The Fembassy

By: Glennisha Morgan

In the documentary Roxanne mentioned that it was her 1st time touring with all females. Was it your first time too?

No, actually I think it was late 2006 when we did the Sisters in Rhyme Tour with Invincible and Bahamadia. So it was my second all female tour with some of the same people. It was cool. It was like an expanded version of what we did in 2006.

So you were already familiar with each other.

Yea. Invincible, Bahamadia, and I knew each other. We had such a cool tour that I wasn’t at all concerned about anybody being cool. I knew how cool we were on the first tour. I knew it could go well.

In your experience what’s the difference between touring overseas vs. in the U.S.?

Overseas people seem a bit more into it because you’re so far from them. It’s something a little more special because you don’t live in the same country. I feel like its dope because you’re in different areas and around different cultures. You’re also site seeing at the same time. We still rock the shows wherever we go.

Do you have any rituals or specific things that you do to prepare for touring? If so, what are they?

Well, just getting the show together and how I want to present myself musically. I come up with some type of theme or something that I want to base my performance around. That’s about it.

Are there any rules that you have as far as what not to do before or while on tour? (Health wise)

I definitely don’t eat pork but, no I just try to eat as healthy as possible. We usually stock up on fruit and juice. That’s always a good thing to do. You need stuff that’s portable. When you’re on the road it’s not really a healthy type of lifestyle. So you want to keep stuff like that so you can get to it.

What advice would you give to upcoming artists about touring?

Definitely make sure you have a contract. Make sure it’s clear. Have your technical rider and hospitality rider. Let them know if it’s certain things that you don’t eat. Get to know who you are working with and ask around about your promoter. Don’t just jump into something because it seems cool. There are some crazy people out here so be careful, especially as a woman. It’s very important to do your research.

It was kind of cool for us because our agent was a woman so we felt a lot more comfortable but, you’re dealing with someone in another country with a different culture and other languages. So you don’t really know what’s up. You have to really make sure you’re safe. If you can bring somebody that you trust with you that is best. Always get a deposit up front so you’re not stuck out there and someone isn’t paying you.

It’s just really important to pay attention to safety, taking care of your health, and that the business is handled well beforehand (You can be stuck out there I’ve heard some bad stories). Also, make sure your show is tight musically.

Did the tour play a role in inspiring, influencing, and or supporting you in any new endeavors?

Not that I know of. I mean it was a great experience. We did the tour and I did some other solo shows while I was out there. I don’t think I did any other tours based on that.

Are you currently working on a new project(s)?

Yes, I actually am working on a project with a producer named Knotz. That should be coming out some time next year. I’m working on another solo project with some other things. I’m really getting the musical skills up. I’m also working on some art. I’m really concentrating and working on family as well. That’s very important to me. I’m also an entertainment lawyer. So I work with artists and musicians. I help them out with whatever they need. If you know of any artists that need help with contracts and things of that nature, definitely let me know.

That’s great because you can handle your own business.

Yes, I’ve been learning a lot doing that. It’s a whole other world. The business side is so separate from the art. You have to make sure that your business is handled if you want to be successful and live off of your art. It’s so important because if you don’t have your business handled even if you do gain some popularity someone is going to try to take that for you. Before you even seriously make money it’s just important that you have your business and publishing company set up. You want to make sure you’re registered with the performing rights society and that you’re copyrighting your music.If you’re pushing out a label, you need a trademark. Just the basic things, they’re not a lot.

Definitely, I’ve heard of people getting their songs stolen.

It happens all of the time. They say that if you make something it’s automatically copyrighted but, if you register it you actually have proof. It’s easier to prove and you can get more money for damages if you have to sue someone. If it’s not registered you are limited on what you can get.

Was there anything that you learned from the older or more seasoned artists during the tour?

Definitely, it was just an honor to tour with them. Like I said, I had the honor to be able to tour with Bahamadia before and then to tour with Dr. Shante too, it was just a really great experience. Both of those ladies are on point. They’re about their business and they make sure that their ducks are in a row. They handle what they need to handle.

I really respect them, their careers, their legacies, and what they’ve shared with women in Hip Hop. Plus the images that they both portrayed, they’re very respectful. They show even more that you can be successful and you don’t have to do all of those things that they say female emcees may need to do. I just learned to have my stuff on point. They’re on point with their lyrics, their show, and their business. It was definitely a learning experience. I learned a lot from them.

During the documentary while at the radio station there was a huge discussion about being a female emcee. How do you feel about being labeled as a “female emcee” vs. just being called an “emcee”?

It doesn’t really matter to me. I am a woman and I don’t need to hide that fact. I actually wasn’t there at the radio interview but, to me it’s like I’m an emcee and a female. I know they don’t say “male emcee” but, in a way it sets you apart. People are like oh she’s a woman and she’s doing her thing. My name is Stacy but, it can be for males too so people may think I’m a man (laughs). I’m a woman so it’s fine with me. I love being a woman, feminine, and doing Hip Hop. I don’t have to be like oh I have to be just like this man over here. We both can do our thing or we can do it together, whatever.

I know a lot of people hate the term but, I agree. It’s a given. That’s how you were born. You are a woman so embrace it.

We can get into a big debate about it but, it’s more important things in the world than that. People label things but, I think it makes it easier. It’s easier to understand things sometimes when they are labeled. Sometimes there are ignorant labels but, I’m a woman and I’m an emcee. So that’s what’s up.

As we all know it’s a bit harder for female emcees to succeed in the industry but, I think everyone on the tour has been successful in their own right. What inspires you to keep doing what you’re doing?

I love music and I love expression. For me I love Hip Hop but, I love all music. For me it’s really bigger than Hip Hop. It’s changing the world through music. It’s being able to communicate with a large number of people through music, art, and sound. It’s the most sacred method of communication. It’s something that I love to do and it comes to me naturally. I don’t even think it’s something that you can choose or not choose. If it’s meant for you to do and it’s meant for you to be then that’s what you’ll be. The most high will conspire in your favor and it will happen for you. Everything is difficult. Life is difficult. Every day is a struggle, especially now for a lot of people. Whatever the struggle is, if you’re meant to be in that struggle, you need to be in it and stay true to it. That’s all we can do. Be the best at whatever we are.

What advice would you give to upcoming artists as far as being successful and building their own brand?

Just be true to yourself and true to your art. Create as an individual in your own way and not thinking that you need to sound like anything else. If it doesn’t sound like anything else, that’s actually really good. Don’t think it’s bad. Be you and do you. Like I said before, make sure your business is handled and that you have someone that can help you with that. I think a lot of times people don’t think about it until its too late. Be proactive with that. Just continue to have fun making your music. Enjoy it, #1. Don’t let it stress you out because it can. It’s really difficult to maintain that lifestyle but, be creative and think outside of the box. Try to build a nice team of people. Work together; it makes it easier when you’re working with more people.

THE REVIVAL from EMERGENCE Media on Vimeo.