By Marcus A. Williams
Special to the AFRO
RAtheMC, a District native and up-and-coming artist, hopes to change the face of hip hop music and revive the popularity of female lyricists. (Courtesy Photo)
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(September 29, 2009) - Local blogs and Web sites have been abuzz with talk of RAtheMC, a 23-year-old hip hop aficionado determined to be the District’s first female rap sensation. Born and raised in the Brookland community of Northeast Washington and a product of Archbishop Carroll High School, RAtheMC has been in love with hip hop all her life and made a name for herself with A Mixtape About Something…I Think, her first release.
“I actually started singing first at my church and did that for all of my childhood. Probably, at like 13 years old, I became a big Lauryn Hill and Fugees fan,” said the artist, who hopes to revive America’s love affair with female rappers. “When I did my first talent show I wanted to rap instead of sing because I wanted to be like Lauryn Hill and that’s how my career in rap got started.”
Even though RAtheMC is heavily influenced by the Grammy-winning ‘90s superstar, she said her own style is distinct.
“I wouldn’t compare myself to Lauryn because I feel like I would never get to where she was in her career. She is the epitome [of a rapper] to me, so to even be compared to her is an honor,” said RAtheMC. “But I feel like my style is completely different from hers because I am really into being fashion forward and that’s what I rap about a lot – and I’m more of a battle rapper. Lauryn was a little more soulful and I’m more in your face and competitive.”
While RAtheMC welcomes the slew of comparisons to Hill, she is taken aback by unexpected awards and compliments, namely that she’s the second coming of rapper MC Lyte and her nomination for “Best Breakout D.C. Artist” at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. Although she didn’t claim the top prize, the rapper said such affirmations keep her upbeat despite the inevitable obstacles she faces as a female lyricist.
“I don’t really get the attention or opportunity that I deserve and if I do, I find myself working 10 times harder and one year longer than my male counterparts,” said RAtheMC. “But I feel like it’s coming to a point where people are starting to miss hearing females on the hip hop scene.”
But her burgeoning success has not come without a cost. Sporting an edgy, asymmetrical hair cut, bubblegum-bright clothes and braces on her teeth, RAtheMC is as much a unique fashionista as she is a cutting-edge rapper. But so far, record labels haven’t been in sync with her funky style and club banger tracks like “Nikki Boy” and “Just a Friend.”
“Not even a year ago, I had a deal on the table with Capitol Records and they said the only way they would sign me was if I completely changed my image and did a 180,” said the mocha-skinned rapper. “At the time Lil’ Wayne had signed an artist and they wanted to create an artist that could compete with her. I had a deal with Lil’ Mo and they tried to do that same thing.”
RAtheMC has been working endlessly to turn a hobby into a polished craft and hopes record labels and the public will see beyond her looks and appreciate her talent.
“It’s kind of hurtful at first and very unfortunate that they can’t get past the whole sex sells thing to actually listen to what I’m saying,” she said. “But I keep praying and having faith and one day someone will take the time out to listen.”
Failed record deals haven’t halted RAtheMC’s passion. She doesn’t listen to the commercial singles flooding the radio waves, but instead does her hip hop homework and keeps a close eye on her competition, namely rapper Wale, whose album A Mixtape About Nothing inspired her first release.
“People have mixed feelings about Wale but at the end of the day he is definitely carrying D.C. on his shoulders as far as hip hop is concerned. And if it wasn’t for him shouting out D.C. everywhere he goes we wouldn’t be getting as much exposure as we do,” said RAtheMC. “I really respect him and it’s well deserved.”
Hoping to one day garner the same recognition and even more fame as her District counterpart, RAtheMC penned a deal with XXL magazine’s online music distributor, Music Flaws, who will be digitally releasing her still-untitled debut album in late December.
For more information on RatheMC visit, www.rathemc.com.