Hampton Roads - I ran across Mz. Meka at a talent showcase in Virginia Beach a couple of months back that was held at Shakas on the Atlantic Avenue Strip.  She stuck out like a sore thumb.  I must say she has an extremely feminine aura with locks neatly pulled up.  It wasn’t until she set the microphone aflame that you really could tell she was worlds more than another spectator of hip-hop.  Her story is simple, but her passion is immense.  There are very few people that share a genuine love for hip-hop to the point where every word that they say sounds like music.  Lameka “Mz. Meka” Owens is definitely one of the few.

33: So how long have you been rapping?
Mz. Meka: I started rapping when I was in 8th grade, about 14 years old.

33: How did that happen?
MM: I've always had a love for music.  I was talking about it with my friend Gia Jai in school, and we decided to rap together.  We used to write raps and pass them to each other in class, and that’s kind of how I got started. 

33: What do you feel you are called to do in the rap industry?
MM: As far as the rap industry, I think it’s time for something fresh with more women because it's dominated by men.  It's a lot of great female artist that I feel should be on… so it's time to make some noise!

33: Whats your first memory of hip-hop?
MM: I could say probably when I was about three, listening to Afrika Bambaataa and Slick Rick with my dad...he has a system in every car so I grew up listening to loud music all the time!

33: Afrika Bambaataa is awesome - did you have any other musical influences growing up?
MM: MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa... all the old school hip-hop.  As I got a little older Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, Pac.  Of course, the females like Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, Eve & Rah Digga.  I love all types of music.

33: Do you have any impending mix-tapes coming?
MM: Yes, a group mixtape with my brothers in hip-hop Voe Black & Yung Hali - Never Stop Grinding - and I'm working on an album as well.  I have only done one official solo mixtape entitled Class Is in Session, but I've been on countless features and other mixtapes.

33: What was the storyline behind that mix tape?
MM: I have been doing music for a long time, recording since I was 15, but I never really had the opportunity to put together a mixtape due to my busy life.  I had songs that needed to be heard, and even though it's hard out here for us females, I did it all on my own.  I did it just so people can get a view of who Mz. Meka is!

By Correspondent: Monet Freeman

Monet Freeman hails from Virginia Beach and has her roots dug deep into music.  Most of her childhood was spent singing in the church choir Voices of Tomorrow in elementary school and chorus in middle school.  By the time she reached high school she found that her calling was not in the spotlight but behind the scenes.  Finding comfort in journalism, she began to write poetry and raps to help cope with the growing pains of life.  Now she has found that the best way to find herself is in the service of others, thus leading her to aid the exposure of others who are finding their way in the music industry.  With her loves of fashion, cosmetology, photography, writing and music, she feels there is no better way to live than with her heart planted in hip-hop.