Historically black colleges and universities continue to produce talented African American students every decade. While many hip hop artists are not college educated and do not promote any type of education in their performance, Iyana tells it like it is with her Spelman college degree in the frame.
“I recently graduated from Spelman College with an English degree,” she mentions. Her degree from a top women’s college gives her an outlet to do freelance editorials and playwright work, but still remain true to her passion and gift of words. And having that loner, stoner, rolling stone identity is what defines her musical expression.
“That phrase is just a play on words. It is representative of my introverted nature that allows me space to create and express myself. Rolling stone is a representation of how I feel about my music. As I grow older I evolve, so does my music,” she begins.
YaNi. Yana. Yan-Star. Blues babi. Brown eyed bandit. Rebel with applause. The wicked word wizard has many nicknames from her supporters and those in her circle, but gaining those Atlanta individuals to have her back entailed hard work through her live performances and networking. “I gained fans andsupporters in Atlanta by performing at Apache Cafe, Sugarhill, the 40 Watt, in the AUC, at Georgia State, Agnes Scott College, UGA, and coffee shops throughout the city. At Spelman I gained a name for myself as a hip hop/spoken word artist. The AUC had been a firm base of support in past years,” Iyana says.
At the Perfect Attendance showcase this weekend, some audience members only expect to hear some good music and have some drinks; however, Iyana’s performance may be significant to the Jerry Springer show circa the late 90s. “On January 2nd, you can expect objects to fly in the air!” she exclaims. It is her initial involvement with Fadia Kader that came from her name being thrown in the air from several projects.
“I’ve been in Atlanta for a while, from Spelman, I worked with Jaspects on their second album as well as their most recent album. In addition, a rapper named Small Eyez put me on his project “Vipassana.” The rest is sort of history.” And this history consists of many of the other Perfect Attendance performers. She’s freestyled with Corinne Stevie on a regular, Eva Kennedy has commended her on past performances, and Khaos Da Rapper cooked for her. “I’m very cool with Corinne Stevie, we've free styled a couple times at my house. Eva has seen me perform with Jaspects at Sugarhill in 2008. Khaos makes a mean turkey burger!” Iyana adds.
Iyana’s activism through her music is admirable. Her work with The Promiscuity Project in Michigan was a presentation of safe sex and protecting one’s body through films and live performances. The project allowed for the performance of a track that has a deeper meaning than its name.
“I loved being a part of this project because I was able to share my song "Rushin Roulette" as a form of activism. The song centers around using protection, men on the down low, and having children out of wedlock. In this song I speak to my listeners on several levels about the importance of knowing your status and forming healthy relationships,” she informs us.
Things we can expect from Iyana in 2010 are an international tour and some filming. “I’m doing it on a whole other level. I will be in Holland and Czech Republic on my European tour entitled "The Peace Chronicles". I leave the states on January 19th. I am in the beginning stages of a mini-documentary that will be entitled "Love Lost:Stories of Unrequited Love and Loss". But what she can expect in 2010 is more recognition of her industry twin. “At least twice a day I am told I look like Erykah Badu,” she laughs but loves. Iyana believes Erykah Badu said it best, “Change is inevitable and the music I make is ever-changing.”
Rushin' Roulette
Iyana is on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. So get to know her and check her out!
Every artist has those embarrassing facts about them that they hate to love but share with their fans and haters alike. Lyric Jones is just gonna say it.
“I usually don’t tell many people this because it sounds bad but it’s really not,” she starts and it gets better. “I really didn’t start seriously writing rhymes until Lil’ Bow Wow. “And I was a little girl so I had a crush on him too. I used to rewrite his verses how a girl would say it. Of course I was better though. People were just not ready,” her up North accent takes over. And they’re still not ready for the makeover Lyric Jones is giving the industry.
“When I was first getting into music and I decided that I really want to do this I was fourteen, fifteen years old. There was no real female representation then. As I got older I realized that it hasn’t changed. The hip hop community feels the same. Deep down we all want the Lauryn Hills back and Lil Kim back as a role model. That’s what I mean by makeover. Just bring it authentic. The industry is full of people who are not real.”
The former Berklee School of Music student shows the real musicianship that she wants to see in the industry in everything she does. A jazz drummer, vocalist, and rapper, her knowledge of instrumentalism and lyricism lie mostly in her relationship with a Boston rapper and college credits.
“Radar was a rapper I met when I was fifteen while dating a guy at Berklee. He’s taught me everything I know since then.” He convinced her to add Jones to her name, become an emcee, and become extremely knowledgeable about the industry she wants to change. “The City Music program is in the Berklee music program here in Boston. I started in my sophomore year in high school. I was fifteen around Berklee students that were twenty-one. These were my friends and they taught me a lot of what I know. I learned so much,” she explains. It’s her acquaintances with music and words that gets her compared to the same three talented emcees.
“Queen Latifah. Lauryn Hill. MC Lyte. I can see me in Queen Latifah. She just said “Fuck it, I wanna do jazz!” and Queen is a role model. I can see Lauryn Hill too. She sings, she raps, the content. And MC Lyte has a great delivery,” Jones says. Vocally, her voice can remind you of Jill Scott, Anita Baker, and other soul favorites that she hopes to emulate.
Simply knowing somebody through somebody put her on with the Perfect Attendance showcase indefinitely. “Twitter really helps. I’m following Fadia Kader was tweeting heavy during A3C and to SMKA. I know 808 Blake from SMKA through school at UGA. Daru, a good friend of mine from Berklee is in Brittany Bosco’s band. So I was familiar with Fadia through several people. Fort Knox may have put her up on me, but she called me three hours before the showcase photo shoot and that was it.”
And keeping that buzz in Atlanta going is important to her cause at times it can be hard to keep a singing crowd and a rapping crowd entertained at the same time. “I was having a dilemma of how to engage my audiences. I have two different audiences. I have a super soul/r&b audience and a thorough boom back hip hop audience and of course the audience that will rock with me whatever. The shows I’m getting asked to do sometimes segregate my audiences. That’s why I like Perfect Attendance; I can do what I want.”
In 2011, she’s gonna keep doing what she wants to make sure everyone continues to have a’ jones for lyrics’. The phrase that is a play on her name says more about her love for what she does and can do. “It has a meaning of my love for words, my love for playing with words. Either you’re gonna love my music or you’re gonna love me. And who wouldn’t love me I’m undeniable!”
Until that year from now, no upcoming project is more important than her broadcast journalism degree from University of Georgia. “2010 is really blank slate. Everybody got these big plans. New decade, but in 2010, I’m just trying to graduate. I’m looking more forward to 2011.” But before 2011, you will hear some mixtapes and collaborations from lady Lyric that will bring a wow factor through your speakers.
“I’m always looking for that wow factor. Stuff has to be inspiring, it can’t just be good. If I have the wow factor in the track, then I have the wow factor in the verse. Then I can get the “What did she just say?!” bring it back.
She said bring it back.
Sunshine
Nothing Hindering Me
More Jones for you at her Official website, MySpace Music Page, and Twitter.
I don't know all the semantics of decades and all that mess but it is a new year! And don't get it twisted, I am excited about the new year because 2009 sucked worse than my cat knocking the trash can over and eating everything in it! This year, whether you made a resolution or not, I am gonna ask you to leave the drama way back wherever you can. Cause 2010 is gonna be huge for Miss Solow Dolow, my readers/supporters, and those who rock with me elsewhere. We are kicking the new year off with my favorite song of 2009!!! Love you all and enjoy your New Years Day!!!!
I know I said the previous low was gonna be the absolute last one but I couldn't help when all these tracks rushed me this past weekend! So, Hot 107.9 Jingle Bash in Atlanta was this past weekend. Full of Young Money mess. But I digress cause I didn't bother myself to go. Maybe next year.
I got some heat for you guys! New Muffy feat. Gucci Mane, a super hot compilation of five female emcees, pretty recent Naledge (Yoooo!), amongst more! As Drake bids farewell to his career for 2010, Skills bids farewell to 2009 for us. And I love the video for this list! I embedded just for you guys, it's just that good. You can never go wrong with a Lady Gaga cover! Enjoy! Have a great new year! I shall see you on the other side of 2009!
Side Note: Don't mind that picture of Nicki Minaj. Death to the Barbie and life to the Bratz!
1. Stahhr, Saroc, Boog Brown, Khalilah Ali, and Rita J - Breakdown
2. Reflection Eternal feat. Jay Electronica, Mos Def, and J. Cole - Just Begun
3. Diamond feat. Cee-Lo - Superbad
4. Naledge - Lemonade and Crown Royal
5. Tanya Morgan - Posted
6. Muffy feat. Gucci Mane - Get Em Girls
7. Kid Sister -Down Azz Jawn
8. Amanda Blank feat. Santogold - A Love Song
9. Drake - It's Been A Pleasure
10. Skillz - 09 Wrapup
Bonus Video - The Cliks Frontman Lucas Silveira - Bad Romance Cover Acoustic Version
“Lil wayne gotta be number one,” Khaos Da Rapper says. She has been matched up to many, but only accepts a few. “All dope comparisons but so many. I'm me! I don't even watch TV or listen to the radio. With the exception of maybe Lauryn[Hill] and MIA a little bit what you hear is purely Khaos,” she explains.
The up north native moved to Atlanta,Ga five years ago in search of something new and that’s exactly what she got.
“This was a totally new scene to me,” Khaos Da Rapper begins. And interestingly enough, gaining new fans for Khaos was not the hard part. It was showing them everything she was capable of that took more time than she expected. “I sing. I rap. I do exactly what I'm feeling like at that moment. I don't classify me. I make ‘whatever music.’ I have totally different sounds, feelings, emotions and my acapellas are ridiculous! No beat needed.”
On Saturday night, Khaos wants to take the crowd overseas. “I'm taking my audience on the tour in my head. Where I'm from,” she describes. Many will be enjoying her show on January 2nd because she is always up on everything and her entrance into the Perfect Attendance experience shows this.
“When it comes to Fadia Kader events and showcases, I believe in support and I’ve been to a Perfect Attendance this past summer. Fadia told me she'd be doing an all female addition and she wanted to put me on!” Khaos expresses great excitement.
Khaos relationship with the other Perfect Attendance artists is great. She’s great friends with Corinne Stevie and Richelle L. Brown. Hopefully their collaboration track will be released soon. She does add that she’d love to work with all of them. Boom Box Muzic will definitely give her that opportunity.
Boom Box Muzic started out as a production company that consisted of Khaos and her New Jersey colleagues. In 2010, it is expected to become an all digital record label that she’s dreamed of since she was a teen. “It’s my destiny and what I've been doing since I was about 16. We help every ‘artist’ bring life to their art and find the best way to get it to their fans. Also, we build new ones the way they did it back when music way super dope.”
Because of Boom Box, Khaos says we can look forward to different yet diverse music. “We make whatever music so expect a great line-up of whatever artist. From rock and rap to this and that.” And although she won’t be an artist on her own label, she still plans to develop real artists. In the new year, she is focused on developing herself.
“New year? New management. Collaborations? I've been doing tons of writing. I gotta! Placements? Possibly,” she exclaims. Her upcoming project can simply be explained as something special but don’t expect a release date. “I honestly don't give a fuck, but this is a big year for me,” she says. “I’m gonna bring everyone to where I'm at, at that very moment! That could be anywhere, so stay tuned.
Mackin Hangin'
Zone
Check out more of Khaos' performance and music videos at her Youtube spot, become a fan on Facebook, add her on MySpace, and tweet her. She's an all around internet personality!
Historically black colleges and universities continue to produce talented African American students every decade. While many hip hop artists are not college educated and do not promote any type of education in their performance, Iyana tells it like it is with her Spelman college degree in the frame.
“I recently graduated from Spelman College with an English degree,” she mentions. Her degree from a top women’s college gives her an outlet to do freelance editorials and playwright work, but still remain true to her passion and gift of words. And having that loner, stoner, rolling stone identity is what defines her musical expression.
“That phrase is just a play on words. It is representative of my introverted nature that allows me space to create and express myself. Rolling stone is a representation of how I feel about my music. As I grow older I evolve, so does my music,” she begins.
YaNi. Yana. Yan-Star. Blues babi. Brown eyed bandit. Rebel with applause. The wicked word wizard has many nicknames from her supporters and those in her circle, but gaining those Atlanta individuals to have her back entailed hard work through her live performances and networking. “I gained fans andsupporters in Atlanta by performing at Apache Cafe, Sugarhill, the 40 Watt, in the AUC, at Georgia State, Agnes Scott College, UGA, and coffee shops throughout the city. At Spelman I gained a name for myself as a hip hop/spoken word artist. The AUC had been a firm base of support in past years,” Iyana says.
At the Perfect Attendance showcase this weekend, some audience members only expect to hear some good music and have some drinks; however, Iyana’s performance may be significant to the Jerry Springer show circa the late 90s. “On January 2nd, you can expect objects to fly in the air!” she exclaims. It is her initial involvement with Fadia Kader that came from her name being thrown in the air from several projects.
“I’ve been in Atlanta for a while, from Spelman, I worked with Jaspects on their second album as well as their most recent album. In addition, a rapper named Small Eyez put me on his project “Vipassana.” The rest is sort of history.” And this history consists of many of the other Perfect Attendance performers. She’s freestyled with Corinne Stevie on a regular, Eva Kennedy has commended her on past performances, and Khaos Da Rapper cooked for her. “I’m very cool with Corinne Stevie, we've free styled a couple times at my house. Eva has seen me perform with Jaspects at Sugarhill in 2008. Khaos makes a mean turkey burger!” Iyana adds.
Iyana’s activism through her music is admirable. Her work with The Promiscuity Project in Michigan was a presentation of safe sex and protecting one’s body through films and live performances. The project allowed for the performance of a track that has a deeper meaning than its name.
“I loved being a part of this project because I was able to share my song "Rushin Roulette" as a form of activism. The song centers around using protection, men on the down low, and having children out of wedlock. In this song I speak to my listeners on several levels about the importance of knowing your status and forming healthy relationships,” she informs us.
Things we can expect from Iyana in 2010 are an international tour and some filming. “I’m doing it on a whole other level. I will be in Holland and Czech Republic on my European tour entitled "The Peace Chronicles". I leave the states on January 19th. I am in the beginning stages of a mini-documentary that will be entitled "Love Lost:Stories of Unrequited Love and Loss". But what she can expect in 2010 is more recognition of her industry twin. “At least twice a day I am told I look like Erykah Badu,” she laughs but loves. Iyana believes Erykah Badu said it best, “Change is inevitable and the music I make is ever-changing.”
Rushin' Roulette
Iyana is on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. So get to know her and check her out!
