Being competitive in the world of music biz crucial… But in that lies another conundrum.

The truth is many of us become emcees because we are writers, and artists in hip-hop, and have something to say. NOT because we are in search of the next deal, or trying to get put on (whateva the heck “getting put on” really means, cos everything is relative). We do it for the love of hip-hop, for the thrill of rockin shows, seeing the hands in the air and the crowd ‘feelin’ you, to share our message. Most of us aren’t in it for the fame, (though I guess that would be a nice by product)… We do it because we are poets, it is innate. That’s why many of us still do “FREE Shows” (sorry for letting that cat out the bag!lol) This makes the question of commerce, economics, marketing, sales, publishing, and intellectual property a whole ‘nother ball of wax.

One reason I luv Chicago so much is because we are still very organic in the practice of hip-hop as a culture, so we still just do it for the love. I find that true in many underground hip-hop scenes around the country as well. We need to begin to call spades ‘Spades’. The emcee element of Hip-Hop and the Business of Music are two different beasts. We do a disservice to the art when we don’t make that distinction.

Many phenomenal artists are still unknown to the masses, but that makes them no less dope! It’s time for us to dig deeper for the goods. I just hope we don’t taint the purity of that too.

I think that in this era, it is super important for MCs, really all artists, to develop a business model that allows them to compete with the other bs that’s out there.

Not only is the absence of balance in mainstream music deafening, but the labels’ bizness model is broken. Good music can get through the noise, except its not going to be any more overnight successes cause by label support, but by folks actively building constituents through online and real time performances.

This isn’t an easy question to answer, since everything is relative, but the truth of the matter is, Women in hip-hop are here, alive, and well… The fact that there isn’t much positive ‘commercial’ attention placed on sista’s who spit fiyah with most of her clothes on, is part of a larger societal problem. Hip-hop doesn’t exist in a bubble (quoting my sistas AquaMoon)… Hip-hop does not own the rights on exclusion, misogyny, and the poor representation of women in the media. Once we answer the questions of ‘where are the women at the decision making levels who can truly impact the visibility of women and girls in the media’, then we will see where the intelligent female rappers are hiding?…

We are right under your noses, in the trenches, holding it down in the community, keeping the movement alive. We are the ones who, in addition to holding down jobs to pay our bills, write rhymes, produce our own tracks, engineer our own studio sessions, design our own artwork and web sites, while many also have the obligations of family and children.

I’m always tickled by these gender discussions, especially since there are only 2 genders to contend with. Why don’t we see more women? Why not ask the men who make the decisions on what you what music you have access to?… The one’s who run the music companies.

As for me, I’m giving respect where it’s due. Big ups to the women holding it down in the Chi… Ang 13, Anyi, Yakira, DSoul, Newsense, Teefa, APG, Unmovaboo, Fm Supreme, Deja Taylor, Spq’her, Rhythm, Isa Starr, Ladee Flipside, AquaMoon, Lady Terror, Allegra Dolores, Nikki Lynette, Rita J, Ladies Runnit, Camoflaj Jones, and yours truly… to name a few of the women who I respect as artists in my city alone.

As co-founder of ‘B-Girl Power’ a movement of women in hip-hop, I say the question should not be ‘Where’s the next Lauyrn Hill?’ there will always only be one Lauryn, like there will only be one Nas. Like there will never be the next Pac, just as there will never be another DJ Kool Herc. Celebrate individuality and encourage more women into an industry that we have, for so long, been shut out of.

So, let us not ask where the women are. Let us ask “Why is there a deliberate effort to keep her voice so quiet? Cos I can assure you, it’s not her choice.

and THAT…as the kids say…. is real talk!

send me something to biko@youngvoter.org

I showcase great femcees on my show like Ayana Soyini and Naeink. If more sistas wanna get heard, they can send me their music and I’ll get it on “The Experience with momowilly.”

And truth be told, I’m pretty nice on the mic myself.