Genesis Be

Genesis Israeli Rose Schmitz Briggs Be (born December 5) is an American recording artist and visual art creator. She is a scholar of the prestigious NYU Catherine B. Reynolds Program for Social Entrepreneurship. Genesis is a graduate of NYU's political science department at CAS as well as the exclusive Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts. In 2010 Be accepted a fellowship from The Hip-Hop Education Center at NYU, which was founded by her longtime mentor Martha Diaz.

Genesis Be is the daughter of published author, Ishmael Be and registered nurse Lisa Schmitz Briggs. She is of Native American, African American, Hungarian, French and German descent. Raised in Biloxi, MS, Be graduated from Biloxi High School right before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast Region. Genesis Be witnessed first hand the destruction of the Storm and her experiences are portrayed in her second studio album, 18 In America.

Genesis Be is also the grand daughter of civil rights activist Rev. Clyde Briggs and Mary Geraldine Briggs of Roxie, Mississippi. Phillip and Violet Schmitz are Be's grandparents on her mother's side. Genesis accredits her social activist spirit to the legacy of her grandparents and her father. Rev. Clyde Briggs educated and encouraged black citizens to vote in Franklin County during the 1960s. After being accused of smuggling guns into Franklin County to arm black residents against the Ku Klux Klan, Rev. Briggs was murdered at the young age of 42.

In April 2016, Be made National headlines with a controversial protest of Mississippi's "Confederate Heritage Month". She was the subject of numerous interviews including News One, Billboard & ABC News. Following the protest she teamed up with actress Aunjanue Ellis & the "Take It Down America" initiative to hold a rally on Capitol Hill regarding the removal of the Confederate Battle Emblem from the canton of the MS State flag.

Be released a new album titled "Gulf Coast Queen" in August 2016.

In the summer of 2013, Be was featured in The Los Angeles Times and The Village Voice for her music video "Tampons & Tylenol". She released her fourth studio album, "Mississippi To Manhattan", on April 19, 2011. Genesis graduated from NYU on May 18, 2011. Be is also the recipient of a Nia Award: Ronald McNair/Arthur Schomburg For Academic Excellence. Genesis accepted a 2011 NYU President's Service Award from John Sexton for her community service in the Gulf Coast Region and for her work in NYC public schools. She currently hosts a radio show on WNYU called "Hip Hop & Her Family" alongside Dj Petra. Be released her 6th full length project titled "GENESEQUA" in the fall of 2014. She is set to release her latest project titled Poli Trap | The Escape Tape on November 5, 2015. Genesis Be coined the term "Poli Trap" describing it as a subgenre of hip hop that pairs political commentary with trap music

Singles

• 2005: "More Than A Warrior"
• 2007: "I Don’t Discriminate"
• 2008: "Lovers Or Friends"
• 2009: "Precious Beyond Measure"
• 2010: "Laughin At Ya Lames"
• 2011: "Like A Movie"
• 2011: "At A Standstill"
• 2013: "Tampons & Tylenol"
• 2016: "My GCK"

Albums

• 2005: 17 In America
• 2006: 18 In America
• 2007: 19 In America
• 2011: Mississippi To Manhattan
• 2014: GENESEQUA
• 2016: Gulf Coast Queen