Meet The Queens: Miss Joyce

Miss Joyce

Music is her passion and what God has blessed her to do.  A true Memphis song bird,  Miss Joyce enjoys sharing real life testimony through her music. 

Joyce Howard-Hemans known to many, as “Miss Joyce” is an Independent R&B Vocalist/Songwriter. Whether you need her to get you in an upbeat mood, remember why you fell in or out of love, or just need some inspiration, Miss Joyce has the passion, spirit and energy to do just that. She is also the C.E.O and Founder of King of Queens Entertainment, LLC. 

Miss Joyce is blessed to have met a lot of wonderful people that have showed her continued support throughout her career as an independent artist. It is not always easy to get people to pay attention,  but she has managed to maintain a diverse fan base by staying creative, versatile and most of all original.

 Miss Joyce is an avid songwriter and when you listen to her lyrics, you can almost see the scene before your eyes. She is certain that her continued dedication and perseverance will pay off. 

Miss Joyce has also been featured on several projects of different genres, showing the true meaning of what a vocalist is. She is not afraid to think outside the box. Miss Joyce has been the featured guest on television shows such as Street Scenes and 6 in the City. Miss Joyce has been featured in magazines such as Soul Essence Magazine (Memphis, TN) and We LiveNDirect (St. Louis), blogs including R&R World Arena (U.K.) and various Mix tapes from a host of several DJ’s. Miss Joyce has won several awards including Best Female Artist and Best Female R&B Artist.  Her current album has also received several reviews of the entire project including The Independent Music Scene (U.K.) and Rippin Rhymes Magazine (U.K.), that reflect that Independent artist have what it takes to have mainstream listeners and viewers. Her latest album, The Tipping Point is now available for purchase on iTunes and other digital outlets.

Miss Joyce is currently nominated for 2014 Performance of the Year at The Southern Entertainment Awards and you can vote for her below:

http://www.southernentawards.com/ballot/vote.html.

Meet The Queens: Memphis Mayhem

Memphis Mayhem

Not your typical Memphis rap sound, Memphis Mayhem is the new sound of Memphis. Mayhem's sharped tongued underground sound laces tracks with witty punch lines and lifelike metaphors, while her more serious singles bring back hip hops lost art of story telling! Her music is influenced by a number of different genres and artists. Among her favorites are Prince, Bob Marley, Lauren Hill, 8 ball and MJG, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Andre 3000, Adele, J Cole, Scarface, Jay Z, UGK, Linkin Park, and 3 Doors Down, and B.o.B.

You can definitely hear the effect of such a diverse musical palate in her lyrics and choice of instrumentation. She paints pictures of stories using broad strokes ranging from the influence of one genre to the next. Mayhem attained her Doctorate from the University of Tennessee in Memphis Tennessee and she is currently finishing her MBA at the University of Memphis. The influence of higher education is also heard in the quality of her lyrics. 

Meet The Queens: Keia Johnson

Keia Johnson

She has a voice that can launch a thousand ships, and the drive to keep them afloat. Add to that heaps of personality and a raw talent that sends the blues colliding with its rebellious offspring rock’n’roll and you've got a style Keia Johnson has dubbed “Rock Soul.”

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Growing up overseas in a military family, Keia listened to a wide range of artists from Alanis Morissette and Erykah Badu to Marvin Gaye and Mint Condition. While her sound can’t be pinned down to one influence or another, those artists inspired her to be more than mediocre – more than just a pretty voice. Her lyrics are inspired by the perspective she gained living outside of her home country and the life lessons she learned along that road. But she didn’t find her sweet spot on stage until she returned to Memphis and started singing with cover bands. The experience evolved her into a great interpreter of songs, able to bring her unique articulation and personality to everything from Judy Garland to The Black Eyed Peas. She has performed with some of the best talent Memphis has to offer, while also building relationships with notable national names like The Bar-Kays and pushing herself as an entertainer -- she made her acting debut in 2011 in the independent film “Lesson Before Love,” for which she was also featured on the soundtrack.

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Keia is determined to have her voice heard – this is the girl who once charmed her way into an audition for an adult choir with GRAMMY® nominee James Bignon, after all. He requested that Keia sing her own solo. After making history for the Pacific Wide Gospel Concert, she took part in several television shows and celebratory performances. But it was American Idol that served as the true catalyst for Keia to recognize who she was as an artist and what she wanted to do with her career. The talent competition led her to Hollywood where “Miss Congeniality” wowed the judges. Her audition performance of Celine Dion’s vocally rigorous “My Heart Will Go On” prompted guest judge and musical role model Mary J. Blige to simply declare: “She can sing!”

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And sing she has -- for everyone from President Bill Clinton and Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton to Tyler Perry, Denise Williams and Eric Jerome Dickey. In June of 2011, Keia released her first solo effort, T.I.M.E. Look for an EP in the spring of 2012 that will highlight Keia’s passion for giving back, featuring songs for children and an accompanying reader with a portion of all proceeds designated to children’s charities. In early 2013 Keia recieved an Emmy for her PSA for the Memphis Music Foundation featuring her original song "Movin' On". She also competed on Season 4 of The Voice although her audition wasn't shown, the connections she made were priceless. She is currently in The Color Purple, in Memphis, TN. Make sure to keep up at ContactKeia.net.

Meet The Queens: Lady Guttah-Bug

Lady Guttah-Bug

Multi-faceted, Versatile, diverse, real, street, Hood.  Not necessarily words that are typically associated with each other, yet much like the woman they describe and the streets she represents, Lady Guttah-Bug encompasses all of that and much more.  More than your average and definitely anything but stereotypical, Lady Guttah-Bug  delivers as one of the best up and coming rappers in Memphis.
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Guttah-Bug has always had a love for music.   Described by many as an “old soul” ,  Guttah-Bug ‘s music reflective of her musical influences.   “ I love old school music, Willie hutch, David Ruffin,Isley Brothers, Chaka Khan,Anita Baker, Jill Scott,  Erykah Badu , Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, jazz and of course local music legends, 8Ball and MJG and
Playa Fly”.  Writing music was always a hobby but Guttah-Bug began writing music and performing seriously in 2004.  Her  songs,  “Grindin for the shine” and “Storm” were instant  street certified classics and helped her make her mark on the local music scene.  Her music, like the artist, is gritty but has a distinctively smooth undertone.  Don’t be fooled, Guttah-Bug is strong and independent but she doesn’t shy away from her feminine side.  Her music reflects her life and her history and provides a message that anyone can relate too.
Due to personal issues, Guttah-Bug took a step back from music,  but now  she is back and  more determined than ever to show Memphis  and the world what Guttah really means.
Check her out on the Memphis Queens Hustle and Flow cipher 

Meet Da Queens: Nina9

Nina9, aka, Miss Nina, was born and raised in Memphis, Tn. She developed a love for music at an early age, learning to play several instruments. Influenced by the rap styles of artists such as Lord Infamous (formerly) of Three-6 Mafia, Crucial Conflict, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Busta Rhymes, and Twista and their tongue twisting flow she would eventually adapt elements of this style to create her own unique style.  "I've been a writer all my life. In elementary, I had a few poems published nationwide, won writing and essay competitions, and excelled all writing assignments up until graduating high school", she says of her skill. At the age of 17 Nina wrote her first rap.. 

 After participating in the nationwide “DJ Farenheit’s Making the Next Hit, Season 2” (December 2010) competition and advancing to the final round, she realized that she could no longer let her talent go to waste. Following the competition, Nina9 then  to perform at open mic events, where she began to build a fan base and collaborate with other artists. In addition to local Memphis artists, she has collaborated with artists in Columbia and Murfreesboro, Tn., Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and even Canada. In August of 2011, she released her first mixtape, “Nina9 Killin Em, Vol. 1: Murder She Wrote”, formerly titled “The Nina9 PseudoAlbum Mixtape: Vol. i”. The mixtape received such great feedback that it was re-released on the exclusive mixtape website LiveMixtapes.com in December 2011 (hosted by DJ Hood and DJ DL).

 Nina has also gained recognition from popular web and blog sites such as MakeMeFamousEnt.com, MakeMeFamousBlog.com, IllMaterial.com, MemphisRap.com, and has even been mentioned in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper as “up-and-coming hip-hop talent”. Among her accomplishments, the song “Don’t Wanna Lose U” (from her vol. 1 mixtape) topped many citywide submissions competing for a chance to win video production via Fuel Films Memphis and Live From Memphis’ “48 hr. Video Launch”. It was selected as one of the top 5 finalist songs. “I submitted my music not really thinking much of it. About a week or two later I got a ‘congratulations’ email. We made the video in 48 hours and it premiered at Live From Memphis’ 7^th Annual Music Video Showcase. I was so excited!” In attendance of the 7^th Annual MVS, Stone Awards (StoneAwards.org) coordinators Stanley Campbell and Nina Holley were so impressed, they invited Nina to perform at the 17^th Annual Stone Awards ceremony (October 2012). In addition, 9 has been nominated as the 5^th annual SCM Knocdown Awards’ “Best Female Indie Rap Artist” and “Slept of Female Artist of the Year” (November 2012).

Currently, Nina9 is working on her next mixtape, “Nina9 Killin Em, Vol. 2: No Mercy”, due to release summer 2012. Though success may not come overnight for this underground femcee, her talent, grind, and strive to reach the top assures that it won’t be long before she’s in the ears of rap and hip-hop lovers everywhere. “I have a point to prove”, she says, “… and I won’t stop until I’ve proven myself worthy to be heard.”

MEET THE QUEENS: DA LADIE

Queen, Artist, Mother, Wife , Student and CEO of Royal Hustlaz, Entertainment  are the many titles held by Memphis independent artist, Da Ladie.  Bold, Innovative and determined; her passion for success and her desire to triumph over personal trials, including the devastating loss of her mother in 2011,  is evident in everything she touches. 

Her melodic, heartfelt flow resonates with the audience and much like the artist in person, leaves an indelible mark on the listener.  Defining  her music as “Real Life Music”.  She states: “I refuse to write music for attention or money. I write what I feel and if it generates attention and revenue I’m all for it”.  

Da Ladie has received numerous awards and recognition including: The first Knoc Down Entertainment award for Female Rap Artist of the year.   Da Ladie has also been nominated 2 years in a row  for  Mixtape Artist of the Year and Slept on Female Artist of the Year at the Southern Entertainment (SEA) Awards.  She was also nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 1^st annual Tennessee Music  awards, where she was awarded “best performance”  along  with her group, Royal Hustlaz. Da ladie, always looking to expand her brand and her reach,  was also a featured host for Street Scenes, A local Memphis television show.

She has recently released the “Back at It” Mixtape her 4^th project, hosted by DJ LW of Quality Street Music. You can Find Da Ladie and her music on the links below.

WWW.TWITTER.COM/DALADIECEO

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SHEISDALADIE

http://www.mixtapefactory.com/Da-Ladie-Back-At-It-.html

http://youtu.be/oiYjtTdmUFc

We Are Memphis Queens Hustle and Flow!

Memphis Queens Hustle and Flow is a women’s empowerment movement the likes of which has never been seen in Memphis.

Memphis Queens

The Brainchild of Memphis native and hip hop artist extraordinaire, Da Ladie; It is a way to showcase the exceptional talent of local Memphis women in hip hop.  The Memphis Queens movement promotes unity, empowerment and the upliftment  of women in an industry traditionally known to do the opposite.

Powered by Kim’s Royal Hustlaz entertainment imprint and backed by CLE Events ( a local production and promotions company dedicated to the creation of innovative and unifying entertainment events) and N.U Entertainment  ( A local  promotional company that specializes in
showcases for local talent); The Memphis Queens Hustle and flow project harnesses the power of these artists in a unique visual and audio concept.   The Queens, 10 of the hottest up and coming artist from Memphis and the surrounding area, will record 5 different collaborations. The tracks and corresponding videos will promote Memphis at its best and illustrate what it really means "to put on for your city".

The official Memphis Queens line up includes: Da Ladie, Memphis Mayhem, Nina'Nine, Lady-Guttah Bug, Ductchezz Da Venom, LadyPaperChaser, Lady Crazy, Keia Johnson, Lucky and Miss Joyce. 

The Queens plan to take over video and radio with a debut release scheduled for September 15^th.