: Since you're a DJ and records get heard from ya'll how can they get in contact with you and what you look for?

DJ Chela: I look for people that are clever and honest [laughs]. I think it's really striking when an artist speaks the truth in a way that's poetic and powerful. I think that's what we need right now. You have to be clever and put things in a way that people haven't thought of before. People can hit me up on www.myspace.com/djchela and send me mp3's at Djchela@gmail.com