what's good everybody! hope everyone had a blessed week and looking forward to the upcoming! back on deck with the check in on...
so there are two sisters. their names are knewdles and sos. together they make up Misnomer(S). I met these two young women back in 2006 when someone suggested to me that I check out their music because what they were doing was unique, one rhymed and the other played the violin. they were creating Hip Hop music, telling their own story in their own way. oh, and they're Korean. so my curiosity was piqued.
since then I have watched these two sisters grow as Hip Hop artists and artists in general. so because these are ma gurls, I had to introduce you to them if you don't already know. what they are doing is different and FRESH, which why this week, "They So Fresh"..ha!
Knewdles (Kickin New Elevation When Daily Life Expects Sobs), holds the mic and is responsible for production. artistically, she feels deep, digs deep and comes through with songs speak about life, growth and gaining understanding of the world around us.
Sos (pronounced "sauce") (Sis On Strings), has blessed the music of artists as diverse as her own group Misnomer(S) to Jay Z and Alicia Keys. she molds Classical with Hip Hop with Jazz and, as co-producer, compliments Knewdles' flows creating a fresh dimension of sound.
and Misnomer(S) is introducing the world to their sound through the conviction that's evident in their live performances as well as their radio and television appearances. building a steady following across a diverse audience, they're now focused on self producing and recording their album American Eyes, while still performing and contributing to their BedStuy Community through their open mic "The Age of Hip Hop: Youth Open Mic and Workshop".
I asked the sisters about their journey...and they each had their own answers..honest and real:
me: let's lay it out on the table, what is it like being female, korean hip hop artists?
KNEWDLES:yo... i could go ON & ON. the short answer is that i like to say im the minority within the minority within the minority. female, asian, and my partner is not my producer or DJ or even another MC, but a violinist-- and my sister at that (so u can add another "minority" to the mix). when your status is that black sheep, it is what it is. 2 sides to 1 coin, with advantages and disadvantages. some people expect less, theyre thinking, "how good can they be?" and others expect more, like, "if they have the balls to be who they are and do hip hop, then they'd better be bringing that next level shit". whatever the case and wherever it's coming from-- from audiences to fellow artists to industry folks-- i can always tell what attitude im working with. its important to know, because it helps in maneuvering. all the gimmicky aspects in us that people react to make it easier for me to navigate thru the real and bull shit-- especially once they've heard our music or seen us perform and it's clear that we're not just some gimmick.
SOS: My first answer is... it's dope! I feel like I have access to a world I never thought I would be a part of growing up. I never imagined as a kid that I would be making hiphop music and so to be doing so now, as an adult, in this age at this time, I am rather amazed at the journey which has led me here and the choices I have made to be doing what I do.
My second answer is... it's challenging because there is no path laid out before us or examples of other female, korean american hiphop artists for us to watch or learn from -- either successes or failures -- but that is also what is very exciting about it. we're forging a new frontier!
me: how does your family feel about the path you ladies have chosen?
KNEWDLES: my family supports the choices we've made. but it's not a blanket thing. they are old world immigrants who made good in a new country and they only trust quantifiable measures of success. so if i'm in the same place in 5 years, or even 1 or 2 years, then i'm sure their occasional "why don't u go back to school and get a higher degree" comment will become a lot more frequent. in my opinion, i think they quite believe in what we're doing, but they lack some faith that the world might actually accept and facilitate it.
SOS: it has taken some time for them to really understand what and why we are doing what we do but in the process of watching us struggle, determine and create they have come support us and enjoy our music. what they fear most for us is that we are not happy and victorious in our lives, so as long as we feel good about what we do and continue to grow as human beings, women and artists and support ourselves as well, then they are happy too.
me: have you ever experienced any sort of discrimination, sexual, racial or otherwise? if so, how did you deal with it?
KNEWDLES: on some level i feel like the discrimination is always there, both sexual and racial. but i can't quite pinpoint this or that experience to show u what i mean. it's just steeped into everything, in terms of the gigs we get asked to do, the people who approach us, the opportunities that are presented to us, etc. i think exploitation goes hand in hand with discrimination, and in that regard i can think of definitive experiences we've had where people (men) looked at us and saw dollar signs, or saw us as the way to break into the asian market. i am all for exposure and international success, but i will only work with people who respect me for my talent and my saavy, people who aren't solely interested in milking me for whatever they're trying to get out of the game.
SOS: being female and playing the violin in the hiphop world has made certain opportunities available to me that have not been to my male counterparts, like playing with some of the big name (always male) hiphop MCs -- they always want to be backed up by female string players! on the other hand, because the opportunity is available to me precisely because i am female and qualified can sometimes mean that there is a certain casualness in the interaction (not necessarily with the artist themselves, but with their crew) that can be iffy or challenging to negotiate at times.
me: how often do you create together? or do you create separately and come together with your ideas?
KNEWDLES: to be honest, we have been so consumed with our own hustles and with seeing our album and tv show to the finish line that we haven't done much creating together in recent times. being sisters makes it both incredibly easy and and incredibly difficult to be creative together, especially with the kind of crazy relationship we have. in the past, i was pretty isolated in my process, i would come up with lyrics or a beat and then sos would come into the picture. but i'm much more interested now in having a truly collaborative process, both with my sister and with other producers and artists i want to make music with. i was just saying to sos today, i think our debut album "American Eyes" is more like a historical greatest hits album, because it kind of covers the past and all that we had to go through to clear the slate clean, if that makes sense. now that we kind of know what we're doing and what we want, it's like we're finally ready to move forward and do things truly together. or maybe i should say "i" and let her speak for herself, lol.
SOS: hard to say. it's been a little bit of both and both together at the same time.
so keep checkin for Misnomer(S)! because you could be walking through Target one day and see them looking down at you from the commercial and print campaign they did for Converse One Star for Target. or download the ringtone done in conjunction with Target/Converse One Star. or catch them on the mic at a show, or on Pandora Radio. these sisters are on their grind and coming to ear near you!
so til next week peeps! I <3 u all supporters of sistas in Hip Hop!
peace y'all! what's good, it's me!peace y'all! what's good, it's me!
this Friday...we have...
AtLas'
this sista wrote her first rhyme at 7 years old and has been honing her craft since then. she's been known to come off the dome with that clever ish that make you say "is that really off the dome?" but, yes, it is. she builds with people and brings folks together through Hip Hop focusing on the belief that she must "use her gift to speak for those who are unable to put their thoughts into words". she's earned the respect of her fellow brethen in Hip Hop by splashing in ciphas and proving the equality of the Woman MC.
in 2006, she connected with MC Lyte and Mecca (both above) to start the Hip Hop Sisters and I am going to direct quote because it's important to understand the mission of this movement:
Hip Hop Sisters is a movement of women who will change the face of Hip Hop and the way that women are perceived in society today. We strive to bring the essence of Hip Hop back to its originality. There are too many negative images about women and Hip Hop, and it is effecting the younger generation. We need to show the world that a woman can achieve greatness, without selling our souls to the negativity that is put out there to destroy our culture.So in short, the Hip Hop Sisters Mission is to promote mental growth, understanding and self awareness in our sisters, using the Art of Hip Hop to help the youth find their voice.
she's rocked stages from NY to TX and is renowned among those she's rocked with, from myself to Roxanne Shante, for her story telling skills and the way she commands the stage when she's telling those stories. she is truly an MC's Emcee.
combining super powers with two other dope MC's in 2008, Likwuid and Kween Kash, to form GNU (Group Name Unknown), she has discovered a whole new horizon of rhyming.
so, of course, my readers know I had a few questions for AtLas, firstly about the group:
me: There's a perception that women don't get along. Being in the all woman group, GNU, do you find that to be case? Or do you, Likwuid and Kween Kash work it out since you all have different styles?
AtLas': GNU is certainly not the exception. I believe that females are nurturing and compromising by nature. When a women doesn't feel threatened, she sees no need to defend herself. When we are secure in our own abilities, especially during a collaborative effort, we want to see each other succeed. (We are finishing up our EP, so keep your eyes and ears open for that!).
me: How long have you been rhyming?
AtLas': Entirely too long for it to not be my main source of income. =0P
me: Was realizing the state of women in Hip Hop and embracing your desire to help the result of something specific that happened? Or did you just decide one day to be the change you wanted to see?
AtLas': Not necessarily. Just as the perceived absence of women in Hip Hop has been gradual, as has been my desire to contribute to the positive change.
me: What do you hope to accomplish through Hip Hop Sisters?
AtLas': It's my hope that I am able to help MC Lyte bring her vision to fruition. I, along with all of the board members want to contribute to helping ladies utilize this platform we call hip hop to benefit themselves and others. Also, remind the fellas that we are still here and they need us to balance their craft.
so whether you catch her at the Hip Hop Cultural Center or rocking with GNU or building with other women MC's about Hip Hop Sisters...readers, if you didn't know, now you do. meet AtLas, she lives Hip Hop, and that's why "She's So Fresh"!
what's good peoples!!!
so it's me again! bringin you another "She's So Fresh" Fridayz, doin my best to forward the woman MC in this art we all love so much, Hip Hop.
this week, in keeping with my ones to watch theme of last couple Fridayz, I wanted to tell y'all about this sista that if you don't know about, you need to know about.
RatheMC
coming out of DC, RatheMC is bringing her view of the world to a speaker near you. she just completed "The Next Generation" tour that went from DC to BK, NY and rocked stages with Wu-Tang, Raheem Davaugn and Damien Marley.
her first project "A Mixtape About Something...I Think" got folks attention with the lyrical talent and wit displayed and it was awarded www.hiphopgame.com's "Demo of the Month".
settling down from traveling RatheMC answered a couple of questions I hit her with:
me: how long have you been rhyming?
RatheMC: about 9 years now
me: what's the biggest hurdle you've encountered?
RatheMC: Getting through to my male listeners. A lot of guys tend to have this stereotype of female rappers (sex sells) and those of us who don't fit into that box get ignored. My biggest hurdle is definitely getting heard as an equal to my male counterparts.
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/3646774[/vimeo]
me: what is your most memorable Hip Hop experience?
RatheMC: Ripping the mic with Wu Tang! I'll never forget that.
me: what do you love most about MCing?
RatheMC: Performing. I love to watch my lyrics come to life! lol
this sista's got her own style, her own opinions and her own ideas and is making sure that once you see her hold that mic, you won't soon forget. I had the pleasure of seeing her rock in DC and I was so impressed not just with her skill but her command of the stage and the audience. when I found out she was only 16 at the time, all I can say is she is definitely one we should be watching! as recently as this morning, she's been nominated for an MTV2/Comcast VMA Award for "Best Breakout DC Artist".
stay up on her at any one of the links below and let's support the next generation!
RatheMC on myspaceRatheMC on twitterRatheMC.com
til next week good folks, y'all stay up stay strong stay positive!!
peaces,
rox
on 8/6/2009 I had the most amazing night! all the ladies came through and repped for She's So Fresh and it was so dope! I am exhausted..lol, but feeling very grateful and blessed to have been witness to the mic ripping that went on tonight. where are all the female MC's you ask, well, tonight they were at Karma Lounge showing folks why you miss us. whether it was newcomers, Eyeris and Controversy or the veterans, Lin Que and Tiye Phoenix, the crowd sang along, the cameras snapped and it was Hip Hop all day, at it's finest! all that came through had such a good time and so did I!
my born day was Wednesday and what a way to celebrate, let me tell you! this showcase was my present to myself and I always knew in my heart that Hip Hop missed us but after tonight I am 100% certain that not only does Hip Hop miss us, but the Hip Hop lovers miss us. the music misses us..and we are so necessary. the mission I am on was re-invigorated, and the wind is at my back as I go forward with my efforts to do everything in my power to realign the Woman MC and balance this equation we call Hip Hop.
yes, this blog is short this week, but it is only because the ladies on the She's So Fresh Showcase including yours truly, along with all my sistas that performed on 8/6, left the heart on the stage! Caits Meissner is an incredible poet and host and kept us laughing and hype as she introduced everyone, Eyeris spit game with Radio Rose DJing and special guest Miz Metro (check out Miz Metro Mondays, btw!). Controversy told us about some of her "Favorite Things", and maintained the feeling of family with her joint "My Sister", while Caits Meissner debuted a new song, sharing the fact that she's more than a poet artist, but a great singer and songwriter as well. DJ Juice E played soooo many joints, like JOINTS! Thembisa Mshaka was there to support with that all important book, "Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your Entertainment Business" and then there's Lin and Tiye. what can I say? except Lin Que "Let It Fall" on them and Tiye Phoenix is "Half Woman Half Amazin"!
I will let others speak their opinions as to yours truly, the performance and whether I ROXWELL, but I know I had so much fun and felt so much love that I am, again, grateful and BLESSed.
well good people, I m still recovering from the adrenaline of the evening. thank you ALL who came out in support of the Woman MC! and special thanks to: Blackout, The Bloom Effect, Stiletto and Sounds, Fusicology, J.A.G. Music and Media, and of course Karma Lounge for having us!
y'all stay tuned for next week's "She's So Fresh" Fridayz! I will be back on deck and keeping you up to date on sista MC's holding mics, holding it down and loving Hip Hop!
peaceandblessings
me
so there are two sisters. their names are knewdles and sos. together they make up Misnomer(S). I met these two young women back in 2006 when someone suggested to me that I check out their music because what they were doing was unique, one rhymed and the other played the violin. they were creating Hip Hop music, telling their own story in their own way. oh, and they're Korean. so my curiosity was piqued.
since then I have watched these two sisters grow as Hip Hop artists and artists in general. so because these are ma gurls, I had to introduce you to them if you don't already know. what they are doing is different and FRESH, which why this week, "They So Fresh"..ha!
Knewdles (Kickin New Elevation When Daily Life Expects Sobs), holds the mic and is responsible for production. artistically, she feels deep, digs deep and comes through with songs speak about life, growth and gaining understanding of the world around us.
Sos (pronounced "sauce") (Sis On Strings), has blessed the music of artists as diverse as her own group Misnomer(S) to Jay Z and Alicia Keys. she molds Classical with Hip Hop with Jazz and, as co-producer, compliments Knewdles' flows creating a fresh dimension of sound.
and Misnomer(S) is introducing the world to their sound through the conviction that's evident in their live performances as well as their radio and television appearances. building a steady following across a diverse audience, they're now focused on self producing and recording their album American Eyes, while still performing and contributing to their BedStuy Community through their open mic "The Age of Hip Hop: Youth Open Mic and Workshop".
I asked the sisters about their journey...and they each had their own answers..honest and real:
me: let's lay it out on the table, what is it like being female, korean hip hop artists?
KNEWDLES: yo... i could go ON & ON. the short answer is that i like to say im the minority within the minority within the minority. female, asian, and my partner is not my producer or DJ or even another MC, but a violinist-- and my sister at that (so u can add another "minority" to the mix). when your status is that black sheep, it is what it is. 2 sides to 1 coin, with advantages and disadvantages. some people expect less, theyre thinking, "how good can they be?" and others expect more, like, "if they have the balls to be who they are and do hip hop, then they'd better be bringing that next level shit". whatever the case and wherever it's coming from-- from audiences to fellow artists to industry folks-- i can always tell what attitude im working with. its important to know, because it helps in maneuvering. all the gimmicky aspects in us that people react to make it easier for me to navigate thru the real and bull shit-- especially once they've heard our music or seen us perform and it's clear that we're not just some gimmick.
SOS: My first answer is... it's dope! I feel like I have access to a world I never thought I would be a part of growing up. I never imagined as a kid that I would be making hiphop music and so to be doing so now, as an adult, in this age at this time, I am rather amazed at the journey which has led me here and the choices I have made to be doing what I do.
My second answer is... it's challenging because there is no path laid out before us or examples of other female, korean american hiphop artists for us to watch or learn from -- either successes or failures -- but that is also what is very exciting about it. we're forging a new frontier!
me: how does your family feel about the path you ladies have chosen?
KNEWDLES: my family supports the choices we've made. but it's not a blanket thing. they are old world immigrants who made good in a new country and they only trust quantifiable measures of success. so if i'm in the same place in 5 years, or even 1 or 2 years, then i'm sure their occasional "why don't u go back to school and get a higher degree" comment will become a lot more frequent. in my opinion, i think they quite believe in what we're doing, but they lack some faith that the world might actually accept and facilitate it.
SOS: it has taken some time for them to really understand what and why we are doing what we do but in the process of watching us struggle, determine and create they have come support us and enjoy our music. what they fear most for us is that we are not happy and victorious in our lives, so as long as we feel good about what we do and continue to grow as human beings, women and artists and support ourselves as well, then they are happy too.
me: have you ever experienced any sort of discrimination, sexual, racial or otherwise? if so, how did you deal with it?
KNEWDLES: on some level i feel like the discrimination is always there, both sexual and racial. but i can't quite pinpoint this or that experience to show u what i mean. it's just steeped into everything, in terms of the gigs we get asked to do, the people who approach us, the opportunities that are presented to us, etc. i think exploitation goes hand in hand with discrimination, and in that regard i can think of definitive experiences we've had where people (men) looked at us and saw dollar signs, or saw us as the way to break into the asian market. i am all for exposure and international success, but i will only work with people who respect me for my talent and my saavy, people who aren't solely interested in milking me for whatever they're trying to get out of the game.
SOS: being female and playing the violin in the hiphop world has made certain opportunities available to me that have not been to my male counterparts, like playing with some of the big name (always male) hiphop MCs -- they always want to be backed up by female string players! on the other hand, because the opportunity is available to me precisely because i am female and qualified can sometimes mean that there is a certain casualness in the interaction (not necessarily with the artist themselves, but with their crew) that can be iffy or challenging to negotiate at times.
me: how often do you create together? or do you create separately and come together with your ideas?
KNEWDLES: to be honest, we have been so consumed with our own hustles and with seeing our album and tv show to the finish line that we haven't done much creating together in recent times. being sisters makes it both incredibly easy and and incredibly difficult to be creative together, especially with the kind of crazy relationship we have. in the past, i was pretty isolated in my process, i would come up with lyrics or a beat and then sos would come into the picture. but i'm much more interested now in having a truly collaborative process, both with my sister and with other producers and artists i want to make music with. i was just saying to sos today, i think our debut album "American Eyes" is more like a historical greatest hits album, because it kind of covers the past and all that we had to go through to clear the slate clean, if that makes sense. now that we kind of know what we're doing and what we want, it's like we're finally ready to move forward and do things truly together. or maybe i should say "i" and let her speak for herself, lol.
SOS: hard to say. it's been a little bit of both and both together at the same time.
so keep checkin for Misnomer(S)! because you could be walking through Target one day and see them looking down at you from the commercial and print campaign they did for Converse One Star for Target. or download the ringtone done in conjunction with Target/Converse One Star. or catch them on the mic at a show, or on Pandora Radio. these sisters are on their grind and coming to ear near you!
so til next week peeps! I <3 u all supporters of sistas in Hip Hop!
