Madam Madon

Favorite Live Music Club and Why?

Some might not believe this if it wasn't coming from my own mouth, but my favorite live music club is the Bukom Cafe. It's not a hiphop place, either. It's live reggae and world-beat music. There's barely standing room on a Saturday night there, and there's a great mix of people in there and excellent West African food.


Favorite City and Why?

D.C.!! That's my home, and I'm still combing through it even now. There are a whole lot of things to do here I haven't done yet. I love Philly, too. My father is from, and currently lives in Philadelphia. Philly is live every night, and you can always find a sports bar that's poppin'. I can't forget about NY, though. I love the accent....and the men! I dig any city with an authentic scene.


Favorite Artist and Why?

I have favorites across the board in all genres, but as for hiphop, I'd say my favorite right now is Jadakiss because he's never disappointed me on a mixtape or an album. He has a quality of work that is uncompromising and timeless.


What�s the best show you have played and why?

I had an open mic where the band was playing and a fashion show was going on. The performances were interludes, and separate from the band, but my cd didn't work, and I was freaking' out, like 'Damn...I came for nothing!' I decided to go on anyway. I asked the band to play anything, and I'd follow. They went into some 'Blueprint' shit, and I just spit. There was nothing' like it! The crowd loved it, and the models worked it.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I spend time with my son. I'm a very private person outside of entertaining. I write a lot, but not just music. I also attend events anytime I can catch one I think'll be good. I'm so busy during the week, that I often clean a lot on weekends. Cleaning is instantly gratifying.


When was the moment you decided to become an artist and why?

I was always an 'artist' in a pretty cliche way. I was a high-strung, introverted child and that was how I expressed myself. In my early teens I caught the bug. It wasn't like I woke up and decided I wanted to rap. I wrote poetry and sang. I ended up making the transition because people said my subject matter was 'dark' and 'street'. I had no studio etiquette or performing ability yet. I was a glass bottle filled with jewels, but the bottle had too narrow of a neck to let them out. So, I guess I always saw myself as an artist, but I didn't own it until I got my name at 15--Madam Madon. That's when I looked at the industry and decided that a piece of it would belong to me.


Why is the struggle to �make it� in this industry worth it to you?

It should be worth it to anyone to do anything they feel they're meant to do. There's so much sacrifice and effort that goes into trying to launch yourself out there, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Struggle is what's going to separate the weak from the serious in the game. How hard you push is the gauge for how much you're willing to do to succeed. Anyway, everything has its bad days. You either love it or leave it alone. - www.hotindieartists.com

Rapper balances music career with motherhood.

By Sarah Godfrey
Published: February 6, 2007

When rapper Madam Madon recorded her latest album, The Chronicles of Willamena Jackson, the studio she worked in was outfitted with everything she needed. None of the regular accouterments—weed, groupies, cognac—was present, but tucked away in a corner was a crib filled with toys for her now 18-month-old son.

“We called him the ‘King of the Studio,’ ” Madon, 23, says of her son. “If he didn’t sleep, we didn’t record.”

The Chronicles of Willamena Jackson, released last year, came at the end of a long, rough period for the River Terrace resident—who, after having a baby in 2004, sought to balance the hectic late nights of an MC with motherhood.

The daughter of two musicians—her father is a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, and her mother once played bass in a band called Infinite—Madon knew that pursuing musical endeavors while trying to raise a family would be difficult. “With my father, he was all music—everything else to the wind,” she says. “My mother’s my hero. She was mean on the bass and keyboards—fly, but grounded. She had to be, with six children.” As a result, Madon briefly considered putting an end to her rap career. But a meeting with her future manager, Faheem Smith, helped convince her that she could do both.

“A lot of guys contact me saying, ‘You should let me be your manager,’ ” Madon says. “You know, men think we need them.” Faheem’s blunt advice, however, convinced her that he was genuinely interested in nurturing her as an artist. “I’d just had my baby, so I still had all the baby weight,” Madon remembers. “I took my pudgy self over to meet him and he says, ‘Your sound is aiight—needs some work. And you need to lose some weight.’ ” Madon agreed to Faheem’s terms, signed to his Black Opx Entertainment, and began recording and performing again in late 2004, baby in tow.

“At UNIFEST, my son was there,” Madon says. “I was bouncing him and then, ‘Madam Madon!’ I passed him to Faheem and went [onstage].”

Although Madon hasn’t stopped rapping since the birth of her son, the experience of becoming a mother does influence her lyrics. Her rhymes have always balanced politics with a street sensibility, but there are certain topics she doesn’t touch.

“When I write lyrics, it’s as if a eunuch wrote it,” she says. “I don’t talk about my jeans, my ass, my pussy. You’re not gonna hear me sweat things that females think are great. A lot of female artists glorify what shouldn’t be glorified. I’m not gonna tell girls to buy diamonds and a thousand-¬dollar bag when their kids are ashy.”

Up next, Madon will star in an independent film, Diary of a Thug, along with her hype woman, Cash. The two will play female assassins; shooting starts this spring, and Madon will contribute a song to the soundtrack. She’s also working on a “female Best of Both Worlds” project with singer Devin Messina—and, of course, continuing to perform and record, all while raising her family.

“I want to have so much shit out there that fans are like, ‘You got pre-baby Madon or post-baby Madon?’ ” she says. “And they’ll argue, ‘I like that post-baby Madon better—she was a little heavier, her voice was husky.’ That’s what I want to hear in the streets.”
- Washington City Paper

Madam Madon

whats not to like about her!

1. I’ve been rhyming for about 8 years, but It seems like forever.

2. Some of my early influences were Queen Latifa, Mc Lyte, Nonchalante, BIggie,
BIg L, and Kool G Rap.

3. I would describe my flow as powerful, and definately distinct. I’m not a party rapper, but I can make a party record. I’m not hardcore either. I’m evolving as we speak, so each song I’ll be something else. It just depends what day you catch me on. Women can do that. We’re less one-dimensional. Three years ago I was hardcore, now I’’m a mother. I think I’m actually scarier this way...

4. It’s never hard to get major looks. I guess the concern would be if they’re looking at you for the right reasons. It’s not enough for a chic to rhyme. They want us on some Mary Poppins shit-perfect in every way. We have to be hated on, loved, feared, respected, and look good while doin’ it. Ask one of them fat /ugly male rappers if they ever had that problem. The industry would just throw some shades on ‘em and put them next tooo.....you guessed it. They’d put them next to some beautiful women. Personally though, as an individual, I’ve never had a problem gettin major looks because I never treated this as a hobbie. Its more like a life-consuming drug. I put the work in so you’ll be able to just ask about me. I cant speak for those other female rappers.

5. Generally speaking, I’m no different. I’m a person who has a goal and dream to make it. If you scratch the surface though, you’ll see that I’m separated by what I’d do to acheive it. When I met my manager, he told me some things to work on, like losing weight and working on my delivery. I didn’t boo-hoo or preach about how people should love me for me. I threw the headphones on and ran my laps while I spit my verses. The world is cold, and people judge you harshly. I’m a different kind of artist because I realize that and so I don’t make excuses or allowances for myself. I just do the goddamn work.

Checkout Madam Madon on myspace www.myspace.com/madammadon


- Sexy DC Magazine

Although it is easier said than done to allow a female emcee to mark her territory in this industry it all boils down to the thought because we are female we have no knowledge of hip hop history and obviously if you don’t know the past you can’t have a future. “Just because I’m a female doesn’t mean that I don’t know half of what these dudes know. This is my love too! Hip Hop, I grew up with it too!” (Mecca Dawn) “We don’t got many female rapper careers to follow and improve upon. I got to look to a Tom, Dick, or Harry’ career to outline my own, and what works for a dude might not make it and try understanding why their careers have been so short lived.” (Amina) On the other hand we have artists such as Nina B who feel the length of a female’s career is as long as she wants it to be. “Latifah , M.C. Lyte , Lauren hill , who make the choice 2 fall back can probably come back at anytime just off the strength that their legends & actually talented.” (Nina B)

Growing up with role models such as Salt and Pepper, Left Eye, Coco Channel, Roxanne Shante and even Angie Martinez made me believe that being a female pursuing the hip hop industry was never something to be ashamed of. I find it disconcerting that in a community where words and music once gave us power and love letters that it so difficult to foresee that a female emcee has to offer than the size of her jeans. Is there enough room for us to stand be side our kings?

WORDS BY Rosario Velazquez
- RapFanatic.com

Rap-Zone möchte euch einen neuen Act vorstellen. Madam Madon ist eine aufsdtrebende Rapperin aus Washington, D.C. Um sie euch etwas näher zu bringen, haben wir ihr ein paar Fragen gestellt.

What's up, Madam Madon? How are you doing? Please introduce yourself to our readers. Propbably not everybody knows what is hidden behind the name "Madam Madon".

I'm Madam Madon, AKA, the ‘Bennin Road Bomba' Madam Madon is just a knickname I picked up when I was growin up. It originally came from the fact that I changed how I looked so much in middle school, that they would call me Madonna. Then kids would call me ‘Madon' for short. Later on, due to certain added experiences, I added the ‘Madam' part.

You were born into a house full of music. How was your childhood - especially regarding all the music around you?

My parents were like black hippies. They weren't just musicians, they were Muslims and activists. My mom was and is my hero, and back when it was all 8 of us together (I have 5 other brothers and sisters) it was beautiful for a little while. There was music true, but also a lot of chaos.lol

Your parents are a bass player and a saxophonist. How did the idea came up to write verses over beats?

The idea to do be a lyricist never came from my parents. It was a natural ability that I pursued later. I actually was more of a writer growing up. I had two works published before the age of fifteen. I sang in the choir at school, so everyone thought I would sing, but I didn't like to sing in front of people by myself. I did like to read poetry though. I caught a lot of heat from some of my teachers because of the nature of the poetry at times though. There was a lot of violence and sex and taboo subject matter. I could only write my experiences though, so I decided to put words to music.

When did you seriously start doing your music?

This is a tough question. Me and music have a strange relationship. When we're together, it creates turmoil in my personal life because it consumes me, but when we're apart, people are dealing with a depressed shell of myself because I don't have that outlet to make me whole. In other words, its always been serious, because every time I tried to just stop and go to school, it would tug at my elbow and remind me that if I leave, I'll be mediocre, because music made me great. I don't know if that's healthy or not. Probably not.

Are there already some important release you are a part of or are there even some own releases?

The mixtape, ‘Bennin' Road Bomba' will have a tentative realease date because I'm letting it create itself. I know that sounds strange, but what I mean by that is that I do SO many freestyles in the summer, its easier to just compile them in the end than to focus on them now. I'll only allow three features though.

You had some live performances already, too. Do you like to perform or do you rather sit in your studio, write and record your stuff for your own?

I love to perform. I fuckin' love it. I don't care if it's an angry crowd, or a small crowd or a pop crowd or hard -core hiphop heads. I come to give them what they want.

Writing is easy to me when I write more personal stuff like ‘Reality Check' but ‘Unh Unh Baby” was harder because I felt a little out of my box. But hey, it tested well in the club, and when it hits the radio, it'll be the shit.

You heard of the mixtape series "it's HER turn", right? Are you looking forward to be a part of Vol.2?

I always look forward to branching out and working with other talented individuals. I like to see who is who and what is what.

What do you expect from such a project?

I want to reach the corners of the earth. Niggaz, bitches, ballaz, dred heads, rockers, emo kids, backpackers, beach bums, white groupie coke-headed girls, and parents who still think they're hip. Come party with me.

Your signed at Black Opx Ent. Is that still right? Who else is signed at this label and how is the atmosphere there?

Black Opx is family. The atmosphere is grind.

At the end I have some fast associtaing questions for you. Ready?

Washington, D.C.? - Home
Rap-Zone? - Hot shit for the street
lifestyle? - HipHop

Any last words, shout outs?

Shoutz to Bloq Rockaz, Text Sosa, Target Squad, Faheem Smith, the Black Opx family, and my girl P Juelz.

Thank you so much for your time. We hear you next time on vol.2 of "it's HER turn". Of course, Rap-Zone wishes you much success with all your other projects, too. Have a nice day!

Informationen:
www.myspace.com/madammadon


Written by Old School

© 2002-2009 Rap-Zone.net

- Rapzone.net

Washington, DC native Madam Madon is not your cookie cutter radio rap princess and makes it known in her style and presence. The " Benning Rd Bomba" is calling out all comers to step their game up or get hell out the way. Born M'Shai Abdul-Majid, Madon was instilled with music from her parents who are both musicians. She began writing poetry at an early age and then took to rhyming at the age of 15. "Everything I've done is in my music...prostituting, transporting, drug abuse and the most people would rather hear from people that didn't do and there is not remorse in their music. There is remorse in my music and I think that is what is lacking in Hip Hop".

The 24 year old Madon addresses issues that affect her community and personal life. She discusses everything from the heavy pitfalls of street life to the bittersweet lifestyle of being a single mother on the grind. But don't let her raw and rugged approach fool you, she knows how to get the crowd hype. While many MC's both male and female alike claim to be original and versatile, this woman makes it known without apology "Gold diggers are being represented, hookers are being represented, fake ass bitches who wannabe drug dealers are being represented but single mothers who done all that shit aren't being represented".

With top-notch production from Lex, A Sesay, Bloq Rockaz, Decompose, Dubbledge and producer Daren Joseph (Juelz Santana, "Whistle Track") among others, Madon's sexy swagger and intense connection exudes throgh her performances keep her in high demand fro Mixtape appearances, interviews and shows. Her current Mixtape, The Chronicles of Willamena Jackson gives a glimpse of the woman behind the music and what she is about. "I'm not gonna tell you to go get fly and your light are off and your kids are dirty".

She's currently working on her next Mixtape project the Benning Rd Bomber which drops early first quarter. She was nominated in 2006 as the Washington, DC's area's Best Female Rap Artist Award at the first annual DMV awards last December. You be able yo also check out Madon on PBS in February and VH1 in March of '08.
For more information about Madam Madon check her out at www.myspace.com/madammadon. - Artist Magazine

"Madam Madon is always at the top of my list for lyrical emcees across the board. Male or female, no matter - Madam Madon has the lyrical skills, unique delivery, energy, and marketability to be on a major level. On top of the incredible talent, Madam Madon is likeable, friendly, willing to put in work, humble yet confident. She has the character to go along with the musical gifts. She is the total package. I am always thrilled to have Madam Madon involved in anything I am doing because I have full trust that she will always deliver nothing short of spectacular." Da' Hitman (President of Lord Gang Djz, Producer/DJ for syndicated Unique Styles Show)

Here are the mixtape projects I have included Madam Madon on to date:

Unique Styles Mixtape (Show It Off)
The Twitter Tape (Get At Me)

Upcoming Projects:

Heroes and Villains
All-Female Mixtape (still untitled) - Unique Styles Radio

I can't tell you why their is a lack of female emcees in the game. I cant tell you why some artists get a deal and some dont. But I can tell you this, if we don’t see Madam Madon get a deal sometime soon, then I just might stop listening. I’m halfway joking with that comment, but only half way. Madam Madon might just be the best female in the game, and I’m not studdering.

The D.C. native has been a bully for years on the indie scene, but the release of her latest mixtape “Bennin Road Bomber” shows that not only is she ready for the big time, but she’s ready to the title of underground queen.

“Bennin Road Bomber” is hands down one of the best mixtapes that I’ve heard all year. From start to finish, she put her heart, soul and talent into every track with outstanding results. Bouncing from style to style, this is what hip-hop is about.

Madon shows off her penchant for breaking down bars with joints like “Bennin Road Bomber”, “Get At Me” and “Machine Gun Rap” and then comes back to showcase her story telling ability with the soulful “Sell your Soul” and the Biggie-esque “Cut him Off” where she details the consequences of a catching boyfriend. Even when she shows off her sex appeal on tracks like “Let Me Know” she lyrically brings something new to a story we’ve all heard before.

Lyrically, there aren’t many females that can hang with her in the booth and to be honest, I doubt there are many dudes who could hold up either. But her strength is her story telling. They way she turns a simple rhyme into a book, is what sets her apart from the current crop of emcees.

Impressed aint even the word. I actually found myself honor to cue up her mixtape. To hear lyrics, concepts and passion is rare today, thank you for Madam Madon for showing that hip-hop is still alive. - Word On The Street Magazine