Synergy
Synergy is an all-woman's produced and performed Hip-Hop album based out of Chicago. This is the first Hip-Hop album created entirely by women!
"Billboard called music production “the ultimate boys club of the industry,” and it’s true. Since the introduction of the Grammy category for producer of the year, non-classical in 1975, only a handful of women — including Janet Jackson, Paula Cole, Sheryl Crow, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, and Lisa Coleman and Wendy Melvoin from Prince‘s band The Revolution — have been nominated. No woman has ever won it. Beyond shiny trophies, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift are the only two women to land on Billboard‘s year-end Top Producers chart in the last decade. Yes, you read that right. The disparity is just as evident when you look at Hip-Hop. Despite the presence of chart-topping women on the mic like Cardi B and Nicki Minaj, the majority of the producers are men. In fact, most Hip-Hop fans probably can’t name enough woman Hip-Hop producers to count on one hand.
Enter SYNERGY, a Chicago-based collaborative Hip-Hop album curated by Jovan Landry. The idea came to Landry, a filmmaker, photographer and emcee based in Chicago a few years back when she noticed the lack of opportunities for women to produce Hip-Hop music. The album will not only feature some of the hottest women emcees in Chicago, but every producer, engineer, videographer, photographer and graphic designer involved with the project is a woman." ~ Nadirah Simmons, The Gumbo
Synergy is the embodiment of Chicago Hip-Hop, women empowerment, collaboration and simply, women being able to do it all in a male dominated industry, where we’re not just the face of the product. When you listen to Synergy, the love and the space that the ladies hold for each other is quite prevalent. Synergy is defined as "the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects " which exactly that this album stands for. In 2017, Jovan Landry received a grant from WeWork Creator Awards in the Incubate Category to make this project come to life and to reach its highest potential. The goal is for Synergy to not just reach our Chicago family, but everyone around the world to know that women in hip-hop can work together in many different forms.
The format of the album consist a total of 11 tracks: Nine up and coming Chicago rappers/emcees were divided in half to contribute to one of the 2 lead singles: "Synergy Cypher Pt. 1" and "Synergy Cypher Pt. 2". Following the singles, the artist are randomly paired with another based on an original instrumental they chose. As the artists worked with each together for the first time, writing and recording sessions were scheduled so they can meet and create their concept for their song. 5 songs resulted from these collaborations. The remaining 4 are interludes that consists of interviews with Chicago Hip-Hop "Veterans" who has been involved in Hip-Hop for over 20 years. These women are emcees, educators, event organizers and mentors. It is important to allow their voices to shine and to show them how much they are appreciated, as they’ve paved the way for the artists after them.
Synergy is scheduled to released on March 15, 2019 on all digital streaming platforms. If you’d love to follow the movement, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and sign up for the Synergy Email Newsletter.
View / Download Electronic Press Kit Here.
ALBUM CREDITS:
- Artists: Jovan Landry, Tee Spirit, Sauda Muse, Jade The Ivy Sunde, Glitter Moneyyy, Tweak'G, JuJu MinXXX
- Producers: Jovan Landry, Schenay Mosley, K Flow, _Qisum.
- Engineers/DJ: Jovan Landry, Viibez, Sireena Yancour
- Album Art: Damaly Keo
- Filmmakers: Briana Clearly, Sonia Jourdain, Kenyetta Johnson, Jovan Landry (+15 other women in fim.)
Interested in getting the Synergy album on Vinyl? Our crowdfunding campaign launches February 1, 2019 through March 18!
PHOTOS
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Artists on Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 (left to right): Jade The Ivy, Tayyy Slayyy of Glitter Moneyyy, Jovan Landry and Queen Trashleyyy of Glitter Moneyyyy / Photo Cred: Candice Majors
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
A still from Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 music video with artists (left to right) Sundé, Tweak'G, Jovan Landry, Tee Spirit and JuJu MinXXX. Photo Cred: Sonia Jourdain.
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Synergy at Women in Hip Hop Conference in STL
Synergy with the attendees and organizers of the Women in Hip Hop Conference at St. Louis University.
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Synergy at Women in Hip Hop Conference in STL
Left to Right: Tweak'G, JuJu MinXXX, Synergy DJ Sireena Yancour and Jovan Landry. Photo Cred: Aja La'Starr Owens
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Synergy at Women in Hip Hop Conference in STL
Photo Cred: Aja La'Starr Owens
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
Tweak'G, Jovan Landry and Briana Clearly / Photo Cred: Grace E. Pisula
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
Left to Right: Makeup Artist Ceejaye E. Iman and Rapper Tee Spirit / Photo Cred: Grace E. Pisula
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
Host & Comedian Tribble / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
From left to right: Cinematographer Sonia Jourdain, Host Tribble and Artist Sundé / Photo Cred: Grace E. Pisula
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
Photo Cred: Grace E. Pisula
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Glitter Moneyyy on Set Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Glitter Moneyyy on Set / Photo Cred: Courtney Morrison
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Setting up for Jade The Ivy Scene. / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Jade The Ivy / Photo Cred: Julie Campbell
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Makeup Artist Ceejaye E. Iman, Assistant Set Designer Julia Carusillo and Entertainment Manager Karisia Rogers
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Assistant Camera Adia and Grip Kemi / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
B-Girl Goldgrrl and Director Briana Clearly / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Grip Kemi Mayomi
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Photo Cred: Julie Campbell
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Gaffer Candice Major and Production Assistant Courtney Morrison setting up lights. / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Director Briana Clearly, Jade The Ivy and Makeup Artist Ceejaye E. Iman / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Jade The Ivy and Makeup Artist Ceejaye E. Iman / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Photo Cred: Julie Campbell
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Shooting our B-Girl scene with GoldGrrl / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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In the Studio
Jade The Ivy recording for the album / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
DP Sonia Jourdain / Photo Cred: Katherine Dudley
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
Set Designers on Set (from left to right): Anya Hankerson Woods & Onyx.
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
Assistant Camera Grace on Set / Photo Cred: Katherine Dudley
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Synergy Music Video Preview + Discussion 1.12.19
Synergy Creator Jovan Landry and Director Briana Clearly / Photo Cred: Grace E. Pisula
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Studio Time
Recording with Sauda Muse for the Synergy album. / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
Synergy Artist JuJu MinXXX on set / Photo Cred: Katherine Dudley
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Tweak'G and Bates at Women in Hip Hop Conference in STL
Synergy Artist Tweak'G talking with St. Louis artist Bates. November 2, 2018 / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry
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Studio Session
JuJu MinXXX adding finishing touches to their verse.
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Director Briana Clearly and Cinematographer Sonia Jourdain / Photo Cred: Courtney Morrison
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 2 Music Video
Jovan Landry and Makeup Artist Damane Harris / Photo Cred: Katherine Dudley.
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Glitter Moneyyy / Photo Cred: Courtney Morrison
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Behind The Scenes - Synergy Cypher Pt. 1 Music Video
Jovan Landry / Photo Cred: Courtney Morrison
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Spirit and Sauda Muse in the Studio
July 2018 / Photo Cred: Jovan Landry