Empire I Explained

Empire I
Caption:Empire I Performing at Fesman in Senegal, 2010
Birth Name:Miriam Moufide
Birth Date:1981
Birth Place:Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales[1]
Alias:The Gangstress, Empire ISIS
Origin:Morocco, United Kingdom and Montreal, Canada
Instrument:Vocals
Genre:dancehall, reggae, hip hop, pop, world music
Occupation:Vocalist, singer-songwriter, rapper, activist
Years Active:2002–present
Label:Monumental Records, HLM, Distribution: Universal/DEP

Empire I (true name Miriam Moufide, also stage-named The Gangstress) is a singer, songwriter and social activist based in Kingston, Jamaica.[2] Her musical style has been described as a blend of dancehall, reggae, hip hop, pop and World music. She is signed to Monumental Records and distributed by Universal Music Group and Zojak Worldwide.

Early life

Born in Wales to a Moroccan father and British mother, she was raised in Morocco. At age 7 she moved to Montreal, where she lived with her 2 brothers, mother, and Ugandan/Yemeni stepfather.[3]

At the age of 16, Moufide moved to Costa Rica for school and began a four-year trip around the world, living with small and marginalised communities.[4] Her love for music and anthropology led her to visit and live in 30 different countries, and to eventually put her experiences to music.[3]

Activism and Charity

At 21 while in the Amazon rainforest attending the Bumba Meu Boi festival, she met members of the Rainbow Caravan for Peace and made the decision to join them as they visited indigenous villages and festivals. Drawing on her education in theatre, music and workshop facilitation she worked with them performing in street theatre and giving workshops on bioregionalism, permaculture, ecovillage design, nutrition and spiritual gatherings.[5] Her lyrics often focus on social matters like women’s rights ("NANA Power"), building community ("Participate") and defending your dreams ("Get up on it", "Won't surrender").[6]

The artist tries to use her international recognition to draw attention to issues that matter to her, by hosting and performing charitable events,[7] especially in her home cities of Montreal[8] [9] and New York City.

The song S.O.S. To Freedom is currently being used in a campaign against human trafficking across the United States.[10] You can also find her NANA Power song utilized in the Girls Action Foundation's, Light a Spark cause.[11]

Musical career

Moufide, having taken the stage name Empire ISIS, began making music while traveling in Jamaica, working with the legendary Jamaican musicians Dean Fraser and Chinna Smith, as well as Miami-based producers The Iconz. She recorded her debut album "Empress Gangstress" in part at Bob Marley's legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston. It featured reggae singers Bushman and Half Pint. Empire ISIS has played in over 20 different countries, including Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Senegal and Canada[12] and the American festivals SXSW and CMJ.[13]

On her more recent albums, Empire I has worked and recorded with world-renowned producers like Prayon[14] and Kovas.As well as songwriting for Empire ISIS, she also writes under the name Miriam Moufide for other musicians and is published by Cherry Lane Music and pigFACTORY Music.

In June 2011, Empire I was voted into the "Wall of Fame" at the Montreal Hip Hop Summit and is now featured in the Montreal deck of "Legend Of The Fame" hip hop trading cards.[15]

In 2012, Empire I relocated to Jamaica where she has been touring and recording,[16] collaborating with a variety of producers including Truckback, J.Hennessy, Sam Diggy, Frassman Brilli and Rebel Camp Entertainment.

In 2016 Moufide changed her stage name to Empire I following issues with public confusion with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant frequently referred to in the media as "ISIS".[17] She made the official announcement on the Jamaican program Onstage TV January 23, 2016.[18]

Film and television

2007

2008-2009

Song Placements

Born to Dance

Bad Girls Club

The Hills

Khloé & Lamar

Shameless (American TV series)

Burn Notice

Robson Arms

Notes from the Underbelly

Good Christian Belle

Make It Or Break It

The City

Seven Deadly Sins

Taking The Stage

The Millers

UJAMM Fitness

The Catalina

Girls [20]

Discography

Singles

Awards

Some awards and nominations Empire I has received are listed below.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FreeBMD Entry Info .
  2. News: Homerun | Hallway Interview with Empire ISIS . CBC.ca . 2010-11-19 . 2011-03-23.
  3. Web site: Lyonnais . Sheena . Empire ISIS Is Gangstress . CHARTattack . 2009-01-28 . 2011-03-23 . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20100825060110/http://chartattack.com/news/65537/empire-isis-is-gangstress . 2010-08-25 .
  4. Web site: Métro Montréal - Empire Isis: Tassez-vous de d'là! . Journalmetro.com . 2010-12-21 . 2011-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727080348/http://www.journalmetro.com/culture/article/167529 . 2011-07-27 .
  5. Web site: The Front: July 13, 2000 . Montrealmirror.com . 2000-07-13 . 2011-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701004423/http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2000/071300/news3.html . 2012-07-01 .
  6. Web site: Dowling . Marcus . True Genius Requires Insanity: NEW ARTIST SHOWCASE: Montreal, Quebec's EMPIRE ISIS . Tgrionline.com . 2009-03-25 . 2011-03-23 .
  7. Web site: FONDS VILLE-MARIE | Invitation aux médias - Soirée des Mérites Classes Affaires 2008: 800 jeunes récompensés! . Cnw.ca . 2011-02-25 . 2011-03-23.
  8. Web site: Montreal hip-hop artists and ConU student unite to help fight HIV/AIDS . Theconcordian.com . 22 March 2011. 2011-03-23.
  9. Web site: Knowledge is Sexy: Our Fight Against HIV/AIDS II, a Benefit Concert " MINDPEACELOVE . Mindpeacelove.com . 2011-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110506155101/http://www.mindpeacelove.com/?p=1230 . 2011-05-06 .
  10. Web site: Let's End Human Trafficking.
  11. Web site: Light a Spark . girlsaction.ca . 2011-09-26.
  12. Web site: Empire Isis | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics . https://web.archive.org/web/20070303224159/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/empire_isis/artist.jhtml . dead . March 3, 2007 . MTV . 2011-03-23.
  13. Web site: SXSW 2009 line-up coming together nicely :: News :: Paste . Pastemagazine.com . 2009-01-09 . 2011-03-23 . 2010-08-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100820053421/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/01/sxsw-lineup-coming-together-nicely.html . dead .
  14. Web site: Participate | Mad Decent . Sub.maddecent.com . 2011-03-23 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120321142106/http://sub.maddecent.com/blog/2009/09/25/participate/ . 2012-03-21 .
  15. Web site: Real City joins the Great Canadian Hip-Hop Card Collection at the 1st Annual Montreal Hip-Hop Summit . hiphopcanada.com . 2011-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030651/http://www.hiphopcanada.com/2011/06/real-city-joins-the-great-canadian-hip-hop-card-collection-at-the-first-annual-montreal-hip-hop-summit/ . 2016-03-04 . dead .
  16. Web site: Empire ISIS Spreading Positive Vibes . jamaicaobserver.com . 2013-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112001/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Empire-Isis-spreading-positive-vibes_14216965/ . 2014-10-06 . dead .
  17. Web site: Empire Isis changes her name. 24 December 2015.
  18. Web site: Fabian, Empire I, Sean Kingston (Onstage) Jan, 23 2016 (FULL SHOW). 2016-01-23. WORLDSTARREGGAE. 2017-02-23.
  19. Web site: Reggae Uncensored. Amazon. 26 February 2008 .
  20. Web site: Lena Dunham Dances in a Sports Bra in New "Girls" Promo.
  21. Web site: Empire Isis Prepares to Go International | BigUpRadio Streaming Reggae Music . 2011-07-05 . https://archive.today/20120722060635/http://www.bigupradio.com/news/uncategorized/empire-isis-prepares-to-go-international . 2012-07-22 . dead .
  22. Web site: Empire Isis Conquers: Winner Of 'World Music Artist Of The Year' At The Gala Soba (Sounds Of Blackness Awards) @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries . Top40-charts.com . 2011-03-23.
  23. Web site: Empire Isis Wins "Best International Artist" - Underground Urban Music Awards In Nyc . Prlog.org . 2011-03-23.
  24. Web site: Ladies First: Boogie on Reggae Women . Jamaicans.com . 12 November 2008. 2011-03-23.
  25. News: http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/EMPIRE-ISIS . CBC News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100713032351/http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/EMPIRE-ISIS . 2010-07-13 .
  26. Web site: The Official Site Of The Montreal Hip Hip Awards / Site Officiel des MHA's . Montrealhiphopawards.com . 2011-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101206113322/http://montrealhiphopawards.com/ . 2010-12-06 . dead .
  27. Web site: nominees . Torontoexclusive.com . 2011-03-23.

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