Mahogany Jones
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Mahogany Jones | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Mahogany Jones | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Charyse Lois Marshall (Bailey) Mt. Vernon, New York, United States |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, conscious hip hop, soul, gospel, inspirational music |
| Occupations | Musician, rapper, poet, songwriter, cultural ambassador, arts educator |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Website | mahoganyjones |
Charyse Lois Marshall (born August 8, 1978), better known by the stage name Mahogany Jones, is an American inspirational female rapper,[1] singer, songwriter, community activist,[2][3] and arts educator with InsideOut Literary Arts.[4][5] Born in Mt. Vernon, New York, United States, she later moved to California as a child, then back to New York City before deciding to permanently reside in Detroit, Michigan in 2004. She is most noted for her appearance on BET's 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays as the first four-time undefeated champion in 2001.[6] She is also known around the world as a Hip-hop Ambassador having served as a cultural ambassador[7] with American Music Abroad[8] and other programs under the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 2012[9][10][11] and 2013.[12][13]
The test of her skills as an emcee and her rise to notoriety came when Toni Blackman suggested that Mahogany Jones compete in a rap battle on the cable network BET's program 106 & Park in a new segment known as Freestyle Friday. Prior to Jones, there had been no female rappers that managed to compete without losing. Feeling the pressure, Mahogany made a bargain with God before appearing on the show to use her new emcee skills to glorify him if he allowed her to win. To everyone's amazement, but her own, she won her battle, not once, but four times in a row. However, to uphold her promise to God, Jones stepped away from the competition leaving the show as the only four time undefeated champion and first undefeated female champion.[14]
