For ages we have heard about the men of historical importance who have paved the way for many of our traditions and cultures--the hip hop scene is no different. And yet, there are many women hard at work here in RVA that you might not even realize are having an impact in the local hip hop/urban culture.In honor of March being Women’s History Month, I took the time to seek out some of the all-around remarkable women of urban RVA and put them to the forefront to show you how important they are to the culture and style of our RVA. As I listened to their amazing stories, I found out just how amazing and industrious they all are. Throughout the month I will be posting brief introductions to these women, letting you know what they do and what inspires them, starting with the following amazing ladies:
Yoshiko Green
Social Media Promoter/Event Planner/Community Activist
Yoshiko Green wears many hats in the local scene. She is a promoter for her company, Yoshiko Entertainment; creator of Meet Yo Tweet promotions, a happy hour networking event that operates both within and outside of Virginia; as well as an event planner and community activist. “My goal is to stay with originality and be successful in and out of RVA”, says Green. “To be successful, you have to set goals and plans, then go through with that goal." One of her mottos she mentioned was to have faith and believe in yourself. When I asked who she considered a positive influence, her first response was Diddy, which I found surprising. “I admire his drive and determination for success,” she explained. When asked about an example of a project she worked on that was successful, she mentioned her work on a recent Domestic Violence Convention, which she had promoted through social media. "The impact of the people who spoke, and the turnout [for the event] made me know right then and there that social media is a very powerful tool," she said. "I realized what my calling was [from] that [experience.]"
Positive Words For Women:“Surround yourself with genuine and positive people who are about their goals. Follow your dreams.”
Links:
yoshikoent.com
Meet Yo Tweet
Twitter: @YoshikoEnt, @Meetyotweet
Lela Bizz
RVA Singer/Model
Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce an amazing songstress in RVA who goes by the name of Lela Bizz. Her remarkable voice and eclectic style are clearly showcased on her ITunes debut album, Life’s A Musical. She has also had airplay on 1065 the Beat, which led to her recent performance on 106 After Hours Live, along with past X-Factor contestant Marcus Canty. Her YouTube channel features a heavy collection of covers and original songs, and she has a steady online following. When asked why she is so successful today she replied, “It takes confidence, motivation, drive, and determination, while having a “boss-like” attitude.” Some of her influences include Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James, and Brandy. She respects them for their determination to work through their problems, eventually accomplishing and exceeding their goals. “I surpass the male dominance of the entertainment world and just go for what I believe in, without exposing my body for attention,” she explains. “Grind outshines talent nowadays, and if you keep at it you can accomplish anything.” You can catch Lela Bizz’s album Life’s A Musical on ITunes or Rhapsody, and watch out for her newest single, “Eye Dee Kay” which is in rotation on 106.5 The Beat. She'll be releasing a mixtape, Cover Girl, and a new EP soon.
Positive Words For Women:“Confidence is sexy.”
Links:
lelabizz.com
Lela Bizz on Facebook
Lela Bizz on iTunes
Lela Bizz on Youtube
Twitter: @lelabizz
Dutchess
Femcee/Entertainer
There is no limit to the talent I have come across in RVA but this next lady doesn’t reside here, exactly. She lives in Petersburg, but is constantly doing shows and promoting in RVA. This devoted and determined femcee goes by Dutchess. Her stage presence alone shows that she has class, sass, and all the tools to make it beyond Virginia. You can catch her single, “Feeling Myself,” on soundcloud.com. “I love working with other female emcees because we all strive for success in that field and need to come together to dominate a predominantly male field in entertainment,” says Dutchess. Her success comes from being a “well-grounded and level headed” individual. She cites Terror Squad femcee Remy Ma (formerly known as Remy Martin) as a strong influence. “She represents the streets in her lyrics and as a woman." When asked her opinion of Nicki Minaj, debatably today's most successful femcee, Dutchess responded, "I respect her grind, but her music isn’t defining anything about her character.” Other influences she mentioned included Rasheeda, Sno Tha Product, and any old-school hip hop femcee. Some say being a female nowadays requires you to be sexy, but she will not tolerate anyone putting her in that box. “I represent Petersburg. I hate being labeled as 'too hardcore' or 'less feminine' because I talk about reality," she says. "This is just who I am and what I’ve been through.”
Positive Words For Women:“Don’t stop ever! Listen to nobody and let nobody dilute your dreams. Keep going.”