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Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
On a rainy fall New York City day, femdot hit up the landmarks for three of his rap heroes: JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G, and A Tribe Called Quest.
femdot. Grew up in Chicago.
But the music he listened to the most as a kid was ‘90s East Coast rap. New York City, specifically, was a city that was important to him. It was rappers like JAY-Z, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G, and A Tribe Called Quest who galvanized him. And you can hear those influences all over femdot.’s music.
WATCH: Chicago Rapper femdot. Honors His Heroes, JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G, & More in New York City | Presented by Camry
In October 2019 he released his latest EP, 94 Camry Music. The project is an ode to a specific car: his 1994 Camry. But it’s also a project paying homage to the music that influenced him the most. The EP is packed with vivid stories and intricate punchlines that would make Biggie proud.
femdot. decided to celebrate the release of his latest EP by driving a 2020 Camry TRD from Chicago to New York City. On a rainy fall New York City day, femdot hit up the landmarks for three of his rap heroes: JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G, and A Tribe Called Quest.
We were lucky enough to shadow the burgeoning MC and document the trip. Take a look at photos from the day below.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
For his first stop, femdot. wanted to visit Marcy Houses in Brooklyn. These are the projects JAY-Z grew up in.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
“You hear a million stories about Marcy Houses...to see where these stories come from, it’s kinda wild,” femdot. said while taking a stroll around Marcy.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
When femdot. pulled up, new “Welcome” signs had just been put up in Marcy, replacing the ones seen in older JAY-Z videos.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
femdot. aspires to be like JAY-Z, which is why, on certain songs, he uses the same conversational flow that Hov was known to use.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
JAY-Z’ “Dead Presidents II” was the first song femdot. learned all the words to. Reasonable Doubt, Jay’s iconic debut, was the first album fem ever bought. So this was an important stop for the Chicago MC.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
After visiting JAY-Z’ old stomping grounds, femdot. drove a couple of blocks to Respect for Life Barber Salon on Fulton Street. This is where The Notorious B.I.G. used to get his haircut.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
“Went from ashy to classy... I was ashy once. Nah, I’m lying I was never ashy,” femdot. joked while referencing Biggie’s “Sky the Limit.”
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
To this day “Skys the Limit” is femdot.’s favorite The Notorious B.I.G song. It’s a track about overcoming the odds, something fem can relate to.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
For his last stop, femdot. trekked out to St. Albans, Queens to take a look at the massive A Tribe Called Quest mural.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
Even though he was a fan of the entire group, femdot. felt a special connection to Phife Dawg, who was always known as the Robin to Q-Tip’s Batman. “I can see Phife literally in myself,” femdot. said.
Photo Credit: Cesarin Mateo for Okayplayer.com
