These resources, be they financial, production or otherwise, can help push an artist to the very top.

“Think about most male emcees that you know are successful in Canada, not the states. They all had a crew. People who made it, all of them had a crew, be it Kardi, Choclair, Rikoshay, you name it, and think about a female that has had that much backing. They don’t exist.”

When asked what she hopes females can bring to the genre, she replies positively, “I would hope that females who blow up in the mainstream would bring balance to a very one-sided genre, and not just about female respect. But balance in subject matter and how it is being discussed. If anything, I would hope females will bring more balance to hip-hop.”

Just as Eternia is on the grind to feed Toronto’s Hip-Hop appetite, so is our next emcee, Sage.

Sage is a young woman with an old soul. She is a student of the old school, Latifah, Roxanne Chanté and Lady Bug Mecca being just a few of her inspirations. Her moniker suits her unique personality, which subtly yet deafeningly commands respect. She’s an artist who knows no boundaries. She raps, sings, creates, and even wears pieces of her craft when we meet. Early on, she has shown tenacity and courage when faced with obstacles in her career choice. Not being able to find the sound she desperately wanted for her music, Sage left Toronto and found her way to New York City, where she got that opportunity and was able to learn from like-minded emcees.

A chance meeting with Q-tip at a Zulu Nation conference in 1998 led her to connect with Mos Def (at humble beginnings) and a plethora of like-minded artists on the New York underground hip-hop circuit. "I built foundations when I lived in Brooklyn that will always be there for me," she says. “It helped me develop as an artist and as a person.” She encourages other emcees to develop their talent and educate themselves for success. “If you wanna rhyme hone your skills that’s the most important thing, it doesn’t matter who you meet who you know. People try to network first, but they don’t realize they have to get their product together first. They gotta get themselves together.”

Toronto Emcee Eternia - Photo courtesy of www.eternia.ca

When asked about getting respect as a female emcee, she says, “There are still a lot of people who don’t want to hear females rhyme period,” but “If somebody is good, they're good, and if they're not, it has nothing to do with being male or female.”

Sage is also quite outspoken about the roles female emcees have in hip-hop.

“There are two kinds of female emcees, either you’re like the soft porn star, you may not write your own rhymes, and you’re really overtly sexual, or you have to be on some little boy type vibe. There aren’t many people who have been able to find that balance, as women it will happen you just have to be able to find that medium.”

She is still hopeful about the role females will play in Hip-Hop’s future and advises, “It has always been male-dominated, but that doesn’t mean it's not going to change. Just be yourself and have good lyrics.” Industry insiders are cautious but optimistic. Many think the female emcee will simply have to work ten times harder and keep on striving for that dream.

“Talent is undeniable, and timing is everything,” says one universal urban marketing representative I spoke to. Will it be enough?

Eternia launched her first CD, "It's Called Life," at Sugar Night Club (57 Duncan) on Wednesday, September 21st, 2005. It is available at www.eternia.ca

Tara Chase''s latest CD, "The College Graduate Mixtape" is available at www.tarachase.com