Dee Shy - The UK's First Birmingham Female MC is Back! by The Editorial Team
Posted 14/07/2024 09:33:49
The UK's First Birmingham Female MC is Back!
The Story
1. Who was your influence, and when did you first realise that you have a love for the Hip Hop culture?
“For me it was in the early 80s when pop music was not my scene, but the Street Sounds USA style was. I remember The Electro Volumes from 1 to 12 and so on, followed by break dancing, body popping etc. also. The music changed, enabling me to flex my skills on the microphone, by toasting, or rapping and dancing too. I listened to Grandmaster Flash, RUN DMC, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One, Public Enemy and so many others. There were always ladies in the background and in their videos, but when Roxanne Shante, Salt & Pepper, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, Mc Lyte, Yo-yo, followed by Foxy Brown, Little Kim, Eve, Missy Elliott, TLC, etc., stormed the Hip-Hop music industry, they were letting the men know that women have skills too. It gave me as a women of colour someone to look up to and was extremely inspiring. In fact, for me, it showed me that this was something I could and would love to do. I wanted to be a part of this new culture, therefore I must salute all these ladies who have paved the way for people like me and many more to come.”
2. Who was SKO (RME) and how did you get involved with this band?
“Well, that's a long story (she laughs). I went to school with two of RME's band members, and was best friends with Coolski's sister, Sharon. We often interfered when they were practising, claiming that we could be their backup dancers, by showing off our own dance routines. They used to laugh, but we got better and better and eventually ended up joining a dance group called, Black Angel. We toured the Midlands and even had 'China Black' as our support act. Through dancing, I unfortunarely damaged my knee, leading me to refocus and turn to the mic. I got really serious about rap/rhyming. RME, renamed SKO, realised I had the lyrical gift for rapping. They used to play me their music and eventually gave me some lyrics to rap to and quickly realised, this girl could really rap. They then started to write lyrics for me and eventually we started collaborating on songs together. During the early 90’s, I was called into the studio to do a track called, ‘Glimpses of Death’, which was a collaboration with about 10, or more rappers! However, I was the only girl, or should I say female MC, as it was a man's world, or so I thought. After hearing me rap they were very impressed and I was called back to do more. This was when I started doing my own thing as a solo artist. As time went on our friendship grew. I later married SKO band member, DME and started a family. I never stopped being a rapper though, because DME built a studio at his parents house and that's where we all hanged out. All the music was produced right there, along with all our vocals.
I was always in that studio writing, recording, watching and learning, honing my craft. This made it easy for all of us to work together, chatting and getting pure jokes. We worked well together as a team, that’s DME, Scraggs (new name Ika), Coolski (shortened to Cool), Ses and me. I was called back to do another remix at Birmingham’s iconic Rich Bitch Studios (now closed) by the band member Ses, who was a fulltime professional footballer, but was doing this track separately. In time, the group scored a major recording deal with EMI/Sony in France, which meant they toured throughout France. They had hits like, ‘Just Another Day,’ 'I Dedicate,’ ‘Show Me the Way’ and ‘I Believe,' featuring Xie Hamilton. They had sponsorship and supported the likes of Jimmy Cliff, Baz Baz, World Apart, Pato Banton and many more, as they were international. I also did several tracks with them, which was released on the Digital Platform.”
3. You was also very much involved in the Beauty Industry, please tell us how you featured in the global magazine called ‘Black Hair’, how that came about?
“In late 1995, I flew to New York, for a family wedding. We took a trip to a local nail bar on 5th Avenue, where I got pampered and had the now famous 'nail extensions.' This inspired me to take a course on nails upon my return to the UK. I trained and qualified as a Masters Technician - Creative, and with the support of my husband, DME, I was able to open 3 successful nail and beauty salons in Birmingham. My friend Patricia, who owned Concept Hair Salon asked me to be her hair model, as she was being featured in the Black Hair Magazine (London). Obviously I agreed and I was so glad I did, because it taught me a lot about the growing Black Women's Hair Business as I travelled around hair modelling.
4. Let’s make it clear you’re not a Gospel music artist, in fact you’re a conscious rapper that raps about subjects that's primarily helping to mentor the youth of today. What actually lead you down this path?
“In 2001 I was involved in a car accident which changed my perception towards life which led to the toning down of my default aggressive lyrical approach to Hip Hop in order to reach the youth within my community at that time. Unknown to me during that period the experiences that I'd expressed in my song(s) had caught the attention of the gospel community which later led to me receiving the 'Female Artist of the Year Newsome Award by Dr Frederick Ware-Newsome in Atlanta, USA. We live in a world where people must make choices, right or wrong, good or bad, so that lead me here. I have had to be very conscious and true about how I deliver my messages, hence my desire to change by using different subjects. However, I'm staying true to who I am and being a good Ambassador In the music industry. You said "Conscious," and yes that's true....true talk about different subjects, that will influence people in a positive way and uplift them, staying true to the game. Music is about expression, about how you feel, about what is happening in your current life, about what is going on in the world right now. As a writer, there are many chapters of my life which I could use to relate to being such a positive role model in the music industry. It's important that I can relate and connect to the audience, whilst also being a good role model to the youth of today. I have this need to empower them. How? By letting them know that rap music is not about being affiliated to gangs, guns, drugs and knives, which is the negative side of what is portrayed on some music videos and films. One thing we must realise is that whatever we do it's personal to us. I must make it clear that I know I have a talent and a mission to be positive: by being courageous; having empathy; to love; and show it. However, I think the big one for me is being able to express myself through music the right way. ‘Sence, Knowledge & Opinion, (SKO) IT'S CALLED LIFE!”.
5. Which female MC’s are your greatest Influence?
“I have to say it was Monie Love. Simply because she was from the UK and went to America and absolutely smashed it! As a young female rapper, she made her mark in the music industry, but also as a female artist who was skilled at her craft she didn't sell herself out by using her body to boost sales. This young woman influenced me in such a way by the none-use of foul language and her persona shone through. I would play her songs repeatedly and learn her lyrics, as she was fast at 'spitting' those lyrics, which is something I desired to do too. Monie Love also dressed respectfully without being vulgar in appearance, which was a plus for me as a young girl growing up.”
Queen Latifah has to be mentioned here. She didnt allow her size to hold her back. In fact, she broadened her horizon by later going into movies. I can't forget MC Lyte, or Salt & Pepper who were all, Rough Raw and Ready!
6. Born and bred in Birmingham UK, please can you tell us why you are considered one of the first most prominent old school female Rap artist in this Midland Town, who likes to remain underground?
“Where do I start? Well, I will never stop until I need to, how about THAT! I think it’s important that if you have that special something, whether a gift, or a talent, then use it to your best ability. Complete it well and to it's full capacity. Mentor those up and coming young ones, teaching them that they too can do it. Show them how to do things right and not by selling their souls, or bodies to be an overnight successful superstar. It's so very important to instead being true to yourself, holding your ground and being humble in this game. I have always stayed underground and may have shied away from many things, but that comes with the name ‘Dee Shy,’ as I've always been shy as a person until I grab the microphone and THEN, I'm like a lyrical savage. (she laughs).
7. How different is what you do in comparison to the grime music we hear today?
“Well for a start I’m not promoting drugs, violence, guns, or killing, in my videos. I'm not taking off my clothes, or wearing hardly anything to get recognised, or noticed with my songs. I write about the things that’s true to my heart. I'm not saying all grime is like this, because there are so much talented grime rap artists that are very outstanding in their game. However, I do feel that there is such a stigma regarding hip-hop culture and grime rap music, which is very negative. So, I stand on this...I will continue to be a positive influencer in the music industry on different platforms and outside the music industry, and will do that no matter what it takes. We are all accountable on what we put out there for the youth of today, as they are the future.”
8. What's next for Dee Shy? and tell us a little about your next release.
“From my new album comes my fifth single entitled "Mama Raised," which consists of two mixes, (Jamaica Heavy Reggae & Hip Hop /street version). It's a heavy concoction of Reggae/Hip Hop, both high-powered and designed to mash-up speakers. It was produced/mixed and features Mark (Blak Prophetz), where you can also hear me telling the tales of my upbringing and values, which contributed and forged me into becoming the iconic black female MC I am today. The two versions absolutely slam with persistent power and either is sure to be one of the most requested songs for both genres on the dance floor. My new album will be released collaborating with other artists like John Chiti, Annette B, Xie Hamilton, and many more. I can't say too much right now, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Socials/Contact Info...
Official Website : https://www.deeshy.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/MCDeeShy
YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@DeeShyVEVO/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/DeeShyOfficial
Instagram : https://instagram.com/MCDeeShy
Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@MCDeeShy
PR/Legal : team@digitaljukeboxrecords.com