Markena "MT"Townsend Founder/Owner/Artist Virginia Style Records, LLC
I would describe my music genre as
“Authentic Rap.” I create lyrical music which is entwined with
economics, political views, local and global community issues,
solutions to occurring problems, overall an authentic collection of
eclectic lyrics. The commencement of my career began at the tender age
of six years old during the peak of music called “rap.” Seeing rappers
on television as: Mc Lyte, Salt-n- Pepper, Queen Lati...
Markena "MT"Townsend Founder/Owner/Artist Virginia Style Records, LLC
I would describe my music genre as
“Authentic Rap.” I create lyrical music which is entwined with
economics, political views, local and global community issues,
solutions to occurring problems, overall an authentic collection of
eclectic lyrics. The commencement of my career began at the tender age
of six years old during the peak of music called “rap.” Seeing rappers
on television as: Mc Lyte, Salt-n- Pepper, Queen Latifah, NWA, Doug E.
Fresh, Scar Face, Rakim, LL Cool J, Ice Cube, and KRS-One, just to
name a few, are the fuel that sparked the desire and impetus for me to
verbally express my soul to the world.
Around the age of 12 years old, I had a two-fold transition in my life
which impacted my musical style. Transitioning from my birth place,
Eastern Shore of Virginia to Salisbury, Maryland, and becoming highly
engaged in the Pentecostal church introduced me to “contemporary
gospel.” With being highly passionate and in love with “Rap” and also
loving “God,” and serving “God,” I decided to merge the two and create
“Gospel Rap.” During this time, I independently compiled and composed
my first album titled “Gospel Rap: Volume 1.” Ironically, I was openly
accepted by the “secular world,” but the majority of my "church
family” was not receptive to my artistry style. Due to the
overwhelming pressure of rapping for the Lord, I sadly decided to part
from the church and serve God independently. I returned back to my
hip hop roots and fell in love with a company that I always knew I
would have- VA Style Records.
Going forward, I completed my high school career and relocated to
Washington, DC metropolitan area in 2002 to further my education in
music production and audio production at the Art Institute at
Washington, DC. It was during this time where I improved my creative
lyrical thinking and enhanced my business and educational mindset
pertaining to music, as well as increased my networking opportunities,
and since then has molded my musical outlet as “Authentic Rap.” I have
performed over 40 shows that have lead to the completion and success
of my sophomore album called “Music is All I Know.” The success of
this album afforded me the opportunity to broaden my fan base of over
3000 fans, including internet-based fans. March 6, 2010, I released
my third album, “It’s Personal,” which
illustrates "Truth", which most of us deeply internalize or suppress,
for we all know that "Truth" is harsh at times. This album also
demonstrate how I have matured as a woman and an artist and know at
this point of my career I am holistically, physically and mentally
music proof. Currently, I have been perfecting my performance
identity as I have been opening up for major artists as Jim Jones,
Waka Flaka Flame, and many more major artists I have booked for future
shows. The most rewarding experience thus far in my musical career was
becoming an official owner of Virginia Style Records, LLC in April,
2010.
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