Mahogany Jones began as a poet at the age of thirteen, penning numerous compositions in books. So by the time 1996 came around and Mahogany was honing her skill for spoken word alongside the likes of Saul Williams and numerous others, it came as no surprise and it was from then on that she moved onto classes in Theatre, nurturing her art and passion for her love of poetry, a love of being free when taking to the microphone. Her appetite for succeeding in Hip Hop became stronger and her talent more powerful, it is this that has helped shape one of Hip Hop’s brightest stars.
It’s certainly very hard to compare this artist to anyone else within the industry, as Mahogany Jones oozes her own style and brings something very unique to music, something the industry definitely needs right now.
Here is an interview that Mahogany Jones took part in recently, exclusive to Sexy Never Left, closely followed by a song which Mahogany has allowed me to feature upon this site for your listening pleasure.
What can people who haven’t heard of you expect from your music?
People can expect my music to be personal; inspiring; insightful and innovative. My sound is something like Hip Hop meets Neo-Soul meets Electro Pop. On a deeper level they can expect to hear and know the heart of a God that loves them.
How did you get into music?
Ummm... I grew up around music. My family were in the music industry. My great aunt, Noreen Woods, was Atlantic Record’s first female vice president in the days of Ben E. King and Aretha Franklin; my Grandmother was the assistant to Doug Morris when he worked at Atlantic Records and my mom was a regional radio promotion employee of Warner Bros. and then Polygram Records for around 15 years. When I was around 10 years old, MC Lyte was out and she was the illest to me - I would memorize and recite her rhymes and secretly dream of being and emcee. The love for music and Hip Hop grew, until eventually it overcame me. Haha!
What plans do you have for the future with your music?
I plan to tour, to facilitate workshops for other aspiring emcees - to help them sharpen their craft, to develop artists, write songs and educate the world about truth, God’s love and life.
What approach do you take when writing material?
My goal is to make life and heart music. I listen to tracks that make me move, that move my heart and see what comes on the page. I want to say and express for others what they feel but may not know how to communicate. When I write music, I pray and ask that I compose melodic solutions to life issues, music that lets my listeners know, I feel you.
What song of yours do you feel has had the best response from listeners so far?
‘Star’, which is a song that tackles self esteem and the false notion that we have to be rich and fabulous in order to be fly. What makes us extraordinary is that we are one of a kind God made beings. ‘Lose Control’ - my love song to the lover of my soul. ‘Easy’ - which is a joint where I talk about how as women it’s hard not to chase someone you think you love and to just be still and wait for true love.
If you had the opportunity to tour with anyone of your choice, who would you like that to be?
I would love to tour with: Family Force 5; Kiki Sheard; Lisa McClendon; Eric Roberson; Israel Houghton; Tonex; Mary Mary; J.R.; Tye Tribbet; Lupe Fiasco; Kindred The Family Soul; Lauryn Hill; Janelle Monae; Canton Jones; LeCrea; Aiysha Woods and my family of sisters I rock with who rhyme - EP Technique; Kamakazi; Kiwi; Mizz Reality and Sicily.
What are your thoughts and feelings towards artists of today?
I believe there are a sector of artist who are focused on making heart music - music that comes straight from the soul and I admire, respect and inspired by those artists. Then I believe there are too many artists who are ego-tripping and focused only on blowing up and bragging about their imaginary bank accounts, their outrageous sexcapades and all other kinds of stuff that is so far from what people are really going through. Those artists – well, let’s just say I am not a fan.
Sexy Never Left believes in bringing real talent forward and giving them a chance to shine. Do you think talent gets a fair deal in music today?
No, if artists aren’t cookie cutter pop, selling sex or mimicking the latest musical trend and backed up by a million dollar budget, then they aren’t getting shown love.
Did you ever want to do anything else when you were younger?
I wanted to be a Social Worker, a Beautician. But definitely, I wanted to be an artist.
Are there any artists in the industry today you would love to work with?
Tye Tribbet; Kiki Sheard; Mary Mary; Tonex; Eric Roberson; Canton Jones; Lisa McClendon; Family Force 5; Lil Mo’; Coko; Aiysha Woods; Lisa McClendon and Mary J. Blige.
If you could re-live one moment in your career, what would that be?
When I got my first album shipped to me. I remember looking at myself on the shrink wrapped CD cover and thinking that after all these years, I finally did it. There is one other moment where I rocked with a band and I felt so free - that night was electric!
What do you believe you bring to music that is different from many other artists?
Sincerity; tangibility; solutions and hope. I am your everyday around the way girl, who is real and I truly love and desire people to be free in knowing the truth of who they are in God’s love. My music exudes that. I also think that the level of artisty, skill and craftsmanship I bring to the table as an emcee is slowly becoming a rarity.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
With a few Grammy’s on the shelf, touring regularly, speaking and teaching, operating a record label and developing up and coming artists with similar visions about music as my own and raising a family.
How do you feel your music is being accepted?
Well, I am blessed and sometimes surprised to hear that people, even if Rap isn’t their thing, Christian music isn’t their thing or even though it’s ‘different’, to hear when they say they like it.
Is there anything you’d like to achieve which you haven’t already?
Definitely - I would love to tour overseas, get a few Grammys and bridge a few of the gaps in Hip Hop today by bringing enlightenment, truth and innovation back into Hip Hop.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to the people reading this interview?
Pursue your purpose, live out loud, colour outside of the lines, stay true to the God who made you and that’s when you will truly experience being true to yourself. Experience being “Morphed”, you will never be the same! Cop the album and join the movement. Also, please check out my latest mixtapes done by DJ Sean Blu, ‘Ladies First’ and ‘Before Self Destruction’ available on DaSouth.com for free as well as my latest full length LP, ‘Morphed’, which is available on iTunes and major online stores. Keep grindin’.
I would like to take this time to personally thank Mahogany Jones got taking the time to be a part of this feature and for being so kind in letting me post one of her songs for you to listen to. I would also like to highlight that if you wish to find out more on this artist or maybe listen to more from this very talented artist, as well as purchasing her amazing album, ‘Morphed’, you can do so by clicking here.
In the meantime, here is a song for you to check out which should definitely give you a little more insight into this very talented and unique individual.
Mahogany Jones – Take Me To Church
It’s certainly very hard to compare this artist to anyone else within the industry, as Mahogany Jones oozes her own style and brings something very unique to music, something the industry definitely needs right now.
Here is an interview that Mahogany Jones took part in recently, exclusive to Sexy Never Left, closely followed by a song which Mahogany has allowed me to feature upon this site for your listening pleasure.
What can people who haven’t heard of you expect from your music?
People can expect my music to be personal; inspiring; insightful and innovative. My sound is something like Hip Hop meets Neo-Soul meets Electro Pop. On a deeper level they can expect to hear and know the heart of a God that loves them.
How did you get into music?
Ummm... I grew up around music. My family were in the music industry. My great aunt, Noreen Woods, was Atlantic Record’s first female vice president in the days of Ben E. King and Aretha Franklin; my Grandmother was the assistant to Doug Morris when he worked at Atlantic Records and my mom was a regional radio promotion employee of Warner Bros. and then Polygram Records for around 15 years. When I was around 10 years old, MC Lyte was out and she was the illest to me - I would memorize and recite her rhymes and secretly dream of being and emcee. The love for music and Hip Hop grew, until eventually it overcame me. Haha!
What plans do you have for the future with your music?
I plan to tour, to facilitate workshops for other aspiring emcees - to help them sharpen their craft, to develop artists, write songs and educate the world about truth, God’s love and life.
What approach do you take when writing material?
My goal is to make life and heart music. I listen to tracks that make me move, that move my heart and see what comes on the page. I want to say and express for others what they feel but may not know how to communicate. When I write music, I pray and ask that I compose melodic solutions to life issues, music that lets my listeners know, I feel you.
What song of yours do you feel has had the best response from listeners so far?
‘Star’, which is a song that tackles self esteem and the false notion that we have to be rich and fabulous in order to be fly. What makes us extraordinary is that we are one of a kind God made beings. ‘Lose Control’ - my love song to the lover of my soul. ‘Easy’ - which is a joint where I talk about how as women it’s hard not to chase someone you think you love and to just be still and wait for true love.
If you had the opportunity to tour with anyone of your choice, who would you like that to be?
I would love to tour with: Family Force 5; Kiki Sheard; Lisa McClendon; Eric Roberson; Israel Houghton; Tonex; Mary Mary; J.R.; Tye Tribbet; Lupe Fiasco; Kindred The Family Soul; Lauryn Hill; Janelle Monae; Canton Jones; LeCrea; Aiysha Woods and my family of sisters I rock with who rhyme - EP Technique; Kamakazi; Kiwi; Mizz Reality and Sicily.
What are your thoughts and feelings towards artists of today?
I believe there are a sector of artist who are focused on making heart music - music that comes straight from the soul and I admire, respect and inspired by those artists. Then I believe there are too many artists who are ego-tripping and focused only on blowing up and bragging about their imaginary bank accounts, their outrageous sexcapades and all other kinds of stuff that is so far from what people are really going through. Those artists – well, let’s just say I am not a fan.
Sexy Never Left believes in bringing real talent forward and giving them a chance to shine. Do you think talent gets a fair deal in music today?
No, if artists aren’t cookie cutter pop, selling sex or mimicking the latest musical trend and backed up by a million dollar budget, then they aren’t getting shown love.
Did you ever want to do anything else when you were younger?
I wanted to be a Social Worker, a Beautician. But definitely, I wanted to be an artist.
Are there any artists in the industry today you would love to work with?
Tye Tribbet; Kiki Sheard; Mary Mary; Tonex; Eric Roberson; Canton Jones; Lisa McClendon; Family Force 5; Lil Mo’; Coko; Aiysha Woods; Lisa McClendon and Mary J. Blige.
If you could re-live one moment in your career, what would that be?
When I got my first album shipped to me. I remember looking at myself on the shrink wrapped CD cover and thinking that after all these years, I finally did it. There is one other moment where I rocked with a band and I felt so free - that night was electric!
What do you believe you bring to music that is different from many other artists?
Sincerity; tangibility; solutions and hope. I am your everyday around the way girl, who is real and I truly love and desire people to be free in knowing the truth of who they are in God’s love. My music exudes that. I also think that the level of artisty, skill and craftsmanship I bring to the table as an emcee is slowly becoming a rarity.
Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
With a few Grammy’s on the shelf, touring regularly, speaking and teaching, operating a record label and developing up and coming artists with similar visions about music as my own and raising a family.
How do you feel your music is being accepted?
Well, I am blessed and sometimes surprised to hear that people, even if Rap isn’t their thing, Christian music isn’t their thing or even though it’s ‘different’, to hear when they say they like it.
Is there anything you’d like to achieve which you haven’t already?
Definitely - I would love to tour overseas, get a few Grammys and bridge a few of the gaps in Hip Hop today by bringing enlightenment, truth and innovation back into Hip Hop.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to the people reading this interview?
Pursue your purpose, live out loud, colour outside of the lines, stay true to the God who made you and that’s when you will truly experience being true to yourself. Experience being “Morphed”, you will never be the same! Cop the album and join the movement. Also, please check out my latest mixtapes done by DJ Sean Blu, ‘Ladies First’ and ‘Before Self Destruction’ available on DaSouth.com for free as well as my latest full length LP, ‘Morphed’, which is available on iTunes and major online stores. Keep grindin’.
I would like to take this time to personally thank Mahogany Jones got taking the time to be a part of this feature and for being so kind in letting me post one of her songs for you to listen to. I would also like to highlight that if you wish to find out more on this artist or maybe listen to more from this very talented artist, as well as purchasing her amazing album, ‘Morphed’, you can do so by clicking here.
In the meantime, here is a song for you to check out which should definitely give you a little more insight into this very talented and unique individual.
Mahogany Jones – Take Me To Church
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