Mia X, is a hip-hop legend most notably known for her work with Master P and his No Limit Records; where she released three albums with two of them going gold. Putting her stamp on the rap game, it can be reasonably argued that she is one of the best female lyricists to ever touch the mic. But what many do not know is that offstage Mia has a heart of gold; touching the lives of people with her selfless spirit and is dedicated to giving back to those in need and is an advocate for social causes in the community. “From the beginning of my career in the early 90’s I have been on the frontlines fighting against injustice since Adolph Archie was murdered while in police custody. I have also worked with schools speaking to kids, giving money and bringing things like toiletries because a lot of people don’t have the basic necessities; so, I go to schools and bring things like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins and deodorant.”
Born Mia Young in New Orleans Seventh Ward, she says her dedication to giving back began with her late grandmother “Mamaw” who was an early example of someone who was a selfless giver. “My grandmother cooked 10 pounds of red beans every day of my life and she fed everybody who was hungry in our community every day of my life. I remember we would go to department stores on Canal Street like Krauss, Maison Blanche, and D.H. Holmes whenever there was a sale and just buy stuff to give away to children and men and women who were starting new jobs. She was always doing stuff like that. We were always feeding people, and I feel I inherited her giving spirit. It is just something that is in my blood. I don’t know how to do anything else, that’s what my mother, my father and grandparents would do. It’s the normal and natural thing to do. I don’t feel right if something is going wrong with someone and I don’t do anything; it’s just in me.”
This influence is something Mia passes on to young people in addition to recipes she learned in her upcoming book “Things My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me” which is part memoir and cookbook that intersperses Mia’s life from five years old to her grandmothers’ passing. Speaking of the book and the important life lessons taught to her by her grandmother and her own recipe for a successful life she says, “The recipe for a successful life is work hard, be honest, be humble and have integrity. I feel if you are honest and humble the sky is the limit.” Continuing she says, “When I learned how to make my grandmothers gumbo I was 30 years old and she was on her deathbed. She said to me, ‘I cannot leave here and you don’t know how to make gumbo.’ She then walked me through it step by step. She was such a wise woman who gave me so much and I feel this book will help a lot of people not just make great food but learn how to thrive and face many obstacles and adversity that we sometime face in life”
Speaking of some of her other work to uplift the community she says “I joined rapper Sess-45 and started putting together an annual march. Ours is unlike others; you will not see a lot of the politicians but thousands of people come out. It starts at Jourdan Avenue and North Galvez in the Lower Ninth Ward where the levees broke and it goes all the way to the Seventh Ward at Hunter’s Field in my neighborhood. It is a wonderful march; we do health screenings and other things that help empower people in the community. In addition, I have been to Washington D.C. three times and I spoke before Congress twice advocating for the people of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.” Mia is also a survivor of uterine cancer and is an advocate of health and regular doctor visits, “I am an advocate for women’s health. Many times, people are so busy working they don’t take the time to see what’s going on with their health and when we do it is too late. In my shows, I always take the time out to tell ladies and men to make sure to listen to your body when we hear little voices to get that checked.”
Throughout her life, Mia has been representing the best of New Orleans; saying of its uniqueness, “You don’t live in New Orleans, New Orleans lives in you. We are a people who love great food, great music and care about each other. I feel the people of my City are like my extended family and I always try to be there for kids, anything to help and there’s never been a price attached when it comes to serving the community. Because when I am giving back I am living in the spirit of my grandmother and those who helped me become the person I am, so as I have been blessed it is my responsibility to bless and inspire others.”
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