Capital Hip Hop Soul: Meet Mahoganee (@Mahoganee)

Southern-born singer Mahoganee is a known name around parts of Washington DC, known for her diva-fly outfits and her passionate work within the community as a motivational speaker and mentor to young girls in numerous programs throughout the Washington DC area. Mahoganee has performed in venues across the world, and Liberated Muse was lucky to have had Mahoganee participate in many of our events as a performer, featured in our Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest in 2009.

When she moved back south in 2010, many of us in the Washington DC were devastated to learn that she was no longer in our immediate midst. But, her work as a community activist and international singer continues. She is currently on tour, promoting her second CD The Chrysalis Stage and has been featured on numerous projects of other artists, including One Common Folk's recent CD compilation, Voices of a Movement: Volume I.

In our fourth Q & A for our Capital Hip Hop Soul series, Mahoganee shares with us a little about herself, including what her triumphs are and how music can make the world a better place. Read and be sure to leave a comment below.

Liberated Muse: You have been performing for some time now as an independent artist, undaunted by the challenges some indie artists encounter. What do you say contributes to your success as an indie artist? 

 

Mahoganee: I contribute my success to an unwilling desire to never give up. Never take no for an answer. There's always another way, you just have to find that person willing to help you to get to it. Never burn your bridges as you may have to cross them on your way to eating a slice of humble pie. Most importantly my family, they keep me humble, and are always there to support me. 

Liberated Muse: How do you define your sound? How do you think your audience describes your sound?  

 

Mahoganee: I define my sound as "Lauryn Hill with a twist of Minnie Ripperton and a cup of Janis Joplin.  I think my audience will describe my new sound as a big Southern pot of the best gumbo you ever had.

Liberated Muse: If you couldn't sing tomorrow and you had to change careers, what would you turn your efforts toward?  

 

Mahoganee: I can't imagine not being able to sing but if I had to I would teach others about what to do as an artist in the beginning stages of your career with regards to an online presence as well as finding places to perform on your own. I'm also a blogger, organic coffee distributor, songwriter, philanthropist and I've just started a CANcer Campaign (C) IAMToo. As long as I am working for myself being an entrepreneur I'm happy. 

Liberated Muse: Name three artists you would love to work with and tell us why.  

 

Mahoganee: Lenny Kravitz- because he absolutely rocks on stage and plays a guitar like no other. I love guitars so having the opportunity to perform with him on one of my songs or his would definitely rock my world.  Michael Buble'- because he sings like an angel and croons like crazy.  Donny Hathaway- because he was a musical genius & I would just relish in the moment of being able to learn from him. His voice is like liquid diamonds oozing down your body while floating. Simply Amazing.

Liberated Muse:  How do you think music can change the world for the better? 

 

Mahoganee: I think music can and has changed the world. Quincy Jones stated that Hip Hip has such an influence on our society today that it can change the educational system in one day by infusing it into their lyrics. That's a powerful statement and I believe that what we listen to within our music is in our psyche whether we realize it or not so if your child is constantly listening to Beethoven then they will appreciate classical music, if he or she listens to Gucci Mane or Lil Wayne then they will be influenced by this also. We must feed our intellect as well as our bodies and do the same for our children.  Music is the one thing that will always bring everyone together. 

Liberated Muse: Tell us something that probably few people know about you.  

 

Mahoganee: I think few people know that I have been performing for 20 years and I despise beans (all kinds, pinto, green, red, etc)  *laughs*

Visit Mahoganee on Facebook here to get up to date info on her new projects, current tour stops and other online profiles.

-Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman

The Pro-Seeds Project 8/25/10 Event Features Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest Artists

August 25th , 2010 at Lounge Of Three (1013 Ust, NW DC), rapper/radio host/blogger and perennial host Enoch 7th Prophet will be presentingTHE PRO-SEEDs PROJECT & VIDEO RELEASE PARTY Benefit Show for Prostate Cancer. The show is presented by the radio show he hosts-- Mental Salvation radio and will feature the MC Emperess, and singers Gogo Michelle, Teisha Marie, Mahoganee the Diva, Princess of Controversy, Anonamas, and Chaquis Maliq w/ DJ Earth 1ne on decks.

Liberated Muse supports this event which features several singers who are part of the Liberated Muse network. Almost all of the acts are past featured acts in our Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest and are phenomenal talents. Make sure you support this great cause. 

ARTOMATIC HAS BEGUN!!!

We love the idea of the Artomatic! This year, we are promised that the tenth year of this unique collaborative event will be like no other year!


Here are some things we are looking forward to and willing to check out for various reasons:

• BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY-- Liberated Muse Member MAHOGANEE, performing tonight and on June 13. Click HERE for her Artomatic profile. James Terrell performing in June. Click HERE for details.


• BECAUSE DC IS THE HOME OF LIBERATED MUSE--A visual art historical exhibit of the neighborhoods of Washington DC. Click HERE for details.


• BECAUSE HIP HOP @ THE ARTOMATIC IS ALWAYS A RARITY--Hip-hop artist Storm the Unpredictable


• BECAUSE THE NAME ALONE IS COMICAL--Check out the Sarah Palin Tribute Band, I mean, come on, you are interested too to see what they are about. Read their profile HERE.


• BECAUSE THEY ROCK IT OUT EVERY YEAR @ ARTOMATIC & EVERYWHERE ELSE!-- Check out the go-go band Mambo Sauce who are kicking it off on the 4th of July. Get the details HERE.


• BECAUSE SHE SHOWS US SUCH BEAUTY THROUGH HER LENS: Camille Mosley-Pasley and her art exhibit on breastfeeding. Read her profile HERE. Artomatic is not Artomatic without a Camille Mosley-Pasley exhibit.


• BECAUSE WE LOVE BILLIE HOLIDAY: We should check out DC poetess supreme Dehejia Maat as she takes us on a theatrical journey weaving spoken word and song. She is performing this weekend and in June. Read her profile HERE.

And, of course, you HAVE to come and join all of Liberated Muse on Saturday, June 20 @ 6pm and on Friday, July 3 @ 8pm on the Solo Stage at Artomatic as our family celebrates the new Liberated Muse book anthology Liberated Muse Volume I: How I Freed My Soul. Writers from the book will do readings while performers on our network will perform. The roster of performers include Teisha Marie, Dee Stone, Margaux Delotte-Bennett, Farah Lawal, and more! Our hope is that the book will be out by then for purchase!!

Artomatic this year is a can't miss event!

Visit the Liberated Muse profile on the Artomatic site HERE to get dates and location details.