Oakland, California has long been known for legendary hip hop artists. Now the rap game is heating again with Ashley Whitaker, a young MC known for her insightful lyrics and in-your-face delivery. Her music, described as gangsta rap with melody, is taking the music industry by storm. Ashley initially broke through with her first single “Owe Me,” a song about how good people can get into bad situations, and how society often fails to recognize the challenges they’ve faced. The song addresses the struggles many people encounter, particularly on the streets, when faced with difficult scenarios. Ashley adds, “Society always expects you to be the better person, but that’s not always realistic. Sometimes people just need to focus on survival.” This California native had hip hop in her DNA from an early age. By age five Ashley knew she was going to be a rapper. By seven years old she was freestyling inventive lyrics with intricate rhythms and rehearsing hip hop dance routines while most kids her age were watching Barney. Early influences included Tupac and Too Short, along with R&B artists such as Akon, the Black Eyed Peas, Chris Brown, The Dream, and Rihanna. By age 11, Ashley began her work as a serious writer. Since then, this prolific lyricist has amassed a catalog of more than 800 songs covering a wide range of topics from street life to the challenges of depression. Armed with a deep portfolio of material, Ashley then began to develop her flow and live performance chops. While just a high school student, Ashley was invited to make her live debut at a popular Los Angeles club. She instantly won the respect of the audience and the other rappers on the gig, initiating the buzz as a respected artist and songwriter. Creativity and individualism are the heart of Ashley’s career. Her vision overflows beyond the music business into several other avenues. In 2021, she’ll launch her own clothing line she describes as designer urban wear. Royal Beast Clothing fulfills Ashley’s vision to fuse urban design with designer quality at affordable prices. She’s keenly aware that inner-city environments are often plagued with lower-income opportunities, and wants to make high fashion available to everyone. The name Royal Beast Clothing is derived from Ashley’s astrological sign, Leo the Lion, a royal beast. Ashley says, “Even if you come from the streets, you can still be royalty.” Beyond her career as a rapper and fashion designer, Ashley also aims to explore her passion for filmmaking. She has already developed four screenplays: A comedy, an action film, a horror movie, and her own autobiography, titled E14 (named after a street in Oakland). The only thing more powerful than her creativity and relentless career drive is her dedication to the community. She has been a tireless champion for marginalized individuals and neighborhoods, playing the role of supporter and defender to those in need. Ashley is a fervent supporter of Black Lives Matter and LGBTTQQIAAP equality efforts. This East Oaklander also spends countless hours volunteering at local churches, feeding the homeless, mentoring students, and teaching youth dance troupes. More often than not, Ashley spends her free time in Los Angeles. A regular on the Hollywood scene, she can often be found chilling on the patio at Chateau Marmont, catching a late, late, late night comfort meal at the Aroma Café on Sunset, or rolling incognito on the Venice Beach boardwalk. When she’s just relaxing at one of her homes, Ashley enjoys watching basketball or her beloved Raiders, who share the bond of being both an Oakland and LA team at different times in their history. Ashley’s deep love of sports comes from her youth, where she was an avid skateboarder, all-star MVP in basketball, and even played on her high school varsity football team. Still just 21 years old, Ashley has become one of the most talked-about creative forces in the industry. This prolific up-and-coming artist is currently in the studio putting the final touches on her next album, “PRBLM CHLD". While she loves the studio, Ashley is looking forward to getting back on stage and bringing her music to the people. Her attitude is simple: The show isn’t about her, it’s about the fans. She’s known for her energetic, highly interactive style that brings the audience into the show for a truly unforgettable experience <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/ASHLEY+WHITAKER">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.