Madlines: Talks About New Album ‘Love Child’ & Transitioning to the Bay Area

MadlinesWe sat down with Madlines who was one half of the the Seattle based duo Canary Sing, to talk about her new solo project called ‘Love Child‘. For Madlines its her second big move in terms of her being a fierce emcee who decided to push the envelop by embracing a reggae sound which is reflective of her Jamaican roots. Her new song The Weapon has caught a lot of attention as she not only reflects her new style but also reminds folks to put down the guns and pick up the mic. Use your words and flow as a weapon for change.

Her first big move was coming down to the Bay Area to go to Mills College where she studied writing and literature.

During our interview Madlines talks about her adjustment to the Bay Area after relocating here from Seattle. She compares and contrasts the two regions thriving independent Hip Hop scenes. She talks about what it was like collaborating with Bay Area artists like Gigante of Brwn Bflo as well as linking up with fellow female emcees and singers like long time friend Hollis, Miss Haze and Melissa Jones to kick dust and round off her new project.

Madlines also talks about what it was like going solo as well as her next steps..

https://soundcloud.com/mrdaveyd/hkr-interview-w-madlines-holding-it-down-for-seattle-the-bay-area

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP16onY02Ig

500 Female Emcees: Meet Boog Brown-Always Grinding and Being Herself

Boog BrownOriginally from Detroit and now living in Atlanta is an emcee, songwriter and poet who many like to say has skillz comparable to artists like Nas, Rakim and Lauryn Hill. We’re talking Boog Brown who is no stranger to set-backs. After moving from Detroit to Atlanta in 2007, she found herself without a job , a car or even a mattress to sleep on. But nothing feeds the soul of a true Detroiter like adversity.

Determined to make her unique voice heard, Brown donned her work clothes, put pen to paper, Chuck Taylors to the pavement and started to grind. Boog became a regular at Atlanta’s hip-hop venues, meeting producers, promoters, writers and aficianados. The message of her music was simple and the purpose, pure: Be yourself. Grind hard. Be better. Get paid.

Since the release of her first “official” mixed tape, Grind Season Vol. 1 in 2009, Boog has grown an impressive following, both online and off. She’s been featured on PotHolesInMyBlog.com, TheGrittyCommittee.com, and TheFembassy.com. Boog Brown has also graced the pages of Creative Loafing and MetroTimes- Detroit.

Boog Brown signed with Mellow Music group and in September of 2010 released the critically acclaimed ‘Brown Study’ with producer Appollo Brown. An instant classic, the album earned a spot on ITune’s Top 10 New Hip-Hop Artists list as well as a 2010 Itunes Indie Spotlight.

Fresh off her stellar performance at the AC3 music conference in Atlanta, Boog Brown was featured on BET’s My Mic Sounds Nice: the Truth About women in Hip Hop and has since gone on to win Best Female Emcee from ATL’s coveted Heart of The Hood Awards.

check for Boog Brown at http:/www.twitter.com/boogbrown

Boog Brown In Tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3hIDtY14Kw

Boog Brown Polaroids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JySHTD5iTEI

Boog Brown Shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKmjJi9HvoI

Boog Brown Window Open

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jf3jyZXeVs

500 Female Emcees: Meet Ana Tijoux-Comin’ Straight Outta Chile

Ana TijouxAnita Tijoux also known as Ana Tijoux is what many would consider an emcee’s emcee. Born in France to two exiled Chilean parents who later returned after the US backed dictator General Augusto Pinochet was disposed, her nice, intense, laid back flows are precise, mesmerizing and often laced with social and political commentary..Ana’s  popularity is understated..

At almost every show I’ve seen her perform from Austin, Texas to the Bay Area gets sold out, attracting crowds that know every word to her songs, even as she raps in Spanish and French.

She had been grinding away for a minute. Initially it was with the group Makiza who many compared to NY’s famed Native Tongues because of their sound and style.. They made some noise with a couple of underground bangers in the late 90s that made the charts in Chile..The group put out a couple of albums including; ‘Vida Salvaje‘ and ‘Casino Royal‘ which was released in 2005 to rave reviews..

The following year Makiza broke up and Tijoux went solo. In 2009 she became a break star internationally with the release of her album 1977 which proclaims the year of her birth and is mostly autobiographical. Many in the US got their first peak at her when she touched down at SXSW in 2010 and blew up the spot doing songs off that album including the popular jam Sube which was done with Detroit emcee Invincible. The SXSW stop led to her launching a successful US tour..

Since then she’s released two other projects including; Elefant Mixtape and the album La Bala which was nominated for a Grammy. Her music has been featured in the video game FIFA 11 and on the hit TV show Breaking Bad. She was also voted as Best Female Emcee Dominating Mics Everywhere on MTV Iggy…Lastly she’s been part of a campaign for women’s empowerment called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.

If you don’t know Anita Tijoux, you been missing out.. Check out some her joints below

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Ana Tijoux w/ Quantic Doo Whop That Thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kDjbvIU1zU

This is a recent song from Anita Tijoux where she hooked up with Colombia-based, British-born producer and musician Quantic. Here the two do a dope cover of Lauryn Hill‘s classic hit “Doo Wop (That Thing)” The lyrics are flipped into Spanish by Tijoux, whose understated yet charismatic flow makes her a beguiling vocal presence, along with a Cumbia beat giving an alternative, tropical slant to this landmark jam.

Ana Tijoux Elephant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDO-_HW5DdA

This is from the mixtape Ana dropped about a year and half ago.. Its a fun video and a warm up to what she had in store on the album LA Bala which would be nominated for a Grammy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAayt5BsEWg

Anita Tijoux Sacar La Voz ft (Jorge Drexler)

This is vintage Ana Tijoux…low key, but powerful and captivating ..It’s an inspiring song about walking proud, being fearless, even if you have ‘nothing in your pockets’ and standing up in the face of oppression.. One of my favorite cuts from her featured on the La Bala album..

Anita Tijoux Shocked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=177-s44MSVQ

This is one of Ana Tijoux‘s most popular songs to date which she did a couple of years ago to bring attention and support to the massive student strikes that were going on in Chile, which brought millions of people out to the streets but was ignored here in the US..She later re-did an acoustic version of this song in Tuscon, Arizona to bring attention to the plight of undocumented folks and the harsh anti-immigrant SB 1070 laws.. You can peep that video
below..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkvgAXkd7yM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Ky836XM-s

 

500 Female Emcees: Meet Akua Naru-World Traveler, A True Wordsmith

Akua NaruHaving begun writing and performing rhymes as a young girl, in her native New Haven, CT, Akua Naru, began crafting in her early years what would later reveal to be a great talent for profound lyricism and extraordinary musical performances.

Known as a traveler, as chronicled throughout her Jan. 2011 debut release, The Journey Aflame, this female wordsmith has garnered attention by trotting the globe, recording her experiences and fusing musical genres with her brand of hip hop.

Formerly based in Philadelphia, there have been many stops along the way, from traveling West Africa to touring China, Naru moved to Cologne, Germany where she currently resides and creates music.

Naru has performed with the world renowned Afro Beat pioneer and Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen, toured with classic Hip Hop group Lords Of The Underground, & shared the stage/collaborated with artists Patrice, Tete, Ursula Rucker, Blitz The Ambassador, Angelique Kidjo and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of the legendary Roots crew to name a few.

Not just an emcee, Naru has also recently teamed up with one of the nation’s leading scholars, Dr. Tricia Rose, author of the classic book “Black Noise” & “The Hip Hop Wars”, to lecture at The Hip Hop Academy in Hamburg, Germany.

Akua Naru’s album ‘…The Journey A Flame’ has a rare depth, warmth, and honesty that has garnered international appeal. With her first official release, Naru reflects on her path with an intricate landscape of words that provoke thought, inspire, and soothe. With this album, Naru reveals that her journey has not only been  aflame: it has just begun.

‘‘I have written, sung, and performed since I can remember having my first thoughts. I have never discovered the music; the music and rhyme discovered me.‘‘ she noted

Akua NaruThe Backflip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb-wbEntrXI

Akua Naru The Block

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj6LLXtZPRY

Akua NaruThe Wound w/ Blitz the Ambassador

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aPClT6PCKI

Akua Naru Nag Champa Gold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvoEVD6N2gI

Akua Naru -Tales of Two Men w/ African Footprint

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLVgk7mTOk

 

 

 

500 Female Emcees: Meet Brooke Candy Exotic Dance Turned Rapper

Brook Candy (Oxnard, Ca)

Brook Candy (Oxnard, Ca)

Brooke Candy is from Oxnard California and  is best known for co-starring in the music video for Grimes‘ hit single “Genesis.” She released a music video for her song “Das Me” in October 2012. Her second video, “Everybody Does,” was released on January 3, 2013. Her third video for “I Wanna Fuck Right Now” was released on February 11, 2013. Her debut album, an EP titled Freaky Princess, came out in 2013 and she appeared as guest vocalist on the lead single of Kylie Minogue‘s twelfth studio album..

Candy’s father is the CFO of Hustler magazine and CEO of Hustler Casino, and Candy herself has been employed by Hustler as a mannequin stylist. Her industry ties helped her snag an internship with reality star and stylist Rachel Zoe. Before becoming a pop singer, Candy worked in a strip-club called Seventh Veil for eight months. Although she has been approached by four major record labels, she has not signed a recording contract. Best known for sporting metallic bikinis and pink cornrows, Candy has been compared to Gwen Stefani, Lady Gaga, and Nicki Minaj. Candy cites transhumanism and superhero-culture as the inspiration for her metallic costumes.

Reach her on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/brookecandy

Check out our master list of 500 Female Emcees You Should Know

Brooke CandyDas Me’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHULK1M-P08

Brooke Candy ‘Everybody Does’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrfvIr7cfbY

Brooke Candy ‘Dumb’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9vjglx8sE

Brooke Candy ‘I Wanna F–K’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOx96K141SU

500 Female Emcees: Meet Apani B Fly from Queens, NY

Apani B Fly-Queens NY

Apani B Fly-Queens NY

Apani aka Apani B-Fly Emcee, often referred to as Apani B. is a revered hip hop artist, author, entrepreneur and activist from Hollis, Queens in NYC. She is a founding member of the hip hop super-group Polyrhythm Addicts, along with fellow members DJ Spinna, Mr. Complex, and Shabaam Sahdeeq. Apani emerged during the golden era of the 90’s to be considered a pioneer of New York City’s underground hip hop scene.
Apani has toured internationally and been embraced by a loyal and ever growing fanbase as new listeners discover and relate to her music. She is singularly set apart by her ability to use her vocals to confidently project a large presence throughout every performance with her agile delivery as well as inspire with socially conscious themes while managing to not forget to entertain the listener.

Now although a busy and dedicated mom of 3 beautiful and talented children, Apani continues to remain relevant as an important figure on the indie music scene. Apani continues to reach new levels artistically, always making new music and collaborating with varied artists, working as a makeup artist for several high end brands, expressing creativity through fashion, authoring books, as well as producing live shows and events through her company 2040MM.

Reach her on twitter at http:/www.twitter.com/apaniclassic

Check out our Master list of 500 Female Emcees Everyone Should Know

Apani B-Fly Estragen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDc-QaS3XCw

Apani B-FlyA Million Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiE0WPiYRsk

Apani B-FlyLet Me Know

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdT3d5So6Q8

3 Dope Songs from Desdamona Reppin the Twin Cities

DesdamondaDesdamona is a hip-hop and spoken word artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota She has won five Minnesota Music Awards for ‘Best Spoken Word Artist’ in the years 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 and is considered to be the best female spoken word and hip-hop artist in the Midwest.

Her emcee name, comes from Desdemona, the wife of Othello in William Shakespeare‘s tragedy Othello. She was born and went to school in Iowa. A childhood inspiration for her music, she said, was her father who would dress up as Count Dracula and tell bedtime stories to her.

In college, Desdamona and her friends formed a band in which Desdamona was the rapper, inspired by the R&B group TLC. The group performed around Waterloo, Iowa and had a few shows in Iowa City. When she moved to Minneapolis, she found an audience for her work. She began to go to open mic nights to perform her poetry. In this way, she became known as a spoken word artist, which was not her original intention, but which, she says, “made me a better writer.”

Desdamona was noticed for her guest vocals in Brother Ali‘s We Will Always B in 2000. Her lines criticized male dominance of hip-hop and chauvinism in general. This led to her first CD, The Ledge, which came out in June 2005.

Desdamona frequently collaborates with Twin Cities beatboxer Carnage the Executioner, also known as Carnage. On Desdamona’s second disc, The Source, which came out 26 June 2007, the duo do the first track, Infinity, together.The two have formed a group called Ill Chemistry, which was noted as a rising hip-hop group at the 2007 Minnesota Music Awards. Desdamona has noted that they’re working on a collaboration on her blog.

Desdamona co-founded an female based music festival, called B-Girl Be, which incorporates all the aspects of hip-hop and spoken word; emceeing, break dance, D.J.-ing and graffiti. She also works with schools, teaching students, as well as in the Stillwater Prison program, In the Belly.

In 2010, Desdamona was invited by Ursus Minor to sing on their third album “I will not take but for an answer” and also did the 21010 Ursus Minor October and August French Tours along with Boots Riley.

Desdamona “The Comeback”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TuCdehkcjY

Desdamona “The Source”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iC-K9eDAJ4

Desdamona ‘I Don’t Stop’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGosIHnZvaQ

Desdamona “Get By”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWelD-DmsLs

Rocky Rivera Brings the Heat w/ Her Sophomore Album ‘Gangster of Love’

Rocky Rivera redWe caught up with long time journalist turned rapper Rocky Rivera and talked to her about her sophomore album ‘Gangster of Love‘. For those who haven’t heard it.. Its incredible, straight rewind material coupled with nice beats and searing lyrics. Rocky has definitely stepped up her game..

She explained the album builds off the concepts of her first one with an emphasis on War and Love. She noted that she wanted to take time and really explore those concepts from a variety of angles.. Stand out cuts that underscore her desires are ‘Wake Up‘, ‘Call to Arms‘ and ‘Fallen Soldier‘ which is ode to 2Pac and features vocals from his mother Afeni Shakur.

Rocky noted that her journalism roots are still in tact and manifested themselves in the fact that each song there’s a sense of urgency to speak on social-political situations impacting the community…She noted that she feels like a reporter delivering important information or giving voice to points of view that are often marginalized. Once a journalist always a journalist..

During our interview we talked about her recent headlining performance in Brooklyn at Rock the Belles which was a play on the popular Rock the Bells concert. At this show there was an all female line up. Rocky talked about the importance of deejays and promoters making space to include more women. She also talked about her appreciation for the love she was shown in the East Coast.

Rocky RiveraRocky talked about her recent move from her native San Francisco to Oakland and how gentrification has uprooted many communities, in particular communities of color. She noted that she’s happy to be in Oakland and that the energy here is good, but gentrification is still an issue that must be addressed. It reflects income disparity and a continued pattern of mass displacement. ‘That has got to change’ she noted.

We conclude our conversation by talking about her relationship with her partner Bambu who is a dope emcee in his own right.. She assured us the pair do not walk around the house battling or trading barbs with each other, but if we’re lucky they may get together and do an album called Drunken Freestyles.. With a smile, she cautioned that we should not hold our breath…

Click the link below to download or listen to the HKR Intv

Right click the link below to download or listen to the HKR Intv

HKR-Intv w/ Rocky Rivera

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgukJpDMzVw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9NTyZqBiRA

3 Dope Songs From Farrah Burns…She Speaks Fluent Hip Hop

Farrah Burns

Farrah Burns

If you haven’t heard of this sista Farrah Boule Burns, you need to..especially if you love Hip Hop. I say this not be too cliché, but on the real this woman spits fire, from the heart and will seriously move you..She’s of Haitian Cuban descent and according to her Facebook page, she speaks fluent Hip Hop..

She noted in a recent interview with Amour Creole Magazine:

I understood it (Hip Hop) as a language first, then as a culture, and it made complete sense and was worth preserving. In order to preserve a culture you can’t allow a language to die. So I set the plan in motion cleared out my savings, got it trademarked and became a business.

She would later rock ‘I Speak Fluent Hip Hop’ t-shirts and hoodies’.

If there’s any doubt about Farrah’s ability to speak the Hip Hop language, I invite you to peep the video below ‘New York Sate of Mind‘.. Now if you’re gonna take a classic song from Nas, you better come correct.. Farrah does this by playing the role of 7 emcees..She does with no emcee has ever done.. she manage to take a Nas song and make it her own..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amp-jQfZP9E

Her single  “Shot Gun Wedding” is a power house that will shake your soul… Based on a true story she depicts a tale of her father and his insecurities about complexion. The song really hits home as she paints a vivid picture of the many problems we face today Light skin vs Dark skin.

Farrah teamed up with the insanely talented Producer Kurser Fabrice to launch the Shot Gun Wedding Movement. When asked what the movement represents she replied “Shot Gun Wedding” is more than just a song, it’s raising awareness and encouraging open discussions at the dinner table. These are the same issues that’s rocking our foundation now. I want to do what the Cosby’s did for me but it in a hip hop way”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLoZ4CdvJrU

Her first Album Oval Metal landed her the Under Ground Music Awards for Best Female Rapper. The single of the same name skillfully borrows from Nina Simone as Farrah does what so many emcees have stopped doing, move us with some passionate words about a dilemma of the hear she’s facing.. We included the studio version as well as her rocking a live performance in Brooklyn..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwLaXCW4NP0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmycrLnSMTo

If your digging this sister the way that I am.. I encourage you to check out her soundcloud page and make sure her music is on your ipads, in your serato and permanently stuck in your heart and mind.. Follow her on twitter @FarrahBurns.. Check our her Sound Cloud page at  https://soundcloud.com/farrahburns

3 Dope Songs from Bay Area Emcee Rocky Rivera

press the link below to listen to our Hard Knock Radio intv w/ Rocky Rivera

 Rocky Rivera

Rocky Rivera is an accomplished journalist-turned-emcee whose editorials appeared in XXL, The Source and Rolling Stone Magazine before she decided to pursue an artist’s life.  Trading her moleskines for microphones, she’s dropped three musical projects since 2008, Married to the Hustle Mixtape, the self-titled album, Rocky Rivera, and the recent POP KILLER MXTP.  Her debut album was released in 2010 and since then, has garnered critical acclaim and press coverage from VIBE, 2DopeBoyz.com, Refinery29, and numerous music blogs across the web.

In 2012, Rocky became the only female artist at the VIBE HOUSE’s Respect The West Showcase at the SXSW Festival, sharing the stage with West Coast favorites such as Nipsey Hussle, Strong Arm Steady, Snoop Dog and Kendrick Lamar.

In the past, she’s opened up for diverse artists such as Zion-I, Macklemore, Blue Scholars, Pac Div and dead prez.

For more info check for at http://www.rockyrivera.com/

Below is my Hard Knock Radio intv w/ Rocky Rivera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgZ1r_xLjkM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvpu75gSaxM

This is one of my favorite songs from Rocky.. Lyrics are revolutionary and deep..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evrJJkUHZ4Y