From Bar Mitzvahs to the Apollo: Cheeko's Independent Rise

Cheeko, born Nelson Pastoriza in Gary, Indiana, has been performing since he was a kid in the third grade at Fulford Elementary in North Miami Beach. His mother, Myrna, moved the two of them to Miami when he was just 2 years old, after leaving Indiana on foot through the snow to give birth to him — a piece of family history Cheeko carries as part of his story. Of Puerto Rican descent and now associated with Stone Mountain, he's built a career almost entirely on his own terms. By 11, he was already performing for crowds, with his very first paid shows coming at bar mitzvahs. From there, things moved fast: MTV appearances by 16, two trips to the Apollo's Showtime stage by 19, and his first arena show that same year — all without a label behind him. By 24, he considers himself a fully developed independent artist who's toured throughout the United States. Musically, Cheeko works across rap, trap, hip-hop and pop, pulling inspiration less from what's currently playing — he says he hardly listens to music — and more from his own family and background. He cites Master P, Michael Jackson and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony as his biggest influences, artists who built lanes of their own rather than following trends. Cheeko describes his shift in mindset simply: he's "stopped selling dope, and started selling hope." That idea runs through what he wants listeners to take from his music — keep going, don't let past decisions define you, and don't be afraid to own where you came from and where you're headed. Beyond music, he's stepping into sports media as the creator of the "ROCK'da Arena" podcast, where he works as a broadcaster and analyst. On the music side, he's got three new videos planned over the next two months, with a goal of releasing 30 songs by the new year.