Editor’s Note

It’s 11pm. My eyes hurt and yet I’m compelled to write this piece now…so here it goes.

I state this with ease. This issue is personal to me, yet the fire in my belly wants to scream the word necessary. I approached Dale (E-in-C) about this early February; not realizing how much interviewing, writing, researching it would cause me to do…but I knew that we had not dedicated an issue to female artists before and how appropriate would it be to create a track record a month after our one year launch! Perfect he said…tell me who you want to cover.

Without sharing my entire research process, I’ll state this with even more ease. With our cover being Ms. Erykah Badu (enough said)…who could follow an artist such as her, but genuine, authentic, creative, mind-blowing, intelligent, innovative female artists…of all sorts! Hand selected by moi, I’m proud to say that each and every woman featured will amuse you, seduce you, break you, lift you up and mold you to not only remember them, but to consider them for their talents first…

This issue is considered the Ladies Edition. Dedicated to the women who are owed more hugs, kisses, applauses and compensation for their efforts to represent their craft and other female artists alike doing either the same thing or a similar struggle to just be…and remain true.

Image and representation is the foundation for this issue. It’s been a sad scene to watch regarding the image of female artists. In a world where sex sells and the value of a dollar is worth more than your dignity; who can you relate to, who can you refer to as someone you’d like to mimic or are influenced by? Very few… I find that disturbing. That’s why this issue is necessary, will be priceless and will make a statement. SchemeMag.com is revolutionary. Our vision stands alone and in order to protect the culture and community we love; we must preserve the seeds that have been planted, nurture them and allow them to grow.

So, enjoy and work your way through this issue. Each artist brings something different to visual art, music, and dance or community involvement. As Lupe states in Real of Food and Liquor

“The game is not to give ‘em nuttin REAL…
Nothin’ they could use, nuttin that they could FEEL…
Give ‘em a bunch of lies and teach ‘em that it’s REAL…
So that’s all that they know
That’s all that they feel…”

Scheme’s here to change the game. Word.