Tachelle: Tell us about your background and how it connects to your artistry.

Yonasda: Well, first I would like to thank you Tachelle and Femmixx.com for this opportunity. I believe women in hip hop is very important because well in the words of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad "No Nation Can Riser Higher Than Its Woman," so in order for hip hop to be alive and clean up – it’s our responsibility to do that. So I love what you are doing at Femmixx.com. Now, back to your question my name is YoNasDa (pronounced Yo-Naja-Ha). My name means precious jewel in Navajo. My mother was full blooded Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge, and my father is black from Brooklyn, NYC, now how they met is a story within itself. I was the only girl born during the civil rights protest, The Longest Walk for the American Indian Movement. I wasn’t shot 9 times, but I sure have fell more than 9 times, but God always picked me and pulled me up. Both of my parents were in prison, my mother was a revolutionary. I knew about Feds at the age of 3 yrs old. Going state to state, etc. It gets deeper, but it will all be in my music. Growing up the way I did, I had to find a way to express my pain. I used to love Annie, ya know the movie. I remember when I was younger how when she used to sing "Tomorrow," I would break down cryin’ cuz I didn't like my reality, so watching’' musicals or listening to music was my outlet.

T:  What words do you use to describe yourself?

Y: Queen because she is a warrior, a provider and a God fearing woman. She withstands the hurts, the pains, the joys and comforts a nation. I am a Queen!

T:  How has your connection with the Nation of Islam helped to mold you into who you are? 

Y: Wow, what an excellent question, I was just talking to someone about that the other day. Growing up being taught the Native American spirituality, well when you go into ceremonies. For example, when you go into a sweat lodge ceremony, which is a purification ceremony used with hot lava rocks in a dome shape structure, some may say we can worship the rocks cuz they are the ones giving us the purification, but because of religion which gives you rules on your spirituality, I am able to worship nothing other than God. Even in Native way, traditionally the women cover themselves, so Islam, Christianity, and real Judaism is a lot like Native American spirituality. In the end we will see how close we really are.  At the end of the day we are all God's children.

T: How did you first get into this hip hop game?

Y: My first love started when I was 5 years old. My mother used to work for Muhammad Ali as his public relations director. She put together the Thrilla in Manilla, the Rumble in the Jungle. So for a brief time we lived in LA, my cousin was a b-girl with the Rock Steady Crew West Coast. I would go with her to Venice Beach and see them battle. I wanted to be involved in this. Even at the age of 5. My first rap cd was Run DMC and Beastie Boys. I was 6 when “Rock the Bells,” the original “Rock the Bells” came through Arizona. I wanted to go so bad. When Farrakhan and his family adopted me and my brother when my mother was in prison, that’s when I got introduced to Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Queen Latifah. It was over at that point. I was writing raps then, but keeping it to myself. I used to sing, because well it was more accepted amongst adults. So in my songs, I would write 8 bars of a rap. I began dancing. I used to dance on BET, MTV, and Soul Train. Then after awhile especially when hip hop was changing, became flashy and not talking about anything I began writing rap songs. A friend of mine, Ked, who is the nephew of Ray from Organized Noize - told me I should began recording - in which I did in 2001. I've been a true b-girl for along time. DJ Z-Tripp showed me how to DJ, he would show me a few tricks -  I recorded my first mix tape with DJ Robbie Rob. I used to tag and break as well. So, I'm not no fly by night female rapper. This is my culture.

T:  When did you first find your voice as an artist?

Y:  I would say when I recorded my first song "The Love Song" back in 2001. It was a good song, it was about how I was feelin' about this guy and I had my cousin Jameelah and a former BET dancer/singer Eboni sing the hook. It went so well, I got radio play. I headlined a tour called The Best of the Southwest because of this song. It was bananas! It was funny cuz me and my peoples were like I only have one song and I don't have the time to record another one. I knew because I'm from Phoenix, a place where no one has heard music from, I wanted to sound different. I learned a lot from Nelly, here he is from St. Louis, a place no one heard of and he defined the sound of St Louis. Well, I want to define the sound of Phoenix. It’s crazy everywhere I go, from shows to radio interviews when they hear me rap they go where you from? And that’s a good thing - I don't wanna sound like my female counterparts, they are who they are and I am who I am. We are from different places and lived different lives. God designed that for a reason.

T: What issues are close to you as an artist and why?

Y: You know my grandfather Minister Farrakhan said that "one of a rappers song is equivalent to 5 of his speeches,” see how powerful we are as rappers. An emcee is the newscaster of his/her environment. I believe I have a great responsibility as an artist. The issues that are close to me is educating these babies - makin' sure we are guiding them right. I am a mother. He is 6 yrs old, I don't have him listen to rap today, I don't want him to "superman dat hoe.” I want him to "Fight the Power." So instead of me complaining about it I have to do something. I don't want these young girls thinking the word "bitch" is a word of empowerment. I want them to know that "queen" is a word of empowerment. Because music is a universal language - hopefully through it I can change people’s mindsets for a more unified family.

T:  Are you uncovering these issues in your upcoming CD?

Y: Oh yes! I believe my favorite is "Street Serenade," it sounds like a love song. If the streets could sing and serenade the issues of every hood and reservation it would sound like this. See I didn't want to be preachy, so I did it in an R&B feel type song. This album is called "God.Love and Music" because those 3 things are what we universally know and feel. Without it we will be a much harsher world.  In “God.Love and Music,” I have a song called "Struggle in Progress," it’s for all the single parents out there or for those having kids unplanned, but see the flip side - God has a bigger plan, so we must accept what we receive. "Eye in the Sky" is about the hip hop police and the secret government. Even the reggae song I did with Wu Tang Clan's Cappadonna, it sounds like a dance song "Your Hood," but I'm talking about how you can be hood and be a virtuous woman. As an artist and an activist, I wanted to make sure I can teach, but at the same time groove to my music.

T:  Tell us about your new project, the producers on it and what to expect.

Y: Tachelle, this has been 5 years in the making. God had to put me through some more real life experiences and introduce me to more people that can assist HIM on molding me and on this project. I didn't pay not one producer or artist on this album. They all believed in me as a person and my artistry. I have Keith Murray, Cappadonna (Wu Tang Clan), M-Eighty, Amadaye, Gensys Daze, April Love, Dr. Ben Chavis and many more. I got production from New York West from California - they worked with Tupac and other artists, Cookin' Soul from Spain, K-Boog, Cr Productions and others. I am giving out the sampler of my album and I haven't gotten any negative responses from it. As a matter of fact, people that don't even like rap…love my music! I believe once I get a great distribution deal, just by the response I'm getting now I will do well. The line up of the album is a breath of fresh air, especially for hip hop. I think the limited resources I had - I did an excellent job on this album, "God.Love and Music.”

T: In what ways do you hope your upcoming project will inspire youth?

Y: I have a dance song called "Pow Wow" that is catchy, but what I am telling is what is a pow wow. I tell them it’s a gathering for Native Americans to display their culture and share it with everyone else. It’s a gathering for everyone to catch up with friends and love ones. My little cousins sings it all the time, "let me take you to a pow wow, let's go. hey ya hey ya hey ho.” I want to inspire the youth to sing music that has substance. I want the young men to see a woman who raps, that is educated and is a queen. I want the young girls to know that you don't have to be sexy by being half naked and callin' yourself a "bitch," to be accepted in hip hop. I always tell people I can't teach my son to be a man, but I can teach him how to treat a woman - that goes with my music.

T: With you being the only female on the Hip Hop Lives Tour 2008,  how does that make you feel?

Y: It’s a honor! Ya know there is a strong woman working behind the development of the Hip Hop Lives Tour. So, to be asked to be on the line up with Wu Tang Clan, Keith Murray, Erick Sermon, Eightball and MJG and others and not their side chick or hype chick is even a greater honor. Ya know when I was on the road with Cappadonna -  I paid my dues being that woman. I would back him up on his vocals, and then he would introduce me and have me do a song, but to have my own set, I believe I'm not doing this for me, but I'm doing this for all female emcees across the nation that are waiting for that door to open for women to once again have an independent platform.

T:  What else can we expect from Yonasda in 2008?

Y: I've been working on a book of my life and my mother’s life. I want to continue bridging the Latino, Native American, Black, Asian and poor whites together through educational events. I am just taking everything in and living each day to the fullest. I am just anticipating my album to drop in 2008. I believe it will be a rippling effect once it does. I want to show the people especially in the US that here in Native communities they are going days without food, shelter, water and electricity. I am just being guided by God. So 2008 is going to be a great year!