Rising radio personality and emcee Georgia Ellyse knows how to get the job done. Starting off just a few years ago as a host on a college radio station, the Minneapolis native now hosts her own daily show and has become the go-to personality for all things media and celebrity in the city’s only urban radio station.
Vixen was introduced to the two-time Twin Cities’ Hip-Hop award nominee while prepping to make her first appearance as a judge on 106 & Park Freestyle Friday. Ellyse let us in on how she found her way to BET, her current project and the importance of believing in yourself.
VIBE VIXEN: According to BET, ‘Georgia has it all’! Tell us about that. What exactly do you do?
GEORGIA ELLYSE: I host middays at 89.9FM KMOJ “The Peoples Station” in the Twin Cities. I model for ShopNBC and I am an independent recording artist. I also own my own company and am huge on community. I am the Ambassador to Faith’s Lodge, a non-profit that provides grief counseling for parents who have lost their children.
What made you want to be in radio?
My passion for music. I knew from the first day I hosted a radio show on my college campus back in ‘09 that I wanted to be in the radio industry for a long time. I love music! So, being around it all day is like a dream come true for me.
How did you score the appearance judge on BET’s 106 & Park as a judge?
I just picked up the phone. Honestly.
Seriously? That’s it? Well, what advice do you have for others who are trying to do the same thing?
Believe in yourself. If you want other people to believe in your gift, your talent or your dream, you’ve really got to believe in it first! You’ve got to be ready and willing to make sacrifices. However, what will define your character and your professionalism is what sacrifices you aren’t willing to make! You have to stand for something in this industry or you will fall for anything.
You also have to know that everything you want to do is right within your reach. Especially with the internet these days, you have no excuse. If you want to know something, Google it. If you want to get in touch with someone, Google them. You have the resources, utilize them to accomplish your goals! But don’t ever say you CAN’T do something if you haven’t tried EVERY avenue possible. You can truly do anything you put your mind to.
From where do you draw your inspiration?
From real life — especially as an artist. In songwriting you have to draw on real life experiences. A lot of times I try to find inspiration in the negative things that have happened in my life. I do this because I feel like everything happens for a reason and you should always be able to turn a negative into a positive. ALWAYS. No matter what.
You talk about the “Bad B*** complex.” What is that?
Right now, the women in hip-hop all rep for the Bad B****es, what happened to the MC Lytes and Queen Latifahs? “Who you callin a B****?” I’m just sayin’…There is a way to be fresh, to be hot and to be commercial without degrading yourself or being the encouragement to thousands of young girls to degrade themselves or to lessen their self worth because they think that’s cute.
Every woman has a Queen in them. It’s just up to each woman individually whether or not she is going to embrace that and demand the respect a Queen deserves from every man and woman that crosses her path.
What’s next?
My current goal is to transition from radio to television. I am looking into landing some roles on sitcoms and in movies. I am also applying at commercial hip-hop station in larger markets and have been trying to get my foot in the door with the satellite radio stations. But most importantly, I am working on completing my debut EP High Standards. Its a blend of hip-hop and R&B, and I am excited to share it with the world!
Describe yourself in one word.
Classic.
What else do you want people to know about you?
I need people to know that I’ve earned the respect that people have for me. I am about my business and that only God can stop me.
Last, but not least, what makes you a Vixen?
I am a Vixen because I choose to wear my crown. I choose to embrace the fact that I am a queen and I demand to be treated as such. Every woman, every young girl has a queen inside of her, but not every woman or young girl embraces that. If that is you, if you haven’t embraced your inner queen, what are you waiting for?
Check out the BTS interview from her appearance on 106 & Park