biography
Artist, Humanitarian, Teacher, Writer, Motivational Speaker, Entrepreneur
Chenits Pettigrew (b/k/a Chen Lo) has been preparing for the opportunity to serve his entire life. He has always stood to use his individual gifts, skills and talents to enhance the wellbeing of his community. At 28, he is fortunate to have found his purpose and voice at an early age. His mission is simple: use music as a tool to empower communities toward relevant and practical change. As an artist, activist, teacher, motivational speaker and entrepreneur, Chen Lo is moving to approach this mission from several directions.
The Artist
Chen Lo uses his skill as an emcee much like the West African Griot “recording the history of the people…swing a double edged sword to entertain you and to teach you.” After closely studying the methods of a young Nas, Black Moon and The Roots, Chen found stage life at the age of 15. Initially, the strength of is craft was all that mattered. He took pride in aspiring to be an extraordinary artist.
Over time, Chen found purpose in his art and set out to affect change. He used his music as the soundtrack to grassroots community movements in which he was heavily involved. "After learning more about the role of the Griot in traditional African societies, I understood my place as an emcee and began to embrace my gift on another level," said Lo.
Along the way he has shared the stage with the likes of The Roots, Common, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, KRS-ONE, Brand Nubian, Amanda Diva, Phife Dog (A Tribe Called Quest), Tash (Alkoholics), Xzibit and has recently done work with Abiodun Oyewole of the legendary Last Poets. His song “Brooklyn,” was recently chosen as the lead single for the “Blackout” motion picture soundtrack (a BET feature film) and featured on BET’s 106 & Park and various MTV Networks. Furthermore, his artistic proficiency has led mainstream entities like MTV to request his services in various commercial campaigns.
Humanitarian/Teacher
Inspired by serious racial turmoil while attending Penn State University (1999-2001) Lo recognized that music is a powerful method to move a message, raise awareness and motivate people to action. Through an organization Chen Lo co-founded, Sankofa Community Empowerment, Inc., he was able to use his music as a tool for culturally relevant and socially practical education for black youth in various major cities...this is his passion. In fact he has developed and implemented a Hip Hop Education Series called Creative Liberation that has run successfully in Pittsburgh, PA and Brooklyn, NY. The curriculum balances a historical analysis of black music from the West African Griot to Hip Hop culture with the technical aspects of writing, recording, performing and marketing purposeful products. Recently receiving an interdisciplinary Master’s from New York University in Art and Social Change has only served to increase Chen Lo’s level of expertise in this area of service.
In addition, Chen Lo has been working with an organization called Project Africa Global (PAG). PAG, a dedicated group of healthcare professionals that has conducted medical missions to the African continent for almost ten years, tapped Chen Lo to co-coordinate its annual AfricAmerica Youth Summit in Swaziland. Chen employs various creative arts including music/poetry, dance, visual arts and theater to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, while imploring the youth toward tangible change.
Entrepreneur
Chen Lo has always been concerned with generating resources in various forms (economic, material and human) and maintaining a level of self-sufficiency and independence. It is an ideology vital in achieving his goals. Making this theory practical, Chen Lo and a close partner have formally established a multimedia “inner-tainment” company called Liberation Music Group (LMG), LLC., which specializes in cultural expressions with a purpose through music, events, media (LMGTV) and merchandise. LMG is seeking to make a significant impact with its various cultural product offerings.
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