MC Sharon: The Journey
She’s caught hip-hop’s finicky attention thanks to her lyrics, flow, style, looks and major co-signs. With the current lack of female MCs, and her small slice of fame growing larger every day, MC Sharon is ready to fill the void.
Interview: Stella Brown Images: courtesy of MC Sharon's facebook.
MC Sharon is on a solo journey. The rocket to female-rap stardom she’s climbed on only carries one passenger at a time.
Throughout hip-hop’s male-dominated history, women have struggled to find their collective voice. A select few have achieved rap-star status (Stl, Wangechi, Cashy), while a couple are bona fide superstars (Nicki Minaj, Remy Ma Victoria Kimani). But none of that scares the unabashed rapstress, who is rocketing to fame.
MC Sharon aka Decibelle After a long stint away from the public glare, MC Sharon the Kenyan hip hop veteran reemerges as Decibelle the goddess of sound; mind and stride put to higher heights. Decibelle is also known as Alshaverb: coined from her names Alai Sharon. This name stems from her scathing, unapologetic lyricism and literature and was coined by the better half in the duo M16.
The singer, rapper, producer, poet, writer and activist is no stranger to the Kenyan music scene having sufficiently splashed her mark around over the years. Decibelle is a conscious musician that combines her diversified talents to create socially conscious, self affirming and bold pieces that reflect on the current state of affairs on the ground. She effortlessly brings out raw, energetic raps and fuses it with mellow mezzo soprano and has now transformed average street hip hop into a soulful storytelling extravaganza, blending hip hop, reggae, Afro soul and poetry.
Decibelle burst into the scene with Word On The Street in 2001 and quickly followed up the hit with Everyday (feat Pam of SEMA) that also did reasonably well. From then she ventured away from her mentors to look for her own sound and went on to work with many other units before finally setting up base at EWD Studios. This is when Hustlers Ground, her third studio album was released. At the time she was also a member of The Others Music Group alongside 4nzy, Kimathi Marshall, Samuel Malaki - The Difference, Big Boi Kuntry and The Others. Together they released The Others Vol 1 mix tape later that year.Aside from being a musician MC Sharon is the MD of The Underground Alliance (UA), which serves as a bridge for many underground artistes into the mainstream by creating a platform for growth, marketing, networking and resource mobilization and also doubles as a trust through which posterity will expand and take pride in the arts. She is also the founder of Blak Woman N Childe International, an organization that champions for the empowerment of grassroots women, young girls and youth. She is also an artiviste at Pro Organic Kenya, a movement founded alongside Mercy Jirongo and Hiram Kamau to promote organic living.
Decibelle is also a seasoned writer by profession having done Mass Communications at AUSI and is also a mother as well as a teacher. The goddess of sound seems well on ground and is bound to leave more than just a mark among the hip hop deity in the continent with her multi talented dynamic flows; juggling it all with poise and ease that only comes with the confidence and courage bred by time in the game and everything that comes with it. From Kwani, to WAPI, to African Warrior ( 2005), The UA Initiative( 2007), Hustlers Ground (2009) as well as numerous singles and production projects that she has undertaken, Decibelle is an unpredictable, hardworking talent to say the least and what she comes up with next only remains to be heard.
Your buzz has been growing more and more each month. How has that felt for you?
MC SHARON: It's good that people from various parts of the globe are paying attention. This is just the beginning of my new roll-out plan though. More people can and will take notice.
When did you first start to feel that things were coming together for you?
MC SHARON: Things started coming together for me when I discovered my true purpose in this life. I am yet to fully self actualize though. I am a steady working progress.
So growing up you’re a fan of hip-hop. You’re listening to it, watching it, learning to rap, and you see what the open lane is and figure how you can try to fill it? Is that how it works?
MC SHARON: For me hip-hop came by default. It represents one of my main musical tenets because I sing and produce as well. Hip Hop is more than just listening to other people's songs and then becoming a rapper. Over the years I have had to practice a lot and horn my skills. That is how it has worked for me.
You are both a new female rapper and a new singer from Nairobi. Do people recognize your gender more than that you’re a Nairobi artist?
MC SHARON: Actually am not a new rapper. I have just been dormant due to various life commitments but am back to take my place. Some people definitely look at the gender and use it to make what femcees trivial but it's not everyone. Either way am unfazed
When you started working with both Trap King Chrome and Saash Records you were essentially down with two crews at the same time. How did you manage to establish both of those relationships and create situations where neither of them worked against each other and were beneficial to you?
MC SHARON: Working with different people at the same time has never been a problem for me because I am my own personal ambassador first and foremost. Every relationship I have cultivated is based on like-minded interests and benefits. That is the way we grow.
Do you get tired of being labeled the female MC?
MC SHARON: I never get tired of being labeled anything because I have elevated beyond that. I am at that place where I understand that everyone is on a journey.
One way female rappers have gotten attention is with sexually explicit lyrics and a sexy image. Is there pressure for you to skew your content that way, because of the idea that that’s what people wanna hear from female rappers?
MC SHARON: I have no pressure to sexually objectify myself as most others do because I have a specific niche market that I cater to and they are more about the brainy side of things. Still that doesn't mean I can't be sexy. There is a time for everything.
The character you’ve built has been transitioning a bit since we first met you, with the different colored hairstyles, your new clothing style. Is that because it’s all now more accessible to you, or because you’ve got more people wanting to dress you?
MC SHARON: My character and style has definitely transitioned over time but I still remain the same liberal, free spirited person who is not shy to try anything new. Nobody dresses me. I dress myself, experimenting with things to come up with what I like. In the future though I will definitely need assistance.
Haters come out whenever someone succeeds. They’re gonna hate everything— the way you look or the way you sound—and they can get pretty nasty online. Do you pay attention to any of that?
MC SHARON: I don't pay attention to baseless hate. Those kinds of people always have deeper issues they are projecting onto others to feel better. However, I pay attention to positive criticism. I am always eager to learn and to grow.
It’s some mean people with a whole bunch of time on their hands…
Has all of this been exciting to you or tiring? Does it get a little boring?
MC SHARON: Being a creative is always exciting. Juggling my other responsibilities can be hectic especially when my two sons were younger but nowadays I find myself balancing easily between school, music and motherhood. I have become a better time manager.
How do you feel the music industry in Kenya has been in terms of your success?
MC SHARON: I have never considered myself to be the conventional Kenyan musical artiste before now. I have been more of a collective voice; a teacher, a communicator, a writer and a leader. Simply put I have received the support, the occasional gig and the occasional coverage here and there as per my effort. Music is yet to get me to the place I wanna get to for many reasons. Now that I have re-branded with a solid team behind me, all these things are bound to change.
Do You have an album coming out? Tell us about that and who you'll be working with.
MC SHARON: I am releasing my new studio album GEMS. That stands for Genetically Emancipated Musical Soul and is my 5th project overall. I have worked with two local Producers Mosh Rulez and Mohjay but everything else is universal. I got Fred Fisher, Omnibeats, Fivestar, KB, OGE Beats and many others. I wanted a fresh sound that could appeal globally.
How do we find you on social media?
MC SHARON: Facebook : MC Sharon (both page and account) YouTube : MC Sharon IG : mcsharonke Twitter : @MCShazdecibelle Reverbnation and Soundcloud : MC Sharon (aka Decibelle aka Alshaverb)
