Urban Vault caught up with Harlem, New York City-based EMMA LEE to ask her some questions about her latest track DEAR CORONA, & more…

Ugandan-born and Harlem, New York City-raised Hip Hop creative artist EMMA LEE is calling a huddle in these trying times. With her visionary skills, soulful imagination, and lyrical prowess she slices through the fear and panic of the COVID-19 pandemic with a Boom Bap machete on ‘DEAR CORONA’.

What is your name?

Emilia A. Ottoo artist alias EMMA LEE (or emma lee.)

Where are you from?

I was born in Uganda, raised in Harlem, NYC. I also moved around The Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens.

How long have you been making music?

I was writing poetry and short stories early, wrote my 1 st song around 8 or 9 years young, my 1 st written rap at 11, then a long stretch of being in groups/creating for others. I started making music in my own voice about 4 years ago.

Tell us more about your latest single/video ‘Dear Corona’.

It‘s a special time in history, nature, and subjectively my life. ‘DEAR CORONA’ is me fighting against the forces of fear, stress, misinformation, and invisibility with just my voice & the legendary globe changer that is HIP HOP essence. I wanted to show the layers of richness, intellect, wit, and awareness that especially women in HIP HOP have against backdrops of emptiness/abandon which we‘re often cast into and undoubtedly that a lot of people feel amidst COVID-19 chaos.

Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?

L.I.F.E. Long, Skanks the Rap Martyr, Kool Keith, M1 of Dead Prez, DMC of Run DMC, Nile Rodgers, Delfeayo Marsalis, and Patti Labelle.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

More international artists, jazz musicians, George Clinton, more female directors + producers, Jean Grae, BLADE (graffiti legend), DJ Premier, D’Angelo, Merc the Big Body Benz, Outkast, Tyler, The Creator, Rachelle Ferrell, and Kendrick Lamar to name a few. I want to work with creatives who have more original voices/points of view and whose art I respect.

What inspires you when you make your music?

That I’m still alive and even in numbness still feel. I’ve seen a lot and been through a lot especially alone, I have a lot of unexpressed energy. Also, I speak for a lot of people.

How have you ended up in the music industry?

I was always magnetized to the arts, performing, visual, creative, and music stood out as something I wanted to experience but wasn’t able to explore as a solo artist for a good minute. I hit a few open mics & cyphers, started writing my own songs and started dabbling in behind the scenes too. Ultimately being on stage since a pre-teen and creating as well as touring with Grammy/Oscar-nominated youth group Impact Repertory Theatre from age 12 I started crossing paths with not only professional artists but with what it’s like to record, rehearse, shoot videos, speak
publicly. The spark has been lit!

What do you think of the music industry in 2020?

It’s still not meant for the lazy or faint of heart but literally anyone can jump in from anywhere and that’s a wild beautiful thing. No borders, less regionalism, the Trap music explosion, the bubbling underground, all the women making moves—there’s a lot of energy to tap into. The drawbacks can be that it’s “too much” energy, a huge lack of artistic diversity on the mainstream, in losing regionalism we lose certain distinct sounds, a misrepresentation/abuse of HIP HOP, and a whole new level of pay-for-play.

What do you do when you’re not making music?

Digital video editing, hustling, watch cooking competitions & moisturizing.

Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter?

Meh. HMU tho!

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

I really appreciate that not only do you highlight the voice/point of view of artists but you also seem genuinely excited about the things creatives are doing as well as our career paths. We’re not just brands, social clout & images to you – respek!

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

Thank you!

All proceeds from sales of the song will be donated to DJs and members of the Hip Hop community suffering from the loss of work and added medical expenses due to pre-existing conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Purchase HERE

www.facebook.com/emiliaisemmalee
https://twitter.com/emiliaisemma
https://instagram.com/emiliaisemmalee