The grind of the underground is grisly at times, but even more so for female rappers who often receive criticism on both fronts: male and female. As they have to ensure their lyrical skills are up to par with their male comrades’, they are also open to constant badgering about not being feminine enough or not being “hard” enough, or even, being too much of both. In light of March 8th and the International Women’s Day, DX is pleased to catch up with Theory, a female rapper from Flint, Michigan, who uses Hip Hop as a tool to spread a message.

Her active participation in the community is at the forefront of her commitments, and this single mother/activist/rapper utilizes the art-form of rhyme to push her leading causes to the forefront of her mic. Theory was introduced to us first with the release of her debut album, Homegirls and Handgrenades, a soundtrack to Theory’s views and experiences that nicely showcases her rapping capabilities. Theory sits down with DX to touch on everything from her poetic beginnings and lobbying for legislation change, to her latest EP and album projects.

HipHopDX: Who is Theory?
Theory: An emcee, a poet, a mother, a lover, a fighter and a person who is truly loving my crazy life full of music, people, politics, stories, and change.

DX: When had you been inspired to first pick up the mic and who were your earliest influences?
Theory: It’s interesting because I’ve always been into creating music and performance art; it’s just gone through so many stages. I started out singing as a child. Then, as I moved into high school and college, I really got into spoken word poetry and Hip Hop. I ended up getting involved in a group called the Neo Griot Performance Collective. It was basically a group of artists, writers, poets, emcees, dancers, and singers. We released a couple of independent albums and the group was really instrumental in my development as an artist. In 2006, I left the group and with the assistance of Mystic Melodic Music and a friend, James Anthony Jones, I released my solo album, Homegirls and Handgrenades. My musical influences are so varied that it would be impossible to list them all but I would definitely say that I am profoundly inspired by amazing female artists from MC Lyte to Amel Larriuex to KT Tunstall. My tastes are pretty diverse. But more so than any particular artists, it’s my family, friends and life in general that truly inspires me.

DX: Homegirls & Handgrenades was an independent venture which you distributed. How did it do?
Theory: Homegirls & Handgrenades is doing well. Since the release of the album in 2006, I’ve had the opportunity to perform at venues and festivals all over the country; and everywhere I go, I get positive feedback. People really relate to themes of the album. So much of the promotion has been on some guerilla style, word-of-mouth type of stuff and it’s doing great.

DX: What are you working on now?
Theory: I am working on an EP side project with a producer by the name of Moonchild, and I’m also working on my second album, Boundless. Stic.man of dead prez will have a feature and I’m getting the opportunity to collab with some amazing up-and-coming producers and artists like Jon Connor, Venture, a hot female emcee by the name of Nuvos, Moonchild, Alumni, Bang and 10 Million Strong Productions.

One other project that I’m working on is chairing the local organizing committee of the National Hip Hop Political Convention here in my hometown of Flint, Michigan, as well as running my non-profit organization, RAISE IT UP! Youth Arts and Awareness.

DX: Good stuff, congratulations. So how do you feel you have grown as an artist since your first release?
Theory: I think Homegirls and Handgrenades was the reflection of a young, female emcee who had a ton of passion and a hunger for genuine self-expression. I was definitely a woman with a story to tell; however, I feel as if now, I’ve finally found my creative voice. I was experimenting and really trying to find my voice as an emcee at the time that I created H&H but now, I have no doubts about who I am as an artist, what I stand for, and what the purpose of my art is. I’ve grown more comfortable in my role, in the booth, on the stage or wherever I go. I think an important thing that I learned is that I have to keep it about the art. If I ever stop focusing on that and get caught up in ego and drama, whether it’s mine or anybody else’s, then my art will suffer as a consequence. I’m focused now.

I’ve also learned that when you truly express who you are, people will support you. I can’t tell you how many people come up to me and thank me for creating music that is relevant to our lives. When I get on a stage, I’m not trying to be anything that I’m not. I’m not ballin’. I’m driving a 1998 Mercury Sable, working a nine-to-five during the day, grinding it out as a single mom, starting my own business, and rocking shows at night. My life is like so many others’ and I find that the more I express that in my art, the more it creates those connections between me and people who listen. Continued on page 2 »