- Hello, everybody.

I'm Satori Shakoor.

Welcome to Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove, where Detroit's talented artists, take the stage and share insights into their performances.

This episode, curated by We Found Hip Hop's Piper Carter, brings together a couple of fierce female hip-hop artist.

First up, is Aisha Ellis, then Frankie P. will join the stage.

So, let's get started right here, right now, on Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.

- [Announcer] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(upbeat music) - Hello, everyone.

Welcome to Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.

I'm your host, Satori Shakoor, and it's my pleasure to be sitting here with Piper Carter from We Found Hip Hop.

Hi, Piper.

- Hi, Satori.

- It's a pleasure to see you today.

- Yes, it's my honor and pleasure to be with you today.

- Well, can you tell us a little bit about your organization and what you do?

- My organization is called We Found Hip Hop, and it is basically kind of a one-stop shop for women who identify as hip-hop artists.

And so, our mission is basically to give access to women for them to be able to be entrepreneurs in the music business and to provide opportunities to others who would be interested in maybe being an artist, to have a platform to be shown.

And so, it's a mix of, I would say, maybe kind of like a label, kind of like a management, and a booking agency, so artist development.

So, it's kind of a mix of all that together.

- And why did you decide to focus on women exclusively?

- So, I moved back to Detroit in 2008, and when I moved here, I just noticed that Detroit was a bit different at that time.

And I wasn't seeing a lot of women performing, in the hip hop space, and I wasn't seeing them attending any of the events.

And I was like, "I don't know what's going on," because the Detroit that I grew up in, there was women everywhere.

And so, I owned a space at the time, and I decided to create a no misogyny open mic.

And so, from there, we got a lot of notoriety globally, a lot of press and things.

And then, we started getting offers for gigs, and we became sort of a collective of women who would perform at different spaces and universities mostly.

And it just evolved from there.

And then, in 2016, is when I got a grant to produce Detroit's First Women in Hip Hop Conference & Concert, where we introduced Detroit audiences to Rap City, who then became signed by Roc Nation, and blew up and all this kind of thing.

And so, that really helped me form what the company could do.

- And who did you choose as the artists today?

- I chose Aisha Ellis, the drummer and percussionist, and I chose Frankie P. who is a brilliant emcee and writer.

- Why did you pick these two for this project?

- Aisha Ellis has been a part of We Found Hip Hop, since the beginning.

We initially had this all-woman band, and they played all the sample, and the rappers would come and rap over them.

She has stayed with me, she's my musical director, so I chose her because she's incredible.

We also went to high school together, gotta say that.

And she's one of the best drummers in the world.

And I also chose her because she has new music coming out, and I wanted to expose people to her new music.

And then Frankie P. is just a super incredible talent.

I'm very particular about the messages that I share, and to come to your platform, I had to think about who would be appropriate and who's great and who's amazing, who's dynamic?

And Frankie P. is on the rise, her message is incredible.

She has a beautiful flow, a wonderful energy, and she has so much to give, and so, that's why Frankie P. - Thank you so much, Piper, for being with us.

And now, I'm so excited to head to the stage to see Aisha Ellis.

(upbeat music) We are back from that electrifying performance from Aisha Ellis.

And it's my pleasure to be sitting here with Aisha Ellis.

Hello.

- Hi, how are you?

- I'm great, especially, after hearing that.

I mean, everybody was jumping up and down and wow.

They were blown away.

When did you start playing drums?

- Well, I started officially at the age of 13.

Yep, me and some friends, we joined the band actually as a joke, and I ended up sticking with it and I liked it.

- [Satori] And so what were the names of the the selections that you performed for us this evening?

- [Aisha] So, what we performed this evening, was collaboration from my project.

The first song was "In Order," and that was with my trio, the Aisha Ellis Trio, which James Shelton, he plays keys, and William Pope plays bass.

And the next song that we played was called "Three Two One Jam," which was something that we actually just were in rehearsal.

And we came up with something, and I was like, "Let's put it in the concert," which I did a virtual concert last year.

- Do they mean anything or is it just a collection of sounds?

- I would say a collection of sounds.

That project was actually the project that kind of got me out of that slump when the earth stood still.

So, I was very much down in the dumps, and I had people like Piper and Pee Groove, my producers and other musicians just kind of say, "No, this is not the time to quit."

You know, they helped me with my perspective in looking at what I wanted to do next.

And so, you know, we put that down, we taped it, we recorded, and now it's just growing into something, I couldn't perceive that it would turn into, so it was my therapeutic music.

- And so, when you hit that final, and the audience is leaving the theater, how do you wanna leave them?

How do they leave?

- They leave excited.

They leave like, "Hey, I didn't hear that.

I never heard that song before."

You know, they leave with a piece of all of us, you know?

We got a chance to communicate through music, and it uplifts people.

Music is very uplifting, it's a tool.

- What is your personal mission?

- Ah, I think one of my messages that I learned is that all roles lead back to self.

You know, or everything leads back to you.

And how do you wanna exist in this world?

How do you wanna move in this world, and what can you bring to other people?

Before I even got into music, I wanted to be a doctor, and the reason for that was to help people feel better.

So, I look at that as in my music, I play music not only for myself, but to also help people feel better.

And like I said before, when they leave a performance or one of my shows, I want them to feel uplifted and and happy on the inside, you know, be a part of my therapy.

- So, you're going to be collaborating with Frankie P. - Yes.

- And she's a emcee, correct?

- Absolutely.

- And how did that collaboration come about?

- [Aisha] So, Frankie P. is one of the artists who participate in We Found Hip Hop, and the Women's Hip Hop Show.

And that's where we made our initial connection, I would say, through Piper Carter.

Piper's like the strip and plugs everybody in-- - [Satori] Yeah.

- So, we can collaborate and work with each other, so.

And Frankie P. is a brilliant emcee, like she she does great work.

She's got some great sounds coming out.

And I would say that she's one of the quiet talents in the city that's blossoming.

So, people please definitely keep your eye out for Frankie P. She's got a lot to say.

- All right, well, thank you, Aisha Ellis.

We gotta get you back to the stage where she is going to be joined by Frankie P. (upbeat music) ♪ Listen ♪ ♪ I believe you hear me ♪ ♪ Maybe I'm not loud enough ♪ ♪ Read between the lines if you think about it hard enough ♪ ♪ Disconnect, 'cause homie you're not charging up ♪ ♪ I'm not a threat ♪ ♪ They told me I'm not smart enough ♪ ♪ See, this my art, baby ♪ ♪ This is where I start, baby ♪ ♪ Come from the heart, baby ♪ ♪ Go and play your part, baby ♪ ♪ I'ma play your part and get far from the scene ♪ ♪ Too much is going on if you know what I mean ♪ ♪ See, homie, I might fade away ♪ ♪ Fade to the back ♪ ♪ Playing in the shadows, I might fade in the black ♪ ♪ I'm kind of faded tonight ♪ ♪ Blast in the past ♪ ♪ See, I got a old soul ♪ ♪ I need vinyls and cassettes ♪ ♪ And you living with regrets ♪ ♪ And you feeling kind of dense ♪ ♪ Company I keep as myself and four cats ♪ ♪ See, I'ma mess around and neglect all my friends ♪ ♪ I'ma mess around and be alone in the end ♪ ♪ See, I'm a go, ghost and disappear from homies ♪ ♪ And I'ma tune it all out till I can't hear the homies ♪ ♪ And I'm a fade on way ♪ ♪ Go on by, and I'ma go on home ♪ ♪ And I won't say I'm a go, ghost and disappear from homies ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna tune it all out ♪ ♪ Till I can't hear the homies ♪ ♪ And I'm a fade on way, go on by ♪ ♪ I'ma go on home ♪ ♪ And I won't say, bye ♪ ♪ Look, sustain me ♪ ♪ Sustain me, get me energy ♪ ♪ Concentrate hard enough to fill your win, the cheat ♪ ♪ Expectations running low ♪ ♪ Now, people getting dirty ♪ ♪ Man, these, they low down ♪ ♪ Won't at least slow down getting kind of fast ♪ ♪ Separate yourself, girl ♪ ♪ You're more than just a piece of ♪ ♪ Who told you things that you've never said before ♪ ♪ I mean, who told you things ♪ ♪ That you've never thought before ♪ ♪ I mean, hol' up, hol' up ♪ ♪ Walk there, really, I got you ♪ ♪ Speak up for yourself and tell them what that mouth do ♪ ♪ Tell them what you about to do but never what you doing ♪ ♪ Best left, don't say anything ♪ ♪ Till you done what you doing ♪ ♪ I mean, who said, this just can't be done ♪ ♪ I mean, who came up with the fact ♪ ♪ You never be the one or you never have some fun ♪ ♪ Or homie you just a sell out ♪ ♪ You ain't talking positive ♪ ♪ No, homie, you can get out, huh ♪ ♪ I'm done saying stuff that ain't related to my dreams ♪ ♪ I'm done saying stuff that I ain't never really mean ♪ ♪ But who am I impressing ♪ ♪ I know what I want now ♪ ♪ Or I've done second guessing ♪ ♪ I'm done holding back on behalf of other folks ♪ ♪ Not doing what needs to be done ♪ ♪ See, I'ma mess around and neglect on my friends ♪ ♪ I'ma mess around and be alone in the end ♪ ♪ See, I'm a go, ghost and disappear from homies ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna tune it all out till I can't hear the homies ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna fade on way, go on by ♪ ♪ And I'm gonna go on home ♪ ♪ And I won't say ♪ ♪ I'm a go, ghost and disappear from homies ♪ ♪ And I'ma tune it all out ♪ ♪ Till I can't hear the homies ♪ ♪ And I'ma fade on way, go on by ♪ ♪ And I'ma go on home ♪ ♪ I won't say bye, look ♪ ♪ See, fade on way ♪ ♪ I won't say bye ♪ ♪ Fade on way ♪ ♪ I won't say bye, look ♪ ♪ Fade on way, I won't say bye, look ♪ ♪ Fade on way ♪ ♪ You know how sometimes people just mad 'cause you just ♪ ♪ Like this ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not me ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not me, see ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not me ♪ ♪ Looking back, huh ♪ ♪ I get lost in my mind ♪ ♪ I've been weak for some time ♪ ♪ I've been out of the loop ♪ ♪ I've been slow on the grind ♪ ♪ It's been minimum wage ♪ ♪ And every week getting paid and getting back from the job ♪ ♪ I've been sleep every day ♪ ♪ Grandma tried to tell me ♪ ♪ Maybe I'm too selfish ♪ ♪ Maybe you don't like me ♪ ♪ Maybe I'm too helpful ♪ ♪ Maybe I'm too anxious, busy seeking symptom ♪ ♪ Probably just too loud ♪ ♪ Hush, I really need to tranquil ♪ ♪ Really need to focus that's why I need the reset ♪ ♪ And selective on the homies don't mess with the reject ♪ ♪ It won't last forever ♪ ♪ I guarantee as keep sweat ♪ ♪ What I gotta do to make it last though I see that ♪ ♪ I'm too weird for half of you weaving the comprehend ♪ (indistinct) ♪ 'Cause you want me to pretend ♪ ♪ I messed around and get naked at the crib ♪ ♪ Making beast, but I messed round ♪ ♪ And forgot to get my grandma down the street, so please ♪ ♪ So please ♪ ♪ Looking back, you just mad you not me ♪ ♪ Looking back, looking back ♪ ♪ I'm gonna tell you like this, I said ♪ ♪ Looking back, you just mad 'cause you not me ♪ ♪ looking back, you just mad 'cause you not me, see ♪ ♪ Looking back, you just mad 'cause you not me ♪ ♪ Looking back, you just, you just ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not you ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not you, see ♪ ♪ Looking back, they just mad 'cause they not you ♪ ♪ Looking back, looking back, they just mad ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ ♪ Where my 40 acres and my mule at ♪ ♪ And I've been steady working night shifts ♪ ♪ Breaking my back.

♪ ♪ I said, where my 40 acres and a mule at ♪ ♪ And I've been steady working night shifts ♪ ♪ Breaking my back ♪ ♪ I said, where my 40 acres and a mule at ♪ ♪ And I've been steady working night shifts ♪ ♪ Breaking my back ♪ ♪ I said, where my 40 acres and a mule at ♪ ♪ And I've been steady working night shifts ♪ ♪ Breaking my back, I said ♪ ♪ How y'all feel ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ - Yes.

Thank you.

- We are back from the stage from a powerful performance by Frankie P. And it's my pleasure and honor to be sitting here with Frankie P. Thank you.

- No problem, thank you.

- So, what was the name of this piece that you performed, and what is it about and what does it mean to you?

- The first half, the song that I performed, it was called "Fade."

The song, it just briefly discusses my battle with isolation and just mental stability, being by myself, trying to find myself, just being isolated and just working through that.

'Cause sometimes if you stay alone by yourself too long, it's not healthy.

So, just working through that, being mentally secure with yourself and confident enough to open up, and be okay with opening up no matter what response you get from the audience or the people.

So yeah, that's technically what "Fade" is about pretty much, in a nice small box.

- What was the second one?

- The second one, it was called "Me."

It's really short.

It was a demo-type song that I made.

I was like in 10th grade.

I made it looking back, you just mad 'cause you're not me.

Like, you just mad 'cause you're not me.

However, you just gotta go out there and get it.

I'm out here getting it.

That's the brief consensus of it though, so confidence.

- Is there any kind of inspiration that you take from Detroit or and what kind of impact do you wanna leave on Detroit?

- This city is just filled with hustlers, and I mean that in a good way, like we know how to get it.

If we need to figure it out, we gonna figure it out, whether we gotta make it happen or we have people around us that'll make it happen.

But this city is in my DNA, like from Motown to Dilla to just every single musical influence that Detroit has is just bred in me, I just have it.

And it means so much to me.

You don't have to leave the city to make it, that's my biggest thing.

I come across artists all the time, where they feel like they have to go to New York or Atlanta or California.

And it's like, "No, if you know how to make it where your home is, you can make it wherever else."

So, that's my biggest thing.

I never wanted to leave the city, whatever I do, I wanna build it here.

- How do you want the audience to leave?

- I just want them to leave knowing that something different is coming, something different is coming.

- [Satori] And when you look to the future and you look at yourself and what you're gonna contribute to the future as an artist, what do you see?

- I just see avenues opening up specifically for Detroit.

It's one thing to be an artist and to focus just on yourself.

And then, it's another artist to focus on yourself and the people that you're surrounded by.

And I just see the city coming up.

I see greatness, and I'm in the midst of it.

Like, this isn't even about me, it's about what everybody else is doing to push what's bigger than us.

And I just feel, greatness is coming.

- Thank you, Frankie P. for being with us.

It has been a gift.

- No problem.

- And we thank you for tuning in this week to Detroit Performs: Live From Marygrove.

I'm your host, Satori Shakoor, and I'll see you next week.

- [Announcer] Funding for Detroit Performs is provided by the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you, thank you.

(upbeat music)