Search - Feloni :: A Woman's Revenge

UNBOSSED & UNSOLD IN A GAME FULL OF CLONES! After Queen Latifah...and before Nicki Minaj...there was FELONi. While most female rappers who enter the rap game tend to use, or need, a major male rapper's voice to help establish themselves, Feloni walked into the hip-hop game and established her own name. She writes all her lyrics, records and mixes her own music, and even produces. She spends little on marketing and promotions, has never approached a major record label, has never released a mix tape, and rarely allows interviews. Yet, via word of mouth, she is considered one of the most controversial female rappers in hip-hop. Although Feloni does not rap exclusively about women, if you look her up in the Urban Dictionary, you'll find her described as the "Godmothe" of the urban, out-lesbian hip-hop movement. In 2005, she was the first to break out on the scene with the controversial debut single "Brand New," which politicized "pussi" by flipping the script on male posturing--in their language--as a taunt, a protest against misogyny, and an attempt to push the limits of hip-hop's sexuality. The song was first featured on Russell Simmons & WJLB-FM 98's 2005 Detroit Hip-hop Summit Mixtape. In 2007, she was also the first African-American female rapper to release (internationally) a full-length album, rapping exclusively from the perspective of a lesbian, which sparked and inspired an entire movement. Prior to being discovered by MTV networks, Feloni had already opened for major recording artists and some of the hottests rappers in Detroit, thanks to Roo's (R.I.P.) B Like Boyz, DJ Hen House, and the private music organization of indie CEOs called "The Detroit Movement," which included Big Proof (R.I.P.), Eminem's best friend from D12. MTV networks offered Feloni her own episode of the documentary series "Coming Out Stories," on their LOGO channel, to showcase what they called her "groundbreaking" music and to confront her father and brother about her sexuality. Her episode was produced by Oscar-nominated, and 4x-Emmy-Award-winning producers Kirk Simon and Karen Goodman. Prior to Feloni's episode, which aired for 3 years, there were very few documentaries featuring entertainers speaking up about their sexuality, particularly women of color. After Feloni's episode, MTV created Tila Tequila's bisexual reality show called "A Shot at Love." The rest? Well, just look around, and you'll get the point that girls kissing girls is BIG business now. In Feloni's case, however, it's real life. Feloni never chose to hide her sexuality, like some artists, in fear of rejection or losing endorsements and fan support. She believes that hiding who you are in exchange for fame and wealth is selling your soul. Feloni knew it would be a challenge to get a record deal without changing who she was. She has said that she'd rather be hated for who she is than loved for being someone she's not. In view of this, she created her own indie label (Trak Diamond Records), and signed herself!