peace everybody!
so I want to take this week's "She's So Fresh" Fridayz to acknowledge and give props to a sista that has been one of the many amazing women integral to the business of entertainment and Hip Hop. Thembisa S. Mshaka. her contributions include award winning campaigns for Sony Music, as Senior Copywriter, that helped fuel sales of over 150 million albums for artists like Wyclef Jean, Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, not to mention one of our favorite artists and woman MC's, Lauryn Hill.
Her book "
Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your Entertainment Business" was recently published and in it she shares first hand knowledge of the work that gets done behind the scenes. Compiling the stories of women in the industry including her own, from successes to struggles, she gives young women words of encouragement, caution and advice.
As the former rap editor for GAVIN, and a true supporter of Hip Hop throughout her career, her contribution to "
25 Hip-Hop Icons", an academic reference volume published by Greenwood Press stands as only one example. she's fresh because she is one of the countless women has handled her business with grace, dignity and wisdom not to mention being a wife and a mother. she continues to embrace her life's journey, and it was a pleasure to ask her some questions:
me: did you imagine when you started that you would have this life long relationship with Hip Hop in particular?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: Not at all. I went to college studying International Relations to become a diplomat or ambassador; I simply wound up doing that in the entertainment world. Who I am in my career is the bridge between creativity and commerce.
me: have you ever had something said to you that was flat out sexist and discriminatory? how did you address it?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: Sure. Depending on the situation I would A: engage them in conversation about it B: ignore it knowing it deserved no audience or C: involve the authorities be that Human Resources or my attorney. I think women should place cease & desists on men who call them sexist names in the work sphere--reputation is like cash in our industry!
me: you were responsible for the Marketing Campaign for, arguably, one of the most influential female MCs ever, Ms. Lauryn Hill. were there any issues you in particular that you had to deal with that you felt were popping up b/c you're a woman? b/c Lauryn is a woman?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was my first project as Senior Copywriter for Sony. I was determined to make it great, and not so much nervous as I was anxious. I knew I had an advantage because Lauryn and I had met years before when I was enlisted to help break the Fugees at GAVIN--and, I am hip-hop, which no other writer on the team was at that time.
Among many great things about that extraordinary project was all the Black women involved with it: Stephanie Gayle did the product marketing, Yvette Noel-Schure did the PR, Lisa Ellis in promotion, Debra Ginyard on styling, Joan Baker who voiced the campaign, and many others. I also have to acknowledge the brilliant design of Erwin Gorostiza--he created the album package, which is an undeniable classic. We were all committed to that campaign being authentic and iconic. It was very important to me that all the copy I wrote for it reflected honesty and greatness. The world needed to hear Lauryn's voice apart from the context of The Fugees, and not just as a rapper, but as a songwriter and producer. It's a career highlight for me to have had the charge of representing her work to the world. It was her project that showed me my campaign work was being used worldwide; I saw a 'Miseducation' poster I created translated into Spanish while on vacation and it hit me then what kind of impact my work was making. And after 10 GRAMMY(r) nominations and 5 wins--including Album of the Year, she remains hugely influential. With that victory, she opened the door for emcees to win for Album of the Year, including Outkast.
As for issues we encountered because she's a woman, the entire creative and marketing team was also very intent on showcasing her beauty, her actual skin tone, and her natural hair. All retouching, makeup, etc had to be true to Lauryn's essence. A testament to both her vision as an artist, and our dedication as executives. Also, I had to get creative for her premiere TV spot. She was 5 months pregnant, so we had her sit at a desk in her high school classroom writing lyrics in a notebook so no one would focus on her figure. That was an incredible spot because of all the history it held for her.
me: you drop so much knowledge in your book, but what would you say would be the cardinal rule for young women that want to get into this industry? if you had to pick one..
Thembisa S. Mshaka: The Cardinal rule for young women has to be not to trade sex for access. It is infinitely more destructive than the one-night stand you think it is. It will also erode your reputation and the level of respect conferred on you by others. No kneepads at work!
words to live by. Thembisa S. Mshaka is an inspiration and her book "
Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your Entertainment Business" is a truthful and inspiring look behind the scenes at industry of music and not just the music itself. so big ups to her and all her endeavors because "She's So Fresh"!
www.thembisamshaka.com
so here's hoping you all have a dope weekend! and remember, save the date 8/6!! the "She's So Fresh" Showcase is on deck and poppin!!
hit me on
twitter to stay up on 8/6 and "She's So Fresh"!
peaces,
rox
As the former rap editor for GAVIN, and a true supporter of Hip Hop throughout her career, her contribution to "25 Hip-Hop Icons", an academic reference volume published by Greenwood Press stands as only one example. she's fresh because she is one of the countless women has handled her business with grace, dignity and wisdom not to mention being a wife and a mother. she continues to embrace her life's journey, and it was a pleasure to ask her some questions:
me: did you imagine when you started that you would have this life long relationship with Hip Hop in particular?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: Not at all. I went to college studying International Relations to become a diplomat or ambassador; I simply wound up doing that in the entertainment world. Who I am in my career is the bridge between creativity and commerce.
me: have you ever had something said to you that was flat out sexist and discriminatory? how did you address it?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: Sure. Depending on the situation I would A: engage them in conversation about it B: ignore it knowing it deserved no audience or C: involve the authorities be that Human Resources or my attorney. I think women should place cease & desists on men who call them sexist names in the work sphere--reputation is like cash in our industry!
me: you were responsible for the Marketing Campaign for, arguably, one of the most influential female MCs ever, Ms. Lauryn Hill. were there any issues you in particular that you had to deal with that you felt were popping up b/c you're a woman? b/c Lauryn is a woman?
Thembisa S. Mshaka: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was my first project as Senior Copywriter for Sony. I was determined to make it great, and not so much nervous as I was anxious. I knew I had an advantage because Lauryn and I had met years before when I was enlisted to help break the Fugees at GAVIN--and, I am hip-hop, which no other writer on the team was at that time.
Among many great things about that extraordinary project was all the Black women involved with it: Stephanie Gayle did the product marketing, Yvette Noel-Schure did the PR, Lisa Ellis in promotion, Debra Ginyard on styling, Joan Baker who voiced the campaign, and many others. I also have to acknowledge the brilliant design of Erwin Gorostiza--he created the album package, which is an undeniable classic. We were all committed to that campaign being authentic and iconic. It was very important to me that all the copy I wrote for it reflected honesty and greatness. The world needed to hear Lauryn's voice apart from the context of The Fugees, and not just as a rapper, but as a songwriter and producer. It's a career highlight for me to have had the charge of representing her work to the world. It was her project that showed me my campaign work was being used worldwide; I saw a 'Miseducation' poster I created translated into Spanish while on vacation and it hit me then what kind of impact my work was making. And after 10 GRAMMY(r) nominations and 5 wins--including Album of the Year, she remains hugely influential. With that victory, she opened the door for emcees to win for Album of the Year, including Outkast.
As for issues we encountered because she's a woman, the entire creative and marketing team was also very intent on showcasing her beauty, her actual skin tone, and her natural hair. All retouching, makeup, etc had to be true to Lauryn's essence. A testament to both her vision as an artist, and our dedication as executives. Also, I had to get creative for her premiere TV spot. She was 5 months pregnant, so we had her sit at a desk in her high school classroom writing lyrics in a notebook so no one would focus on her figure. That was an incredible spot because of all the history it held for her.
me: you drop so much knowledge in your book, but what would you say would be the cardinal rule for young women that want to get into this industry? if you had to pick one..
Thembisa S. Mshaka: The Cardinal rule for young women has to be not to trade sex for access. It is infinitely more destructive than the one-night stand you think it is. It will also erode your reputation and the level of respect conferred on you by others. No kneepads at work!
words to live by. Thembisa S. Mshaka is an inspiration and her book "Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your Entertainment Business" is a truthful and inspiring look behind the scenes at industry of music and not just the music itself. so big ups to her and all her endeavors because "She's So Fresh"!
www.thembisamshaka.com
so here's hoping you all have a dope weekend! and remember, save the date 8/6!! the "She's So Fresh" Showcase is on deck and poppin!!
hit me on twitter to stay up on 8/6 and "She's So Fresh"!
peaces,
rox
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