Born Hadaiyah Bey, Yaya Bey grew up in Queens, NY writing music with her father, hip-hop artist Grand Daddy I.U. The now 34 year old is a multifaceted force to be reckoned with. Whether as a writer, a visual artist, an activist, or educator, Yaya Bey advocates for Black people through art and protest.
Yaya Bey in performance. Image courtesy the Vinyl Factory
After discovering The Many Alter-Egos of Trill’etta Brown during the pandemic, a few years post release, I was instantly hooked. The Many Alter-egos of Trill’eta Brown was a multimedia release that includes an EP, book, and a digital collage. Uncovering the layers of what I thought was just one album, excited me as a fan of multi-media artists. The album represents the many sides of Yaya Bey, as well as the multiplicities of Blackness, womanhood, queerness. My personal favorite being Celie Jr.