Kathia Woods and DJ Damage | courtesy of the artist
Strength in Unity: Philly’s Kathia Woods on her first Women In Hip-Hop conference
Kathia Woods is problem solver.
With her current work organizing events and managing area hip-hop artists as founder and head of Dimas Events and Consulting, Woods is a passionate advocate for up-and-coming artists in particular and Philly’s hip-hop in general. When asked her opinion on the state of Philadelphia’s hip-hop scene, she offers a no-holds-barred critique that cuts across genre lines into the the heart of a problem that holds so much Philly-based musical talent from achieving nationwide success.
“First, we have amazing talent. Always have,” she says. “The thing that hurts us is a lack of infrastructure and lack of unity. We have old dudes that have been in the chair too long and young folks that have a sense of entitlement, which is recipe for disaster. No middle ground. But the talent is stellar.”
A decades-long veteran of Philly’s music biz, Woods got her start on the Campus of Temple University “throwing parties and through the student union and helping with other events by handing out flyers and such.”
After spending her formative years working in multiple aspects of the music business, Woods’ present focus is on creating platforms for the education and empowerment of the city’s young creatives, especially its young women. Recognizing this need to position Philly’s women musicians, DJs and future executives for success, Woods has launched Women in Hip Hop, a day-long conference of sorts whose expressed mission is to build connections between women in the music business.
“The idea is to put women in the same room that have vital positions in the area and to help each other gain,” she says. “This is still a very male-dominated industry and to many of us that have the support we need and have our voices heard a little better.”
Over the course of the event, attendees can expect a general meet-and-greet, speakers and an open discussion tackling the many obstacles faced by women in the male-dominated music industry.
“I know I would like to interact with and lure women into this business,” she says. “I’m too often the only one at meetings or events or I have to fight alone to make my voice heard. There’s strength in unity.”
Women in Hip Hop happens on Saturday, November 12th, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave. More information on the event can be found here.