The steady disappearance of female emcees in hip-hop has rendered singer/songwriter/emcee Amanda Diva restless. “When the Grammys removed the Female Rap category, I knew something had to be done,” says the 26-year old Grenadian American. “Whatever I do, I’m gonna bring it back.” That’s just one of her goals for 2008. The other is to remind the world exactly what a dope female emcee is. And she won’t be riding any man’s coattails to do it. She doesn’t have to. An accomplished poet, journalist, radio & television personality, scholar (she has a Master’s degree in African-American Studies), singer, and rapper, Amanda Diva is definitely the best kept secret in female emcees. Her numerous gifts and abilities are what make her the quintessential artist.
Just look at her achievements: she hit the scene as a spoken word poet on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam in 2002 and 2005 and went on to host the Sirius Satellite Radio show “Breakfast at Diva’s” on HipHopNation/40 from 2003-2008. Around the same time, she became the “face of hip-hop” as host of MTV2’s “Sucker Free” programming from 2004-2005 and has interviewed the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, Outkast, 50 Cent, T.I., The Roots, Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and more.
Channeling her magnetic media personality and sage lyricism into one vessel, Amanda released the poetry mixtape It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop, The Mixtape: Vol. 1 in 2004. Two years later she followed up with the critically acclaimed Still Sucka Free Vol.1, of which Scratch magazine wrote: “Amanda is a fresh breeze…Not only is her pen as sharp as OJ’s knife, but her storytelling game is up there with the best of them.” (Feb ’07)
Now, after a brief stint replacing “Rhymstress” Natalie Stewart of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Floetry (Amanda toured on the 21-city Floetry Remix last year), Miss Diva has released the seminal EP Life Experience, the first installment in her “Experience Trilogy” series. Issued by her own DivaWorks Inc. imprint, the “Experience Trilogy” is a set of EPs each with their own themes of “Life,” “Love,” and “Live!”
With production spanning from legends like Clark Kent to newcomers like Don Cannon of the Aphilliates, Life Experience is full of soulful tracks with production reminiscent of golden-era Hip-Hop. Amanda fearlessly paints pictures of the experiences that have shaped her and allows listeners to see both sides of her artistry -- the emcee and the songstress (yes, she sings!). She flaunts those emcee skills in the Caribbean-spiced song “SupaWoman:” Indeed, Amanda Diva has something to say. And she’s saying it for women, for hip-hop, and for the world. Now just let any man try and stop her…
Just look at her achievements: she hit the scene as a spoken word poet on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam in 2002 and 2005 and went on to host the Sirius Satellite Radio show “Breakfast at Diva’s” on HipHopNation/40 from 2003-2008. Around the same time, she became the “face of hip-hop” as host of MTV2’s “Sucker Free” programming from 2004-2005 and has interviewed the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, Outkast, 50 Cent, T.I., The Roots, Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, and more.
Channeling her magnetic media personality and sage lyricism into one vessel, Amanda released the poetry mixtape It’s Bigger Than Hip-Hop, The Mixtape: Vol. 1 in 2004. Two years later she followed up with the critically acclaimed Still Sucka Free Vol.1, of which Scratch magazine wrote: “Amanda is a fresh breeze…Not only is her pen as sharp as OJ’s knife, but her storytelling game is up there with the best of them.” (Feb ’07)
Now, after a brief stint replacing “Rhymstress” Natalie Stewart of the Grammy-nominated R&B duo Floetry (Amanda toured on the 21-city Floetry Remix last year), Miss Diva has released the seminal EP Life Experience, the first installment in her “Experience Trilogy” series. Issued by her own DivaWorks Inc. imprint, the “Experience Trilogy” is a set of EPs each with their own themes of “Life,” “Love,” and “Live!”
With production spanning from legends like Clark Kent to newcomers like Don Cannon of the Aphilliates, Life Experience is full of soulful tracks with production reminiscent of golden-era Hip-Hop. Amanda fearlessly paints pictures of the experiences that have shaped her and allows listeners to see both sides of her artistry -- the emcee and the songstress (yes, she sings!). She flaunts those emcee skills in the Caribbean-spiced song “SupaWoman:” Indeed, Amanda Diva has something to say. And she’s saying it for women, for hip-hop, and for the world. Now just let any man try and stop her…
Or you can check her out this Friday, Jan. 25th in Atlanta, GA opening up for Lupe Fiasco at the Roxy (3110 Roswell Rd.)
For media inquiries or press opportunities, contact Shante Bacon at http://www.blogger.com/, (917) 553-0005 or Saptosa Foster at http://www.blogger.com/, (404) 909-6493.
For media inquiries or press opportunities, contact Shante Bacon at http://www.blogger.com/, (917) 553-0005 or Saptosa Foster at http://www.blogger.com/, (404) 909-6493.
No comments:
Post a Comment