Photography by: Senegal Tuklor Williams

Amber Hasan describes writing as a sacred thing that makes her feel spiritually whole and allows her to feel as if she is fulfilling one of her purposes in life. She likes to keep her writing diverse while always giving her readers common sense, real life, and down to earth wisdom.

On tracks like Loud Mouth Ghetto Girl and All Keisha you are not only receiving real life, down to earth wisdom backed by funky beats but you also feel like she’s tapped into a section of your brain because her lyrics are so relate-able.

Amber goes on to say, “I feel like I am leaving part of myself on the pages and through my performances, because I write about my life. My writing is in many ways an autobiography. I share my thoughts, loves, fears, successes, failures, and insecurities openly and without shame. For me writing is my therapy.”

Read on as I get deeper with writer, mother, actor, hip-hop artist and community activist, Amber Hasan.

Dangerous Lee: In a world where many Black girls are let down by their fathers, tell us how your father influenced your love of words and writing.

Amber Hasan: I have always been a daddy’s girl so whatever my dad was doing I was in to it.

When I was younger I can remember my dad writing pieces of poetry on everything, envelopes, receipts, napkins at a restaurant or whatever he could find.

I can remember listening to The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron riding in the car with my dad as a child, so if nothing else my dad made sure that poetry was a part of my everyday life as a child.

Also reading the poetry that my father wrote on whatever he could find gave me insight into him as a person.  Many of the things that I understand about my father come from me reading his poetry and not from our conversations or experiences.

Dangerous Lee: I love the lyrics: “I’m All Keisha, ain’t shit Becky.” I also love that during a live performance you made it clear that even White girls can be all Keisha too! Explain that in more detail.

Amber Hasan: Growing up as a Black woman in America we are taught to be two people.  We have our regular self and our self that makes White people comfortable.

“Keisha” is organic, real, and holistic, while “Becky” is plastic, sterile, and fake.  We are raised to tone down everything that makes us magic in order to be gentle to the fears and insecurities of those we come in contact with.

Being “All Keisha” is about women, specifically Black women owning who they are and being unapologetic about it.

Although “All Keisha” was written with Black women in mind it is not a mantra limited to Black women, it is for everyone, even men.  In a nut shell “All Keisha” is a “be you, and fuck who don’t like it” concept.

Dangerous Lee: Do you see yourself as a Loud Mouth Ghetto Girl or is that a title that has been imposed on you by others?

Amber Hasan: Loud Mouth Ghetto Girl is definitely a title that I wear proudly!!!  It wasn’t always that way though.  I tried to hide my boldness, tried to fly under the radar but it is impossible.

Even with all the levels to who I am at my core I am a Loud Mouth Ghetto Girl and I’m good with that.

Dangerous Lee: You describe yourself as “Lauren Hill and Trick Daddy had a baby and let Paul Moonie raise that child.” What kind of momma is Amber Hasan to her babies?

Amber Hasan:  As a mom I am constantly evolving. Like most mothers I had so many hopes and dreams for my 6 children.

I gave birth to my first child at 19 and by 21 I was a married mother of 3 who felt like I had to be the “perfect” mom to prove all of the young, black, mother stereotypes wrong.

Over the years I have stopped trying to be the perfect mom.  The only expectations that I have for my children is that they be real with me and that they be real with themselves.

I am very honest with my children, we have real conversations and I don’t sugar coat anything.  As long as my children are happy and healthy I’m good.  I understand that I am just here to help guide them, but it isn’t my job to control them.