Taylor Bee is a woman, CEO, Entrepreneur, and Activist who lives her life dedicated to Hip Hop and paying tribute to the culture via education and elevation. In a world sometimes consumed with negativity and fears, it is refreshing to celebrate an empowering leader!
MJ: First and foremost let me begin by quoting a
simple motto of yours that invites women everywhere to shine, “Queenz Up!” How did this simple yet profound motto
evolve?
TB: Well
first and foremost thank you for having me on MJ, and let me commend you on the
great work that you do. You are a true warrior for artists and Hip Hop as a
whole, so Queenz Up to you! We know Hip Hop is male dominated like so many
other things, and often times we as women in the industry are pitted as competitors
against one another. I wanted the women in the industry to have a stronger bond
in sisterhood rather than always feeling like we have to compete with each
other. Most people know that I am affiliated with Hell Razah, Queen The Prophet,
and GGO. Razah’s coined phrase is Wingz
Up, so I started saying Queenz Up, naturally as a way to salute the ladies and
build camaraderie with one another. Everyone loved the idea and “Queenz Up” has
been spreading ever since!
MJ:
You are an amazing woman who supports so many other empowered women in both
personal and professional journeys, hence “Queenz Up”. Do you feel you are embraced by other women,
young women, and teenagers?
TB: In
most of my experiences yes, I am embraced by most of the young women I meet. I
have encountered a great deal of young women who are so smart and have so many
ideas and potential and some who are already bringing those ideas to fruition
becoming young Entrepreneurs. As far as peers in the industry there have been
some not so pleasant energies but that's okay too that's why I stay positive
and continue to push “Queenz Up”. I feel everyone brings something different to
the table and there is room for us all, I want us all to win.
MJ:
Take it back for us. When did you first fall in love with Hip Hop? At what
point in your life did that love transform into a mission for you?
TB: Well
I am a true Hip Hop head! I can remember first listening to Hip Hop, the real
emcees were on the scene like KRS One (who is my birthday twin), Rakim, and BDK. So that is the era I remember starting out
and peace to all the real ones! But I would be amiss if I don't mention the
Wu-Tang Clan which is my favorite group of all time. I feel in love with Hip Hop for real when I
heard Method Man spitting M.E.T.H.O.D. MAN! It was a wrap after that, and I've
been die hard Wu fan ever since. In 2014 is when I really started engaging within
the industry and met Hell Razah and everything I've done since sparked from
that.
MJ:
I want to talk about BEE TV, which is an incredible platform for so many people
of all walks of life! Give us the who, what, when, where, how, and why of BEE
TV.
TB: So
Bee TV is my second child! I have always been the one to dig deeper and want to
find the truth about real black history and overall truth about the world. I
was promoting for Hell Razah at the time and on my page all you would see is my
promotion and things about world history and injustices and different things
like that. Something was brewing in me and I felt I needed a bigger platform to
let it all out. So I came up with Bee TV: A Platform for the Truth, this was in
June of 2016. Our Mission is to fuse conscious Hip Hop with the truth in order
to raise awareness in the community. My first interview was with The Mighty
Hebrew, and we did the interview in a park in North Philly and it was amazing
and was so well received. The rest is history from there!
MJ: Being a woman who absorbs each element of Hip
Hop as a way of life, I’m very curios to learn your thoughts on the stance of
Hip Hop in 2018, from the music to the culture.
TB: Well
I believe the music and the culture go hand in hand, and that is what worries
me about Hip Hop in 2018. I believe the content that is being force fed to the
masses is not real Hip Hop, rather a genre of rap that I classify as Trap/Pop
Rap. I would not disrespect real emcees and the creativity that they all
branded by calling this mainstream trap/pop genre Hip Hop. I'm old school and
biased and I don’t have a problem stating that. I also feel as though these
artists don't even really pay homage or respect the older Gods of Hip Hop. So I
have a strict policy of NO Trap/Pop genre music on my show, period! It is okay
to have fun in Hip Hop and have a balance but their music in my opinion is straight
poison, everything from the frequency of the beats to the not so lyrical
content. I would be a hypocrite to have a platform promoting teaching and
elevation and then play some of what's being pushed out now by the majority of
artists today.
MJ: What is underway
for Taylor Bee? What are some upcoming projects or business endeavors we can
look forward to?
TB: Bee
TV has a lot in store this year! The Mini Series Bee Cause starts in March (official
date TBD). The other Mini Series are open for Artists and Entrepreneurs as
well. I am collaborating on a project with Uneeke Kenetic, an artist from
Trenton, NJ. “Hidden Knowledge” volume 3 (dropping this summer), will feature
myself on the entire album, and I have a few solo joints on there including the
theme music that I wrote for Bee Cause. I am very excited about writing music
again. That is something I thought I would not do again, and I have to say I
owe that to Hip Hop class of 2018 (lol). it is so horrible now that it sparked me to
come out of hibernation, and I wanted theme music for my show so who better to
write it than me?! Also the God Uneeke Kenetic sparked me and my creativity has
been flowing ever since.
MJ:
“3 game”, play along …3 artists in your personal playlist? 3 influences,
personal or musically? 3 places you would like to bring BEE TV to?
TB: 3
Artist in my personal playlist are Hell Razah, Wu-Tang Clan, and Nas. 3
influences both professionally and musically have to be Hell Razah, Rza, and Freedom
Fighting Ancestors. 3 places you will
find Bee TV is running programs that teach the youth the true and proper
history, as well as giving them life lessons to help survive in this world. Bee TV will also grow to be a known pillar in
the community for bringing empowerment and unity to all people! Finally, I’d
like to see the Mini Series syndicated and being listened to by the masses, we
all need more positivity in our lives!
MJ:
As we wrap up is there anything else you want the world to know about Taylor
Bee?
TB: I
just want to let everyone know that anything you put your mind to is possible. Don't
let negativity and naysayers make you bury your dreams and aspirations! I do
this from the heart and for the people, my word is my bond, and I want us all
to win. Let's learn how to support one another and genuinely build a better
tomorrow for the babies! Thank you MJ for the opportunity to get my message out
there! #WingzUp #QueenzUp
MJ:
Thank you for taking the time out for this interview, Queenz Up!
Follow MJ @MJsHipHopConnex
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