Chy Cartier wrote her first bars at just 7 years old, inspired early on by rap icon Nicki Minaj. Now 21, she’s already earning the respect of industry veterans, standing alongside Skepta, Latto, and Lil Yachty with a confidence and presence well beyond her years.
North London-born Chy isn’t just making waves in music—she’s also cementing herself in fashion. In her latest single, “Miu Miu,” she pays homage to one of her favorite brands, blending luxury references with sharp lyricism. Since being spotted in the pages of i-D Magazine, Cartier has remained front and center, often seen in a trackie paired with her signature fringe bang. Her style is as distinctive as her sound, earning her recognition not only for her bars but also for a fashion sense that’s uniquely her own.
In a male-dominated industry, Chy is carving her own lane and rewriting the rules. A champion for women in music, she uplifts and collaborates with some of the biggest female names in the game—from teaming up with girl group FLO to opening for Latto in London. Through her bold presence and boundary-pushing moves, Cartier continues to inspire a new generation of girls eager to break into rap. Her influence extends beyond music as she fosters a strong sense of community among her growing fan base.
GU caught up with the rising star just days after the release of “Miu Miu.” Scroll ahead to see what Cartier has in store.
GU: What was your earliest memory with music?
Chy: I’ve been rapping since the age of seven. I grew up listening to Nicki. So that’s like the Beez In the Trap era. And I think it was a particular Nicki Minaj song, from the Young Money album. I think it’s one where she ends it and she’s the only girl rapping, but it’s just like bare other male rappers, but she’s killing it and holding her own. I remember watching that and thinking, yeah, females can actually kill it. So from there, I’ve just been writing my lyrics. I used to recite hers, and then I just went and started writing my own. And then that’s it. From there, I haven’t stopped.
GU: What were you rapping about at age seven?
Chy: At seven, I was rapping about what clothes I’ve got on. My name’s Chyna, catch me in the street wearing designer if you step on my foot. It’s not a minor. But it was very age-appropriate, though.
GU: What does fashion let you express that music doesn’t?
Chy: I love fashion. Even from when I was small, my mom has always kept me in the latest designs, not the latest designers, but the freshest clothing. Fashion is a way, before people even speak to you, that they’ll see what you’re wearing. It’s a way to communicate. So it’s definitely a creative outlet. And with music, I feel like it’s important to merge the two. It’s another way to communicate, express yourself in different ways.
GU: Can you walk us through the creative process for your new single “Miu Miu”?
Chy: I locked in with a producer that I work with. Mostly. I explained that I want the beat to have a certain cadence. And yeah, he just cooked up the beat in the session. And I just remember, like, Lulu being popping at the time. And I was like, this ain’t Lulu. This is Miu Miu. This a boss fit. Miu Miu gives that boss energy. You know, it’s got that schoolgirl kind of aspect to it, but it’s like, it’s like, it’s bossy at the same time. Miu Miu is definitely a high-fashion brand that I rock with. So, yeah, just made a song about it.
GU: What was it like being in the studio with Lil Yatchy and blending creative styles?
Chy: He hit me like, “Yo, I’m in London. Let’s lock in.” So we locked in, and yeah, ya. He’s just cool, man, like, he’s just normal and humble. We were going back-to-back in the studio. It was like he was hearing me laying my bars, and he’s like, “ Yo, like, this girl’s this girl from London’s hard,” then just going in and laying his, you know, was going bar for bar, like, who can lay the hardest verse kind of thing.
GU: What does it mean to have someone like Skepta in your corner?
Chy: You know, to have support from someone else from your area, that’s made it and gone global. You see, it’s dope like to be because it lets you know, it lets you know that you’re doing something, right.
GU: Why is it important to you to uplift other women in music?
Chy: It’s a male-dominated industry, so there should definitely be more females. And it doesn’t take anything away to uplift other females. If they’re hard, lift them up, and you can help each other somewhere, or they can help you by making a song together, for example. There are so many dope females. And 100% I’m locked in with some dope ones like Molly Santana, Pluto, and Glorilla.
GU: Do you have a milestone that you’re eager to reach or a moment that will let you know you’ve made it?
Chy: I’ve always said selling out shows in the States will be that milestone for me, but also becoming like a global household name, or even getting a feature from Nicki Minaj, because I grew up listening to her.