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Crosscurrents

Rapper Chhoti Maa On Love, Colonialism, And Her Grandmother's Storytelling Magic

Elizabeth Michelini Franco, styled by Vania Michelini Castillo
Chhoti Maa in her hometown of Guanjuato, Mexico.

Rooted in Mexican oral tradition, Chhoti Maa raps, sings, and writes about migration, queerness, and indigenous spirituality. In this edition of Bay Area Beats, the Oakland based artist talks about her latest album, "Caldo de Hueso," meaning bone broth.

"A lot of things were taken out of our lands and are in different European countries. But what couldn't be stolen and what couldn't be repressed was the word. The oral tradition."

Chhoti Maa breaks down her lyrical flow and shares how her grandmother’s storytelling magic plays a central role. 

Click the play button above to listen to the full story. Check out Chhoti Maa’s music videos here.

 

This story originally aired in February 2019.

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