generations...

peace all! welcome back to "She's So Fresh" Fridays! this week we explore an aspect of Hip Hop that I find truly FRESH. we all know Hip Hop has been around for over two decades and we're moving into this next generation of MC's and now Hip Hop artists we grew up loving and listening to are parents of aspiring Hip Hop artists. from Diggy Simmons to G.L.A.M.-I-Rock these young people are leaving their mark on the world of Hip Hop. so this week and next we will be paying homage to the impact of Hip Hop on this generation and the last by introducing you to 2 female MC's, both dope, mother and daughter. if you love Hip Hop and love women in Hip Hop, well...you gotta love it!

so that being said, this week's feature is:

NIC NAC.

better known as Nic Nac the Oakland Raider, she’s performed and toured with some of Hip-Hops greatest legends including Tupac, Biggie, Ice, Cube and Too-Short just to name a few. the owner of platinum plaques from her joint with Oakland's own The Luniz, she's also featured with artist such as The Lox and Eve, Jazz of Dru Hill and held down stages for Snoop Dogg, DJ Quick and Jada Kiss. so it's no surprise that she's the mom of a dope female MC seeing as how she is one herself.

these days she's working on new music and grooming her daughter to deal with this industry which, as we know, can be...harsh, to say the least. She took some time out of her super busy schedule to bless us with some insight from Oakland's own First Lady of the Bay:

me: what's the biggest difference between Hip Hop today and when you were touring and active as an artist?
Nic Nac: The quality or the dedication to the art form. Artists when I was coming up, we were hungry and ready to hustle for what we wanted. We were passionate and it wasn't so trendy because we were all catching on to a vibe, a feeling, a culture so we weren't only spectators, we were trailblazers and trendsetters for who and where artists of today.
Alot of todays artist really don't know authenticity. They tend to be more trendy, not that we we didn't lend and borrow from other genres but we difinitely put our own twist on them and your lyrics were (what) you stood by, they needed to mean something.

me: what inspires you?

Nic Nac: Growth, change, self actulalization and more importantly when I see people being true to themselves no matter what any one else may try to conceptualize you as. I'm big on people being true to their own truth, that's what really inspires me, true originality. Passion and conviction even if it means standing alone, know who you are, what you want and stay determined and and not allow circumstances to define who you but define your own goals, and last but but not least putting GOD first in everything you do that's what really inspires me.

me: how do you feel about the state of women in Hip Hop?

Nic Nac: I feel like we have made progress in a lot of ways but not enough of the true pioneers of women's hip-hop are owning it and paving the way for women of good content to be heard. I feel too many of them are so caught up with still wanting the spot light they forget it's some young lady that they can mentor and develope and resurrect through them on another re-invented tip like I have done with my own daughter GLAM.

me: any wisdom for young women getting into this game?

Nic Nac: When you touch the mic the world is listening make and impact and make what you say have meaning and realism, think about your goals and stay true to your direction. don't conform to being objectified because that's what the majority may say, be confident in who you are and stay in the light. show unity amongst other woman in the game as well it's to much cattyness and not enough sisterhood.

TRUTH. kudos to Nic Nac, for not only doing her thing but also nurturing a deep love for truth and Hip Hop in her daughter, THAT is what it is!

so til next week y'all! def check back because we'll have the second part of this two-part feature with Nic Nac and G.L.A.M.-I-Rock! If you wanna support Nic Nac and check out her new music breeze by her myspace page and take a listen, you won't be disappointed except with the fact that she's been gone for so long! 

so stay up stay strong stay positive and I'll be back!

peaces

rox. 

© 2010 J.A.G. Music and Media

laying foundations...

wassup everybody! welcome back to "She's So Fresh" Fridays! this week we are traveling to Detroit to expose you to:

THE FOUNDATION.

co-founded by two of Detroit's finest, Invincible and Miz Korona, The Foundation is a weekly event highlighting Women's contributions to this art of Hip Hop. hosted at 5E Gallery by Detroit’s own Piper Carter, Mz Jonz and Lala, it has featured DJ’s Mel Wonder, Sticky Niki and La Jedi with B-Girls Ri$ Money, Mama (Hardcore Detroit), Teena Marie Graf Artist Riku, Photographer Cindyslick, and The Fembassy’s Glennisha Morgan.

photo by Ri$

with a mission to "educate and empower the community through sharing our love of the arts, while inspiring change and growth", The Foundation embraces not only those featured artists but also up and coming MC's via the Open Mic sessions, as well as our male counterparts and supporters. that last part makes me very happy because, and I always say this in my shows and at the "SSF Showcases", this women's movement in Hip Hop is not about just women. we are always trying to reach our daughters but ALSO our sons, and the only way to truly revive and reinvigorate Hip Hop for all of us to move  together.

The Foundation seeks to "(e)ncourag(e) freedom of expression, healthy competition, independent thought and positive self-identity", thus defining Hip Hop as OUR (female and male) legacy and ensuring it will remain an evolving genre for the next generation.

with the all female band YIN backing up the MC's and performers once a month, past open mic special guests have included Invincible, Miz Korona, Niambi, Monica Blaire, Mz Jonz, Skim, D.S. Sense, Mu, T Miller, Jessica Care Moore, Mae Day, Finale, 14KT, MC Buff 1, Big A, Zhao-Ski, FES, Masood, Mudd, Kiko and sooooo much more!

photo by Ri$

and support has been thorough throughout the Detroit Hip Hop Community from the likes of DJ Head (Eminem), DJ Dez (Slum Village), DJ Sicari (5 Ela), DJ Soko, Sintex (Detroit’s best graff writer) to name a few.

photo by Ri$

photo by Ri$

so shouts to 5E Gallery, Piper Carter, Miz Korona, Invincible and all the other amazing incredible out of the D that are doing their part to support sistas in this art! all of their hard work is what makes them FRESH! so til next week, y'all be cool!

p.s.: if you're in NY, make sure you save the date: 7/28. because it's going down and the 1st event of the evening is:

when: 7/28 @730p
where: 53 Chambers Street, 2nd Floor, NY, NY
damage: $10

and the second event of the evening will be the UNofficial, we just going because it's gonna be hot and happens to be after, party:

when: 7/28/2010 @10pm.
where: The Douglas Street Loft, 300 Douglas Street, BK, NY. 

my homie and last week's "She's So Fresh" Fridays feature, DJ Juice E is going to be rocking and doing it up at The Sucia Party! and that is guaranteed to be FRESH! I cosign because I <3 DJ Juice E for what she does on them turntables and so I highly advise you to NOT miss what is gonna be a seriously fun time!

so, stay up stay strong and stay positive!
peaces
rox.

© 2010 J.A.G. Music and Media