The Ultimate Queen Of The Ring - Talking Music, Motherhood & Making Moves w/ Lynese"Babs" Wiley
"Alright, I just wanted to say shout out to you for creating your own lane, you know what I'm saying, and making things happen. And I just want to tell you hard work pays off, so keep grinding, keep pushing." That's how the self-proclaimed First Lady of the Streets Rapper started off the interview, setting the tone for her character. Those words meant a lot coming from a woman who is doing just that in her career. From coming off the block onto your T.V.screen with Diddy, watching dreams shatter then picking up the pieces, and pivoting to being a part of history by creating a lane for women like her in Music, Lynese "Babs" Wiley has shown why she is the ultimate Queen Of The Ring.
Bedstuy born Rapper Babs is first introduced to us on Puff Daddy's Making The Band 2 as the feisty, ready to buck, not afraid to speak her mind Brooklyn Femcee. Being raised in East New York, Brownsville & the Stuy, and even her Alma Mater Thomas Jefferson high school required her to stand her ground at all times, and she kept that energy in the show. But despite her tough shell, we mostly saw Babs smiling, laughing, cracking a joke, and always ready to work. She had a big heart and wore her emotions on her sleeve, passionate about those she loved. 9 minute read
Although we met her as an artist, Babs was first known for being a dancer. "I had two homegirls, and we would just kill all the block parties in Brooklyn in the summertime, and we would just shake the blocks," she said proudly. Growing up on the same block as M.O.P., she was inspired by their music and grind, and that's when her attention shifted to raps. "I watched the whole come up, and to be honest with you, at the time, I was just like, I wanted to be a part of it." At age 14, she started writing raps. When she realized how good she was at it, she fell in love with the Art, and it became her life. Although she found this new love with the help of Brownsville's natives & hardcore hip hop duo M.O.P., the Queen Femcees of Brooklyn made her believe she could achieve her dream. Seeing two women from her borough, her neighborhood, who looked like her, made her realize her dreams weren't out of reach, and from then on, she knew that she wanted to be a rapper. As I always say, representation matters. Nine years later, an opportunity arose that put her on the path to her dreams.
"My manager at the time told me that he'd seen it in the paper (Making The Band 2 Audition), and he asked me if I want to go, and I said, Yeah, why not? And so we went down there, tried out, and the rest is history." And just like she was transitioned from the block to the booth making tracks with Diddy. But that dream almost slipped away when she was cut in the semi-finals only to get a call back three weeks later. "When I got sent home, I was devastated. I was crying. I was like, the shit gonna come on, T.V. like they gonna see me losing. I'm a very emotional person, and I will cry while fighting you," she said. We both took a minute to laugh as she acted it out like a game of charades. As she tapped into her humorous side, she continued, "And so, yes, I broke down. But, you know, I still had to do what I had to do, so I was like, alright, back to square one. And then I got the callback, and I was like, okay, it's game time. And this time, I can't drop the ball, and that's how I looked at it. I was like, yo, I gotta go home with the crown." That's precisely what she did, fighting for her spot and making it back in the house, eventually securing her place in the Band.
Babs never let you see her sweat. She took every test and passed no matter how hard the task. When asked if the success was overwhelming for her, she calmly replied, "I feel like, when I look back, I think everything that I did, I manifested. And so, when I'm walking into situations, I feel like it was about time. I belong here. I really manifested it, and the wait is over. I'm finally home with all my peers, and I was just excited to be there."
Like any high rollercoaster ride, this one came with a very steep drop, the type to put your heart in your throat. Babs had put in the work slowly making her way up the track, got to the top, and had a clear view of the whole amusement park. And just when she was taking in the scenery, she felt that drop when Diddy disbanded the group. "It was hard, you know what I'm saying. It was ups and downs, just like anybody in life. But like I said before, I was already an artist, I had a manager, none of this shit was new to me. The grind was not new. And so, all I did was just get back on the grind I was already on. I put out a mixtape, and then I linked up with Lady Luck & Lady of Rage (two of her closest friends from the industry to this day), and we made some music together. We put out a mixtape called F.E.M. (Females Earning Money)." If there's anything Babs proved on her documented journey, it's that she is down to hustle, scrap, and work hard for what she wants and knows how to pivot.
Babs and the other members faded to black after this disbandment, but a few years later Babs emerged again, placing being a Businesswoman at the forefront as a Partner in the First All-Female Battle Rap League (now globally recognized), Queen Of The Ring (QOTR). "I just seen that this Queen of the Ring thing was going on, I think they were about two or three events in, and then I just got in contact with Debo, and they thought I wanted to host, and I was like, no, I don't want to host. I need to be a Partner. We had a meeting, and we made it happen. I was an official partner, and then, you know, I felt like I had so much to bring to the brand and where I saw the brand going. And so that's what I have done over the past 13 years. This year makes 13 years of Queen Of The Ring."
Every day Bab's mental is to get to the money. While her counterparts (Debo & Vague) take care of other aspects of the business, Babs is the face of QOTR. Her role is to look for investors and sponsors. She finds new things to add to the platform and stays a step ahead of the game. You can also catch her hosting every battle, opening with her infamous slogan, "Give it up for da ladies!" Because of their reputation, they no longer have to scout as the talent comes to them.
This new chapter has allowed Babs to create a lane for young women who may not get the opportunity of exposure because of the politics of the industry." It's rough. You know, and so with me, I feel so good that I have provided a platform where a lot of the politics don't matter. You know what I'm saying? Because in the industry, the politics are real. And I don't ever want a girl to feel like she can't succeed with her talent because somebody doesn't like the way she looks or somebody doesn't like the size of her body or she got natural hair or dreadlocks, and now they want her to put a wig on, or they want you to get your ass done and all of that. And that's fine if you want to do it. But what happens to those who don't want to do it and are being told they have to in order to succeed? What does that feel like for them? I'm so talented, but nobody's checking for me because I'm not willing to shake my ass."
Being a part of history doesn't seem to bring the accolades to Queen Of The Ring or Babs the way it should. When asked why does she think that was, she was beyond explanation. However, she let me know that she doesn't depend on the outside validation to determine the value of the work she put in and will get hers regardless. "You ain't got to give me my flowers. I have no problem taking them. Everything is dated and documented, and we put females on for all these years. My hands are already always willing to grab my flowers. You ain't got to give them to me. I'm the bitch at the fucking reception when they throw the bouquet. I'm catching this shit. So that's just what it is. I definitely don't think that Queen of the Ring gets the recognition that it should yet. I'm still working on that, you know what I'm saying, and I feel that it will." This platform has given women the opportunity to get paid STRICTLY off of their talent as well gaining exposure to feature in shows like the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, Nick Cannon's Wiling Out, being placed in rooms with the biggest names in music, and most importantly having control over their business affairs.
Switching from the role of an artist to a businesswoman is no short order, but her experience and lessons learned about the industry keep her moral compass and best interest of the female artists as a priority. "All I could do is do the best business possible. I can't tell somebody what they feel they're worth. I can only tell you what I have to offer. If you take it, you take it. If you don't, you don't. I understand more because I'm an artist, and when I'm dealing with these women, I'm never going to brush you off, you know, understand I'm always going to answer my phone. I'm always going to ask you, well, why do you feel this way? If you have a problem, hopefully, we can resolve it. I understand what they're going through, and for me, understanding is why I'm always willing to help if I can."
The industry has evolved and expanded in so many ways since she's entered this ring. Understanding the lack of protection for artists (especially young artists) in this industry, whether it's learning the business or providing mental health assistance for the transition of being a "regular" person to being in the limelight, I wanted to know how she felt about the state of hip hop where so many young people are dying, or killing each other, or portraying something they don't want to be. How can the industry do better for these artists? "I really don't know. I just know… that these labels are pushing these negative narratives. When you see all these young guys getting killed and all of that, it's just a really sad time. I'll tell you one thing, I said to my son, if I hear him spit one bar, he's on punishment, okay? He is on punishment. I don't even want him to be a producer." She further discusses the stereotypes placed on Black men expected to excel mainly in Basketball or Music. "It's so much, so many other things out here for us to get into. You can go out and be an electrician, and they make bread. He can start his own company and have people working underneath him. It's just so many other jobs, and we need more black people in politics, more doctors, you know what I mean, like dentists."
Motherhood has changed Lynese's life. She has grown more patient, but it gives her more drive to continue focusing on building a legacy that can provide for her son. "Everything that I do now is not for me, it's for my son. That's a different type of push because nothing outside the food I eat and the clothes on my back (is for me), everything else is for my kid, his future."
The evolution of Lynese "Babs" Wiley shows she is ready to go round for round in the ring with this thing called life, and on March 26th,2022, another type of fight will be happening. After a hiatus, Queen of the Ring returns with the Panic Room 6 event at Johns Boxing Ring in the Bronx. She is excited to have the ladies reppin' again, getting hype as she runs down the card of who we can expect to see. Tickets are on sale, and you can quickly access it by clicking the link in Instagram bio @brooklynbabs or click the link here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/queen-of-the-ring-panic-room-6-tickets-272938405117 You can also catch it on PPV by purchasing a ticket at this link https://qotr.cleeng.com/babs-vague-present-qotr-panic-room-6-pay-per-view/E720260280_US The Card is looking crazy as it introduces new talent as well as brings back some vets who haven't touched the ring in years.
As people, we are, or at least should be, constantly evolving. To everything, there is a season. What we experience within these seasons determines if it's one of loss, growth, manifestation, being still, or learning. Sometimes you can endure all of these in one season. Be careful not to place others in a box based on a particular season of their life because you might miss the metamorphosis.
Babs grind doesn't stop, and she has expanded her resume with movies. She just completed an acting role in a film called Scam City that will be out in November. She is also currently shopping her script, a newfound passion. Also on IG Live you can catch her every M/W/F at 12pm on the Bacon, Egg & Cheese show with her Co-hosts Lady Luck and Ms. Lissa. With all that she has done and continues to do, she constantly reminds me that you will only get out what you put into life. Don't complain about where you are if you are doing the most.
Babs also recognizes that it always feels good to be supported no matter how strong you are. "At the end of the day, man, we all need somebody to push us and motivate us. Like, I be needing that. Like, yo, somebody call me and tell me I'm the shit, so I could be like, Yeah, yeah, you know, you right you know what I'm saying, like that shit goes a long way." And Ms. Wiley, I agree, so today, when quoting your infamous slogan, we are bigging you up. Keep grinding, the streets need you. 
Follow Babs on IG at @brooklynbabs
Watch Full Interview Here