FROM CRIME TO RHYME

Photo by john larson

STRAIGHT OUTTA LINCOLN. From left to right, Ms. Jesse, Da Ghetto Baby and Skirt Digla.

Society labeled them felons, so they named their record label Felony Entertainment.

Jesse Miller, better known as Ms. Jesse, was released from prison 13 years ago after serving a two-year sentence on a drug conviction.

“I found my options were slim,” she said, noting employment offers were limited to flipping burgers and other minimum wage jobs. “That felony conviction followed me around.”

She decided to go in a new direction in life through the music industry. She began a television show called “The Showcase,” which filmed performances of local artists at Silver Unicorn, a nightclub on Tacoma’s East Side.

One night she interviewed Dewitt Hawkins, a local rapper known as Da Ghetto Baby. At the time he was on local label Way Out Records. He made his first mark in the rap game with his 1992 EP “Young Krime.” He went on to do shows with E-40.

In addition to their love of rap music, they had another thing in common – both had done time in prison for drug offenses.

The two stayed in touch and in 1998 obtained a business license and began their own label.

“I knew nothing about running a business,” Ms. Jesse recalled. She read and studied, gradually figuring out ways to generate revenue. One was buying and selling recording studio time.

Another was The Hookup, which offered artists recording time, photo shoots and registering their material with licensing agencies BMI and ASCAP. “It was the whole level of services in one place,” she remarked.

The label organized shows at Temple Theater that drew 1,500 to 2,000 people.

Felony Entertainment released “Welcome To My City Chapter One,” a compilation album of local rappers. They sold it in smaller record stores and large chains like Sam Goody. It was a limited pressing, and the album became a collector’s item. “People still ask us for it,” Da Ghetto Baby noted.

Changes in the industry occurred by the time he released his debut album, “Product Of Da Ghetto,” in 2003. By then they were expected to pay for the distribution channels to get CDs into stores.

In 2005 he released his second album, “This World Ain’t Enuff.”

The label has also delved into licensing songs to generate money. It licensed material used in the cable television mini-series “The Thief.”

Political activism and community involvement are key components of Felony Entertainment’s mission.

The label has registered people to vote at KUBE 93 FM’s Summer Jam concert.

Restoring voting rights for felons is of particular concern to Ms. Jesse. She successfully made it through the process to get her right restored. She felt she deserved it after serving her time.

“I decided I should not be punished for the rest of my life,” she said. “Voting is how you make your voice heard.”

Some felons struggle to pay fines related to their crime and cannot have their voting rights restored until they do. Ms. Jesse is discussing possible reforms of these rules with state legislators.

Two years ago Ms. Jesse, Da Ghetto Baby and his younger brother Skirt Digla worked with several political activist groups to organize a march and rally in Olympia. Ms. Jesse gave a speech on restoring voting rights.

Numerous musical acts performed at the event. One was Legend Heart, a rock band from Port Orchard. The rappers stayed in touch with the group.

Skirt Digla had a song called “Fire Like Dialogue,” which was released on a compilation album. He recently re-recorded it with Legend Heart, and that version will appear on his upcoming album “Toxic Ghetto Gossip.”

He is done recording the 17 tracks, one of which features his brother. He expects to release it by the end of the summer.

Skirt Digla wants to release singles to radio. He expects he will have better luck at airplay in cities like Atlanta that have more college and underground radio. “We don’t really have that type of support up here,” he observed.

Some cities have four or five stations that play their type of music, Da Ghetto Baby added.

Ms. Jesse remains optimistic artists on small labels still have a chance in the aftermath of the consolidation of the major labels. “I still believe if you have a good song it will be played.”

“When I was a kid, what that guy behind the counter at the record store said was hot, that came from the heart,” Da Ghetto Baby remarked. “Radio was the same way.”

“Now they are content with the status quo,” Skirt Digla added.

The label is working on Tacoma Youth Music Video Project, which will enlist youth aged 13-17 in video production work. The first endeavor will be a video for one of Skirt Digla’s new songs.

In addition, Skirt Digla, Da Ghetto Baby and AWOL have a new project called Gasoline.

More information on the label can be found at http://www.felonyhits.com.

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