Our Story

Planet Chambo began in 2021 as a personal journey for founder Cesar Almeida to reconnect with his ancestral roots and the natural world. Influenced by Ecuador’s Folkloric Futurist music movement, Cesar brought original DJ sets into Chicago’s green spaces, blending ancestral rhythms with modern soundscapes. This practice became a powerful way to reclaim both heritage and a sense of belonging in the urban landscape.

What started as a personal exploration quickly evolved. Today, Planet Chambo is an environmental record label that collaborates with organizations like the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Chicago Park District to connect urban youth with nature through hip-hop, storytelling, and sound. Together, they champion equitable access to green spaces, recognizing these places as vital sanctuaries for creativity, healing, and environmental justice.

By merging hip-hop technologies with outdoor education, Planet Chambo empowers youth to reclaim nature as part of their cultural identity. As youth activist Tonyisha Harris reminds us, forming a relationship with nature often means confronting systemic barriers that limit access for BIPOC communities. Planet Chambo exists to break those barriers—affirming that access to clean air, safe parks, and wild places is not a luxury, but a right.

The name Chambo is rooted in this vision. It comes from a river in Ecuador—a lifeline that symbolizes fertility, resilience, and flow. Just as rivers nourish the land, Planet Chambo envisions a world where creativity and nature flow freely: a planet full of rivers, clean air, water, and life.