BANJI?

First of all, I never heard about Sharaya J until this week. But, I've not been able to STOP listening to her
sweet rhymes, watching her slick choreography, admiring her unique style and natural beauty, or appreciating her positive feminist style... I mean her hair is BLUE. What's not to like?

So I looked her up because of her connection (and alleged recent marriage) to my other first love of Lady Rap Missy Elliott. She is hard core kicking 90's grooves and raps while dancing her ass off. This really reminds me of when Missy was at her height before she got sick and had to back out of the limelight for a while. In college (not so long ago) I heard my boys calling girls "banji", which only means a ghetto girl. But Sharaya J appears to have co-opted the term to mean something more positive: Be Authentic Never Jeopardize Individuality. So on top of being pretty, talented, connected to one of my favorite artists of all time, I learned that this lady actually turned down a record deal because people were trying to make her into a sex object (as if we don't have enough of those already?).

If you haven't heard or seen this lady, you are behind the 8 ball:

Sharaya J's first Music Video to Banji

Sharaya J's second Video to Smash Up the Place

I also have enjoyed the choreography of people chilling to her music... check out this little boy dancing his behind off to Sharaya J's first cut.