Siya

Bed-Stuy Brooklyn is where it all began for the young MC by the name of SIYA. Born 1987 this aspiring superstar was raised by her Grandmother in the Eleanor Roosevelt housing projects in Brooklyn which happens to be one of the roughest housing projects of the five boroughs.
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How are you today, this week and this year, so far?
Well as far as today I’m sitting in Urban Fusion down on Peter street (where I work) chilling…its been a slow day…I might play some Wii in a few…idk. And as far as this week/year…. all is gravy I guess u can say. Life always has its ups and downs but I’m a trooper!

Your name is beautiful. Where does Siya come from?
Siya come from Messiah only I spell it Siya…I was 12 when I decided to name myself that…of course you know it means “of higher power”…but on the low skee…my gov’t name is Michelle…lol I hate it!

l_efd4b5d2328b482cb5da39049171ac76So, you were born Bed-Stuy in the Eleanor Roosevelt housing projects? Could you tell the readers of [Area 84] one of your happiest moments and one of your saddest moments and why you will always consider it home?
Well actually I was born in Barstow California…I was raised in San Bernardino and San Diego till I was about 8 or 9…. then I moved to Brooklyn where my grandmother took me in….all I know is Brooklyn so I really don’t rep Cali because I was to young to experience it. I love what I can remember tho…. besides all the bad times of my childhood. My happiest moment in my hood (Roosevelt) was every moment…. my hood is good to me…. from the 1rst building to 50 Stuy…besides that me saddest moment was when I lost 2 very close friends of mine…. Courtney and mo-p…. they were both killed in different incidents but I was very attached to them just like I am to all the dudes in my hood…. I grew up a tomboy so I always ran with the boys…in and situation…link up CNN.

From your bio it states that your musical career started at the age of 7. Why then?
When I was younger I went through and seen a lot of things that I wasn’t supposed to…my father was a military man when I left my mother and me…. that’s when she started getting into drugs. My older sister used to gang bang and at that time she was all I looked up to so I wanted to be wherever she was but I was young so I was always left around my mother and her then boyfriend so I had to endure alot of stuff…smh I love my mother to death so I never fault her…I blame the drugs…. anyway to escape the loneliness I felt I would write…. poems turned into lyrics…. you know back then Bone Thugs and Harmony and Pac was the was the shit in Cali…to me…ha-ha I used to imitate Layzie Bone cuz I loved him the most….
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Random: Danger, Unique, or Cocktail from “For the Love of Ray J”?
Good question I actually had to host a party with both Unique and Danger but I never met Cocktail. My time spent with Danger was only on stage so I really couldn’t feel her vibe out but Unique on the other hand I spent a few days with her through out my weekend in Miami for sweetheart…. she’s a very sweet down to earth individual. To sum it up she’s gorgeous inside and out…

For the newbie in the business game (music, clothing, etc) what advice would you give them in the “Art of Hustling”? What are the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’?
The only advice I have is to hustle hard or go home! This industry is not for the faint of heart. I’ve been through so much bull but I always kept a level head. “God will not take you to what he cant take you through”

For the ladies: What are your tips for growing such long hair?
Lol don’t cut it…. maintain it…. braid it…idk I suck at taking care of my hair.

What was the one or main bad habit (stage fright wise) you had to break when you began to perform on stage? Where was your first venue?
I had to break the butterfly feeling…. it used to make me feel sick…but I got over it every time I touched the mic. My first venue was at the cw post college in New York with Ed Lover and Monie Love…she actually gave me her number and kept in touch with me…. like a mentor…. damn I wonder how she is doing?

In the 14+ years you have performed, how have you changed? In another 14 years where would you want to be?
My stage performance has progressed tremendously and I’m a better lyricist… I mature so much through music…and if u knew me then up till now you will be able to tell…even my style of dress…. I learned a lot being around entertainers and music execs….

Many artists that contributed to the world wide Hip-Hop realm have come from Western Europe. Some examples are: Kraftwerk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=lwlgbac3bbm), Cora E. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=rfowz0w0sf0), and Advanced Chemistry (http://www.youtube.com/watch?V=PJEN8UL8YwA). You had the opportunity to perform there both on radio and on TV. Did you get the chance to walk through and sample the native Hip-Hop scene? How did it feel to get out there and perform?
Actually I never been overseas…. on - 84area.com

So, INBOXication got alot of positive feedback yesterday, so why not keep it going full throttle.

Right around the time I was working on yesterday's post, the homie Kei of Lavish Life Social Club hit me to get my opinion on this new artist she's working with named Siya. I'd seen a few twits about Siya here and there but never just felt compelled to investigate. I mean, who just goes exploring what other folks on Twitter are talking about all the time? Granted, the convos are on public display, but at the end of the day, it is still kinda their business.

Well, I'm kinda kicking myself for not being nosy because the songs Kei hit me with are dope. Funny thing is that Kei thought I wouldn't like the music because she's a female emcee. I'm not too too mad at that, because from what I've noticed most women assume that dudes don't like female rappers. Now, I can't speak for all male listeners, but for me...I like female rappers as much as I like male rappers. Dope is dope. Wack is wack. Annoying is annoying.

As far as female rappers go, I think I can speak for most males in saying that we just don't want to hear all of that "eat my coochie, buy me Gucci" shit. Nor do we want to hear those "positive, empowering" (for lack of a better word) female rappers where they think that just because they are NOT doing the "eat my coochie, buy me Gucci" raps that they are automatically dope. Hell, you may not like Terrell Owens attitude sometimes, but that don't mean you just walking around this b*tch rooting for Brian Finnerman simply because he just catches the ball. Hell no, you want to be entertained at the end of the day. Did ya'll follow me with that one?

But yeah, back to Siya. She pretty much fits that "she raps harder than most dudes" mold, which really, ain't that hard to do these days, but still. Its been said that that she hasn't gotten her props in the music biz because guys are intimidated by her "appearance." (yes, I'm being PC) I mean, shit. It is what is.

Its on you if you listen, like or loathe the music based on her "appearance." I myself was impressed by the way her songs were produced and executed on top of her straight spitting on them. Especially on on "Hustler." The way the dude in the hook was kinda communicating with her and actually leading into the verses sorta reminded me of how AMG and Bo$$ went back and forth during moments on "My Sister Is A Bitch." And yeah, since I brought her up, I think I like Siya because she kinda reminds me of Bo$$. Just as she does Mia X and Gangsta Boo & La Chat on their good days. Shawty is just spitting. Can't be mad at that. Anyways, here are a couple of her songs, check them out and speak on it in the comments.

http://mauricegarland.blogspot.com/2009/04/inboxication-siya.html - MauriceGarland.com