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Sarah Hall
Photo courtesy of Worn |
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B-girl Lynx
Photo courtesy of Ben Morin |
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LaDonna
Photo courtesy of LaDonna |
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Killa Jewel
Photo courtesy of Sasson Khazzam |
Born out of the predominantly African-American and Latino communities in New York in the late '70s, hip-hop has gone global. It has become a template for other cultures to use as a form of self-expression, growth and resistance. But in the rush to cash in on its success, much of the pure Hip hop culture has fallen by the wayside, and this has presented some unique challenges for the artists who are looking to take it to the next level; among them female MCs, DJs, break dancers, graffiti artists, and more.
The Montreal hip-hop scene is no exception. Throw in a linguistic divide, a reputation as one of the best places in North America for musicians to get their bearings, and a world-renowned nightlife, and things get interesting. You would think this would be the perfect city for a female hip-hop artist to get her music on; but the women who've done it know all too well the challenges that go along with the exciting opportunities of the Montreal scene.
Here, we explore the experiences of four ladies who live and breathe Montreal hip-hop.
Sarah Hall (a.k.a. Rasa)
Hall started out doing graffiti and dancing in 1994. She became a muralist, working on the sets, props and costumes for local hip-hop group Atach Tatuq in 2006.
As a female artist, Hall has been breaking plenty of ground. She was one of two women from Québec representing Canada in a 2001 graffiti convention in Brazil; out of two-hundred participants, only two others were women.
Still, Rasa has never felt uncomfortable - just a little tired of the question, "How does it feel being a girl in a mostly male scene?"
Alsterlund contests the hip-hop portrayal of women as sexual objects, and hopes that the culture will begin representing their skills equally alongside the men.
Lynx (a.k.a. Kate Alsterlund)
This B-girl was already into skateboarding, graffiti, and Capoiera before she got into break dancing. She helped form the all-female breaking collective Ellementale 5 in 1998.
Ellementale 5 organized an event called Legendary One, showcasing female MCs, DJs, B-girls and artists. Alsterlund contests the hip-hop portrayal of women as sexual objects, and hopes that the culture will instead begin representing their skills equally alongside the men. She feels that more events like Legendary One would help bring the community together, focusing not just on women but also on the fundamental elements of hip-hop.
MC Dee (a.k.a. LaDonna)
LaDonna has been an MC for over 10 years, working solo and with Atach Tatuq. She teaches the art of rhyme writing, recording and performing in youth programs across the city.
LaDonna argues there is no reason why there shouldn't be more female MCs in the mix. She does believe however, that the climate in Québec is not conducive to hip-hop.
"It's really small because the media and people really keep it silent," she says. "I think Québec is afraid of the image of rap, people are afraid of the stereotypes."
DJ Killa Jewel (a.k.a. Julie Fainer)
I met Killa Jewel in 1997, when she was spinning Drum N Bass, House, Techno and Break beats. Hip-hop was the next natural step; looking to challenge her fingers - which had already undergone years of piano training - she took up scratching, and eventually took the plunge into the world of production. The Concordia graduate has worked with everyone from Swollen Members to Six Too and Peter Gabriel.
Killa Jewel is getting noticed, and people are mostly open-minded, but not everyone believes she has paid her dues; something that is automatically assumed of an unshaven turntable brute with a scowl. But the roadblocks just drive her more to support her sisters in hip-hop. Whenever she meets another female DJ, she feels an immediate connection and a sense of curiosity.
This sense of sisterhood will help push women forward in hip-hop, not only in Montreal, but globally. Of course, there will always be a competitive edge to it; after all, that is what makes hip-hop great. But if the community is going to evolve, if it is going to challenge itself and those looking in, it's going to need both men and women at the helm.
Lateef Martin writes for Nightlife Magazine and The Montreal Mirror.
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