From the streets of Queens, NY to the sun-bathed population of Tampa, FL; most of you should have already heard of that one they call "the femcee." Her introduction to the game was definitely a natural progression, and her story is one that increasengly gains movement on Hip Hop's list of the most beloved emcees of the time. Her feminine swag is matched by her ability to engage a crowd in her very own story within a culture that most had thought lost honor and dignity.

We caught up to Dynasty and had her agree to share some thoughts with us, and answer some questions that we could provide our readers. We asked her how her journey has been since her proclaimed "awakening" into the local arena, when she performed at a Little Brother show in the historic Ybor City District of Tampa Bay.

BSR: So, tell us how has your journey been from the Little Brother show in Ybor to now?

DY: WOW. My journey has been amazing, and, it's still just the beginning. The Little Brother show was where Tampa started paying attention, and they haven't stopped showing love since! :-) Since then, I've had two singles on major radio, opened for Wu-Tang, KRS-One, AZ & Cormega; and [we] had an unbelievable turnout for the "Dreampusher" release party. So yea, it's been amazing! :-)

BSR: What started you rhyming prior to then when you lived in Queens? Any favorite throwback emcees?

DY: Well, it was just something I started doing because the boys were doing it. Me and my girls would take rhymes and switch them up to make it our own. My favorite group at that time was Das EFX. All I wanted for gifts were Das EFX tapes. (LOL!) After a while, I realized that I was pretty good at it, and once I got a taste of the stage, it was a wrap!

BSR: What lessons have been the hardest to learn for you in this game?

DY: The hardest lesson was that this thing really takes work! It's not just about being a dope emcee; (and) just because you're good at one aspect of it, doesn't automatically make you good at another (aspect). For example, recording was never natural for me. I always considered myself a PERFORMING artist (because) THAT comes naturally (for me). Standing in a booth, in front of a mic, not so much. That really took work for me to conquer, and I still feel that I have work to do, but I am growing.

BSR: What is a victorious moment, and what is a dissappointing moment you have had at a show?

DY: A victorious moment at a show --- I rocked the Wu-Tang crowd, which was a tough crowd. (LOL) I saw them boo the act before me. Well, they didn't boo - they started chanting, "WU-TANG!, WU-TANG!" 1000 plus people chanting, "Wu-Tang!" in the middle of the act's set!?!? Well, i went on the stage and said, "Let me hear you say WU-TANG! WU-TANG!" and got them ALL chanting. Then I said, "Good, I saw what you did to that last dude. Now that you've got that out of your system, we can start the show!" They went CRAZY! After that, it was smooth sailing! =)

(I haven't really had a disappointing moment at a show… sorry!!)

BSR: So, being from Queens, how do you feel the music in Tampa differentiates from your hometown?

DY: They have quite a few artists down here doing Jook music, which is different than what we do up north. But, truthfully, Tampa is a melting pot and a lot of people are here from all over (the place). So, it's a nice variety in the music scene here, not just in Hip Hop, but ALL genres.

BSR: Since everyone keeps asking this, we felt we probably should appease the masses but ask it a bit differently. Where do you see Hip Hop heading in regards to production, lyricism and the business as a whole?

DY: I'm not really one to speak to much on the business side. My concern lies with the art itself, and right now I see people looking for a little more variety. The dance music is cool, the money, hoe's and clothes flow is still alive and well; but people are looking for MORE. I think people embracing artists like Jay Electronica is evidence of that.

BSR: So, who's spinning in that music list of yours these days?

DY: Oh man! My music list is so random!!! It will go from Erykah (Badu), John Mayer, Mos Def, Gladys Knight, Adele, to Slaughterhouse. (LOL!) Whatever I am in the mood for, I find it… and listen.

BSR: Who has shaped your experience thus far? Is there anyone who has had an impact on your style, approach or views?

DY: The artists who influence my views are artists who are true to themselves like Erykah Badu and Mos Def; and the list grows as I'm exposed to more music. Any artist who doesn't compromise who they are to appease anyone impacts me. Authentic artists encourage me to keep doin' what I do!

BSR: How did the "Dreampusher" concept come about?

DY: I felt that this project was my introduction to the world, and I needed to let people know who I am. A "Li'l brown girl from queens with big dreams." I'm a "dreampusher", doing what I have to do day to day to get by, but I know where my heart lies and what my dreams are. That's what I push for.

BSR: So, when can we expect the LP? Any signs of that in the horizon?

DY: There is no date set yet. We just dropped "Dreampusher," and the feedback has been overwhelming. So, we are running with that for now. The world has to hear "Dreampusher" before the album drops!! Well… most of the world at least. :-)

BSR: So, are you keeping it independent, going for a signed deal or not sure yet?

DY: It's all up in the air right now. =) It's about making GOOD MUSIC and connecting with the people. I live for the stage, but don't get it twisted, my team handles biz! (LOL!)

BSR: What would you say to any aspiring artist in this Hip Hop game?

DY: You already know what I'm going to say… keep Pushin'! I know that may sound cliché to some, but it is TRULY my mantra and it gets me through everything. Pushin' forward has brought me to where I am now, and it's going to take me far beyond here. This is just a stepping stone.

BSR: Any other thoughts, shoutouts, etc?

DY: Shouts to my team, TEAM DY. Sandman, Jinx, Deacon, DJ Fader (The Rotten Orange), and anyone who supports me in pushin' for my dream. I appreciate you! Be sure to stay in touch at thefemcee.com and http://facebook.com/thefemcee!

Want more information on Dynasty (aka Ya Girl DY!), the Femcee?

- Website: http://www.thefemcee.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thefemcee
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/yagirldynasty
- Booking Info: booking@thefemcee.com

So, we decided it would be in everyone's best interest to bring some exposure to R.A.P.P. Quelle and get some insight from this all-around artist. It became obvious for me that his passion for music was just one way of expressing his general views on life. With a talent to both move people yet still maintain a level of respectable content is matched by his ability to properly assess his own position in the industry and push forward towards his goals like any real artist should.

So, on a busy day of reinstalling machines in the studio, replying to various requests for reviews and nonstop text messages that for some reason wouldn't give me a moments rest, I was able to sit down for about an hour to ask some questions in a chat session with Quelle.

BSR: So, tell us about your background in music, and your parent's contribution to it. You mentioned that they were both music lovers on your website [http://www.rappquelle.com/].

RQ: Well, I've always loved music. It was a big part of my childhood. My dad was into Sam Cook and Stevie Wonder, and my mom was always playing music when she was cooking or cleaning. My dad is a great part of how I look at music and [how I listen] for great music. We took rides together when I was growing up. He would flip through the dials where we'd listen to tons of music on our rides, no real talking; it was kind of like the songs said everything we would want to say. :)

Christmas time was always great, because my dad would get all the tapes together and set the double deck machine to play tapes back to back, and he would get up in the middle of the night to put new tapes in. Christmas times were the best because I fell asleep to music and woke up to it. Nat King Cole, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Charles.... All the greats!

I remember one time in particular I became "aware" at Xmas that my dad was making something in the kitchen and Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" was playing and I began to cry. That was one of the first times I felt the very real impact of music. I was about 9 [at that time].

BSR: So, would you say you try and make that same impact in your music?

RQ: Yes, my goal is to give you something important every time I write and entertain you. I want to leave an impact [on the listener].

BSR: Sounds good. That's important. Now, how is it being from the Bahamas and promoting music in the states?

RQ: Well, honestly, at first I used to say it was "doing the impossible;" but now with the internet market growing by the second, it's become a very real thing for me and that ironically changed and widened my focus.

I look at it like this - nothing in life that's really "worth it" is gonna come easy, so this is something I'm gonna have to work hard for and I am ready to do that. So now a great deal of my time goes to networking and making genuine connections with each body on the other side of the screen.

BSR: Now, you also mentioned being involved in photography. Does that experience shape your way of marketing your artist image at all?

RQ: Well I think it does in some way. When I was only doing photography, my favorite images were the really abstract and artistic ones... the ones that stood out. I think I try to do that in my own way with my image as a recording artist now :)

BSR: What do you consider as major influences of your music besides the old school music? What of the 80's and up era stood out to you?

RQ: One of my strongest influences as a writer comes from Brandon Boyd of Incubus.Around 13 or 14, I'd say was when the whole Hip Hop love came for me. The videos used to come on TV and I'd record them on a VHS tape and play them back [in order to] write out the lyrics of the songs so I could know them in and out. I started writing down lyrics from KRS-One, Rakim, and then later DMX and Busta Rhymes.

My biggest Hip Hop influence at that time was Tupac, and it wasn't the "gangsta" image that had me; it was WHAT he was saying. I felt connected like I could live every word of it and feel all of what he said. He helped me to understand the importance of the words behind the songs and why things should have a meaning in Hip Hop.

BSR: So do you feel your music has that movement of feeling personally, or do you see yourself as "getting there"?

RQ: I think it hits and misses. My goal now is to find the best way of getting people to understand the whole [concept] of the art. With so much music coming out, why should someone take time to understand the meaning behind every bar? So I guess am getting there. (HAHA)

BSR: So, how do you feel about being compared to other artists?

RQ: Well, I take it as a compliment...Ya know? I think it's good for people to be able to say "Hey , you remind me of ..Etc etc" and still be able to stand on your own with your own artistic dogma.

BSR: So, do you think that helps or hinders your overall image? Sometimes artists feel the need to break away from that.

RQ: I think if you don't feed into it and give the listeners as much of your "true self" as possible your individuality will shine through. But if you use that to gain more support it's a career killer.

BSR: What do you feel is one of the best things about doing music independently?

RQ: Besides freedom...LOL (jokes). Well, I think it's great to be able to say what you want to say, and how you want to say it. The ability to give your listeners the full expression of your art is priceless.

BSR: What are some of the challenges you encounter, and how do you address those?

RQ: Well, I think something that challenges a lot of Indie acts is money, and this is where the internet has become such an invaluable tool for my team. There is so many free ways to get the word out, and you can pick and choose for yourself what is worth paying [for].

You can create your core with virtually no start-up cash, and with the new age of DIRECT TO FAN networking, the fans now can support you in more ways than just going to your show and buying a CD. With online branding I've been able to meet one of my biggest challenges head on, and I feel consistency will only improve this.

BSR: Sounds like you know your marketing :) So, who all run's the R.A.P.P. Quelle brand from behind the scenes?

RQ: No disrespect to your job at hand, but I think there is strength in my team being "behind the scenes," so I think I'll just leave it as that. People like BootSlapRap.com help [us] push the brand :)

BSR: Fair enough! :) What's one lesson you would be willing to share with all our readers out there, artist or fan?

RQ: well, it's not really a lesson, but more of a quote I go by in a lot of situations that helps me to remember I can never learn enough.

"The man that knows something, knows that he knows nothing at all"

BSR: True indeed, one of my favorites as well. So, what's in your Media Player rotation these days?

RQ: Brand New Heavies, Joe Budden's "Mood Muzik 4", Funkadelic's "America Eats Its Young", Tony McKay's "Exuma", Jamiroquai, and some snippets of Jaco Pastorius' "Live Shows with Weather Report"

BSR: Any other words you have for our readers or shout outs?

RQ: Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me and i hope you enjoy the music. Shout out to everyone living their dreams and those trying to get there :)