Chrisette Michele colors outside of the lines and it’s apparent in almost every aspect of her life. The 27-year-old chanteuse isn’t afraid to rock a red lip or keep her hair as short as the rappers she’s sung beside. And she’s never felt comfortable acting like a sheep just for a paycheck. Perhaps her mission to lead and not follow has much to do with the reason she’ll have three albums under her belt by the end of this year. Her newest, Let Freedom Reign, is a collection of tunes showcasing the ills and thrills of love. Songs like“I’m a Star” and “Goodbye Game” are prime examples of Chrisette’s ability to marry soulful vocals with stories of the heart.But even if her words sound familiar, her actions for the new year will be anything of the sort. “[For] 2011, I’m feeling very rebellious,” she reveals. “I’m looking forward to not doing what I’m supposed to do. I’m looking forward to not following any rules. I don’t want to do what anyone tells me to do.”
As she sits in a plush chair, sipping hot chocolate on a frigid November afternoon in New York City, Chrisette is warm and welcoming. The Long Island gal isn’t the type to give a brief explanation during a conversation; she articulates herself in a manner where no one feels jipped on the answers she provides. Rap-Up.com gets inside the R&B child’s head as she reveals the song Drake was supposed to appear on, her chemistry with Rick Ross, connecting with Nicki Minaj over Twitter, her admiration for Kanye West, and her style icons. Uncage the songbird below.