Queen Deelah
(Fadeelah Muhyee)
From: East Oakland/ Sobrante Park
Artist, activist & actress Fadeelah Muhyee (Queen Deelah) recognized her passion for music in the church choir at the age of 5. Now 25, Queen Deelah has launched herself to becoming one of the best female lyricists to touch the microphone. Hailing from Oakland, CA, Queen Deelah has a natural swagger and unmistakable confidence! Deelah leaves crowds stunned after her high energy shows. Her passion and drive inspire young people around the country to strive for what they believe. Queen Deelah’s grace and class fills in the void of the under represented female MC in Bay Area Hip- Hop. Stand just a foot away from her and you’ll know you’re in the presence of big hearted peeps. You get a taste of a woman who moves in ways that are truly royal, a Queen! Queen Deelah feels the voice of the youth has consistently been put on the back burner. That fueled her fire in 2002 to use music as a tool to educate urban communities. Her music often reflects social ills and uplifting songs that promote love and romance, and a positive vision for a healthy society. Since 2002 to date, she has been featured on numerous albums, compilations and mix tapes “Real Hard”, “Do It Movin”, “True da Life”, “Turf Ministries”, “Generation Next”, “Cov Records”, “Turf Unity 1,2,& 3″, “Chasing Demons” and many more. Partnering with Quita, Fly Hustla, Lady Blue & Lil B she created Hyfee Luv Records! Queen Deelah continues to push real music throughout the country! She dropped her second album “Lovegity” worldwide through IODA which was released to 70 major independent carriers! More info can be found on Queen Deelah at www.hyfeeluv.com, www.myspace.com/queendeelah, & emailed at hyfeeluv@hotmail.com.
What inspired you to get involved with Turf Unity / Silence The Violence?
I saw the need for young people to stand up for Peace! This program is a safe haven for teens and young adults. It has provided a space for us to be heard through music. More importantly the Urban Peace Movement has given us the tools to better our selves as youth living in urban neighborhoods.
Who inspires you? What about them inspires you?
The folks who inspire me is Nicole, Xiomara, & Galen! These three people are the hope of Oakland! Nicole & Xiomara are amazing women who have a genuine concern about spreading peace. They have help me to realize my full potential and motivate me to work hard! Galen is the person who recruited me to the program when I was a lost youth. He has showed me what it means to believe and never lose faith! All of them are dedicated to transforming violence and ignorance. I consider them my mentors and MOST OF ALL THEY ARE MY FAMILY!
What’s your favorite thing about Oakland?
My favorite thing about Oakland is that we are a unique culture! We have a light that the world craves for!
What’s your least favorite thing about Oakland?
My least favorite thing about Oakland is the violence.
How do you think we could improve your least favorite thing?
Continue to fight against the things that don’t allow us to progress as a community!
What advice would you give other young people?
Be the transformation you want to see!!!
Ozone
From: East Oakland, California
What’s Your Favorite Song Right Now?
Clear It Out (Ozone)
Over (Drake)
What inspired you to get involved with Turf Unity / Silence The Violence?
Being young and having the mind frame of changing lives
Who inspires you? What about them inspires you?
Galen Peterson, Director of the Green Media and Arts Center, He has supported me through everything that I ever wanted to do.
What’s your favorite thing about Oakland?
The Culture and the History
What’s your least favorite thing about Oakland?
The murder rate.
How do you think we could improve your least favorite thing?
By staying humble.
What advice would you give other young people?
Always move forward towards whatever you want in life.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Completing my second solo album, “Say Goodbye to The Rap Game”
J-Milli-on
(Jhamel Robinson)
J-Milli-on is a young, aspiring entertainer who grew up in the mean streets of Oakland, California. While a lot of his peers succumbed to the various lures of the streets J-Milli-on chose music as his ticket out of poverty. He is a versatile artist who weaves together a variety of sounds and genres, capturing the free-spirited energy of the Bay Area sound. He seamlessly blends his compositions with reflective and thought-provoking content. He is an active member of the Bay Area Hip-hop activist community, and collaborates with organizations such as Cov Records, Youth Movement Records, Ella Baker Center, Silence The Violence, Real Hard, Amnesty International, Vera Project, and Youth Speaks. J-Milli-on has shared the stage with such superstars as KanYe West, Dead Prez, Too $hort, Mistah Fab, Goaplele, Zion I, Incubus and Audio Slave to name a few. J-Milli-on has been featured on a number of compilations such as the Turf Unity series (Turf Unity Music Group), Change The Nation, Free*Style (Youth Movement Records), & United Roots (Raperations Records). On August 12th, 2008, J-Milli-on released his debut EP titiled “One Stop Shop” under his Fly & Famous imprint that he co-founded with his older brother Jamall “J Net Tha Prince” Robinson, you can find One Stop Shop on iTunes & Amazon.com. His upcoming releases include a limited edition EP called Ladies LOVE J Milli,& a follow up full length album titled “The LOVE Project”.
What’s Your Favorite Song Right Now?
Find Your Love- Drake
What inspired you to get involved with Turf Unity / Silence The Violence?
I’m all about change for my people and myself and I thought TU/STV would is a great to representation of that.
Who inspires you ? What about them inspires you?
My community inspires me, to see the youth coming up to me saying that they wanna be like me or they love my music, that’s the best feeling in the world.
What’s your favorite thing about Oakland?
The Culture.
What’s your least favorite thing about Oakland?
The violence and the school system.
How do you think we could improve your least favorite thing?
Parents need to be parents. Our government needs to put less money into war and prison and more into the schools.
What advice would you give other young people?
Never let anyone tell you that you can’t, no matter how bizarre your dream, believe in yourself and do for self!
