Chhoti Maa is a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer from Guanajuato, Mexico.
From a young age Chhoti was exposed to the arts and was shaped by Mexico’s oral tradition. She began writing poetry as a migrant child, and was enrolled in various choirs throughout their school years.
Chhoti Maa started in 2007 within the migrant rights movement and hip hop scene of Richmond, VA heavily influenced by the local art scene and beatmakers Ohbliv, James Dangle & Ahnnv from Chocolate Milk.
Chhoti Maa was a student of teacher CK Ladzekpo and is currently studying Lucumi songs under legendary Cuban singer and teacher Bobi Céspedes. The music of Chhoti Maa is rooted in community organizing, hip hop, cumbia, neufolk, r&b, migrant soul and oral tradition. It reflects decolonial living, ancestral medicine, queerness, migrant empowerment, love and radical siblinghood.
From 2012-2022, Chhoti Maa worked with collaborators beto guapoflaco and Keith Avelino Hernandez. Together, they produced Agua Corre (2016) and Caldo de Hueso (2018) featuring jazz saxophonist Howard Wiley, flautist KJ Pied Piper of the Bay, cumbia accordionist Ivan Flores and Native emcee Dioganhdih.
In 2023, Chhoti began performing with DJ BRIZV and Colombian producers The Bois, releasing Reinota, a single that paid tribute to Colombian singer Nelly Chavez.
In 2024, Chhoti Maa started the Indigo Ensemble featuring violinist Corina Santos, bassit Camellia Boutros, beatmaker Bri Izaguirre, percussionist Caro Acuña Olvera and jarana player Ro Cordova.
To date, Chhoti Maa has performed in Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, US, Cuba, Spain, Qatar, U.A.E., Sweden, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and multiple Indigenous nations.
Chhoti Maa shared the stage with Chicano Batman, Y la Bamba, El Cepe, Dioganhdih, DJ Mala Vida, Mare Advertencia Lirika, Mucha Cumbia, Alika, Valentina Peralta, Mala Rodriguez, DJ Rosa Pistola, Los Rakas, Batallones Femeninos, Lil Supa, Boca Floja, Elysia Crampton & Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
Chhoti Maa’s long awaited third studio album, 7 Luminarias, is set to release in 2025.
As the creative engine of Chhoti Maa, Vreni Michelini Castillo is also a cultural producer, curator, educator and danzante.
Photo: Elizabeth Michelini Franco
Guanajuato (2022)
Weaving Spirits 2S Performance Festival with Carlo Ignacio, beto guapoflaco & Keith Avelino Hernández.
Photo: Mateo Hinojosa
CounterPulse, San Francisco (2022)
Summer Sessions, Indigenous Songbook with the Indigo Ensemble
Photo: Nick DeRenzi
SF Jazz, San Francisco (2024)
Chhoti Maa es una cantautora, rapera y música de Guanajuato, Mexico radicada en Oakland, California. Chhoti Maa es conocida por su peculiar estilo que une el hip hop, neufolk, r&b, migrant soul y la cumbia.
Chhoti Maa comenzó su proyecto dentro del movimiento migrante en Virginia, influenciada por los productores Ohbliv, James Dangles y Ahnnv de Chocolate Milk de la escena de hip hop.
Con el disco Agua Corre (2016) establece su colaboración con el músico y productor beto guapoflaco y el músico e ingeniero, Keith Avelino Hernandez. En su segundo disco, Caldo de Hueso (2018) colabora con el saxofonista Howard Wiley en el tema wetbacksoulmusic y con KJ Jackson en el tema Atiza. En el 2023 empieza a trabajar con DJ BRIZV y los productores Colombianos The Bois. Actualmente, Chhoti Maa es la directora del conjunto musical The Indigo Ensemble.
Chhoti Maa fue estudiante del Maestro CK Ladzekpo y actualmente estudia los cantos Lucumi bajo la Maestra Bobi Céspedes.
Se ha presentado internacionalmente junto a Chicano Batman, Y la Bamba, El Cepe, Dioganhdih, DJ Mala Vida, Mare Advertencia Lirika, Mucha Cumbia, Alika, Valentina Peralta, Mala Rodriguez, DJ Rosa Pistola, Los Rakas, Batallones Femeninos, Lil Supa, Boca Floja & Snotty Nose Rez Kids.
Este año lanzará su tercer disco 7 Luminarias.
Aparte de su trabajo musical como Chhoti Maa, Vreni Michelini Castillo es gestora, promotora cultural, maestra y danzante.
