If you ever had to look up the word ‘BUZZ’ in a hip hop dictionary, under it you would find a picture of Miss Nana – Buzz, Buzz-ing, Buzz-es, VerbËœ – 3 national tours, 2005 Underground Music Award for Most Promising Artist, selling over 32,000 of her 8 mixtapes and co-signed by artists like Bow Wow, Wyclef, Chris Brown and DJ’s Kay Slay & Funk Master Flex.
Miss Nana, born Tanyshwia D. Stokes, a native of Newark (The Brick City) New Jersey, has been around the music business all her life. Her father, the infamous Big 7 is the founder of ‘Newark Illustrated’ – A production company and movement that for the past 10 years has been connecting Hip-Hop, entertainment, clothing and community pride in the Brick City. And soon to spread it’s love around the world.
Nana’s story is an interesting one. DJ King Shameek (of Twin Hype fame) heard Nana, who at the tender age of 10, rhyming on her Dad’s voicemail. Shameek, blown away by what he heard, suggested that she do a promo for Wendy Williams’ syndicated radio Show on 107.5 WBLS in NYC. The promo led to other opportunities, such as opening for local shows and recording freestyles and remixes for various radio and Mixtape DJ’s across the country. Shortly after BUZZING on about two dozen mixtapes and on plenty of mix-shows around the world, people began to talk about this young unsigned artist. Thanks to a number of high profile duets – on BET’s 106 & Park while being interviewed – recording artist Bow Wow invited Newark’s favorite lil sista to join him on his 2003 ‘Unleashed Tour.’ Then in 2005/2006 Bow used Nana as his secret weapon, by adding her to his performance set on the Holladay Tour, while announcing to the world as Nana being the 1 st lady of his, LB Dub Entertainment company. The Holladay Tour included Chris Brown, Omarion, Marcus Houston, Ciara, Trey Songz, and Da Franchise Boyz.
After the completion of the tremendously successful tours, and hours of on-stage experience, Miss Nana began to kick down doors, performing throughout the country with the likes of 50 Cent, Mario, Lil Jon, Amerie, Lil Kim, Floetry, 3LW, Ying Yang Twinz, J-Kwon, Rah Digga, Wyclef, Joe Buddens, 8 Ball & MJG, to name a few. As busy as Nana’s been, she still manages to ‘make the grade’ in school and simultaneously packing auditoriums from city to city during her School Promo Tour. Some highlights include a performance for Radio Disney at the African American Festival in Albany NY, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and a Half Time Show for the WNBA’s Liberty game at NYC’s Madison Square Garden.
This Buzz keeping artist continues to keep popping up in write-ups like J-14, Right On! and Word Up! Magazines. One of Nana’s mixtapes entitled ‘State of The Union’ with one of her standout quotes being ‘I respect all the ladies rappin’ for the glory/ But when it comes to 18 and under, that’s another story’ has gotten radio play from DJ Kay Slay on NYC’s Hot 97. Funk Master Flex is also known to play a few Miss Nana exclusives.
One of Nana’s many future plans include a career in acting. Currently she working hard in the studio to record her anticipated debut album entitled ‘Lil Red Rhyming Hood.’ Working with platinum producers such as Soul Diggaz, D R Period, Young Yonny & Prestige. No matter the beat, Nana continues to display her uncanny ability to ‘spit flows’ that keeps her loyal fans wanting more. Her current mixtape hosted by Bow Wow entitled ‘I Got the Hood Vol 1 & 2’ contains live video footage of her and Bow on the ‘We Aint Done Yet Tour’. Aside from recording her debut album – whether it be at shows or on her website, Nana continues to sell a great deal of T-Shirts, bandanas, and other items that bears her name. ‘Anything that’s connected to creating and keeping a BUZZ, I’ma continue to do’ said Nana. Like having her own cell-phone club where her fans get the latest scoop on her whereabouts or dropin mixtapes in between tour dates.
Among the people she admirers include Lauryn Hill for not having to dress inappropriate to sell records, Jay Z’s lyrical skillz and work ethic, 50 Cent because his climb to the top started in the streets doing the very things that she’s doing now. Nana Attends Newark University High School, which is a talented and gifted school that requires passing a not so easy test. Her father has prepared her adequately for what is before her and has taught her the importance of giving back. With the guidance, love and support of her parents, Miss Nana is definitely the epitome of a young urban success story soon to catapult to stardom!!
PCM INTERVIEW:<
Where can we hear your stuff? iTunes, Youtube, Myspace.com/missnanaonline or just type in my name in google.com
How did you get that name? As a little child. My 1st words was nana so there you have it lo.
What has been your biggest accomplishment? Vibe Magazine, Winning 4 underground awards, opening up for myspace.com in cali, going on tour, doing major shows with major artist at the garden (ny) and much more
What has been your most difficult challenge? nothing yet.
What makes you different? Im a 17 year old female thats taking a different route. I been rapping for 7years and 10 mixtapes and have not cursed one time. So im trying set a positive example for the youth.
What projects are you working on? On Album thats due out sping/summer 09
Where are you from originally? BIRCK CITY – NEWARK NJ
How Long have you been making music? 7 YEAR AND HALF
What artists inspire you? 50 CENT, EM, JAY Z, NAS, MY FATHER BIG 7 AND MUCH MORE
How would you define your style of music? HARDCORE BUT ON THE POSITIVE SIDE
What teams are you affiliated with? NEWARKILLUSTRATED WHICH IS MY FATHERS LABEL AND SOULDIGGAZ WHO AS PRODUCED TRACKS FOR ARTIST SUCH AS DONNIE, MISSY, BEYONCE, CHERI DENNIS AND MORE
Who are some artists that you have worked with? TOUR WISE, BOW WOW CHRIS BROWN CICI OMARION AND MORE MUSIC WISE BOW WOW RAH DIGGA AND MORE
Who would you like to collab with? BEYONCE, RIHANNA OR ASHANTI, JAYZ OR NAS
Where do you see the future of music? I SEE MY ALBM GOING DIAMOND
Where do you see yourself in 1 year? MAKING A CHANGE IN THE YOUTH WITH MY MUSIC AND HAVE A MAJOR RECORD DEAL.
Describe yourself in one word: DEADLY
Any shout outs? MY WHOLE TEAM NEWARKILLY AND SOULDIGGAZ
Web Site URL: MissNana.com
Management Contact Info: BIG 7 (973 418 7000)
If you ever had to look up the word ‘BUZZ’ in a hip hop dictionary, under it you would find a picture of Miss Nana – Buzz, Buzz-ing, Buzz-es, VerbËœ – 3 national tours, 2005 Underground Music Award for Most Promising Artist, selling over 32,000 of her 8 mixtapes and co-signed by artists like Bow Wow, Wyclef, Chris Brown and DJ’s Kay Slay & Funk Master Flex.