Queen YoNasDa, Phoenix MC with Ties to Louis Farrakhan, Wu Tang Clan and Radical Native American Group, Preps Album

Our experience with Sonny Long -- and the subsequent support for his fraud by people who should know better, but maybe have more in common with him than they'd like to admit -- shows me that a lot of folks in Phoenix's small but boastful hip-hop community are full of...

By Martin Cizmar

June 23, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Our experience with Sonny Long -- and the subsequent support for his fraud by people who should know better, but maybe have more in common with him than they'd like to admit -- shows me that a lot of folks in Phoenix's small but boastful hip-hop community are full of shit.

With publicity materials that talk about being raised by National of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and ties to Cappadonna of the Wu Tang Clan, I was a little suspicious of Queen YoNasDa when I got a press release about her big CD release party for God.Love & Music -- but looks like she's more Willy Northpole than Sonny Long. Musically, she matches her billing, falling somewhere between her two obvious influences, Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah. Her very positive vibe, contrasting with her ties to A.I.M and The Nation of Islam (she writes a column for it's newspaper) make her an intriguing figure.

The CD release party should be pretty cool, too. Cappadonna of Wu Tang Clan, West Coast KAM and other guests are scheduled to appear at the event, taking place July 7 at Club PHX at Second Street and Washington. Doors open at 9.

Oh and in case you're not Northpoled out -- seems like he's been everywhere the past two weeks -- he's got an album release party at PHX tonight. Doors at 9. $2 well drinks.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.