We recently connected with Eisani and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eisani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

While I was more or less raised in the East Coast Hip Hop Culture in the 1990s, I did not decide to pursue being an Emcee until I was in Middle School, and then more passionately in high school, in the early 2000s. I already had a ton of influences, so started writing my first verses, I pretty much knew what to do. I would write; at first it was more like poetry over beats. As I became affiliated with a few local Rap Crews and Lyricists from my school and neighborhood, I was able to get more practice with actually delivering the rhymes that I wrote. That is where I discovered (almost immediately) that I needed the most work. I had to learn how to deliver those impactful verses, solid lyrics and heavy-hitting punchlines like a real Emcee.

To be completely transparent, this became the area where I needed the most mentorship, as well as experienced the most growth. Back then, there was something inside of me that wasn’t as confident about what I had to say as I should have been. I was holding back. I was insecure. As my life journey continued on, I dealt with those issues, and as each issue got dealt with, I found myself writing better songs, having smoother recording sessions and finally becoming the live performer that I am destined to be. These days, I’m SURE. Whenever I get on the mic, I know what I’m rapping about, why I’m rapping about it and I’m 100% solid on every piece of my being.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Eisani (formerly Eisani Steelz) and I am a Hip Hop Recording Artist originating from Newark, New Jersey. I label my style of Hip Hop as ‘Goddess Hip Hop.’ I created the phrase ‘Goddess Hip Hop’ after realizing that my creative journey contained tons of evolution, the acquisition of much wisdom and the desire to communicate responsible, insightful and relevant messages to my listeners. Everything, from my music and songs, my image, my outward appearance and even other areas of artistic expression that I dabble in all convey a solid, sincere and serious knowledge of Self, identity, empowerment and progression. I stand unique in that I don’t sacrifice my artistry to trends and fads; instead, I allow the Art to BE and convey it in a way in which is timeless and always relevant.

I evolved from a very young child who was surrounded by uncles, aunts and older cousins who were engulfed in and surrounded by Hip Hop Culture to an adolescent who became intertwined with the Art and Culture in my own right, to an adult who now not only writes, records and performs my music, but also a Keeper of the Culture that is Hip Hop. My beliefs, my lifestyle, my artistic interactions, my various endeavors-everything is centered in the authentic Hip Hop Culture and what it emerged as and what it represents in its essence. I often find that people lose their memory (or either they just don’t know) of Hip Hop’s origins. I am here to remind them; I carry the torch. I also often find that people dismiss the importance, creativity and validity of modern Hip Hop. I am here to represent that Hip Hop Culture is vast and ever expanding; it knows no limitations and is allowed to evolve over time, just like every other Culture.

I am extremely proud of my place in Hip Hop Culture. I find that I can morph with the Culture, create in various spaces and in various ways (all within the confines of Hip Hop Culture) and I can still stand uniquely in the crowd and present music and art that is authentically my own. Recently, I have further solidified my brand identity and have, in turn, been exposed to wider audiences that appreciate my music and Art. I look forward to further expansion and to bring more value to Hip Hop Culture, Hip Hop Music and Hip Hop History.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when people connect with my music. There’s an added bonus when people not only connect, but relate to my music and even more so when my music helps them in a way that is intimate and special to them. I tell a lot of different stories in my music; stories from the many places and spaces that I’ve been through throughout my life’s journey. In these retellings through Hip Hop music, there is joy, pain, frustration, anger, grief, progress, insight, education, entertainment and celebration. This is literally my life’s work. So when someone connects with me, it means a lot.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

When it comes to Art, any Art, I think that non-Creatives struggle with understanding how we Artists are able to navigate in an environment that is not as structured as other jobs and/or industries. We have a tendency to be very fluid in our creative process, and things can always change at the drop of a dime, so the creative process can appear to be very turbulent to a non-Creative. What I explain to non-Creatives is that when you are creating something, you conceptualize first, and even throughout the process of conceptualization, your vision can transform several different times before you actually land on what you will ultimately be creating. Once you are in the action of taking your Art from concept to manifestation, there might even be drastic transformations as the Art is manifesting. You are pulling from the intangible and forming something that is tangible (and digestible), and sometimes you don’t know what the final form is until you are finished. It is a very abstract process and the majority of the process lacks structure, so non-Creatives are challenged by that. I believe that once people understand this process, this journey of creation, they will develop an even more sense of value of Art and recognize its importance in our collective journey as a People and as a society.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://344105.8b.io/
• Instagram: @GoddessEisani
• Facebook: @GoddessEisani
• Twitter: @GoddessEisani
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_fg9hOVjf07FpyKL1PUig
• TikTok: @GoddessEisani
• Snapchat: @GoddessEisani
• Trillr: @GoddessEisani

Image Credits
Grand Exposure HTX