Mark Teo Photography http://www.markteo.com/

MASIA ONE is true to her name sake - the first female to be nominated for a Much Music Video Award (Rap), winner of the CCNC PIONEER accolade and constantly redefining the sound and cultural boundaries of Hip hop music. Her most recent album PULAU has reached no. 2 on CBC Radio 3’s Top 30, no. 1 on CJAM (Windsor) radio and remains in the top 10 on SE Asian Radio charts.
Born in Singapore, Masia One became an early fan of Hip Hop after stumbling upon a bootleg copy of Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back at the age of 8. A move to Vancouver Canada marked a period where Masia developed as a graffiti artist and b-girl. It was not until her time at the University of Toronto pursuing an Architecture degree, that she took scribbled rhymes to the stage, and began her fast-pace journey into thelife of an emcee. Masia One’s butter smooth flow debuted in 2003 with her independent release Mississauga. Four videos, international bookings and countless media appearanceslater, the emcee is ready to release the story of her journey: PULAU. PULAU, the Malaysian word for “The Islands”, reflects influences including the culture of SE Asia, heated dance hall tempos of Jamaica and the feel good vibe of California. Masia One has toured PULAU across Canada, Malaysia, Indonesia opening for The Roots and Singapore where she headlined the HENNESSY World Stage.
Masia One is now positioned to take on Hollywood, completing her latest album with Los Angeles based record label Kops & Robbers. Grammy award winning producer Che Vicious has crafted an album that features Masia’s remarkable flow over highly infectious dancehall, electro and dance rhythms. As Dr. Dre’s right handman, Che has worked with everyone from Lauryn Hill, Jay Z and Eminem to name a few. This much anticipated release will catapult Masia One into the mainstream as this Singapore- Canadian girl becomes a household name for urban music internationally.