Today we’d like to introduce you to Siya.
Siya, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My real name is Michele but I’m known to the world as “Siya”. I’m an emcee, singer, songwriter, and actress amongst other things but I will keep it short and to the point lol. I began writing poetry at the age of five and by the age of six, I was a full-on rapper. Imagine me as a jit spitting bars looking like a mini Layzie Bone (Bone things inspired me to rap by the way) in front of the television. It was a sight to see because I was actually really good at it. I’m well into my 30’s now and have been in the industry since I was 12. I’m from Bedstuy Brooklyn so I owe much of my grittiness and flow to my city. A product of Roosevelt Projects to be exact. I grew up in the same streets as Hip-Hop greats such as Jay-Z, Biggie, Lil Kim, to name a few. The concrete jungle molded me and ultimately gave me the wings I needed to fly. I will skip the hardships because I’ve been reminded my whole life of them and you can hear it clearly in my music. I ended up in Los Angeles some years ago and landed my own reality show called “Sisterhood of Hip-Hop” for three seasons and my first movie gig followed thanks to Larenz Tate. I’ve done plenty of films since all while continuing on this musical journey of mine. I recently signed with hillman grad / def Jam thanks to my longtime friend, mentor, and believer Lena Waithe. An E.P will be the first body of work I drop with them as a reinvention of myself. Be on the lookout for that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being one of the first mainstream openly lesbian emcees came with some challenges. Most of them being industry related. Coming up I was expected to dress a certain way or reference men in my lyrics knowing that wasn’t who I was. I was rejected many times because I refused to conform to please music executives. Ultimately it caused me to lose many opportunities but I was ok with that as long as I remained true to me for me. I opened a lot of doors for others who came after me even if it was at the expense of my own talent being overlooked. At least I know I played a pivotal part in Hip-Hop.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I’m a firm believer that my upbringing has the most to do with my success. Being raised by my grandmother I inherited many traits from her. People often tell me I’m wise beyond age or that I have an old soul. I take pride in that. My grandmother who is more like my mother instilled in me values I could have never learned in the streets (although I fell victim to my environment) I remained grounded. Humble yet stern. Kind-hearted and filled with empathy but far from a pushover. This industry is not for the faint of heart but all of who I am giveS me the advantage of being more relatable and personable. I’m human just like the rest of the world. I highlight that in my music.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instragram.com/siya
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAMSIYAMUSIC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SIYATHEDREAMER
