Tylibah

Sometimes in life, all you have is a dream. It’s the vision that allows you to see beyond the limits of your everyday surroundings, faith that forces you to believe in yourself when no one else will, and the passion that gives you a clear purpose and mission. As a songwriter, performer, poet and author, Brooklyn-born Tylibah understands the power of a dream better than most.

On April 26, 2011, Tylibah will release her latest musical work on the mixtape project Therapy, which features appearances from M1 of dead prez and New Jersey lyricist Sam Scarfo. Production ranges from multi-platinum producer Rick Steel (Missy Elliott, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus) and famed Death Row Records vet Sam Sneed (Jay-Z, 50 Cent), to emerging beat crafters like J.Serbe (U-God).

To introduce Therapy, Tylibah will unveil the single “Thinking of You: Letter to My Hood.” Of course the song is an ode to her Brooklyn home, which has influenced Tylibah’s life and creative spirit on many levels.

“I learned a lot from the rap ciphers, and I learned a lot from church, singing on the choir and from my mother and family – we are all very musical people, “Tylibah explains. “I grew up on New York Avenue, which isn’t far from Notorious B.I.G.’s home at St. James Place. That influence was there for me. The mass media teaches people that only violence, poverty and criminality come from the hood. However, some of our biggest and most positive superstars come from the hood. I’m grateful for being a product of Brooklyn, because it gave me a great determination to go even further in life.”

Over the years, Tylibah has evolved in performance of both her music and poetry, and has shared the stage with legends such as Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson, Phylicia Rashad, Avery Brooks and Delroy Lindo. She also opened for the likes of India.Arie, Cam’ron and Wu-Tang Clan; where she spit bars with Raekwon.

Tylibah is on her way to earning her spot as a lyrical force to be reckoned with, and she hopes that music fans will relate through her work on Therapy. On the song “Whatever You Got” Tylibah serves up a female empowerment anthem to remind men that a woman can do it just as good, if not better.

“My mother was a single parent for many years, and I saw her struggle to raise kids on her own,” says Tylibah. “She did it with grace, style, and she taught me that if I want something I got to get it myself. It’s important for women to realize to get what they want, and to not depend on anyone else to give it to you. As an artist I want to inspire women to be independent and sexy without having to rely on their bodies.”

Tylibah’s commitment to empowering young women and being a leader in the community is evident in the vision of her company Leebah Baby Productions, which is the umbrella company for her own Leebah Baby Treasures Charity. The non-profit uses the arts to educate and inspire children through various arts workshops, motivational speaking and mentorship programs. The ability to give back is one of the most rewarding aspects of Tylibah’s career.

“Music is the conduit for the higher message and the higher message is to empower people to empower themselves. As a child I was fortunate to have classes on dance, on music, and I found my voice through poetry. I want to pay that forward to the next generation so that they can also find their voice and path in life.”

As if music, giving back, and being a role model were not enough, Tylibah is also a self-published author of Streets in Poem Form: A Compilation of My Thoughts. The book sold over 15,000 copies in less than a year, and received widespread critical acclaim from the likes of Dr. Cornel West, BET, WBLS and many more. In 2010, she worked tirelessly with the Brooklyn school system to inspire children to unleash their own creativity through poetry.

“Partnering with the school system has been very rewarding,” smiles Tylibah. “I have gotten the opportunity to bring my program ‘Tylibah’s Creative Connection’ to thousands of kids around the world with a curriculum that deals with poetry, music, dance and yoga. Musically, this has been a great opportunity for me because I find that I have grown not only as a recording artist and entertainer, but as a person and business woman as well.”

Tylibah’s endeavors in the world of music, publishing, and more are all part of her big dream to inspire others through her creativity. It is a constant struggle in the world of entertainment to balance art and business, but the youthful performer sees only new opportunities to grow at every turn.

“Facing adversity has only made me stronger,” Tylibah asserts. “I’m thankful for everything I’ve been through, and I’m so excited about moving forward. I want people to know that I’ve dedicated my life to expressing who I am as an artist and entertainer, all in order to help others. I believe in the power of music, and its ability to transform peoples’ lives. Music can make people feel better, and more reflective about life. It does that for me daily.”

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