New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Given her name because she can "ride over any rhythm," Poni Capri has come a long way since growing up in East London but her birthplace continues to influence both her music and how she lives her life.
Growing up as one of five children to a Jamaican father and Ghanian mother in East London, Poni (real name Marsha Bryant) spent much time living with relatives in Hackney as her parents endured an acrimonious divorce. Soon falling into the crime-fuelled gang culture in her early teens, one of the few girls at the heart of this dark world, she saw her fellow members shot, killed, imprisoned and falling victim to drugs and suicide in a short space of time.
Determined to escape the cycle and launch her own musical career, some ingenious detective work led to Poni finding where
50 Cent and D12 were staying when performing in town, and hand-delivered her CD to every member. The ploy worked and she ended up befriending many of the team, leading to her working with the Shady Records team and flying to America. Poni's music spread and got interest from the team working with Jay Z, recording in Roc the Mic Studio NYC at the same time
Beyonce was recording in the next room.
However, the move to
America for a proposed record deal fell through at the last moment, leaving her homeless and broke in NYC and to rely on the kindness of strangers, sleeping on couches and floors. Ironically, it was after Poni decided to return to the UK, she got a call from someone who saw her in Jay Z's studio and told her
Lil Wayne wanted Poni on his record. Having recorded the vocals in England, he then released it on his Public
Enemy mixtape.
Experiencing at first-hand the corruption in the music industry, with music moguls bribing her with promises riches and fame if she slept with them, only made her desire to succeed on her own terms even stronger. Her latest material is her strongest yet, marrying the beats and flow of US hip-hop with an injection of UK grime and her own irresistible personality.
Follow Poni Capri:
Facebook: Www.facebook.com/officialponicapri
Twitter: Www.twitter.com/ridewithponi
Instagram: Www.instagram.com/poni_capri
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/ponicapri
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cdUr8WinrhnnwvbBUJKdW?si=I4bn9twfTY2wduoczGqtbA
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr9ybZLxoUJnMdFRjBi52dg
