www.sondriawrites.com: Feminism in Hip Hop with BLISS

FEMINISM: Organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

Ever since I saw Bliss perform at The Common Ground’s “More than a Housewife” show in promotion and appreciation of the women in art, I’ve been optimistic about the female role in Hip Hop. There’s no room for vacant stares and bubble gum popping in Bliss’ music. She lyrically steps in the faces of her audience and reminds them, eye-to-eye, that THIS IS PIMPIN’.

SONDRIA: Bliss, tell me, How did you get your name?

BLISS: How did I get my name, well the funny thing about it is that its really cheesy and corny but it’s the truth, lol, my son’s godmother actually gave me the name Bliss. Before that I was going by the name Suga because I’m sweet (corny) but it wasn’t sitting well, so, one day while chilling at my house we was having a lil session and we got on my name and she said that I should go with Bliss. She said it fit my style and personality. Everything about me, and I took that as a major compliment and ran with it. So it’s been Bliss since. Miss Bliss if you nasty!!! Lol

SONDRIA: How long have you been rhyming?

BLISS: I’ve been rhyming since I was 20-21. I always had a love for music and the art of speech. I write a lot of poetry still, but I began spitting around 20-21 and took it serious around 23, and it’s been on every since.

SONDRIA: To what or whom do you attribute your independence and confidence? Have you always been this confident?

BLISS: My mother. She raised me to be independent and confident. To love me for me no matter what anyone else said or thought. I was very athletic in school. I was the girl next door. Good grades, played sports, and I was popular but after I gave birth to my son at 15yrs old, I lost a lot of confidence. I went from weighing 150lbs for years to weighing 225lbs in 9months! So I struggled with weight issues for a long time especially with the fact that all my friends were 125-145lbs. It took time, but I had to find myself and understand who I was and know that my weight had nothing to do with who I was a person. It didn’t define Shandrea Lewis, only if I allowed it too.

SONDRIA: We know women wear several hats on a daily basis. Who are you when you’re not an emcee? What role is most important to you right now

BLISS: When I am not an emcee I am a mother before anything else. My son is 11yrs old. So besides me working a full‑time job from 7am-5pm. I still come home with even more responsibilities because not only is being a parent a full time job, being a “single” parent is double that! So you can say Im something like a Jamaican! Lol. But my most important role right now is being me. Staying grounded. There is only one me and im being pulled in 10 different directions at one time, and I feel if I can at all time know my role in my life and with God, all else will not fall. Im the core of my life, without me functioning properly nothing in my life would.

SONDRIA: What do you hope to accomplish through Hip Hop?

BLISS: Through Hip-Hop I hope to accomplish making great music that women all over the world can relate too. No im not a male basher! I’m a man eater! Lol. I love empowering my divas. We need that so I hope to help put WOMEN not females but women back on the map. And a different look you know. I want to restore the class in the industry with women. It’s ok to be sexy, freaky, kinky, hood, gangsta ect. Just have some dignity and pride with your shit. Present and conduct yourself as a woman. I mean no one is perfect but work towards perfecting the art and beauty of being classy, the best.

SONDRIA: Are there any other goals you’d like to share with us?

BLISS: I would also like to start a non-profit organization for girls and women ages ranging from 14-40, to help with your everyday and life necessities. As far as, hygiene, self-esteem, the do’s and don’ts, parenting classes, financial situations, schooling, career planning, just any and everything you should need to know about being a women and how to advance to the next level. I think that’s what we are missing now days, guidance.

SONDRIA: How do you think you differ from the ladies of Hip Hop’s past?

How do you plan to contribute to Hip Hop’s future?

BLISS: I’m different from the past in a way that is rare from anyone else’s perspective. I watched and observed these women. I’ve taken some of their good qualities and their flaws and learned where I want to stand and how I should go about it. So you can say I’m a revamped version of all women of hip-hop, because without them I wouldn’t be who I am today. But I am what the future holds. I contribute independence, confidence, sexuality, morals, pride, and intelligence. I’m a DIVA. And a diva is a female version of a hustler so all I can say is WATCH ME WORK!