Iman Williams

To all so-called artists: This is her challenge to you. Make real music and forget the business’s objective to just sell records. There’s nothing more disappointing when you think an artist is genuine and their lyrics represent bogus artistic creativity. Iman, an artist of caliber, is music. She grew up with music, lives for music and since 5th grade she’s been creating music; so it just might be safe to say that she’s the beginning of a challenge worth considering.

Classifying herself as a soul artist is a heavy weight to carry. There is so much to deliver and the passion goes beyond surface singing; soul music is seen and heard from the inside out. “The energy that I dispense from my music is coming directly from my soul. It’s my lyrics, my harmony that I put in my music that makes it soul music.”

She’s the cousin of Clarence Carter of the Alabama Blind Boys and Leroy Fleming, trumpeter for the late James Brown. Therefore, her musical roots are deep. Growing up she attended a performing arts high school, there she dabbled in playing the flute, the piano and was a part of the chorus. Classical and jazz were her backgrounds and along with her formal education. She’d go home to get a taste of an even more cultural understanding. “My mom is a big Beatles and Rolling Stones fan. My dad is mostly into the Blues, Soul, and Motown era so I definitely got a lot of them in me and didn’t know it until later on in my adult life. I grew up listening to whatever was on TV at first because I’m an 80’s baby and I studied MTV.”

Despite her musical background, Iman didn’t really think she was going to become a singer/songwriter. Her initial passion is drawing. “I always thought as kid, I would be a cartoonist or later I would be a fashion designer because my God given talent was drawing. I still draw till this day. People mostly know me as an artist; those that grew up with me at least. I didn’t really start trying to pursue music until junior high.”

Perhaps this is why soul music is her calling. The skills she possesses are deeper than an interest. Soul is defined as the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body. Alone, that statement would describe Iman. Her principle of life is music, her raison d’être. The only vice she states for an artist to express themselves is through music and lyrical content. How else can you communicate with your listeners or the unknown that seek to understand? “Being open is important, it’s necessary so your listeners/fans get the opportunity to know who you are as a human being as well as an artist.”

Openness is the first approach, yes. Authenticity has always been a struggle for artists. When they are faced with choosing between record deals or continuing their true passion of just expressing for anyone that will listen; that openness is tested. Hip hop is no novice to that idea. What started out as self expression, a holla if you hear me approach to the ills of the urban community established a beautiful essence in what we now consider conscious hip hop. But, we all know how that story ends, or presently stands. For Iman, her foundation is rooted in hip hop. “That’s my whole reason for doing music in the first place. In the immortal words of KRS-One I Am Hip-Hop! I grew up listening to A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul, so I have to show my appreciation for them. I’m not a rapper but will drop 16 bars every now and then. I wouldn’t appreciate the music I listen to now if it wasn’t for me going through my older brother and sister’s music.”

As a female artist that openness becomes much broader. Image is always questioned. What’s real, who’s real anymore? We’ve all gotten used to carbon copies and dressed up approaches in being “real”, “down to earth” and “rebel sista” to the max. ENOUGH! It’s tiring and old. This is the challenge Iman represents, and to the ladies…it’s mostly for you. It starts now and with Iman, this is the first step in creating her own musical lineage. In her words, the challenge’s manifesto:

“Be yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you what’s right for you. Do what feels natural and find good role models like Mc Lyte, India.Arie, Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, and others who exude sexiness but don’t let sexiness over power their mind and their ability to be heard. Be women with soul, range and style, not a provocative noise maker. Don’t just sell me your garbage song that you came up with in 10 seconds. Give me food for thought. Give me something that hasn’t already been a lucrative asset in this business and has longevity.”

As told by: Simone Banks - Scheme Issue