Chhoti Maa is a rapper, singer and songwriter from Guanajuato, Mexico.
Chhoti Maa started in 2007 within the migrant rights movement and hip hop scene of Richmond, VA heavily influenced by beatmakers Ohbliv, James Dangle & Ahnnv from Chocolate Milk.
The production team expanded in 2012 with beto guapoflaco and Keith Avelino Hernandez. In 2023, Chhoti began working with DJ BRIZV and Colombian producers The Bois. In 2024, Chhoti started performing with the Indigo Ensemble.
Chhoti Maa was a student of teacher CK Ladzekpo and is currently studying Lucumi songs under teacher Bobi Céspedes. The music of Chhoti Maa is rooted in community organizing, hip hop, neufolk, r&b, cumbia, migrant soul and oral tradition. It reflects decolonial living, ancestral medicine, queerness, migrant empowerment, love and radical sisterhood.
To date, Chhoti Maa has performed, collaborated and taught in Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, China, US, Cuba, Spain, Qatar, U.A.E., Ghana, Sweden, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and multiple Indigenous nations. Chhoti Maa has performed alongside Chicano Batman, Y la Bamba, Dioganhdih, DJ Mala Vida, Mare Advertencia Lirika, Mucha Cumbia, Alika, Valentina Peralta, Mala Rodriguez, DJ Rosa Pistola, Los Rakas, Batallones Femeninos & Lil Supa.
Chhoti Maa has released two studio albums Agua Corre (2016) and Caldo de Hueso (2018) featuring musical legends such as jazz saxophonist Howard Wiley, flautist KJ Pied Piper of the Bay, cumbia accordionist Ivan Flores and Native emcee Dioganhdih.
7 Luminarias is set to release in 2024.
As the creative engine of Chhoti Maa, Vreni Michelini Castillo is also a cultural producer, curator, educator and danzante.
Chhoti Maa es una cantautora, rapera y música de Guanajuato, Mexico radicada en Oakland, California. Chhoti Maa es conocida por su peculiar estilo que une el hip hop, neufolk, r&b, migrant soul y la cumbia.
Chhoti Maa comenzó su proyecto dentro del movimiento migrante en Virginia, influenciada por los productores Ohbliv, James Dangles y Ahnnv de Chocolate Milk de la escena de hip hop.
Con el disco Agua Corre (2016) establece su colaboración con el músico y productor beto guapoflaco y el músico e ingeniero, Keith Avelino Hernandez. En su segundo disco, Caldo de Hueso (2018) colabora con el saxofonista Howard Wiley en el tema wetbacksoulmusic y con KJ Jackson en el tema Atiza. En el 2023 empieza a trabajar con DJ BRIZV y los productores Colombianos The Bois. Actualmente, Chhoti Maa es la directora del conjunto musical The Indigo Ensemble.
Chhoti Maa fue estudiante del Maestro CK Ladzekpo y actualmente estudia los cantos Lucumi bajo la Maestra Bobi Céspedes.
Se ha presentado internacionalmente junto a Chicano Batman, Y la Bamba, Dioganhdih, DJ Mala Vida, Mare Advertencia Lirika, Mucha Cumbia, Alika, Valentina Peralta, Mala Rodriguez, DJ Rosa Pistola, Los Rakas, Batallones Femeninos y Lil Supa.
Este año lanzará su tercer disco 7 Luminarias.
Aparte de su trabajo musical como Chhoti Maa, Vreni Michelini Castillo es gestora, promotora cultural, maestra y danzante.
Photo: Elizabeth Michelini Franco
Weaving Spirits 2S Performance Festival. Photo: Mateo Hinojosa