We recently had the chance to connect with Stacy Smith and have shared our conversation below.
Stacy, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
One moment I’m especially proud of was standing up to my landlord over unjust move-out fees. After receiving a bill for over $2,500, I challenged the charges—methodically, persistently, and with assertiveness. In the end, the total was reduced to just $145. To help others facing similar disputes, I documented every step of the process in a detailed 13-page guide. Sharing that knowledge felt just as empowering as winning the battle itself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Hip Hop artist and producer with over two decades of experience creating music and cultivating culture. As a longtime arts educator, freelance writer, and graphic designer, my work lives at the intersection of creativity and community. Since the early 2000s, I’ve been deeply rooted in Kansas City’s music scene, and I currently co-organize Sammy Sheets & Friends—a monthly showcase that highlights local producers and emcees at a Midtown venue. It’s more than a show; it’s a platform for connection, creativity, and celebration.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
My need to be quietly accommodating. I have a tendency to avoid confrontation and take the path of least resistance in interpersonal relationships. At this stage, I need to grow into a different space where I can hold space for myself and my boundaries. It’s okay to say no and to hold people accountable for their mistakes. That can be done in love so I’m working daily to be more willing to stand in that.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Use your words with care. They carry weight, and once spoken, they can’t always be pulled back—especially when they wound. What you say can be a balm or a bomb in someone’s life. So choose language that builds, heals, and uplifts—even when you’re upset. There’s strength in speaking truth with compassion, and wisdom in knowing when silence can be just as powerful.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely. What you see on my social media is who I am in person. While none of us are fully immune to the masks we wear to navigate the world, I strive to reflect my authentic self online. My virtues are the same. My vices are the same. I don’t curate perfection—I aim for honesty. If you connect with me on socials, that connection will feel familiar when we meet face-to-face.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
If people remember me as someone loving—someone who helped them along their path—that would mean everything. If it can be said that I was a resource, a shoulder, a true friend, then I’ve done what I was meant to do. At the end of the day, all the accolades and achievements pale in comparison to what we’ve poured into others. That’s the legacy I pray endures: not what I built or won, but the lives I touched with love and care.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: emceereach
- Twitter: emceereach
- Facebook: emceereach
- Soundcloud: djawnz
