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If you seek to find information about the members of
the hip-hop community, you can check out various national
publications such as Vibe, The Source, XXL and on a
lucky day, Billboard. But, what about here in the beautiful
and crowded Illadelph? We have Audiogliphix, the Daily
News, the Jawn, and the current home of journalist Ainé
Ardron-Doley. If you don't know what paper I'm speaking
of, take your hand, smack yourself and keep reading.
Ainé is usually on the flipside of the recorder,
but this week I got to interview the interviewer. Stay
with me now...
Flip it and Reverse it
Ms. Beat Box, Ainé currently calls Germantown
home. After graduating from the Bodine High School for
International Affairs, she went on to become a lady
owl at Temple University majoring in English. She stayed
busy and exhausted juggling school and tennis. Rumor
has it she was pretty decent with the racket too! Her
chance came when she gained an internship at City Paper
(free entertainment paper weekly circulated in and around
the Greater Philadelphia region) for 6 months. Ainé
had grown up with and gravitated towards the hip-hop
culture. When she had the chance to incorporate it in
with the City Paper, she rushed at the opportunity.
Ainé was granted a small space that came to be known
as The Beat Box. "The name came from the music
editor at the time. It began as listings, but as my
time there evolved, so did the column." Like wildfire,
it started to create a buzz and cultivate among the
music scene. People were excited to find underground
hip-hop in the Philadelphia press. "I wanted to
write about those that deserved and earned it."
Now in its third year, Ainé utilizes her column
to cram in as much information about the community and
it's artists as she can, which requires consistent politicing
with the editors. People don't understand the struggle
journalists have trying to convince the editorial staff
that hip-hop is worthy of print pages. In addition to
the Beat Box, she has done quite a few features on different
artists concentrating on those that have an abundance
of talent with minimum exposure. It doesn't stop there.
She has marked up the pages of the Philadelphia Inquirer,
URB Magazine, Russell's (like him and I are on a first
name basis) One World Magazine, and contributed photos
to Rolling Stone. Yes, THAT Rolling Stone. From interviews
to reviews of CD's/shows, Ainé does her best to represent
herself and the culture. Sounds easy, right? Not really...
Demand for equality
Let me give you a warning. Here comes the feminine part,
so if you aren't comfortable with hearing me elaborate
about being a woman in this culture, stop reading! It's
ladies first for about 2/3 weeks. You could also decide
to educate yourself on the females doing it for Philadelphia
hip-hop. Most likely, you will learn something. Ainé
has had to deal with the normal issues that come with
having breasts and a vagina. That includes all the stereotypes,
name-calling and unnecessary touches. "Even when
I have a press pass on, dudes think I'm the backstage
entertainment." Some don't even know Ainé
is a woman until they meet her. The name isn't exactly
Suzanne or Aisha. That's the mystery of being a person
behind words. She becomes very passionate when discussing
the frustrations that she's up against. But, her endurance
shines through Thursday after Thursday. It'd be easy
to give in, and decide that the pressure is too much.
But hey us girls have to eat too! Being a female is
something I'm sure she can't or would ever change, but
procrastinating is. She informed me she's getting a
lot better. "I've realized that the real world
has deadlines." Unfortunately I did too.
Apple pie, apple fritters, apple juice
In addition to the reviews, interviews and bios that
Ainé produces, she's dabbled in PR work as a
tour publicist for well-known artists. She's responsible
for exposing MusiqSoulchild before he was Grammy winning
Musiq, the And1 basketball team (one of her favorite
stories), and Kindred before they became the new and
improved Ashford and Simpson.
With people sending her demos and CD's on the constant,
she does still have a few Philly favorites. You will
find Ainé bangin' "The Magnificent"
by Jazzy Jeff in her CD player on any given day. In
addition to the emcees on that project, she has a respect
for independent as f**k artist Kmass. So, what's next
for Ainé? "I'd like to get into more fiction,
and eventually write a book." She's aiming to one-day
take her underground flavor to a major magazine. For
now, she accepts her role of being the liaison between
the media and the hip-hop community. "I'm still
an outsider, because I am part of the media. It's a
never-ending working relationship that has to build."
Ainé recognized early her infatuation with writing and
how to communicate with her readers. Since realizing
that, she's been building her corner of the earth through
the expression of words.
check
out City Paper's Beat Box column right here
Article by Deesha Dyer
Phillyhiphop.com
March, 2003
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