Happy Haitian Flag Day!!

Still proud of my hertiage. Still helping my homeland. To all my Haitians get your way to the top: Even if you have to scratch your way there

Banan Peze' Picklies. Stomach never empty. LMAO!!

If you are Haitian you know what this is.......smh lmao i no im late but im on the bandwagon... I eat this everyday anyway. lmao

(yes one more Beamer Benz bentley comedy)

STATE YOUR NAME CANNON: QUEEN YONASDA

I have the privilege of reminding the fans and introducing the newcomers to this special artist. I met her around a devastating time in my life. I was just leaving the point of sadness about the earthquake in Haiti and going towards determination to help. The question was.....how? This phenomenal woman answered that question by founding Hip Hop 4 Haiti, which I joined shortly after. She's all about helping the underdog and educating the youth, and looking fly doing it. She's probably not an artist. She's probably an activist but just took the artist route. So pay attention to this gangsta; Minister Louis Farrakhan's stepdaughter who collabed with Wu-Tang. A Queen. Queen Yonasda:


1. State your name cannon:

YoNasDa (pronounced Yo-Naja-Ha)

2. Tell the people about your upbringing. I read your bio and it was inspiring to say the least.

Well thank you I am a proud Native American and Black woman I was born in Washington DC during the Longest Walk a protest from the American Indian Movement. My mother was an activist and motivational speaker and my father was in and out of prison all my life. I lived everywhere, so I developed a national and bigger way of thinking.

3. Tell me what Yonasda mean.

It was given to me by a Navajo Medicine Man it means Precious Jewel in Dine which is the language of the Navajo people. I am Oglala Lakota, my mother and family is from Pine Ridge, South Dakota

4. How did you first meet Minister Louis Farrakhan and what important role does he play in your life?

He and my mother were great friends before I was born, my mother use to work for Muhammad Ali, when my mother went to prison, the Hon.Min.Louis Farrakhan and his family adopted my brother and I, he is like a father figure in my life.

5. What got you to start rapping?

I looked at Hip Hop as an escape from the struggles I was going through, I started off engulfing myself in all aspects of hip hop from breakin, deejaying, graffiti and rhyming, I started doing spoken word and just rap with some of my high school crews, but I took it professionally when I met Ked from the Dungeon Family and he told me I should really do it forreal, he said that I gotta story to tell and a nice voice I should really go in and since then I went in =)

6. How did you link up with Raekwon and how was it when you went on tour with him out of your own pocket?

Well I met Cappadonna in 2004 and I woud be his hype-girl at his shows and pay my dues, recording songs with him, grinding out with Cappa. Well, being around Cappadonna I met the rest of the Clan, plus I was living in Staten Island so I met the Clan and affialiates,etc. So, I met management for the Clan members and they saw my hustle, heard my music and my first show I booked was at BB Kings in New York City with Raekwon and Cappadonna, it was funny cuz I rocked it and Cappa was shocked I booked that show. So from there I paid my dues on the Method Man & Redman tours, then the Footprints of Hip Hop Tour, the 8 Diagrams Tour with Wu Tang Clan and I would do spot dates or region dates. When I was about to do a few dates with Ghostface I got a call from Icewater INC and they gave me the go ahead that I can do the whole Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 Tour. I was estatic cuz bein a female rapper is hard and it was my opportunity to go to city to city and really show everyone that yes the female rapper is not dead. Yes, I recieved alot of naysayers like "Who is she? She doesn't deserve it, she isn't signed, who's vouching for her etc etc" But I put my best foot first and smashed every show. The love I recieved was overwhelming, yeah it was difficult at times but I stepped out on faith and went to over 25 cities with $2500 and I thank Raekwon and the whole IceWater Inc team and Capone for believing in me and showing me love and respect on that whole tour.




7. Talk about your album, "God, Love, and Music". How you linked up with legends like Cappadonna and Keith Murray?

I'm a very electic person, I love and experienced so much in life there isn't nothing that anyone can say that I cannot relate to, yeah it was hard but from my life experiences is what has me make music people from all various backgrounds can relate to and God.Love & Music is the 3 elements of the universal language of man. It has rock,soul,concious, salsa,reggae all on this album. I met Keith Murray surprisingly through myspace, he admired my music and of course I always loved his music and he is truly an emcee and performer. So after hours to months to years of building over the phone, he flew out here and we begin recording something raw and different but it didn't transpire to what we wanted to he did a guest appearance on a song I already had. But I pray there will be a Keith Murray and Queen YoNasDa collab very soon. In regards to Cappadonna and myself, well that's a book..... but I could say that we have songs for days together.. some on this album and some that either he or I would release in the near future. Thats over 5 years knowing eachother so we got stories,memories and music to last a lifetime.

8. Talk to me about your single "So Special" produced by NO ID.

Oh my God!!! I am soooo excited about this song. Because when No ID met me, he told me he wanted to work with me, and really produce me. After a year of talking he FINALLY gave me a beat and told me to write to it, tell my story but still make people dance, he gave me advice on what I need to do as an artist. Now, I admire No ID because he has wrked with the best of the best Common,Jay Z, Nas, Kanye West and the list goes on and on, and when I wrote So Special and emailed it back to him he said he loved it. Its very testimonial for me, every line I wrote is exaclty what I have been going through but at the end of the day through it all I am blessed!! And you are blessed as well!! I am shooting the video in 2 weeks and I believe people are gonna be surprised on how I flip it, its gonna be on some movie, Michael Jackson type of vibe.

9. When is "God, Love and Music" coming out?

Its out in stores now you can get it at Best Buy, on all digital stores I-Tunes, Rhapsody,Amazon and retail internationally. So please cop it today!

10. Are you signed under anybody or 100% independent?

I'm 100% independent

11. Besides Wu-Tang, who would you want to collab with?

I would love to collab with Rhymefest, Kanye West, Common, Talib Kweli, Mary J, Santogold, Eve, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef, The Neptunes, Jay Electronica, Jill Scott, Rakim, Nas, Eminem, Ludacris, Diddy, Maroon 5, Eric Sermon, Denaun Porter, 9th Wonder, Keyshia Cole, Monica, E.Badu, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Public Enemy, Melonie Fiona , Black Eyed Peas... I seriously could go on and on I just admire so many people old school, new school, I don't care if you got the number 1 song out, if its not raw talent I don't wanna work with you. I love realness and rawness.






12. To all that doesn't know, you are the brainchild that started the Hip Hop 4 Haiti movement, which I am proud that I'm part of. Tell everyone how did you start it and the process of this growing from you to 35+ cities:

DJ Benz it was a pleasure that you reached out to make this happen. When I saw it all over the news I just couldn't text to send money when I am an activist and rapper and I know the influence hip hop has on making a difference. So I used all social networking sites and made Jan.30th a National Day of Obeservance for Hip Hop 4 Haiti. It was amazing that the Hip Hop Caucus and Allhiphop.com and other national media all helped us get the word out. We didn't have a huge budget, it was all people like you and I that said we are gonna put together events on this day and stream it live on ustream. It was sooo beautiful on that day. And we made sure that everyone in Haiti got all our money and our donations, we went through trusted Haitain American organizations that have history in Haitian Relief before the earthquake and tsunami which I am more proud of especially when so many people donated to other organizations and no one still havent gotten anything.

13. What's next for Hip Hop for Haiti and the Caucus? I'm still very much involved and will not stop, period. And I have my people that want join.

After Jan.30th we urged everyone to continue to stay informed with the Hip Hop Caucus Hip Hop Help Haiti, because they are an organization and Hip Hop 4 Haiti was a movement. On local levels many of the organizers met soo many people and continue to do things in their community. In Phoenix, the Haitian Church opened a Haitian Relief Center that goes directly to their familiies in Haiti. Next year I wanna have another Hip Hop 4 Haiti on Jan.30 so we can continue keeping people aware and the progress of Haiti.


14. You know how commercial Hip Hop is doing: Songs that just have a gimmick or a catchy phrase. How important is it to be intellectual and to teach lessons in our artform?

Its very important! A rapper's responsiablity whether they like it or not is to be a role model, children today are more being raised by media than their parents. I mean they use hip hop to teach kids now, so we have a huge resposiablity. I try not to be preachy cuz I don't want my songs to fall on a deaf ear, but I do tell my story and try to uplift at the same time.


15. Remember the conversation we had way back about your family in Wyoming? Tell me more about it. How important is it for everyone to know about poverty in our own country?

Huh, Wyoming? Hahaha South Dakota, Pine Ridge... it is the poorest community in the United States, 89 pecent of the people are unemployed, I have family living in makeshift homes, its really bad there I will be filing this summer when I go out there so people can see what I am talking about. And so hopefully people can help out my tribe.

16. As of now you reside in Phoenix, same city as my homegirl J Milly. Tell me about the AZ hip hop scene:

I am back and forth from the east coast and Arizona. Arizona is my hometown though, I grew up there, we had to develop our own hip hop scene, alot of greats passed through throughout the years DJ Z-tripp, Ice Cube, Adina Howard, CeCe Peniston, Kool G Rap, now its like a melting pot so many people are not from here and taking over the hip hop scene and saying they representing Arizona, I mean I heard the sayin "its not where you from its where you at" but see the probelm with that is Arizona hasn't developed a "sound" for Arizona, so people that go outside of here and say they from Arizona but really from other places they sound like the other places and not Arizona. When I was living in New York, they would ask me where I was from? Or when I go to Cali they would ask me where I was from even in Chicago they would ask me where I was from? So I know I don't sound like those other places, I'm not saying I have a sound for Arizona, but I do know all the real Arizona rappers need to come together and develop a sound for Arizona. I love Arizona, its peaceful to me, I went through everything with Arizona, the marching for the King Holiday, the harrassment from cops on Mill Ave, the Electric Ballroom, TMC days, the days of battling at Metro Center Mall, but we need to make a sound so Hip Hop can respect whats coming out of here.


17. One thing I picked up from your bio: Your mother participated in a journey from San Francisco Bay to Washington D.C and you were born there. I want to clarifiy: She was pregnant with you during the journey?? And did she travel by foot? Tell me more about the journey. I now know where you get your strength from.

No she did all the public relations and she traveled a city before the marchers and yes she was pregnant with me, so I came out fighting for freedom, justice and equality.



18. "I'm not here to beat people in the head with a sermon, I'm here to tell the truth." A strong message to tell people. But what do you do when people don't listen? how difficult can it get for your music to fall on deaf ears?

I just keep going until someone listens, if I can have at least one person listen then by the grace of God, they will turn my postive words into action that may change a nation... So I just keep telling the truth! The truth always gets heard whether in my lifetime or not.

19. What's next for the Queen?

I am releasing a mixtape called "All Hail the Queen" and it will be released on cellphone applications with other exclusive stuff that will be coming in June. I am heading back on the road hopefully by May and for the whole summer. I am basically just recording and collabing with alot of artists. I am really excited about whats transpiring and this will not be the last you hear from me!



20. What's your contact info so people can work with you?

For media inquiries you can contact Lila Brown with Ella Bee PR at lila@ellabeepr.com and my website at queenyonasda.com and my twitter.com/queenyonasda basically if you type in Queen YoNasDa on the engine thats me, I believe I'm the only YoNasDa in the world .

21. Any last words of wisdom?

I want to thank you DJ Benz you are a positve force, don't let no one tell you different. I want to tell the people that are pursuing your dreams that no matter how gray it looks there is always a light it may seem like you can't see it but God always has a way to get you out on HIS timing, there were times I wanted to end it all even my own life, but HE always showed me the light and hope and thats why I am here and able to be honored to do interviews and tell my story. I lost my mother in 2003, I was homeless, I lost children, I lost loved ones and was in horrible relationships but all this made me the strong queen I am today and that's why I was chosen to be called a Queen not because I have riches and act high and mighty but because I remained to be truthful and remain real and keep faith on God. I love you all !!!








Check out her new single" So Special" I've been spinning it crazy!
Download link under player:

Queen Yonasda - So Special

Wyclef in the studio for his new album. Delilah...

Imma stay away from Delilah. I love my locks. But i gotta be in the studio to witness this legend.

Haitian Experience comin this summer....

It's the Year of the Zoe.....ya mean? lol

PHILLY FEEDS HAITI. TOMORROW

Sherman Mills (Ridge Avenue & Scotts Lane)
Alexandra Hall
3502 Scotts Lane
Philadelphia 19129

the site is down at this moment but once it picks back up sign up to volunteer http://phillyfeedshaiti.eventbrite.com/. We not sking for money. All we ask is your time. We still goin hard for Haiti here. Kembe Fem!

(If site is still down, email my homie sheltonmercer@gmail.com

Young Artists For Haiti - Wavin' Flag (Canada)

Canadian Artists like Drake, Kardinal Offishall, Jully Black, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber and others put this song together for Haiti which was beautiful. Includes a Drake verse. Please purchase this song on ITunes as proceeds will go to Haitian relief.

Lupe Fiasco ft Kenna - Resurrection(Video)

Looks like a powerful video. Let's not forget about Haiti. We need to continue to save them.

This is one of the songs for my Hip Hop 4 Haiti mixtape, which is still in the works. If you have a song about Haiti or positivity email me: benzitsp@gmail.com

Thank you

DJ Khaled & Haitian Fresh - Celebration #warriors!

Jus released hours ago is the anticipated mixtape from my homie and Wyclef's artist Haitian Fresh. Teamed with DJ Khaled, Here's Celebration . This mixtape features Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, Jacki-O, Pleasure P, Lil Boosie, Shannell of Young Money, of course Wyclef and others
Sak Pase Record's own gave it in and put this record out that is just so gutta. Click on the pic for download.

This is only the beginning of seeing Haitians on top. Wait till Haitiah Fresh teams up with me, DJ Benz, for the highly anticipated, Year Of The Zoe comin in Spring 2010.

Warriors!!! L'Union Fait La Force!

(tracklist out later)

NY Oil - HH4H What's next ??? Show and Prove!

One of the forefronts of the Hip Hop 4 Haiti movement is none other than NY underground icon, NY Oil. He organized the event in Harlem, which was memorable. More importantly, he is driving the topic to save my country into everyone's heads long after the news stations stop reporting on it. He wrote an inspiring open letter about our movement. Simply....what's next? Understand, our quest to save and rebuild Haiti is just starting and it's a long road to our promise land. Check for yourself:

(If you are a part of hiphop4haiti.ning.com, you probably read this letter before. I just feel the need to post this to the rest of society. It's been one month that this nation was shaken off its core. I won't let people forget that.)


As HH4H (the national event) winds down, I am left with a few thoughts as my perspective gets wider. Initially I felt like all we had to do was get through the event, make it to Sunday (the event was Saturday Jan 30th
if you didn’t know), I was wrong. The event provided new realizations about not
only HipHop4Haiti and specifically HH4HNYC but also what our generation our
sub-culture needs.

A consistent question kept arising throughout the course of the night, “What’s Next!?!?” this sentiment was shared by so many that night that were “Fired Up and Ready to go!!”. What’s
next? As the night approached, began, and ended the realization that the event
was actually less about Haiti and more about “What’s Next!?!” became apparent.

Now listen, I’m not saying this to suggest in any way that the issues of Haiti have been resolved because we were able to through a nationwide event! What I am saying is that there were
layers lines and subtext that became evident to me (in an acute fashion as they
had always been evident, but not to this extent) that have to be addressed.

On this night so many people came together and worked together, that had never met, or worked together before and were able to accomplish a mission together. A momentum began in the
inspiration, unity and collective focus of all of us involved that none of us
want to relinquish. You see nothing succeeds like success, and we experienced a
success that night. We had set small goals in front of us and accomplished them
one and two and three at a time and each goal led to a large accomplishment.
Then, we completed the effort by delivering the monies collected, all $2,062.30
at the event to Dr. Ron Daniels (IBW/HRF) which was the crowning jewel to our
efforts.

The Nation of Gods and Earths say “Showing is to state it and Proving makes it valid”… now some people recite these things without real thought, but think about what’s being said. In our “revolutionary”
efforts we are often lent to more talk than action. And while the talk has some
therapeutic value for the people it provides no real equity to the cause of
uplifting the conditions of our communities, ultimately it is hollow comfort.
But to Show and Prove, now that’s something different! See talk is just a
verbal manifestation of thought, and where thought may lead to action it is NOT
action and the world we live in requires tangible action. Showing on the other
hand turns theory to reality by demonstrating these verbalized concepts into
tangible action items. Think of it in this light, going to a rally or meeting
and hearing people discuss what “WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO DO…” and thinking to
yourself ‘oh boy here goes this B.S. again’ –vs.- someone standing up and
saying “THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.. COME SEE FOR YOURSELF” That’s a whole
different world of experience and activity. So it is clear that in this day and
age, if it were not true at any other time in history, it is vital that we build
our movement on a foundation of Showing to state our case.
Proving makes things valid by providing a tangible instance that proves that
what has been shown actually WORKS. When we take HH4H NYC as an example of Show
and Prove instead of theorizing and talking about it Lyxn, Pat-ra, Shani, Oveta,
Lanell, myself and many other Showed we could unify a cross section of Hip Hop
artist activist and practitioners in the same space to raise money and awareness
for a focused objective. The proof came in the form of us accomplishing the
whole of the objective by successfully delivering the funds we’d collected to
the IBW/Haiti Relief fund. When we dropped $2,062.30 in the donation tray on
behalf of the HIP HOP Community, we proved! We showed what could be done and
proved it by completing the task.

So the question “What’s Next!?!” still begs an answer. The answer is to show and prove! By setting small goals concatenated towards a larger effort, by following each one through to conclusion, we can
begin to Show and Prove to our communities that not only is CHANGE possible, it
is inevitable, and that it is born from our efforts as individuals and collectively.
By showing and proving we can turn the momentum of our efforts into more than 1
day, 1 moment.. we can turn our efforts into a true MOVEMENT.

I hope you join us in our efforts to continue to do REAL WORK that produces REAL RESULTS by Showing and Proving it can be done!

To this ends HH4H NYC will now be known as HipHop 4H where the H stands for Humanity, Hunger, Help, Homeless, Her, Him, for Healing, and whatever else Hip Hop can address in a proactive
goal oriented fashion. HipHop 4H will not require you to leave what you already
have, or follow a doctrine, believe in a special GOD, abandon your friends,
edify a particular individual, HipHop 4H is about working to get specific
things completed, HipHop 4H is about ‘doing
things by priority, doing them properly, and then moving on to the next!’, HipHop
4H is about showing an proving.

If that’s something you’d like to work with us to accomplish.. results … give us a shout!

On behalf of HipHop 4H

My name is NYOIL and I approve this message!

Hip Hop 4 Haiti - Harlem (videos)

I also recorded some videos from the event. Already on Youtube. Check it...



This one touched my heart. 15 yr old girl pleading to you to help her orphanage in Haiti. 200 kids w/o food and shelter. Please help. lifeoftheworld.com.



When i jus got there...one of the performers from the Hip Hop 4 Haiti event in Harlem. True hip hop. Donate and help in any way you can. "Yele" to 501501



NY Oil hosting Hip Hop 4 Haiti in Harlem. How u feelin? Fired UP! O YEA!



A pledge to help our fellow people




Check these people out! 6 yr old kid doin backflips



Naughty By Nature performing live at Hip Hop 4 Haiti event in Harlem. Support the cause. We need to save lives in Haiti hiphop4haiti.ning.com

HIPHOP4HAITI.NING.COM TO SEE THE REST OF MY PICS/VIDEOS AND SUPPORT THE CAUSE

LIFEOFTHEWORLD.COM

L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE

Hip Hop 4 Haiti - Harlem

This event was legendary. This Day was legendary!! I was going to go down to Richmond, VA to be the spokesperson of the event. God put 8 inches of snow on them and said push it a week back. So after i watch Philly's event, i went to the African American Museum in Harlem for their event and to tell you the truth, i'm never forgetting that day in my life. Hip Hop legends and icons flood the stage to perform but the more touching stories are the independent acts that taught the crowd of Haitian history. NY Oil put together a spectacular show and since I love my viewers I'm going to share this with ya'll. Please continue to support Haiti in any way you can! Jus cuz the news stations left Haiti doesn't mean we have to!



Hip Hop 4 Haiti in Harlem



Always rep my country. Ceddy and me wit our flag



Some of the lady poets of the event. Mannn....their words were deep!



NY Oil with Asia, the organizer and host of the HH$H event in Newark, NJ



6 YR OLD BREAKDANCER!



PPL FILL THE BASKET WIT MONEY FOR THE HAITIAN RELIEF FUND. MORE PPL CAN SURVIVE TONIGHT



SUGARHILL GANG. HIP HOP LEGENDS!



TREACH FROM NAUGHTY BY NATURE



SAIGON



STYLES P



NY OIL COUNTIN THE MONEY WE RAISED FOR HAITI

HIP HOP 4 HAITI. ITS A MISSION. AND WE WONT STOP!

HIP HOP 4 HAITI MIXTAPE BY ME HOSTED BY QUEEN YONASDA COMIN THIS MONTH......

Hip Hop 4 Haiti

TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY AS MORE THAN 30 CITIES ARE HAVING AN EVENT NEAR YOU. DJIN, BEAT BOXIN, B-BOY DANCING, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND ANYTHING TO HELP THE PEOPLe OF MY COUNTRY, HAITI. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME OUT TODAY TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT. DONATE A DOLLAR, SOCK, CAN FOOD, MEDICINE, ANYTHING! IF U CANT AT LEAST CLICK ON THE ICON AND WATCH THE EVENTS FROM EACH CITY ON USTREAM.

AS FAR AS ME I AM THE SPOKESPERSON OF THE RICHMOND, VA EVENT BUT BECAUSE OF THE SNOWSTORM IMMA HEAD UP TO HARLEM. AFRIKA BAMBATAA AS WELL AS 30 MORE ACTS ARE SUPPORTING THE CAUSE.

L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE! SUPPORT THE CAUSE!

LiveSoul Party/ Food Clothing Drive to YeleHaiti

Last night it was a great event. Right away we went to work to help our country. It was near Temple in Philly as Ceasar LiveSoul hosted this event. Enjoy the pics and welcome to the Mission:



My homie, and Sic lyricist, Ceasar LiveSoul



The Authentic Spittin Fire



All the Donations we received in a matter of hours!!



Me and DJ LionsPaw, reggae turntablist. Damn i look like a bodyguard lol



2 of my homegirls that accompanied me that night

Heres some video footage:



Barbara Sheree



Authentic - Turn it Up live



Ceasar heartfelt testimony

Pray for my Country. Prye Pou Peyi Mwen.

At this point, the whole globe was aware of the unfaithful event that happened Tuesday January 12th at 5pm. Haiti was shook off its core with a earthquake measured at 7.0 For those who don't know, I am a Haitian-American, the first generation in my family to be born in the states. So you can imagine how difficult this week has been for me and my family.

As far as my family, I am blessed by GOD to tell you this: Every member of my family, from both mom and dad's side survived. It took a long time to contact them but one by one they turn up to tell my family that they are alive. However, a lot of their homes are destroyed, along with most of the Haitians. My family live in Port-Au-Prince, which was directly affected. I also feel sad because most of my Haitian friends cannot say the same about their families. Ive been in constant prayer ever since.

To see your home country fall is heartbreaking. I feel like if i was married and got a divorce it wouldnt even compare to the pain we have. But the love and help that we are receiving by basically the whole world is humbling and a huge blessing. To everyone that is praying, donating or helping in any way I thank you and continue to from the bottom of my heart.

As far as me i will do everything that is necessary to help my homeland and my family. People have been calling me left and right to organize events to benefit Haiti. I see it as a mission and will not give up until My country is back.

If you want to help, text YELE to 501501 to donate 5$ to yelehaiti or text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross Haiti mission. Donate food, clothes, baby clothes, tampons, whatever you can give. If you want to donate directly to my family, contact me at benzitsp@gmail.com

On our National Flag we have a fact. L'Union Fait La Force.

It means Unity is Our Strength. By that fact we will rise again from the ashes, like a phoenix.

Thank you for your time, your prayers and your concern.