Breaking The Boys Club | Guest Blog
- Mango Marketing
- Nov 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Growing up, I always wanted to be like the main character of a rom-com. But, not the hopeless romantic. More like the CEO. I aspired to be the head of the company. The one who didn't think she had time to fall in love, preoccupied with standing out in her male-dominated company, strutting around in heels as high as her ambition. I loved the dichotomy of being the knockout in a tight skirt with a phenomenal blowout, with the strongest voice and the most direct tone, despite society dictating that even in the office, you need to be a delicate wallflower.
As I got older, I found myself living out these dreams. I was in a workplace that never outright said they favor men, but goodness, your life is a whole lot easier if you were born with that Y chromosome. In fact, my first boss even said SHE hated working with women because they were a distraction, with superficial and predatory intentions. You see, I work in the music industry. Despite the numerous female-led panels, conferences, and organizations advocating for greater women's representation in the field, we still have a long way to go.
The music industry is already a challenge to navigate. I've had quite the journey attempting to do so. It's a career path that blends the lines of personal and professional. There's no HR department, and stereotypes like misogyny, sex, and drugs run rampant throughout concert venues and recording studios. After that first interaction, I felt as though I had to zip up my sweaters and keep to myself. I shrunk my aura, doing every task at every hour of the day, keeping my glass free of alcohol at the parties, and my behavior as proper as could be. I realized I couldn't keep up this charade forever, but also, why should I have to? Why can't I dress and act like myself?
I realized no matter who I was working with or what I was wearing, it wouldn't make a difference. What's the common phrase, "if he wanted to, he would?" Well, you can flip that, because no matter what attire you're adorning or how much you've had to drink, if he wanted to, he would. No matter how I presented myself, plenty of men in the industry overstepped boundaries just as quickly as they took away opportunities from me when they discovered for themselves that I wouldn’t sleep with them. And I learned that time and time again. I finally reached a point in my career where I was fed up with reporting to men, and fed up with wishing I could report them. The countless comments about my weight, my outfits, and my dating life were no longer uncomfortable and intimidating. They were infuriating. They were unprofessional. They were unnecessary. And I had accomplished way too much to put up with it.
I started my own platform, Spice on the Beat, to share these experiences, but also to call the shots. From that point on, the second a man made me uncomfortable with his comments, we no longer had a working relationship. And no, he didn't always receive a reason why. It hasn't gotten easier. I am constantly fighting to be seen and acknowledged for my role in the music community here in Philadelphia. I am forever overlooked for opportunities, especially when men know there is no shot at cultivating a physical relationship. At every event I attend, I make it a point to insert myself into every conversation, ensuring people recognize I'm not just someone's +1, but someone they should know. I often get ignored, maybe just a look up and down, but a greeting? From a man? Please. It can be defeating to constantly feel like you need to prove yourself when you know you're overqualified. As women, people notice everything but our skills and our accomplishments, especially upon first glance. But we can no longer wait around for others to see what we're capable of. Whether I’m invited to the conversation or not, I'm going to make sure I'm heard. And I’m going to wow them.
When creating Spice on the Beat, I wanted everyone to know that I am a woman. My brand kit is comprised of elegant cursive and hues of violets. And yet, I still receive music submissions reading, ‘hey my man! Check out my mixtape!’ It truly never gets old. But with services like Mango Marketing’s branding packages, I was able to establish a brand identity that felt as divinely feminine as me. I found ways to juxtapose the ruggedness and street styles of Hip-Hop with my womanhood, creating a brand identity that anyone would be able to recognize. Mango even assisted me in creating photoshoot styles that blended my heritage with street-wear, designing unique photographs that perfectly captured my brand. If you’re struggling to find a way to stand out with your brand in a male-dominated industry, I strongly recommend taking advantage of Mango’s brand packages to play to your strengths and help you celebrate your womanhood in an industry that knows they can’t keep up. You can find out more about these services here:
About the writer: Spice on the beat is an online hip-hop blogger who uses old-school lyrics to raise awareness around social, political, and cultural issues. A lot of her narrative incorporates her Indian heritage, her revolutionary beliefs, and her passion for Hip-Hop to create a perspective like no other. She’s worked in the music industry for 10 years, finding herself on the road with artists as well as in the studios, helping them to develop their music and their brand. She later discovered her passion for supporting independent artists in their DIY career approaches and launched consulting services on Spice on the Beat, offering a la carte developmental strategies she learned from her time in labels. She additionally hosts a variety of intimate events that double as artist incubators, such as Cadence in the Clouds, and helps businesses connect music with their events by tapping into the local music community. You can check out more of her writing and keep up with her events at SpicedBeats.com
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