Turning away from the musical milieu and confronting the politics of the industry, one cannot help but wonder why the rap community is still a relatively difficult one for women to break into. Society’s outdated perception of gender in the workplace – among many other things – derives from the belief that men are better at pretty much everything than women are. It’s not a secret that women are generally seen as unequal to men, far beyond entertainment sphere. So, the question is, why is it so much harder for female artists to professionalize their career and break through to music star status? Is their success less meaningful? We’re acutely aware of the facts, yet the percentage of women who actually reach stardom is mediocre at best in comparison to their male counterparts.

Fortunately for our ears, you’re about to meet one women who decided to keep it pushin’ and overcome whatever myriad adversities arose along the way. She has subsequently gone on to sell out shows and perform at events like this past year’s Art Basel in Miami and become the entrepreneurial boss we all aim to be. She is sweet and cordial when speaking with anyone and her music makes her relatable and the life of the party, but when it comes to working on her music, she is professional, smart and all business.

THE NAME BOUBOULENA COMES FROM THE GREEK WOMAN NAVAL COMMANDER, ‘LASKARINA BOUBOULINA’, HEROINE OF THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1821. GREECE WAS UNDER SLAVERY FOR 400 YEARS FROM TURKISH RULE AND BOUBOULINA HELPED TO LEAD GREECE TO HER FREEDOM. SHE IS THE FIRST AND ONLY WOMAN TO EARN THE TITLE OF ’NAVAL COMMANDER’ AND UNTILL THIS DAY SHE IS A GREEK HO– USEHOLD NAME KNOWN FOR PRETTY MUCH BEING A BAD BISH SYMBOLIZING STRENGTH, INDEPENDENCE AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT. AS FIRST GENERATION GREEK-AMERICAN, BOUBOULENA RECEIVED THIS NICKNAME BY HER IMMIGRANT PARENTS FOR HER TOMBOYISH AND INDEPENDENT WAYS GROWING UP. BOUBOULENAS’ MESSAGE IS TO EMPOWER OTHERS TO HAVE NO FEAR AND BE WHO THEY WANT TO BE.

“EAST SIDE” IS BOUBOULENAS’ FIRST SOLO ALBUM WITH TRACKS PRODUCED BY MIKE TOP NOTCH, DAVID SISKO & BOUBOULENA. FEATURING VERSUS FROM C-CLASS, ON ‘STRIP CLUB IN MY HO– USE’ AND JIMMY SONG ON ‘PB & THE BEAT’.

FOR BOOKINGS/PRESS CONTACT BOUBOULENAMUSIC@GMAIL.COM

Check out her new album: http://smarturl.it/EastSide

Visit her website: http://www.bouboulena.com

Follow her on Instagram: @bouboulena

About The Author

Sara Nardea is no stranger to the art world, selling her own paintings and curating exhibitions -- from pop art to abstraction and now to art journalism, she is bringing her New York success to the up-and-coming Miami scene. Sara is now a contributing writer and editor at L'Etage Magazine.

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