Trak Diamond Records: Feloni's Official Biography

Feloni's Biography

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Unbossed and Unsold in a Game full of Clones!

While most females rappers who enter game tend to use or need a major male rapper's voice to help them establish a name,
with the odds against her, Feloni literally walked into the hip-hop game as an unknown in the recording industry to speak her
mind as a woman who loves women, and established her own name. She writes all her lyrics, rarely spends money on
marketing and promotions, and does not allow interviews. Yet, via word of mouth, she is considered one of the most
"controversial" female rappers in hip-hop!

Although Feloni does not spit exclusively about the ladies, if you look her up in the "Urban Dictionary," you'll find her being
described as the "Godmother" of the urban, out lesbian hip-hop movement. In 2005, she was the first to break on the
scene politicizing "p*ss*" with the racy debut single, "Brand New," which flips the script on males posturing --in their
lanquage--as a taunt, a protest against misogyny, and an attempt to push the limits of hip-hop's sexuality.   In 2007, she was
also the first African-American female rapper to release a full length album, internationally, spitting exclusively from the
perspective of a woman who loves women, which sparked and inspired an entire movement of "out" rappers to jump in the
game. Prior to being discovered by the LGBT community and MTV networks, Feloni had already opened for major recording
artists, and some of the hottest rappers in Detroit thanks to Roo's (R.I.P.) B Like Boyz, Core DJ member, DJ Hen House,
and The Original Detroit Movement. Unlike many artists, Feloni never chose to hide her sexuality like those who are
currently "in the closet" due to fear of rejection, and fear of losing endorsements and fan support. She believes hiding you
who are is merely selling your soul to be someone you are not in exchange for fame and money.   Feloni stated if she were
doing it only for the money, she would have gone about the game in a completely different manner, including hiding her
sexuality.

Feloni is an indie, underground recording artist born and bred in Motown (Detroit, MI). She is an artist who is able to
"mack" her game while expressing her sexual autonomy. Her style of music flipped the script on male posturing, and is
changing the politics of the game by changing the subject of domination, and the object of control.   Feloni stated on her
first album, "A Woman's Revenge," she used the current language of rap as a mirror to project back to hip-hop the hypocrisy
and misogynistic elements of the game in hopes of sparking progressive discourse. Feloni's debut single "Brand New" was
1st featured on the Russell Simmons & WJLB-FM 98 2005 Detroit Hip-Hop Summit Mixtape. Initially, the radio
station refused to allow Feloni on the mixtape, stating "Brand New" was too "controversial." After meeting with one of the
promoters at WJLB, willy-nilly, he agreed to allow the first 16 bars only of "Brand New" to make the mixtape. Contagious
and powerful, Feloni's 16 bars sparked an entire movement! Just check out all the new self-proclaimed "Lesbian" rappers in
the game, including Lil' Wayne's new Young Money artist, Nicki Minaj!
In 2006, Feloni was also offered her own episode of the reality show
"Coming Out Stories" on MTV's Logo, which "Entertainment Weekly" remarked: "This touching series marks a high point
for the network." Feloni's episode was produced by Oscar nominated, and four time Emmy Award winning producers,
Kirk Simon and Karen Goodman. Feloni also made history in 2007 by being the 1st "out" rapper to appear on the Grammy
Award's ballot in the "Rap" category. Her historical debut album, "A Woman's Revenge" was self-released in January 2007
on her self-owned indie label, Trak Diamond Records.

At age 16, Feloni began writing prose and songs in an attempt to release the frustration she housed for many years as a
child. Feloni's mother was always on the run as a victim of domestic violence. To help her deal with the daily turmoil and
conflicts within her home, prose and hip-hop became her refuge for venting frustration, and positively channeling creative
energy. Several years after the violent murder of Feloni's brother, and the attempt murder against her mother, she began
to focus more on releasing her debut album. Per Feloni, her name does not mean she is trying to be "hard," "hood," or
"gangsta'." She says the name is merely a play on irony, like many in hip-hop try to do with the "N" word by giving it a new
contextual meaning, an attempt to de-power the word. Feloni said she chose the name because, unlike most of her friends
she ran with as a teenager, she is one of the few who never caught a felony. She says she knew it would be difficult getting
a record deal being herself, but she did not want to change or hide who she is just to get a deal. So she decided to create
her own indie label, and sign herself!

Feloni is a master at evoking emotion in music with catchy beats, wicked lyrics and infectious hooks. She wrote, mixed and
recorded nearly 90% or her debut album in her apartment's walk-in closet. Big Proof (R.I.P.) of Eminem's former group,
D12, and Feloni were both members of the private music organization in Detroit called, The Movement. Feloni says Big
Proof told her she would experience hate in the game because of her sexuality, and that hip-hop would fight to keep her out.
Feloni says he told her no matter what happened, it was important that she kept moving forward, and she's been doing just
that. Feloni says she loves the challenge because it inspires her to continue to break barriers and open people's mind to
what they fear and don't understand.

Feloni is currently working on her sophomore album, "Love Spent" an album she says will show that she's a skilled and
protean artist who is proficient at keeping it real. Feloni describes her style as being similar to Tupac's style in the sense
that they are both raw, yet poetic. She stated it's important that listeners understand that she has a diverse fan base who
appreciates her music on various subject matters. Feloni says she wants "straight" people to be able to approach her music
with an open mind, not fear and judgement.
In December 2009, Feloni blogged on twitter that she does not believe in a "Gay" hip-hop category. She only believes in
"hip-hop." Feloni explained that calling yourself a "gay" rapper is exclusive, and takes from the struggle of those seeking
"human rights."   She continued, "Black folk did not fight for 'black rights'...the 'Jewish' did not fight for 'Jewish
rights'...and the "LGBT" community is not fighting for a special yellow bus of 'gay rights.' They are all fighting, and have
fought, for 'human rights'. Hip-hop transcends race, creed, gender and sexuality as long as you speak the truth about who
you are and what you've experienced in life. Your reality is just as valid as anyone's reality in hip-hop, not mattering if
mainstreams feels it or not."

Feloni