The great influences of Mamie Smith, led for the rise of other artists. Bessie Smith, a.k.a. the “Empress of the Blues”, came onto the scene as an even bolder and more confident artist. Bessie was not afraid to discuss what was described as “taboo” during that time. Her emotional intensity shined through as she sang about domestic violence, sex, sexuality, her dreams and desires, and the hard times faced by herself and her people. Black women’s woes were apart of the foundation of the Blues music and led to several realizations about the oppressive impacts that came with both being black and women. Not only that, but this particular music gained recognition for the hardships of black people has a whole and black men, as they did were much more confined in this genre when it came to speaking their truths.