Genesis Be Receives Support, Threats After Powerful Anti-Confederate NYC Performance

Genesis Be is, among other things, a woman with Mississippi roots. She currently resides in New York City, and is, among other things, a rap artist with several album releases in her catalog. She celebrated her latest release, Poli Trap: The Escape Tape at a well-attended release party at New York’s Santos Party House in November of 2015, and has since been performing at several locations in and around the region.

On April 26, 2016, Genesis Be performed at the Faces in the Crowd Showcase at venerable New York performance spot, SOBs, bringing her brand of politically-tinted, style+substance that she has become known for. During her set, Genesis Be sharply criticized the actions of Mississippi governor Phil Bryant for his recent declaration that April would be celebrated as “Confederate Heritage Month.”

“He has the audacity,” exclaimed Genesis Be. “It’s a slap in the face to my ancestors… to the citizens of Mississippi.”

Genesis Be, who was raised in Biloxi, further solidified her protest by performing her song “Young, Black and Fly,” draped in a confederate flag, holding a noose about her neck. The song itself explores the role of black lives in America, addressing issues such as mass incarceration and media portrayal of young people of color.

An image of Genesis Be performing, with an accompanying supportive message, traveled through social media channels, and while many supported her message, the NYU graduate began to receive phone calls and online comments, some of which included threats of violence.

Genesis Be is unfazed by the negative reactions. “We come from a long line of activists,” Genesis Be stated via her Instagram account. “They were never bullied into silence, and I won’t be either. Fear doesn’t run in our blood.”

Genesis Be’s music can be streamed and purchased here.

December, 2015 interview with Genesis Be on The Manny Faces Show