HOUSTON CHRONICLE

April 4, 2007

Houston “Homohop” Performer

Gains Wider Attention

By JOEY GUERRA

                       Miss Money

Miss Money's piercing voice has resonated far beyond the confines of

Houston's local music scene thanks to Pick Up the Mic — a documentary

about the gay hip-hop scene — that has screened at festivals all over

the world. The film is currently airing on MTV's Logo network, and a

fall film tour is in the works.

That led to the Homorevolution Tour 2007, a multicity trek featuring

gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered hip-hop artists. Miss Money

performs on four Texas dates, including Friday's show at Club Dignity.

She is one of six acts on the bill featured in Pick Up the Mic.

"Honestly, I'm just happy to be singing," Money says. "I've been on the

gospel circuit, the blues circuit and the gay hip-hop circuit. I assure

you, my voice doesn't discriminate.

"I do, however, think it's important to bring awareness that there are

openly gay artists in urban music. Once the awareness is there, the

message will be communicated."

The tour's headliner is Deadlee, a Los Angeles-based rapper who has

loudly criticized the lyrics of Eminem and 50 Cent. Also on the bill is

U.K. rapper Q-Boy, who has earned major attention overseas.

Miss Money was a natural complement to those colorful contemporaries

and essential for the tour's Lone Star success.

"You talk about homohop in Texas, and the first thing someone asks is,

'Is Miss Money playing?' " says tour organizer Camilo Arenivar. "I like

her spirituality. I like what she brings to the tour. On top of that, I

think she has a beautiful voice."

Indeed, Money's latest disc, The Love of Money, is highlighted by her

soulful, soothing delivery and ease amid genres. Throughout her career,

she has jumped from heartfelt R&B covers (Get Here, Kissing You) to

fluid originals and gorgeous gospel moments.

Miss Money moved to Houston as a youngster and attended the High School

for the Performing and Visual Arts. She earned a scholarship to

Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music and graduated with

honors.

Upon returning to Houston in 2003, she created Money Talks Enterprises,

which includes a publishing company, recording studio and Internet

radio station (www.Radio713.com). She has also produced for locals Rob

G and Miss KeKe, and DJ-ed at the G Spot.

A new radio show, A Woman's Worth, launched this week, as did

www.lesbianhiphop.com, a Web site "dedicated to the stories of the

openly gay women in urban music."

"The cost of living in Houston is ideal for the average independent

artist," Money says. "I moved (back) to Houston where I could

realistically own a sizable studio without starving. I travel to the

big music cities to conduct business and perform."

An ideal, inspirational situation, but it hasn't come without

obstacles. Money was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2004, but she

hasn't let the potentially debilitating disease slow her down.

"I think, for me, muscular dystrophy has become the voice box that I

never knew I had," she says.

"Honey, I still tour. I still stay up all night in the recording

studio. Anybody sitting in a wheelchair doing nothing with their lives

has completely missed the point."

Yes, she knows that some folks may not be down with the Homorevolution.

And that's OK.

"Everyone doesn't want to hear gay-themed music. That doesn't mean

they're homophobic," she says. "I think on the flip side of it, you

have artists like me that do so much outside of the gay community. I

assure you — in the studio, when I'm behind the boards, the fact that

I'm gay has never come up. When I minister and the Holy Spirit is

moving, gay doesn't come up, either. It's all praise.

"The same thing can happen in hip-hop. I'm telling you, the disparities

aren't nearly so many that gay folks and straight folks can't still

come together and make music."

copyright 2007 The HoustonChronicle.com