Her words blossom just as beautiful as her beauty and her stature catches your eye causing a second glance. Her name is Soulflower and she has shared the mic and stage with respected emcee's and vocalists such as: Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Outkast, The Roots, The Fugees, Black Eyed Peas, Common, KRS1, Saul Williams, De La Soul, Jessica Care Moore, and so many more. She's speaking out on the importance of positive hip-hop, as the founder of "Queendome", a worldwide organization of conscious women in the arts, and as an avid supporter and member of the Universal Zulu Nation, Soulflower just doesn't talk about what needs to be done, but acts on it. The niece of the amazing Betty Wright, she holds a strong voice of what needs to be said more in hip-hop...positivity and upliftment!

Her song Young Girl, which you may have heard in Macy's commercials, is a pure example of the positive light that this queen shines upon her audience.

Not only is she a talented emcee, but she also holds a strong stature as a home-schooling mama. Raising her youths in positive light and atmospheres. Her spirit sheds light on conscious thought and the lovely Soulflower takes a moment to share with us her thoughts about her life as an emcee, the joys of being a mother, and her take on life in his world.

ymib.com: When & where did you first meet your love of music?

Soulflower: I don't remember a specific time or place when I first fell in love with music. I remember always having the love. My father's a professional jazz pianist so I would hear jazz everywhere, all the time. My real love and appreciation of music began and is rooted in jazz.

ymib.com: Through your music you exemplify and send messages of consciousness and truth. What are your opinions on why the mainstream music industry shuns positive vibes on the radio airwaves?

Soulflower: The mainstream music industry shuns positive vibes on the radio because it's a strictly supply and demand money making industry and thay think they're giving the people what they want. They feel like since the masses aren't running around buying and supporting the more conscious artists they don't want to hear them on the radio. The problem is that the masses never were given a choice or option. They only buy and support the "mainstream" artists because it's all that's being played on the radio and video. If they pushed the more conscious artists the masses would run out and support them. Unfortunately this country is full of to many followers who will jump on whatever's popular. If you only offer the people Kool Aid when they're thirsty,most will no doubt drink down the Kool Aid. If you offer them the option of Kool Aid or 100 percent juice most will no doubt choose the 100 percent. The people just need to be offered an alternative choice.

ymib.com: What has been some of the biggest lessons in life that you have gained from your journey's thus far that you would want others to know as well?

Soulflower: When life is based on unconditional love and good intention there is a higher overstanding that all things are divine. A great lesson in my life has been that you can come out of struggle stronger and wiser. When you truly overstand particular struggles you never have to repeat them. There are too many folks repeating the same struggles over and over.

ymib.com: In your opinion, what is the definition and characteristics of true hip-hop, and do you feel that hip hop artists hold a responsibility to the political upliftment of African People in our world?

Soulflower: The definition of true hip-hop would be the same definition of a true poet. A true hip-hop artist steps out of the "box" and is a leader and individual. They speak from there soul. It doesn't have to always be uplifting as long as it's truth. Real hip-hop to me is when I can listen to a song without the vocals and the beat takes me over. Then I could drop out the whole track and just listen to the vocal and they can take me over. Then I could just focus on the lyrical content and that could take me over as well. When all 3 take me over, I consider that TRUE HIP-HOP. I feel that since hip-hop has such an influence of so many kinds of people worldwide, the hip-hop artist has a reponsibility to the upliftment of all people worldwide.

ymib.com: What inspirational songs, organizations, movements, books, or movies would you recommend someone to listen to, join/research, read, or see?

Soulflower:  Some of my favorite books are, Flower of Life by Drunvalo Melchesedek, The Art of Shenku by Zeek, Metu Neter and Egyptian Yoga by Muata Ashby. There is a man named Ashra Kwesi who released an educational lecture DVD series full of truth. I mostly listen to Roots reggae. Most of roots is inspirational and rooted in spiritual consciousness and awareness. In Hip-Hop i listen to artists like KRS ONE and Talib Kweli.

ymib.com: How do you feel about home/un-schooling, and in what specific ways are you able to incorporate creative teaching & what you do in life into your children's learning environment?

Soulflower: I live in Miami. There are very little options in the way of sending my children out to school and there are so many lies within the schooling. I've been homeschooling from the beginning because I don't trust the system to raise my child. People say I'm shielding them from the truth. I say I'm shielding them in the truth and from the lies. I need to take control of their education and what they receive, hear and see while I can because when they reach a certain age it's on them. I need to know I did all I could do. I incorporate creative teachings by having them practice their instruments everyday. Get in the studio to create tracks, writing poetry etc... They hang with me all the time so they're usually in a creative atmosphere.

ymib.com: What 3 things would you tell your son to never take for granted in a woman?

Soulflower: Her tolerance.her ability to forgive and her love.

ymib.com: What do you love most about being you, being a woman, & and mother?

Soulflower: What I love most about being me is being a Queen and a mother. What I love most about being a woman is having the opportunity to be a Queen and a mother. There is no higher blessing for a woman than to overstand how worthy and divine she is. To be a Queen to a King and a mother to a child is the completion. I also love that I  recognize and overstand my blessing and what I'm here to do and I'm moving in that.

ymib.com: What is your favorite affirmation or inspirational quote?

Soulflower: "I AM THAT I AM, I ALWAYS WAS, AND I WILL BE WHAT I WILL TO BE"

ymib.com: If you had to write a mission statement for your life what would it be?

Soulflower:  I'M HERE TO WORK ON BETTERING MYSELF IN THE HOPES OF ONE DAY RETURNING TO THE STATE I WAS BORN IN.  I'm here to raise my children and help keep them in the state they were born in.   I'm also here to do the works. To be a living example that love, light and consciousness exists even in Babylon and if it exists for one it exists for all.

ymib.com: What has been one of the most memorable moments/performances thus far and what goals would you like to accomplish within your career for the future? 

Soulflower: My favorite performances thus far was The Bob Marley Anniversary in Miami. Over 10.000 people and it fealt like my voice was reaching the heavens. It was so beautiful. I also was beyond honored to go on tour with KRS ONE and rock with him on stage every show. The crowds were all so receptive and open to receiving truth. As a career goal I just want to be a part of uplifting people all over the world. I would love to help influence others to step out of the box and become more aware as people and as artists, especially within the hip-hop culture. 

ymib.com: How does the current world look through the eyes of Soulflower?

Soulflower: The current world looks like a balance of love and war, saving and purging.There are to many lines and separation. The closer you come to the IAM and the overstanding of the ONENESS of ALL THINGS, the more you see that there really are no lines or separation. I overstand that this world was created by THE MOST HIGH,in love and being that all thing were created by THE MOST HIGH,in love, all things are divine and equally blessed. This world may need to go through these struggles and purges in order to return to being what once was.