ZHE the FREE: Shaping Her Community with Rhythms, Words, and Empowerment

by Scott Roos

photos by Tracy Creighton (Copperblue Photography and Design)

ZHE the FREE is more than just a name in the Saskatchewan hip-hop scene—she is a force of nature, an artist whose work and presence transcend music. From her poetic verses to her work as a mentor, community builder, and youth advocate, ZHE embodies the very essence of hip-hop as a tool for change. Her journey, which spans the prairies and the Rocky Mountains, blends art, culture, and storytelling into a powerful narrative that has resonated deeply with those who encounter her work.

Growing up in Black Diamond, Alberta, on Treaty 7 Land, ZHE was shaped by nature and the rhythms of life around her. “My parents were big fans of taking us out of school to be with earth instead," ZHE recalled in a recent Zoom interview with NSMZ. That connection to the land is not just about the mountains of Alberta but also the deep roots she discovered upon moving to Saskatchewan—where, as she says, her Polish grandparents' legacy in Odessa gave her a link to the land she now calls home. ZHE had moved to Saskatoon shortly before the pandemic to pursue a masters degree. She now spends equal amounts of time travelling back and forth from Saskatchewan and Alberta.

However, it was the world of hip-hop that really ignited ZHE's spirit. From her earliest memories of discovering Salt-N-Pepa's powerful presence at a garage sale to finding her own voice in freestyle circles, ZHE was drawn to hip-hop not just for its energy but its potential to connect people. "I found this Salt-N-Pepa CD at a garage sale…,” she recalls,  “It's scratched to shit and I still have it because it's kind of like this emblem for me…. ” From that moment, she was hooked, moving from listening to rap in her small town to becoming an active part of Calgary's thriving hip-hop scene, founding Cypher Club YYC nearly a decade ago.

ZHE’s passion for community is evident in everything she does. Through Chokecherry Studios, the Science Genius Hip Hop Ambassador program, and collaborations with Live Arts SK, Paved Arts, and CAMP Sask, she has found a unique way to weave her art into mentorship. “Hip-hop made me get sober and helped me stay sober. So I just want to connect it to as many people as possible who it might also be a lifeline for,” she explains. Her work with youth, particularly young women, encourages them to find their voice and express themselves creatively. She was also a nominee for Music Professional of the Year at the SaskMusic Awards this past month, an honour that speaks to her commitment to building spaces where young people can learn and grow.

The world of freestyle and cypher culture, where ZHE truly shines, is a place where connection and collaboration are paramount. "A cypher is a community celebration in hip-hop," she explains, “So usually it's happening in a circle type vibe and there's a dj that's playing the music. There can either be like a rap cypher where people are mostly like spitting lyrics, usually free styles, but people can also bring written (lyrics) or it can also be like a cypher and dance and there can be breaking and all styles - Different forms of dance and when we're lucky they're all together. That's my favorite kind of cypher is when there's people breaking and there's people rapping and there's people moving and always the music.”

Whether rapping, dancing, or simply enjoying the music, cyphers create a space where everyone is encouraged to express themselves freely. For ZHE, it’s also about pushing boundaries, whether that means mixing written material with freestyle flows or improvising with live music. In particular, in her own live performances she’s become known specifically for her freestyle rhymes. It’s a skill that she was able to craft over time, a direct result of participating in cyphers during her days living in Calgary. Over time she got very good at it and it’s become an integral part of her live sets.

Waskesiu Lakeside Music Festival, 2024

“Freestyle can be seen as something that's like a real high-level skill and can make people feel like they're part of something that's just for them - Just for the present moment and will never happen again,” ZHE said.

Beyond her own performances, ZHE's collaborations with artists like Parab Poet, via their Moonbeams project, and Big Tones have further reinforced her commitment to improvisation and artistic freedom. The performances with Big Tones and their collaborative band, H2Flow, offer an immersive experience in which the audience gets to shape the music in real-time. “It's pretty much all freestyle for the whole duration of the sets and we do everything from let the audience pick the theme of the song they want to give us word suggestions, tell us a genre… You have to be in a space of a lot of play and a lot of trust and it's just, for me, a joy to get to do that with other people,” she says. This organic form of creativity is a core part of what makes ZHE’s work so unique.

Yet, despite her impressive career as a live performer and mentor, ZHE remains grounded in the idea that her artistry is always evolving. Her debut EP was a learning experience, and she’s now working on new music that speaks to the current moment in her life. “I have not put out a project that I'm really proud of that I feel like speaks to the level that I present in live performance In a long time and I think that's because I have kind of poured myself into community building and just artist mentorship the last few years…  I think it's about just finding the songs that I want to put out in the world right now and knowing that I'll make more. I love the seasons. I connect a lot with seasons. So in fall, that's what my goal is for 2025. We'll see what that actually looks like how many tracks get to be on the piece but it's a time for a ZHE the Free project of this era.” 

ZHE’s mission to empower others through art is clear. Whether she's leading workshops, performing live, or sharing her voice with the world, she remains committed to making hip-hop accessible and meaningful for everyone. As she puts it, “Each one teach one”—a mantra that reflects her deep respect for the culture of hip-hop and its ability to bring people together.

Her work is a reminder that hip-hop is not just about beats and lyrics; it's about community, healing, and expression. Through her music, mentorship, and advocacy, ZHE the Free continues to inspire a new generation of artists and listeners to find their own voice in the world.

As she prepares for upcoming performances, including a show in Calgary on April 12, ZHE remains a beacon of positivity and creativity. The stage is hers to shape, and her message is clear: Hip-hop is for everyone, and everyone has something valuable to share.