Tiye Phoenix

We all strive to be like the phoenix.. the legendary bird in antiquity that symbolizes immortality, rebirth, and resilience; for after its consumption into a fire, it reemerges more powerful, stronger and beautiful than ever before. As a lyrically astute emcee, classically trained pianist, producer, songwriter, & composer, Tiye clearly employs "the phoenix principle" in her music by challenging the barriers placed upon female hip-hop artists. Tiye (renamed after the pharoahess in the 18th Dynasty in ancient Egypt, mother of King Tut) began playing the piano by ear as a child, and then studied classical piano between ages 7 and 13. Equally in love with poetry, Tiye evolved into a clever, skilled emcee through the years. In the late 90s, Tiye formed S.O.U.L. Food Symphony, a D.C.-based all female collective with an ethereal sound that consisted of emcees, singers, & musicians. SFS performed with artists such as Nas, Black Moon, & Gil Scot Heron. Tiye went on to write with legendary groups Public Enemy, and work with classic hip-hop producers Hank & Keith Shocklee. Tiye has toured and performed with soul songstress Tina Marie and the late Rick James, and recorded with the UK group, The Runaways. While signed to Rawkus Records, Tiye worked with various artists such as Mos Def & Last Emperor, and appeared with Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek on their Reflection Eternal album. Tiye is also a member of The Polyrhythmaddicts, the hip-hop supergroup consisting of DJ Spinna, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Mr. Complex. Their album "Break Glass" released in 2007 received much critical acclaim for its uncompromising return to raw hip-hop style. Also, Tiye released a mix cd in 2006 via the internet called "Black Athena", a self-produced cd of songs that exude ear-catching lyricism and cutting-edge subject matter. As a beat-maker/producer, Tiye won the 2006 MTP (Meet The Producers) All-Female Beat Battle Invitational, and went on to win the MTP Championship for 2006, where she competed as the only female alongside 8 other previous male champions. Tiye has been featured in THE SOURCE, XXL, ALLHIPHOP, BILLBOARD, JANE, URB, COMPLEX MAGAZINE, and a good number of other radio, print, and internet magazines and shows. If you can, catch a Tiye Phoenix performance where you'll undoubtedly see and feel raw hip-hop at its height; whether she's spewing an inferno of rhymes or playing keys, she's sure to give audiences more than just a "show"- she provides an artistic experience. Tiye is currently working with a variety of artists and producers on a myriad of upcoming projects. Ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology legacies state that there can only exist one phoenix at a time; similarly, in music, there can only be one Tiye Phoenix.