Mana.

Mana, who went to elementary school in Iran and later moved to this area, is proud of her ethnicity, and even sees it as an advantage in the Rap game. She says people don’t even see her coming; “They don’t expect me,” she explains. Her family doesn’t exactly understand why she raps, but Mana has decided to carve her own path.


The young rapper, and owner of a Computer Solutions company, attended University of Maryland where she majored in Political Science and minored in Psychology. Originally, she planned to go on to Law School, but decided against it. She lost faith in the criminal justice system, and decided should would develop and spread her own truth. Music was the avenue she chose to take. 


Her song, “Azadi” means freedom in Farsi, and is a direct statement to her desires for all mankind. With lyrics translating to, “Freedom [and] happiness go hand in hand. A way is needed, informing people is important,” and “…people hand in hand starting to solve; questioning answers with sense– less ego. We won’t reach anywhere with blind eyes;” we get a sense of Mana’s ideology: that one should not simply take the information that has been presented, rather find the answers for them self.

With her upcoming mixtape, Lipstick Revolt, Mana is creating a movement. She has invited female rappers from all over the DMV, and has even reached out to emcee’s overseas. She wants people to take notice that the female presence in Hip-Hop is very much alive, “We’re here, and we exist. We just need people to pay attention, and they will,” she insists. In addition to the mixtape, Mana and her team are planning a festival set to take place March 6, 2011 including events like a drum circle, cypher, and panel discussion to create that union among women in the industry, as well as serve notice to those naysayers.


I wish Mana much success, and I hope you guys will check out more of her work.
You can follow her on Twitter @ManaIsMe, and check out her bandcamp profile.


Click this link to download the single featured in the interview posted below.