Princess of Controversy Biography Soulful! Powerful! Engaging! Sexy! Conscious! True hip-hop. All of this and more make up the dynamic artivist, the Princess of Controversy. From down-home country “snagging” hooks (soultry as she calls it) to hit-em-hard in the dome lyrics, this femcee sensation is capturing the hearts and minds of many. Her debut EP album release, Personal Messenger, hit the ground running in 2004 and took by storm the attention of the Metropolitan area. Her hit single, Serenity, combined the funky Chop-E Chop-E sound with Controversy’s fiery lyrical flare. Princess likens herself to the style of Lauryn Hill mixed with a splash of Queen Latifah and the boldness of Betty Wright. That powerhouse combination is a sure win on the music scene of today/ POC is a refreshing new wave to the next level of hip-ho[. Although known to the world as Princess of Controversy, outside the stage she is simply Melissa Princess Best-Nichols or Missy (what her momma calls her). This native-born Washingtonian mixed with “North Cackalacki” (NC) roots has been gracing stages since the tender age of five. While on the road to becoming a world-famous actress, Princess discovered her love for music and reaching people was even greater than she had imagined. So she took the passion from her poetry and theater skills up a notch and emerged onto the music scene. Her subject matter can range anywhere from being hypnotized (Hypnotic, duet with I.Q. from Tha Remainz) to City Eyes, a close-up look at how living in the city all your life gives you a certain mentality. However, Controversy’s talent doesn’t stop at that. She self-proclaims herself an ARTIVIST. She defines that as a multi-faceted artist that works for the people. When Princess isn’t on stage flowing, she is at schools teaching youth about music, theater and social justice issues. You can catch her coordinating PIC (Prison Industrial Complex) workshops and performances with her family, Blackout Arts Collective (www.blackoutartscollective.com), or just politicking with on the street corners with elders and young ones about life. POC says it’s in these places that she gets her inspiration for a lot of her writing. The ARTIVIST has a deep passion for making hip-hop that people will respect, listen AND party to (all three are required for a POC song). “That’s a really hard task that often times seems almost impossible to do,” says Best-Nichols. “The problem that artivists like myself face, is that in the midst of trying to bring positive vibes from music, people (as well as ourselves) often forget those same messengers are hue-man and prone to the same trials as everyone else. Often times the general public would much rather hear about someone’s failures and miseries rather than their triumphs and happiness. That’s backwards to me!” Despite muddy waters, this Lioness (reps her Leo born sign August 9) is determined to roar! Now underway with her second album, Princess says it’s time for her to elevate the game and kick in more doorways for female emcees. She says we can expect some unexpected things with this next album, and also more personal testimony. “I realized on the last album, that while I was great speaking about those issues that I saw in the community that I wanted to help change, but I didn’t speak a lot about the things going on in my own life. At least not totally. You have to be willing to shed yourself for people to connect with you, your flaws, insecurities, all your ish!” With a name like Controversy, the new album, name TBD, is bound to get into some real ISH!!!! POC says this album is more than just the music, it’s about the life or lives in the music. POC says that “after Lauryn Hill, the world of real femcees silently went underground.” Will Princess of Controversy be the Harriet to bring them out to freedom? The answer is looking very positive! For more information on Princess or to purchase Personal Messenger, please visit www.princessofcontroversy.net or www.myspace.com/princessofcontroversy. For booking Princess of Controversy, please call Evolution Soul Music Inc. at 240-487-6175.