Rah Digga: Rebirth of the Female MC
Interview and Profile by Amoi Bonny

As you may all know by now, the much anticipated album of the only female in the Flip Mode Squad was released on April fourth of this year. We've seen her on billboards across the nation and side by side with the animated one himself, Busta Rhymes. Everywhere you turned there was a plug about her debut album, it just seemed impossible to escape the buzz. Just when many thought it was nothing but hype, Rah Digga hit them all with "Dirty Harriet."

It wasn't long ago that Newark native Rashiya Fisher stepped out on the scene changing the hip-hop world's idea about what a female MC was really all about. First appearing on The Fugees' "Cowboys," Rashiya made her first mark on wax as "Rah Digga." Like many MCs before her, Rah knows all about paying dues. Before she made her mark as part of Flip Mode, she was a member of Twice The Flavor and then skilled her way into the all-male, Jersey-born clique, Da Outsidaz.

When it comes to describing Rah Digga, skilled is the only word that gives her any justice. This female performer didn't start her life as an MC. She didn't live the hard life that you hear many MCs portray in their rhymes. Life for her was actually pretty good. Her parents, both college educated, sent her to a private boarding school in Maryland. There, she excelled in both mathematics and science. After she graduated, she enrolled at the New Jersey Institute of Technology to pursue and education in electrical engineering.

Rah not only worked hard at laying a solid foundation in her education, she also worked hard at building up her status as a real MC. When she was eight months pregnant, Rah Digga stepped on stage at the Lyricist Lounge and delivered an electrified performance. She let everyone know right there at that moment, nothing was going to stop her. Q-Tip heard her perform and knew she had something. He decided to go to Elektra and ask Busta Rhymes to listen to her. There's not much more to be said about that.

Out of this union of MCs, the first lady of Flip Mode was born. Many cliques today seem to have their token female MC, but no way is Rah Digga anyone's token. She admits that being a female in what is still a predominantly male industry has its advantages, but she's quick to say the disadvantages tend to have the same weight. She describes it as a double edged sword.

"You tend to get a lot more attention being a female, especially if you're in an all male clique," she explains, "but at the same time, you have to work twice as hard to prove your just as good as the next man."

And proven that she has. Rah's voice alone has many male MCs checking out their true ruggedness. That rough vocal tone teamed up with the mouthful of fire she spits out, lets those who doubt her capabilities know real quick, Rah Digga is coming correct.

"Dirty Harriet" is a true representation of who Rah Digga is. Each track was kept free from sexually explicit lyrics letting her audience know there's much more to this MC. This rap diva has beauty, brains and she drops no nonsense lyrics. Her album, like her, has many sides to it. There are party starting songs like "Do The Ladies" (featuring Eve and Sonja Blade) and then there are tracks like "Straight Spittin" letting everyone know she can get down to business. There are a few appearances by other artists such as Carl Thomas, Busta Rhymes, Flip Mode Squad and Young Z (Da Outsidaz), but the majority is strictly Rah Diggah, uncensored.

If you're ready for a change in hip-hop, look at what Rah Digga is bringing to the table. "Dirty Harriet" is just a small sample of what this lady has cooking on the mic. She is setting a new trend for up and coming female artist, letting them know it's okay to keep it real. You don't have to get caught up in being a follower or exploited because of your gender, just ask Rah Digga - rebirth of the female MC.