About Me
It only takes a brief interaction with Finesse to quickly discover that you have encountered a star in the making. She is a product of the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, which is one of the toughest neighborhoods to grow up in, in NY. It was in this hostile environment, that her natural instincts of survival began to attract her to life in the streets. The lessons that Finesse learned in both school and the streets would help her to navigate this environment, as well as start an individual journey of musical expression.The first step in this journey was whilst serving an active tour of duty in Okinawa Japan as a Marine where she helped to form an R&B group; "Unisex", which consisted of herself and another male Marine. The second step in this journey would come from attending the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences where she received an audio recording and engineering degree. After receiving her audio instruction she decided to use her talents to her advantage to bring her to where she is now...embarking upon a solo career; dedicated to giving you the best of both worlds.In the summer of 2005, her management company: Squarebiz Music Group Management, released her first mixtape: The Introduction, under a short version of her government; "Ray". To date the mixtape has sold 5000 copies and counting, which were sold throughout the NY, MA, VA & AL markets.Finesse isn't a newcomer to hip-hop. At the tender age of 10, she began secretly writing rhymes in her room to escape the pain of her reality, of growing up in an impoverished, broken home. As time passed, Finesse instinctively took to the streets, quickly adapting to the life around her. During this time, with her pen and pad not far behind her, she continued to hone her skills, and by the age of 14, she was entering local talent shows. It was after one talent show in particular; Finesse was approached by a music manager with interest in managing her, but was detoured when her mother refused to grant permission because of her lack of belief and support of her talent. Directly following this dream crushing experience, Finesse dedicated herself fully to life in the fast lane.However, life in the fast lane soon became too fast, even for Finesse and it soon brought about the murder of a close friend. A concerned friend convinced Finesse to leave town, in fear for her safety, because of hood politics stemming from the relationship she had with the deceased party. These events led to a 4-year stint in the military, which helped put her on a path, to turn her life around and rekindle her passion for music.As one half of the R&B duo, "Unisex", her musical expression expanded to include R&B songs that she penned for the group. The group became wildly popular & developed an island-wide following through local performances at enlisted club showcases, and local venues throughout Naha and Okinawa City, which included opening up for established American acts such as; Camp-Lo, Goodie Mob, and De La Soul to name a few.This multitalented "star in the making" has been described as "...a breath of fresh air to hip-hop." Although very much in touch with her feminine side, she will quickly tell you that she does not do, what she calls "....push-up bra or stiletto rap". When asked to expound on this thought, this striking young lady quickly points out that her music is reflective of her upbringing and personal experiences, which is more representative of Bonnie [of Bonnie & Clyde] than Barbie. As intelligent as she is street savvy, she describes herself as "....I'm hood, but I read good, so I'm well spoken." Just as her autobiographical songs state she is truly "...a bright young woman with a complex mind."
