Being a female in the world is a challenge within itself, but being a female in the Hip Hop game is a struggle that requires strength, courage, patience and faith. I sat down with someone that has survived, but is still climbing, seeking and searching. Let me introduce you to my homegirl,
Stef Tataz

I remember way back when...
"I stole my brother's Criminal Minded tape and used to play it over and over again." Stef's infatuation with music began when she was a child. Her older brother is eight years older than her. He was a low-key graffiti artist and drummer. He opened her world to diverse music, but Stef gravitated to Hip Hop. Her father was a DJ and a vinyl collector.
Like any girl growing up, Stef loved the radio and offers, "not those huge stereos, we had little silver radios, that when the buttons would break, we'd just use a pencil to operate the tape deck, and as long as the radio didn't eat the tape, we were all good." In 7th grade Stef was given an NWA tape. "I played it real loud when my mother wasn't home." I know her mom has email, so let me send this right over to Ms. Jeanie. Musically Stef fell in love with Philly Hip Hop crews Tuff Crew and Three Times Dope. She was the girl who always had the latest cuts on her beeper. People used to call her and inquire about music. After graduating from Bensalem High School (along with PCP from Arrakis Records), Stef attended Bucks County Community College, where she majored in Liberal Arts and Communication. While in college, Stef worked at a store in the Cheltenham Mall called Bass Hit. Bass Hit was a men's clothing store with an urban flavor, and gave her the foundation to become more involved in the Hip Hop scene. While they ran Hip Hop shows, Stef did street promo at Fever. Bass Hit gave her the motivation to major in fashion, but the love of music took over. She wanted to be deeper into the art, have a connection with the Hip Hop community, and one day that chance came.

Mind over body, soul before flesh…
Unfortunately I wasn't in Philadelphia when Footwork Illadelph was alive. Stef tells me that Footwork was famous around the city for it's dedication to local artists, footwear, clothing, wall art, vinyl, videos, a stage in the back for shows, and this cute girl that everyone still reminisces about (I'm serious). Footwork is where people who wanted to be noticed went to submit their work. "Bobbito and Rich Medina taught me everything I know about the business from selling and buying to promoting. Anything!" Stef considers both mentors and close friends. Stef worked at Footwork from its birth until the end. She was introduced to radio by Rich Medina who started an internet radio show called The Dimesack. Stef considers Footwork Illadelph her home, and always will. I can't even count the number of times she mentioned Footwork during this interview. "The environment was chill and the people were dope. There is and was nothing like it. If I had the money, I'd open it back up today." I told her Supreem could hook her up with a job at The Dungeon "gentleman's club" to raise some money. Rumor has it she's good with the pole. Stef, you are never going to live that down.

After Footwork Illadelph shut down, Stef moved to Cue Records. When she first started there, there was only one bin of Hip Hop. Two years later, the whole basement is polluted with Hip Hop vinyl. Stef is the buyer and one of the managers at Cue. She encourages local artists to bring their stuff in, but she has a few rules. "Don't bring me a single that is wrapped with saran wrap, written with a sharpie marker, painted by numbers, or drawn on by crayon, cause I won't accept it. Your package has to be professional. Look like you care about your music." Basically she knows you love your kids, but don't let them market your product. Besides Cue, Stef spins at O'Neals on Thursdays, Bridget Foys on Fridays, and has an event on the fourth
Saturday of the month at Proto Lounge. Next project up for Stef is a Hip Hop b-boy/b-girl barbecue called Soul Chicken aka Bite This. It will incorporate all the elements of the culture. Be on the lookout for it this summer. She also will be hosting a monthly party called Beat Society at The Five Spot that will be geared towards producers and emcees. She doesn't have time to date, her calendar stays booked spinning and emceeing at Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Christenings and the Hip Hop Bingo Hall! Don't act like you don't know. The Bingo Hall is the spot!

A Woman's Worth…
It's no secret that the Hip Hop culture lacks females, especially in the Philadelphia region. Stef draws a blank on why this is, "Chics don't like real Hip Hop. So many guys come in here asking me to hang out with their girlfriends to expose them to the culture. They wish their girls were into it." Stef mentions the constant struggle and the fact that she has to work 100% harder than males. "Men either try to kick it to me, or they treat me as if I don't know anything." My opinion is that some may be embarrassed that a woman knows more than they do. "Not all women backstage are groupies." What else do you expect from someone that has a tattoo for femininity on her shoulder? She has brought DJ Revolution back to the East Coast and also had Pete Rock perform at a party, and people are still unsatisfied. Regardless, she's not going to let anyone get her down or disrespect her. Stef considers cigarettes her biggest downfall, "One day, I'm going to quit." She's a Pisces, which means she's emotional and gets fussy when things don't turn out the way she planned them. She doesn't like the fact she takes things to heart, but it's her nature. I witnessed that when we went to see Nas. During this interview, I stayed clear away from discussing the Nas incident. If you want to know you have to ask her. No more drama, please!
Her all time favorite Hip Hop jam is Funky Dividends by Three Times Dope, "The lyrics are bangin and the production is tight." Stef stays in Philly because her family is here, and she admits that she needs her mom around. She has dreams of being a teacher, getting into production, and back into internet radio. Her favorite actors are Cartman, Kenny, Stan and Kyle, so doing the remix on the next South Park album will be her dream. "The Muppets Take Manhattan is my favorite movie." I'm all about to take the trip down memory lane with her, and then she says, "The dirty version on the SPICE channel." Thank you Stef for ruining my vision of Kermit and Miss Piggy. EWWW!

Article by Deesha
April, 2002