By Maya Pope-Chappell


It's the year 2000 and as a New York City subway train screeches through the tunnel on its way to Brooklyn, Ambessa the Articulate is passing out flyers for a party he is promoting. As he passes Zakiya Harris, a potential partygoer, he hands her a flier and eases into a light conversation. He is drawn to her natural beauty, she to his shy, yet engaging demeanor. His simple party flyer turns out to be an inviation to something much more. Months go by and they strike up a friendship and soon become inseparable, slowly building a connection that they now say will last a lifetime.

Flash forward to 2007. The two are now three years married. But unlike most typical couples, this pair figured out a way to turn their unique chemistry and love of music into something more. They have become the musical duo known as FiyaWata and have created a musical force that steps outside commercial hip hop boundaries and challenges gender norms portrayed in American popular culture.

"We can truly bring another perspective to the game because we both come hard, we're both classy, we're extreme, intense, and all out driven," said Ambessa. "We're the group and we're male and female. We re both dominant."

Zakiya the Aries and Ambessa the Aquarius, thier groups name, FiyaWata, describes the heavy concentrations of both fire and water in their astrological signs.

"It's the balance of extremes," said Ambessa. "Yin and Yang, Man and Woman. Two elements that can both create and destroy."

Lyrically shying away from musical norms, this duo challenges gender ideals and representations promoted in much of hip hop and American popular culture.
In today's commercial hip hop where men are often defined by their money, sexual prowess, dominance, and power, Ambessa the MC fails to fall into these stereotypical portrayals, challenging them through his music.

"This music game is run from a small insecure boy's perspective," said Ambessa. "A lot of these guys are misguided and don't want to grow up. Some are afraid to change because their afraid of what that change may mean. And this is something that is very male and very wack. People need to take more of a female perspective."

Zakiya, who MCs and sings says that womens power portrayed in hip hop is often based on their physical appearance, solidified by their sexuality and lack of self respect. Although Zakiya says she used to define herself in that way, she no longer feels that way.

"I don't judge because I used to be a video [girl]," said Zakiya. "I [used to be] insecure and I thought getting validated by some man made me feel good. I had low self-esteem. But now, I represent something different. I just have way to much love and respect for myself. I just hold myself and my body in such a level of esteem now and knowing who I am that there's just certain things that I won't do and I still feel beautiful and I still feel confident."

First breaking onto the music scene with a five-person black rock, hip hop group known as Drumm, in New York, the two branched off in early 2001 to create FiyaWata. Moving to the Bay Area in August of 2001, FiyaWata came into their own, performing at local venues and building the buzz around their name.

Citing inspirations from Gladys Knight to Gnarles Barkley, Mos Def, and Jah, FiyaWata infuses dub, hip hop, soul, and Latin-inspired rhythms with their penetrating lyrics and mature subject matter.

"Music is not this commercial thing for us," said Zakiya. "Its very personal. Its intimate."

"We talk about solutions to problems," adds Ambessa. "We're idealists."

Through their message of spiritual enlightenment, activism, and street life, FiyaWata stretches the definition of what hip hop is and can be. Forbidden & Forgotten, a song about the underclass, brings light to the dim reality of people, history, and things that are often pushed aside and forgotten.

Sweatshops dont stop; in the land of hard knocks; where second chances are forbidden; and being poor is forgotten, Zakiya sings.

Slated for an upcoming U.S. tour as well as a new mixtape and album set to hit streets in late May and August, FiyaWata is gearing up to deliver their sound and message to fans, both old and new.

Though challenging at times, Ambessa and Zakiya both agree that being in a group and in a loving relationship is what God intended for both of them.

"Ive been on the stage sometimes with him just really feelin the vibe and being able to look into his eyes and just share this high vibration with him on a musical level and then be like whoa, this is my man too", said Zakiya. "Its just very complete and whole to me. The reward is wonderful music."

Upcoming FiyaWata Releases
Mixtape- This is a Journey Into Sound (Late May)
Album- Journeys of a Destined Nation (Late August)

Website
http://www.fiyawataonline.com

FIYAWATA on MYSPACE
www.myspace.com/fiyawatacrew

Maya Pope-Chappell is a columnist for Whatchusay.com