Chanel West Coast New Album: Ridiculousness Star Released Amazing Album You Might Have Missed [LISTEN]
So, you know the blonde girl from Rob Dyrdek's show Ridiculousness and Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory? The one with the extremely annoying laugh but at the same time is undeniably adorable? Well, maybe I'm just late to discover her but Chanel West Coast is actually a talented rapper who is signed to Lil' Wayne's infamous record label Young Money Entertainment.
Chelsea Chanel Dudley, better known as Chanel West Coast, announced that she had signed to Young Money during an interview at SXSW in March 2013. Of course, when you hear the news you can't help but to think this is another of Lil Wayne's weird decisions. Like signing Paris Hilton to his label -- what the heck was that, Wayne? But it turns out that Chanel has been pursuing a career in rapping the whole time (she has been in the media eye) and she is actually good.
"Now You Know" was released on Jul. 9, 2013 and, yeah, we didn't know Chanel. Her songs are actually catchy, her word play is accurate and her sound is modern. Although there isn't much originality with the club bangers and "getting money" rhymes, Chanel makes sense when she "spits." Now, I'm not an expert, but when I can listen to every song on an album during "gym time" it is because it is motivating.
Let's admit it, some of our female rappers are lacking actual words in the dictionary when they rhyme. "Kim's baby," as Chanel -- also a Los Angeles native -- calls herself, keeps an understandable flow. We're staying away from any comparisons here, because I only want to be semi-attacked during this article but "Now You Know" is playing over and over on my phone. Ms. West Coast is a legit rapper and I hope to see her go mainstream very soon.
"Now You Know" also includes some hardcore collaboration. "Been On" features rapper French Montana, "Put in Work" features Snoop Dog and Evan Ross and "Power of Love" features the sultry Robin Thicke. The intro of the mixtape is a clip from Will Smith's film The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Smith lectures his son about never given up. Get ready to see an entire different side of the bubbly blonde who sits on Rob Dyrdek's couch and giggles at every "ridiculous" video.
Don't take my word for it. We all have different "taste." Take a listen for yourself below.