Ebony criticizes lack of space for women in hip hop: ‘I hate the fact that they see it as something masculine’ [ENTREVISTA]

Exactly two months ago, Ebony released the second studio album of his career, titled Therapy (2023). Since then, the album has become a huge success, with 10 million streams on the internet. Spotify in a month — not to mention the release that moved the rap scene: the diss (term in English that designates a criticism of a rapper or groups of rappers) “I hope you understand.”

Last Sunday, the 17th, the singer from Rio, responsible for songs like “100 Milli,” “Intrusive Thoughts” It is “8KG,” held a free show at Ruth Cardoso Youth Cultural Center (CCJ), at an event Hip Hop Culture SP which celebrated 50 years of hip hop, and spoke with Rolling Stone Brazil to talk about the current moment in his career.

From the moment in which Therapy arrived in the world, Ebony played some shows with new songs and changes to the setlist, mostly at festivals. She intends to do more solo shows in 2024, to give her time to mature her very successful album.

“I had put a lot of energy into creating this record. I hoped there would be a comeback, but I didn’t know it would be so big, especially after the release of the diss,” he stated. “Very happy with the result, you know? Incredible! The first time in my life I hit 10 million in a month and it’s bizarre, different from anything that had happened before.”

It’s really crazy to have these people who arrived now, because it’s the first time… and then there’s this, new fans, with a super cool experience, because they see me in a different way. I love this interaction of fan bases.

Show on the outskirts of São Paulo

Around 3pm (Brasília time), Ebony took the stage set up inside the CCJ, with a mainly female audience. For the artist, this presence of fans is something extremely precious.

“I feel very seen and heard by them in a way that most of my life I have not been. They are girls just like me turning to me saying that they understand me and feel understood because they understand me,” she explained. “This is very beautiful! There’s nothing to pay for that.”

Furthermore, Ebony He also talked about performing on the outskirts of a city like São Paulo, which is often not seen as it should be, with few cultural programs promoted by the city hall. Despite being from Rio, she understands the regional differences in São Paulo.

“I still don’t have this real notion of what it means to be on the bridge here or on the bridge there, but I understand, obviously, songs and people putting them too,” he said, “But being from Baixada Fluminense, in Rio de Janeiro, I know what it’s like to be removed from the culture, and what it’s like to be seen when people choose your city to do something. In this place I can get really close.”

I hope you understand

In November 2023, Ebony launched “I hope you understand,” with production of LARINHX, with several criticisms of the hip hop scene in Brazil. In the lyrics, she criticizes the way in which people (mostly men) do not value the work of several female artists.

Not only that, but the singer also takes the opportunity to poke fun at several people with national rap names, such as BK’, Filipe Ret, L7nnon, Puterrier, Borges, Orochi, Kyan, Baco Exu do Blues It is Djonga. Read an excerpt below:

Honestly I don’t even care, because I understand the art
But if they’re going to piss me off, I’m going OK scoring […]
I hope you understand, life
I love the songs, but I need to prove my point
I have the face, I have the body and I have the rhyme

About the track, which has more than 1.4 million views on YouTube, Ebony was asked if people understood her point: “Everyone mentioned in the song understood the point of the song, which is not a personal, empty attack. The point of proving that I can rhyme has been proven for a long time through my work, but I think men realizing the real value of women will still take a while, so that point I think is still on hold, in waiting, because it’s sad.”

At another point in the conversation, the rapper mentioned how hip hop has entered a phase of showing its true potential, especially in terms of women, but she took the opportunity to make some plausible criticisms.

“I hate the fact that they see hip hop as something masculine. I hate the fact that they see it as a subcategory. I hate the fact that they think we’re not worth investing thousands of dollars in, while genres like country music and pop receive it,” he said.

Hip hop can break free to become pop, it can become an urban artistic expression in general. For people to understand this, we’re going to start talking about real money, money that changes lives, about houses for our mothers, understand? Because to this day I’ve only seen men do this in hip hop, and it’s not their privilege.

What are Ebony’s next steps?

At the moment, Ebony still want to work hard on the songs Therapy, with solo shows and festivals, as well as releasing music videos. A few months ago, she published her release plan, which included a mixtape in 2024, and she talked about whether that goal still stands.

“The mixtape comes in 2024, as soon as I finish working on the Therapy, which will also have a music video and everything,” he stated. “But that’s it, I’ll come with everything. Little Mermaid Big Business!”