{"id":5339,"date":"2026-03-19T18:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/03\/michie-mee-godmother-energy-interview\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T18:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T18:30:39","slug":"michie-mee-godmother-energy-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2026\/03\/michie-mee-godmother-energy-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"THROWBACK SERIES: Michie Mee \u2013 Godmother Energy (interview)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By: Todd \u201cDG\u201d Davis<\/span>
\nRapindustry.com<\/span><\/p>\n

Before there was a Canadian hip-hop scene anyone could point to, Michie Mee was already running it. Toronto streets, Kingston roots, and a mic in her hand\u2014she turned the blend of reggae, dancehall, and hip-hop into a sound that was unmistakably hers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signing with a major U.S. label in the \u201980s wasn\u2019t just a milestone, it was a declaration: Canadian rap could compete, innovate, and lead. Talking to her, you feel that energy\u2014legendary but still alive in the room, a queendom built on rhythm, rebellion, and a refusal to follow anyone else\u2019s rules.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michie Mee, you\u2019re widely recognized as Canada\u2019s first notable female MC and a pioneer in the hip-hop scene. How did your journey begin, and what inspired you to pursue a career in music at such a young age?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My journey has several beginnings, but one notable starting point was the MC battle between New York and Toronto. Canadians began recognizing me as an MC, and I wanted to get into the music business because my father was a well-known promoter in Jamaica. I had always loved the stage and the music environment\u2014my family was very involved in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a young teenager traveling to New York often, I gravitated toward what was happening in the communities\u2014hip-hop. It was the newest type of music hitting the streets for all youths, and I wanted to be part of it. I introduced myself to other hip-hop enthusiasts in front of the Latin Quarters in Manhattan with friends from Canada. We traveled to shop for the coolest gear and bring it back to Canada, and in doing so, I also began connecting with the hip-hop scene.<\/span><\/p>\n

You started performing professionally at just 14. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a young artist breaking into the industry?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The first thing I had to do was convince people I wasn\u2019t 14. I acted older, spoke older, and hung out with older teenagers. I had to prove I was cool enough and mature enough to understand what was happening around me to earn my turn on the microphone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then came the challenge of finding events to perform at. There was no one booking shows for you\u2014you had to know someone who knew someone throwing a party. I also needed a crew, a posse who could vouch for me as an artist. On stage, I had to freestyle, create on the spot, and sometimes use my Jamaican accent to my advantage. Some Americans called me a \u201ccoconut MC,\u201d which was a bad joke, but it motivated me to prove that my accent could work in hip-hop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your early work with DJ L.A. Luv and the release of\u00a0Jamaican Funk\u2014Canadian Style<\/em>\u00a0was groundbreaking. How did blending dancehall reggae with hip-hop influence your sound and set you apart?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n