The Woman

Born in the Bronx, New York, Nana Soul began writing poetry and short stories at the age of 8. She attended the Angelo Patri School of Arts as a vocal major during her junior high school years. Despite her rigorous curriculum, she found the time to host the children's cable television show, "Check It Out", where she interviewed various authors and prominent community members, in addition to her weekly review of children's books in an effort to boost student literacy.

Her artistic journey continued on to Fiorello H. LaGuadia High School of Music and Art where she was able to hone her talents in gospel, jazz and classical singing.

Nana Soul is an active member of several organizations. The Coalition of Activists and Artists along with the late Ozzie Davis, Ralph Carter, Roberta Flack, Gil Noble, Dead Prez, Bob Law, Viola Plummer of the December 12th Movement, Stephanie Mills, and Ray, Goodman and Brown to name a few.

The Troops Out Now Coalition, which organized more than 20,000 people on March 19, 2005 (the second anniversary of the War in Iraq) in Harlem and Central Park. Not only was Nana part of the organizing for the days events, she also hosted the rally in Central Park.

Nana Soul is the spokesperson for The Artists and Activists United for Peace, which organized the only Black-led protest during the RNC in 2004. As well as a member of The Committee Against Hate Media (C.A.H.M), which has led the fight against Hot97 after the airing of the Tsunami Song on Miss Jones' morning show. Nana's firm belief that artists have a responsibility to fight against oppression is evident in the subject matter she chooses for her songs and her vigilant stance against racism, sexism, discrimination and oppression of all kinds.

Nana Soul was recently recognized for her work in the community. She is the recipient of the Man Up! Inc. 2005 Sista of the Year Award for Outstanding Community Service.

The Vision

We can expect Nana Soul's debut album entitled "Black Honey", with expected guest appearances by Abiodun Oyewole from the Last Poets, Bob Law, Chuck D, and Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers. There will always be activism on the horizon for Nana, always a plan to use her voice and influence to empower Black people and represent them to the best of her ability. The vision? Simply this: It is about time the music industry came back to truth, and Nana Soul's music and spirit will get us there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After graduation Nana Soul attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice as an English major focusing on poetry and creative writing. She has been a member of City Kids along side Malik Yoba, Lisa Nicole Carson from Ally McBeal and Donald Faison from Clueless. Nana has also published a book called "Business Owner's Boot Camp", which was used during a course that helped individuals make the transition from welfare recipient to entrepreneur. She is also CEO of The Ghetto Chronicles, a publishing company named for the monthly newsletter that she put out for two years, which prided itself in being media for and by Black people. The newsletter also featured interviews Nana Soul conducted with recording artists such as Keith Murray, KRS-One, Jeru the Damaja and Jay Z to name a few. Most recently, she obtained a highly coveted seat in the Cave Canem Poetry Workshop in New York, and at the Frederick Douglas Creative Arts Center Short Story Workshop. She now lives in New York City with her daughter.

The Musician

A natural born writer and storyteller, Nana Soul's lyrics are pure poetry, able to hold their own without musical accompaniment. Yet, when set to music, the recipe of her words, thoughts and feelings are blending into songs that stir the soul. Today, there is a misconception that if an album contains positive subject matter, the music may not be cutting edge. Nana Soul dispels this myth with a quickness; her debut album tentatively titled "Black Honey" includes music from all spectrums: including hip-hop, blues, funk, and experimental jazz.

Nana started her professional music career singing background vocals for rapper Reign, Angel Clivilles of The Cover Girls and Lisa Lisa. As a songwriter, Nana comes equipped with accolades from established cornerstones in the industry as well. Her song God is Dead was named a winner in the R&B category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for 2001 from among 10,000 plus entrants worldwide, as well as in the 2000 Abet Music Songwriting Contest. It was also included on Abet's annual compilation. Just recently she won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest again in 2003 for her song Black Honey.

She's performed at various high profile events, including The Over the Influence Album Release Party, hosted by world famous comedian Paul Mooney who dubbed her "The High Priestess of Soul" and "Returning To Our Roots", an awards ceremony given by The Black Star News honoring Bill and Camille Cosby, NY Jets coach Herman Edwards and Amel Larrieux formally of "Groove Theory" who she opened up for. The audience included names like Councilman Charles Barron who is Nana Soul's biggest fan and can't get enough of her song Alice in Wonderland (we're quoting you on that Councilman!) Gil Noble, Johnnie Walker who is the President and CEO of NABFEME and Tony Perkins from Good Morning America to name a few. She also performed at the grand opening of Nubian Heritage's Flagship store in Harlem New York, along with renowned poet Quincy Troupe, Abiodun Oyewole from The Last Poets and Sheree Renee Thomas, Editor of Dark Matter 1 and Dark Matter 2.

The Activist

Nana isn't a sidebar artist, whose activism is limited to her lyrics and the way she wears her hair. She spends much of her time in active protest against racial injustice, setting up and supporting resource centers for the oppressed and offering constant support and inspiration for the spiritually downtrodden. She has always championed children's' rights to a quality education, believing that the shoddy quality of education that Black children receive is a direct result of racism and an indicator as to the bleak futures they will inherit. In New York, she fought with the New Abolitionist Movement against Mis-Education to keep Sarah J. Hale High School in Brooklyn open after it had been targeted by the Board of Ed to be dismantled because of a high fail rate. The city's plan was to ship the unwanted students out to various other troubled schools and open up a "gifted school of the arts" where other children from upscale neighborhoods would be bused in.

In Jersey City, she founded the Committee for Parent and Student Empowerment and played a fundamental role in bringing a corrupt board of trustees chairman to justice, had him ousted from his position and forced to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in misspent funds.

On the day that police officers went free for murdering Amadou Diallo, Nana Soul helped to form Action Against Oppression, the AAO, whose creed included citizens policing their own communities against police brutality, standing on the streets and literally giving food and clothing to those who needed it and "standing up for what is true and right now and forever, right on!" In fact, the song Fight On was the organization's anthem and helped to immortalize what the AAO stood for. Nana Soul is also sought after by community organizations to speak as well as sing. She focuses on young people, talking to them about the necessity of activism, and living up to her responsibilities as a mentor and role model.

Organizations she's spoken at include: the Ella McQueen Learning Academy for Youth Offenders, The Parenting Initiative which provides resources for single fathers who are handling their business at home, The Women's Empowerment Day at the Bushwick Healthy Baby Project with Dora Savage, The Black History Month Celebration at the Malcolm X Academy in Brooklyn, and Bob Law's Dinner and Dialogue Session's "Focus on Independent Music" She is currently the host of In the Loop, a monthly talk show focused on politics and music.