Free Agent
Jaha (né Megan Ratleff)
By: Chris Yuscavage
July 10, 2006
New Orleans native Jaha knows how quickly life can change. Just one day after auditioning for 106 & Park’s “Freestyle Friday” in New York, she was back in the Big Easy when Hurricane Katrina swept through the city. “My house was underwater and I was on my roof for four days with my family,” says the female rapper, who spit her first verse at age 11 on her mother’s debut hip hop album. “As soon as we got off, I called BET to see if I made it.” The station immediately offered to fly her back to NY to appear on BET’s S.O.S. Telecast, a fundraiser for Katrina victims. While there, Jaha reconnected with one of the “Freestyle Friday” judges and landed a spot on the popular segment. She battled through five straight weeks on the show and eventually relocated to Brooklyn, and is now making a serious push at realizing her musical aspirations. So far, she’s penned two original songs, one being “The Time Is Now,” a scathing shakedown of the music industry. “I’m at my peak with my talent,” she boldly states. “And now, I’ve got the passion of New Orleans inside of me.”
SEND US YOUR DEMO.
If you're an unsigned artist, here's your chance to shine! Beginning with the September 2004 issue, VIBE will feature an unsigned act in our monthly Free Agent column. After reviewing submissions, a commit tee of editors will pick the artist/group to be featured as the "Vibe Free Agent" of the month. In addition to national exposure in the magazine, the Free Agent's music will be featured on our Web site, vibe.com, where VIBE readers will rate the music, on a scale of 1 to 5, and give their feedback. If you've got what it takes, and aren't afraid to hear what others have to say, send in your demo. Maybe you'll be VIBE's next Free Agent.
Rules:
To qualify, the artist/group must not be signed to a major label or its imprint, or have independent distribution. Selling your music locally or on a Web site is permissible. You must submit, by mail, a quality d emo CD with at least 3 songs, a photo, and contact information. Sending a video with performance footage is optional. Please do not send original copies of your material to VIBE; submissions will not be re turned. All submissions must be original work.
c/o VIBE
215 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016
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