Desdamona
Encyclopedia
Desdamona is a hip-hop and spoken word
artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota
, United States
. She has won five Minnesota Music Awards for 'Best Spoken Word Artist' in the years 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (the awards were not hosted in 2001 and 2002). For that reason, and her strong standing in the male-dominated hip-hop scene, she is considered to be the best female spoken word and hip-hop artist in the Midwest.
, the wife of Othello
in William Shakespeare
's tragedy
Othello
. She was born and went to school in Iowa. She struggled at all subjects with the exceptions of math and art
. A childhood inspiration for her music, she said, was her father who would dress up as Count Dracula
and tell bedtime stories to her. In high school, Desdamona and her friends formed a band in which Desdamona was the rapper, inspired by the R&B
group TLC
. When she moved to Minneapolis, she found an audience for her work. She began to go to open mic
nights to perform her poetry. In this way, she became known as a spoken word artist, which was not her original intention, but which, she says, "made me a better writer."
Desdamona was noticed for her guest vocals in Brother Ali
's We Will Always B in 2000. Her lines criticized male dominance of hip-hop and chauvinism
in general. Desdamona's first CD
, The Ledge, came out on 5 June 2005 on the Zlink Entertainment Label. It included twelve songs. She frequently collaborates with Twin Cities beatboxer
Carnage the Executioner, also known as Carnage. On Desdamona's second disc, The Source, which came out 26 June 2007, the duo do the first track, Infinity, together. The two have formed a group called Ill Chemistry
, which was noted as a rising hip-hop group at the 2007 Minnesota Music Awards. Desdamona has noted that they're working on a collaboration on her blog
.
Desdamona started an all-girl music festival, called B-Girl Be, which incorporates all the aspects of hip-hop and spoken word; emceeing
, break dance
, D.J.-ing
and graffiti
. She also works with schools, teaching students, as well as in the Stillwater
Prison program, In the Belly.
In 2010, Desdamona was invited by Ursus Minor to sing on their third album "I will not take but for an answer" and also did the 21010 Ursus Minor October and August French Tours along with Boots Riley
.
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She has won five Minnesota Music Awards for 'Best Spoken Word Artist' in the years 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 (the awards were not hosted in 2001 and 2002). For that reason, and her strong standing in the male-dominated hip-hop scene, she is considered to be the best female spoken word and hip-hop artist in the Midwest.
Background
Desdamona, her Emcee name, comes from DesdemonaDesdemona (Othello)
Desdemona is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello . Shakespeare's Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a man several years her senior. When her husband is deployed to Cyprus in the service of the...
, the wife of Othello
Othello (character)
Othello is a character in Shakespeare's Othello . The character's origin is traced to the tale, "Un Capitano Moro" in Gli Hecatommithi by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio. There, he is simply referred to as the Moor....
in William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's tragedy
Tragedy
Tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering that offers its audience pleasure. While most cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, tragedy refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of...
Othello
Othello
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro" by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565...
. She was born and went to school in Iowa. She struggled at all subjects with the exceptions of math and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
. A childhood inspiration for her music, she said, was her father who would dress up as Count Dracula
Count Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
and tell bedtime stories to her. In high school, Desdamona and her friends formed a band in which Desdamona was the rapper, inspired by the R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
. When she moved to Minneapolis, she found an audience for her work. She began to go to open mic
Open mike
An open mike or open mic is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. These events can be focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, comedy, and the open format of open...
nights to perform her poetry. In this way, she became known as a spoken word artist, which was not her original intention, but which, she says, "made me a better writer."
Career
Brother Ali
Ali Newman , better known by the stage name Brother Ali, is an American hip hop artist signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment.-Personal life:...
's We Will Always B in 2000. Her lines criticized male dominance of hip-hop and chauvinism
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
in general. Desdamona's first CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, The Ledge, came out on 5 June 2005 on the Zlink Entertainment Label. It included twelve songs. She frequently collaborates with Twin Cities beatboxer
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
Carnage the Executioner, also known as Carnage. On Desdamona's second disc, The Source, which came out 26 June 2007, the duo do the first track, Infinity, together. The two have formed a group called Ill Chemistry
Ill Chemistry
Ill Chemistry is a two-person spoken word/beatboxing/hip hop group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The group consists of Carnage the Executioner and Desdamona.-History:...
, which was noted as a rising hip-hop group at the 2007 Minnesota Music Awards. Desdamona has noted that they're working on a collaboration on her blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
.
Desdamona started an all-girl music festival, called B-Girl Be, which incorporates all the aspects of hip-hop and spoken word; emceeing
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
, break dance
Break Dance
Break Dance is a Commodore 64 computer game that relies on players making dancing moves that resemble the classic game Simon says.-Gameplay:...
, D.J.-ing
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
. She also works with schools, teaching students, as well as in the Stillwater
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
Prison program, In the Belly.
In 2010, Desdamona was invited by Ursus Minor to sing on their third album "I will not take but for an answer" and also did the 21010 Ursus Minor October and August French Tours along with Boots Riley
Boots Riley
Boots Riley is an American musician, vocalist, writer, and public speaker most known for being the front man and producer of The Coup as well as the front man for Street Sweeper Social Club.-Biography:...
.