Thread by @WALASIA

A few people have asked why I #boycottrhymesayers

I * believe women *trust survivors *lived in Minneapolis for one year *worked on an event there within the Hip Hop and Art communities *the event was centered on Women in Hip Hop, B-Girls, Lady Graffiti Artists, "Female" DJs...

The event was called B-Girl Be, it took place at @intermedia_arts and was founded/organized by women either from or in the Hip Hop community in Minnesota. I worked on research, sponsorship, booking artists/speakers alongside the rest of the all-women/femme committee. U know who

did not sponsor the event? U know who was NEVER there? It was @rhymesayers. Furthermore, I used to be the business manager of MF DOOM, for many years. He had a preexisting relationship with RSE and I rarely but sometimes interacted with them. I loved Los Nativos, signed to RSE...

I mainly kept to myself in Minnesota, and to my circle of B-Girl Be associates. I did however meet DJ Stage One, I-Self Devine, Mazta I, Toki Wright and a few of the RSE cats as I often attended shows or went out to see @djstageone spin. He is one of my favorite DJs/People. ...

I never had problems in Minnesota, until I met a few guys who happened to be signed to RSE. I had an incident with one who is now being named an abuser. He never had the chance to get close enough to me to abuse me, I-Self Devine always had my back & he was there that day. ...

I will go on to say that I love both @KevinBeacham and @MusabOnTheReal as humans, as people, they are both wonderful in their own ways and I do know them both in person. Interactions I had in the past with other RSE employees/execs were less than savory. I had heard about RSE's

deplorable treatment of women and of woman/femme artists. They did my friend @PsalmOne dirty. In my opinion, also, they have always employed a pattern of tokenism - one woman artist at a time please! I was only in Minnesota for one year, but I was in the streets, in the arts ...

community (both fine art/gallery world and in the Graffiti community as well), I was at the shows/clubs/parties, I was among the community. I met EVERYONE because I was coming from LA/TheBay/NewYork music biz world, and Minny is a TINY market so I left no stone unturned there...

I am a fan of @sarocthemc & I am glad there's a way to support her new music without giving money to RSE. I am concerned that my old friend @Evidence from @dilatedpeoples may still be affiliated with Rhymesayers. There is NO other option but to #BoycottRhymesayers & divest/defund

For more information please refer to citypages.com/music/inside-t… and take the time to read through the #BoycottRhymesayers hashtag, trigger warning, r*pe and sexual assault.

BELIEVE WOMEN
$UPPORT SURVIVORS
P.E.A.C.E.