Rising Stars: Meet Rachael Cross of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Cross

Hi Rachael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
To start, music has always been my therapy of life. I was raised in a home of old school hip hop. After watching the classic film “Brown Sugar” I asked myself the question; “What made you fall in love with hip hop?” and When did you fall in love?” Hip hop and R&B has been such a massive influence to me. From Slick Rick to Missy Elliot to Erykah Badu all the way to Rapsody ending with myself. It was the history that was told through the eyes of the MC to the culture of the arts from graffiti to the hype of DJing and break dancing. That was just the preface of the chapter of my story. Fast forward to 2007. the introduction, I hear “Tell me how I’m suppose to breathe with no air, pause boom!”
Written by James Fauntleroy, performed by Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks. I hear that I’m like woah the way it was composed, written, and arranged on top of the iconic Chris Brown, I fell in love with song writing.
13 years old I’m writing parody music, cover songs, remakes, and later on telling my own stories and experiences.
14 years later here I am an alumni of 1500 Sound Academy and Certified with honors for Commercial Music from Compton College and at 29 years old I have accomplished so much at my own pace and journey and still continue to push through and excel in great things. I have my own brand with Tha-Platform.com. I’m apart of a movement and lifestyle called FCHW (faith, consistency and hard work) by Spoken Reasons. I am a Spoken word artist, who has performed in various cities of California. Coming from a small town of Texarkana,Texas and growing up in Detroit, Michigan,and Pomona, California. The wins keep coming and this train just keeps on rolling with my faith in God and leaving behind the doubters and negative vibes.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! Aside from physical and mental state challenge set backs, I will focus on the music aspect. Starting at 13 years I’m in junior high and at the time I had ideas and experiences that kids my age wasn’t saying in the city. My gimmick or quote I would say was “I’m way past my prime.” Having an old soul is what the elders call it. I could not afford studio equipment at the time according to my age, and hustle mind set I guess, so I used a Nintendo Wii Karoke usb microphone to record my music using Audacity as my DAW for free to lay down my tracks and post on SoundCloud. I still have the music on the website till this day. Over time I learned to record with stems and engineer my friends. What I wish was that I kept it up as far as teaching myself production but also that’s where the sets came in with my health.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I am an employment support specialist, evening a college student, by night I am a spoken word artist, songwriter and all around music enthusiast. I love to network, attend music industry opportunities and perform. I’m known for my Spoken Word in California. I perform at open mics and showcased with Pan African Film Festival, World on Stage, S.W.A.A.M and Da Poetry Lounge just to name a few known poetry community organizers. I am proud of my music and poetry. I am continuing to grow my catalog on Tha-Platform with Roku and online. As an independent artist I cherish my art. What’s sets me apart from others is my poetic ability to paint a picture in my music. I own my craft, I love what I do and let my words speak through each message in the canvas called poetry and backpack hip hop.

How do you think about luck?
I believe in faith over luck. My faith has carried me to great heights and trials to bend time, and learn the rules to break them. I am grateful for the support from Spoken Reasons, 1500 or nothin, profesor Estrada a life changing music instructor at Compton College, and my family who love and support me in every way.

Pricing:

• Cash app $RachaelC11
• Subscription based channel: https://www.Tha-Platform.com/rachael-babycross

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tha-platform.com/rachael-babycross
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrachaelcross/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@rachaelbabycross?si=uLNdUMOOAd2c0-Is
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/GAvKcudDU7foCbgQ7
• Other: https://untitled.stream/library/project/612NLqaavxg_DUyTpIioa

Image Credits
Sheldon Butler
Armon Gardner
Time Magazine