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If Hip-Hop is dead you certainly can't tell after listening to a few tracks by PHAYME (pronounced fame), the spitfire female emcee from Detroit poised to make her mark on the rap music scene.

PHAYME's earliest inspiration came from the old school rap pioneers she listened to as a youth played on the weekend mix shows out of New York City. It was in Jersey where PHAYME penned her very first lyrics and learned to appreciate rap music for its witty word play and colorful content. PHAYME recalls, "I couldn't wait 'til the weekend so I could listen to the mix show and record all the new rappers out of New York. I knew then that I wanted to be an emcee and began trying to write my own lyrics." PHAYME relocated from Jersey to Detroit to live with her father, after her mother passed away. Her father, a disc jockey turned local television celebrity, hosted a popular TV dance show called The Scene on TV 62. It was on the set of The Scene that PHAYME was able to see entertainers perform their music and find out what it was like first-hand behind the scenes in the industry. PHAYME finally emerged on the Detroit underground Hip-Hop scene in the late 90's teaming up with another female rapper to form the duo 'Acadacious'. The two recorded the hit single, "What Your Man Can Do," on the Wad Squad compilation album and performed at various showcases and open mics throughout the city. After the group dissolved a few years later, PHAYME became a solo artist. In 2001 she hit the ground running with her first EP titled "Do Yo' Thang." "Do Yo' Thang" made a lot of noise in a short period of time and fastly gained PHAYME the attention of both her peers and Detroit music professionals. PHAYME went on to open for major acts such as Lil Flip and Do or Die while staying on her grind as an independent artist. In attempt to reclaim her musical roots and develop as an artist, in 2004 PHAYME relocated back to the east coast. She currently resides in Philadelphia, where she is working on new material and perfecting her craft.

Although PHAYME has been compared to many rap starlets, she admits her influences are many rattling off such femcees as Shante, Rah Diggah, Lyte, Eve, Lady of Rage, Lil' Kim, Jean Grae and Lauryn Hill. PHAYME explains, "The women in the game before me helped paved the way for me carry the torch. Since women are the chosen vessels in which life is brought into the world today, I think it's only natural that Hip Hop will witness a rebirth through a woman." PHAYME continues, "The days of the one-dimensional female emcee are over. I got so much to say it's ridiculous. The challenge is giving it to you in 3 plus minutes and hoping you love it, but I'm confident I can do that."

If Hip-Hop was dead as the critics claim, then let the resurrection begin.

©2008 Morris Media Group LLC