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In this episode of People's Party, Talib Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down British-born rapper, actress, radio personality, and fully-fledged member of the Native Tongues collective -- Monie Love.
The conversation with Monie evolves into a wide-ranging discussion starting with her childhood, growing up in London, and being heavily influenced by her father's Jamaican heritage. She goes on to give her unique perspective on the current anti-immigration sentiments being spread by groups like ADOS, she tells the story of how she came to be part of the Native Tongues collective at the age of 16, and outlines that organic induction being based on "vibes". Monie also goes on to illustrate the importance of DJ Red Alert, him being the conduit for so many of the greats that are now house-hold names, including herself, and they explore the evolution of Chris Lightly, from security detail for Red Alert to Violator Records executive.
Later Monie touches on her greatest hits, starting with 'Monie In The Middle', and it's lasting impact on the hip hop through all the references that it's attained over the last three decades of music. She also gets into her collab with Queen Latifah -- 'Ladies First' being an anthem to the empowerment of black women. Monie speaks on working with Whitney Houston on 'My Name Is Not Susan', becoming great friends through that experience, gives advice for expecting mothers in the entertainment industry, clears up why she left Philadelphia's WPHI-FM Radio, they discuss breaking down gender profiles in hip hop, and Monie gives it up to the women holding down the culture for today's generation.
TIMESTAMPS:
2:48 -- Monie speaks on growing up in London and being heavily influenced by her father's Rastafarian heritage. She talks about her early B-Girl status, being into dancing before she picked up a pen, as well as the importance and influence of the Cookie Crew, being the first female emcees out of London. Monie is also asked if she knew hip hop was going to become the cultural phenomenon that it is today, and she tells about how most black people from the UK were primarily tuned in to their native music from Africa and the Carribean during that time.
12:01 -- Monie is asked about the current anti-immigrant movement sentiment that's being pushed by black conservative groups like ADOS, and to give her take on how it's damaging the cause for black unity. Monie goes on to explain her upbringing by her father and his on-going history lessons, schooling her on her ascentry, as well as the struggle of black American's during the civil rights era. She tells how he would force her to write essays to ensure she retained the knowledge.
20:00 -- Monie gets to reflect on her induction into the Native Tongues collective, a crew consisting of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, and others. She is asked to give us the definitive story of how she was brought into the movement at age 16 while she was still living in London. She talks about how she had to get an extra job just to pay for all the phone bills she racked up, and how they coordinated studio time for all their collabs. Monie, Talib and Jas also reminisce on the greatness of New York Chinese food.
29:24 -- Talib brings up DJ Red Alert and his monumental role in hip hop history. Monie explains how he was responsible for breaking her in the US as well as so many others. She also shares a story of how she was given the Acetate pressing of Soul II Soul's hit 'Back To Life' to fly over to New York, for it's first play in the US on one of Red Alert's Friday night sets. She then outlines the evolution of Chris Lightly, and Violator Records. Starting out as security for Red Alert then going on to become one of hip-hop's most notable executives.
37:59 -- Monie gets asked about her hit 'Monie In The Middle' and it's countless references throughout the years. She notes how she gets more recognition from her name drops on other's songs than her own work, and tells about her interaction with Kanye when he made his tribute. She also gets to talk about recording 'Ladies First' with Queen Latifah, Latifah having a clear focus on the song being an anthem about the empowerment of back women, and Jasmin follows up by asking Monie how she feels about the level of attention dedicated to black women's struggle during these times of protest.
51:22 -- Monie talks about working with Whitney Houston on 'My Name Is Not Susan' while Monie was pregnant with her first baby. She highlights the warmness, as well as rawness of Whitney, while they conversed about motherhood, becoming great friends. Jasmin asks Monie if she has any advice for expecting mothers in the entertainment industry. Monie gives some great insight on that, and reflects on her first baby reveal, she did live on stage at the Apollo following one of her performances.
59:52 -- Talib asks Monie about her work on Philadelphia's WPHI-FM Radio from 2004-2006, and if the heated argument she got into with Young Jeezy about the "death of hip hop" was the reason she left. Monie is also asked about who she feels is really holding it down for women in hip hop right now. She illustrates the importance of Jean Grae as well as Rapsody with their lyrical prowess, reminding people that there's plenty of females still carrying the torch.
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