Rhymefest

Rhymefest

738 fans

Che Armond Smith, known professionally as Rhymefest, was born on July 6, 1977, in Chicago, Illinois, and emerged as a rapper and songwriter. After gaining early recognition through battle rap contests such as JumpOff and ScribbleJam, he entered the recording industry with the single "Fever" in 2006, followed by the single "Brand New" featuring Kanye West. In July 2006, he signed with Mark Ronson’s Allido Records, a J Records imprint, and released his debut album Blue Collar, which established his lyrical focus on social issues.Rhymefest’s songwriting credits expanded through the 2000s and 2010s, including co‑writing "Jesus Walks" (2004) for Kanye West, which earned a Grammy for Best Rap Song, and "Glory" (2014) for Common and John Legend, which won the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. He continued to release music, notably the 2010 mixtape El Che and the 2024 project James & Nikki: A Conversation. Rhymefest also ventured into film, appearing in The Public (2018) and contributing to the documentary In My Father’s House. His career remained active over the years with ongoing releases and collaborations that reinforced his role as a socially conscious voice in hip‑hop.

Top tracks

03
Brand New (feat. Kanye West) (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:39
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth
02
Dynomite (Going Postal) (Main)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:53
Writer: Che Smith - Justin Smith - Jerry Harris - Toby Henry - Sylvia Robinson / Composers: Che Smith - Justin Smith - Jerry Harris - Toby Henry - Sylvia Robinson
16
Build Me Up (feat. O.D.B.)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:46
Writer: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Tony Macaulay - Mike D'Abo / Composers: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Tony Macaulay - Mike D'Abo
11
Devil's Pie
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:51
Writer: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Julian Casablancas / Composers: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Julian Casablancas
14
Bullet (feat. Citizen Cope)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:59
Writer: Jon Brion - Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Clarence Greenwood / Composers: Jon Brion - Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Clarence Greenwood
08
Breakdance
Rhymefest
Eastern Conference All-Stars IV
03:55
04
Fever (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:49
Writer: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley / Composers: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley
05
All I Do (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:27
Writer: Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Jeremy Ball - Willie Hutchinson / Composers: Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Jeremy Ball - Willie Hutchinson
15
Tell A Story
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:30
Writer: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Vernon Bullock - Harvey Fuqua - Harry Nilsson / Composers: Mark Ronson - Che Smith - Vernon Bullock - Harvey Fuqua - Harry Nilsson
13
Mr. Blue Collar (interlude) (feat. Malik Yusef)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
02:01
Writer: Malik Yusef - Terry Hunter / Composers: Malik Yusef - Terry Hunter
12
Sister (feat. Mike Payne)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:54
Writer: Che Smith - Garry Glenn / Composers: Che Smith - Garry Glenn
07
More (feat. Kanye West)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:12
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon
01
Feel Free (intro) (feat. Q-Tip)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
01:11
Writer: Mike Payne - Jonathan Davis - Jon Frost / Composers: Mike Payne - Jonathan Davis - Jon Frost
08
Chicago-Rillas (feat. Mikkey & Bump J) (Main)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:26
Writer: C. Smith - M. Snoddy - E. Wilson - M. Nance - T. Boykin / Composers: C. Smith - M. Snoddy - E. Wilson - M. Nance - T. Boykin
09
Stick
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:31
Writer: Che Smith - Jon Frost - Paul Simon / Composers: Che Smith - Jon Frost - Paul Simon
03
Bang The Ball (Instrumental)
Dan The Automator
2K7 - Instrumentals
03:06
Composers: Daniel M. Nakamura
10
All Girls Cheat (feat. Mario)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:13
Writer: Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon - Ernie Isley - Rudolph Isley - Ronald Isley - Marvin Isley - O'Kelly Isley - Christopher Jasper / Composers: Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon - Ernie Isley - Rudolph Isley - Ronald Isley - Marvin Isley - O'Kelly Isley - Christopher Jasper
06
Get Down
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:02
Writer: Che Smith - Ernest Wilson - Pierre Barough - Francis Lai / Composers: Che Smith - Ernest Wilson - Pierre Barough - Francis Lai
01
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) (Radio Edit)
Skypp
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) [Radio Edit]
04:37
Writer: Che Smith - Byron Horton - Allison Temple / Composers: Jared Thompson - Sean Davis

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  • Discography
Albums
James & Nikki: A Conversation
2024 Golden State Entertainment
09-02-2024
James & Nikki: A Conversation
01
Intro
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
00:24
Writer: Rhymefest
02
Triggered
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
03:48
Composers: Che Smith - Shantelena Mouzon
03
Elderberry
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
03:52
Composers: Che Smith - Lateefa Harland - Frayne Lewis
04
Creator
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
03:35
Composers: Che Smith - Brittney Carter
05
Who You Talking To?
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
03:16
Composers: Che Smith - Fredrianna Harris
06
Déjà Vu
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
02:27
Composers: Che Smith - Shantelena Mouzon
07
Pop
Rhymefest
James & Nikki: A Conversation
03:54
Composers: Che Smith - Daphne Mitchell - Eddie Alexander
Access the complete album info (9 songs)
Blue Collar
(P) 2006 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
10-07-2006
Blue Collar
01
Feel Free (intro) (feat. Q-Tip)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
01:11
Writer: Mike Payne - Jonathan Davis - Jon Frost / Composers: Mike Payne - Jonathan Davis - Jon Frost
02
Dynomite (Going Postal) (Main)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:53
Writer: Che Smith - Justin Smith - Jerry Harris - Toby Henry - Sylvia Robinson / Composers: Che Smith - Justin Smith - Jerry Harris - Toby Henry - Sylvia Robinson
03
Brand New (feat. Kanye West) (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:39
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth
04
Fever (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:49
Writer: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley / Composers: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley
05
All I Do (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:27
Writer: Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Jeremy Ball - Willie Hutchinson / Composers: Che Smith - Emile Haynie - Jeremy Ball - Willie Hutchinson
06
Get Down
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
03:02
Writer: Che Smith - Ernest Wilson - Pierre Barough - Francis Lai / Composers: Che Smith - Ernest Wilson - Pierre Barough - Francis Lai
07
More (feat. Kanye West)
Rhymefest
Blue Collar
04:12
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Marcello Valenzano - Andre Lyon
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
Singles
Together
2025 Litehouse Music LLC
05-02-2026
Together
01
Together
Rhymefest
Together
03:31
Writer: Che Armond Smith - Daniel Joel Shockley / Composers: Che Armond Smith - Daniel Joel Shockley
Reflections
℗ 2024 LiteHouse Music, LLC
30-08-2024
Reflections
01
Reflections
Rhymefest
Reflections
02:56
Writer: Ayan Chandrasekaran - Che Smith - Benard Brown / Composers: Ayan Chandrasekaran - Jonathan Waterford
Creator (feat. Brittney Carter & Rell Suma)
2024 Golden State Entertainment
26-01-2024
Creator (feat. Brittney Carter & Rell Suma)
01
Creator
Rhymefest
Creator (feat. Brittney Carter & Rell Suma)
03:35
Composers: Che Smith - Brittney Carter
AKLEEN (feat. Asielah La Creatrice)
LiteHouse Music, LLC
19-11-2023
AKLEEN (feat. Asielah La Creatrice)
01
AKLEEN (feat. Asielah La Creatrice)
Rhymefest
AKLEEN (feat. Asielah La Creatrice)
03:57
Writer: Che Smith / Composers: Che Smith - Moctar Keita
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) [Radio Edit]
Sophisticated Street Music LLC
10-02-2022
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) [Radio Edit]
01
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) (Radio Edit)
Skypp
Fix Yo' Crown (feat. Allison Victoria & Jared Thompson) [Radio Edit]
04:37
Writer: Che Smith - Byron Horton - Allison Temple / Composers: Jared Thompson - Sean Davis
The Public: Original Music from the Film
2019 Litehouse Music, LLC
19-04-2019
The Public: Original Music from the Film
01
Make Noise
Rhymefest
The Public: Original Music from the Film
03:41
Writer: Che Smith - Tarik Trotter - Justin Pinder - Lavell Crump - Christopher Goodman
02
Weaponized
Rhymefest
The Public: Original Music from the Film
02:19
Writer: Che Smith - Micah Davis
Chicago
14-09-2009
Chicago
01
Chicago
Rhymefest
Chicago
03:36
Wanted
(P) 2006 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
10-10-2006
Wanted
01
Wanted
Rhymefest
Wanted
03:25
Writer: Che Smith - Mark Ronson - Samantha Ronson / Composers: Che Smith - Mark Ronson - Samantha Ronson
Fever
(P) 2006 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
14-07-2006
Fever
01
Fever (Radio Edit)
Rhymefest
Fever
03:49
Writer: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley / Composers: John Davenport - Eddie Cooley
Brand New
(P) 2005 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
18-10-2005
Brand New
01
Brand New (feat. Kanye West) (Clean)
Rhymefest
Brand New
03:39
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth
02
Brand New (feat. Kanye West) (Dirty)
Rhymefest
Brand New
03:39
Writer: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth / Composers: Kanye West - Che Smith - Gabriel Roth
Featured in
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
(P) 2019 Sony Music Entertainment
19-04-2019
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
01
Insane in the Brain
Cypress Hill
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
03:33
Writer: Louis Freese - Senen Reyes - Larry Muggerud / Composers: Louis Freese - Senen Reyes - Larry Muggerud
02
Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem)
JAŸ-Z
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
04:00
Writer: Shawn Carter - Martin Charnin - Mark James - Charles Strouse / Composers: Shawn Carter - Martin Charnin - Mark James - Charles Strouse
03
C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) (Radio Edit)
Wu-Tang Clan
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
04:04
Writer: Wu-Tang Clan / Composers: Wu-Tang Clan
04
Roses
OutKast
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
06:09
Writer: Matt Boykin - Andre Benjamin - Antwan Patton / Composers: Matt Boykin - Andre Benjamin - Antwan Patton
05
Work Out
J. Cole
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
03:54
Writer: Jermaine Cole - Kanye West - Sukmeke Rainey - Miri Ben Ari - Bosco Kante - John Stephens - Elliot Wolff / Composers: Jermaine Cole - Kanye West - Sukmeke Rainey - Miri Ben Ari - Bosco Kante - John Stephens - Elliot Wolff
06
Can I Kick It?
A Tribe Called Quest
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
04:24
Writer: Lou Reed / Composers: Lou Reed
07
Break Ya Neck
Busta Rhymes
Hip Hop 100 Hits - Urban rap & R n B anthems inc. Jay Z, A$ap Rocky, Wu-Tang Clan & Nas
03:51
Writer: T. Smith - Andre R. Young - Mike Elizondo - Scott Storch / Composers: T. Smith - Andre R. Young - Mike Elizondo - Scott Storch
Access the complete album info (100 songs)
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
(P) 2006 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (UK) Limited.
06-11-2006
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
01
Deja Vu (No Rap Version)
Beyoncé
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:24
Writer: Rodney Jerkins - Keli Nicole Price - Makeba - John Webb - Delisha Thomas - Shawn Carter - Beyoncé Knowles / Composers: Rodney Jerkins - Keli Nicole Price - Makeba - John Webb - Delisha Thomas - Shawn Carter - Beyoncé Knowles
02
Hips Don't Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean)
Shakira
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:41
Writer: Wyclef Jean - Shakira Mebarak / Composers: Wyclef Jean - Shakira Mebarak - Jerry Duplessis - Omar Alfanno - Latavia Parker - Luis Diaz
03
Ain't No Other Man
Christina Aguilera
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:49
Writer: Christina Aguilera - Charles Roane - Chris E. Martin - Kara DioGuardi - Harold Beatty / Composers: Christina Aguilera - Charles Roane - Chris E. Martin - Kara DioGuardi - Harold Beatty
04
Rock Your Body
Justin Timberlake
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
04:28
Writer: Chad Hugo - Justin Timberlake - Pharrell Williams / Composers: Chad Hugo - Justin Timberlake - Pharrell Williams
05
Used to Love U
John Legend
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:30
Writer: John Stephens - Kanye West / Composers: John Stephens - Kanye West
06
Caught Up
Usher
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:44
Writer: Andre Harris - Vidal Davis - Ryan Toby - Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd / Composers: Andre Harris - Vidal Davis - Ryan Toby - Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd
07
If I Ain't Got You
Alicia Keys
Kiss R&B Digital Downloads
03:48
Writer: Alicia Keys / Composers: Alicia Keys
Access the complete album info (20 songs)
The Remixes, Vol. 2
Label Parlophone, ℗ 2015 Warner Music France
15-06-2015
The Remixes, Vol. 2
01
Don't Be Light (Single Edit)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
06:18
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
02
Radio Number 1 (Señor Coconut's Rumbamambo Remix)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
03:35
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin / Composers: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
03
Radio Number 1 (JP Cristal Remix)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
05:06
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
04
Alpha Beta Gaga (Single Edit)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
03:03
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
05
Alpha Beta Gaga (feat Rhymfest) (Mark Ronson remix)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
04:39
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin / Composers: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
06
Alpha Beta Gaga (Mark Ronson Dub)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
05:11
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
07
Alpha Beta Gaga (Jackson Remix)
Air
The Remixes, Vol. 2
04:20
Writer: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin / Composers: Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Nicolas Godin
Access the complete album info (26 songs)