For Bay Area artist and mentor Megan Correa, known on stage as Lil MC, hip-hop has always been more than music; it's been a lifeline.

"I don't even know if I'd be here today if it hadn't been for music, to be honest," Correa said.

Correa began making music at just 5 years old, playing various instruments, but it was during high school that she found her true voice through rap. Since then, she has used the mic to process deep pain and trauma from her past.

"I underwent a lot of sexual trauma when I was younger," she said. "And that was really confusing for me. I didn't really know how to articulate what had happened to me."

That confusion followed her for years, leading to substance abuse and a cycle of toxic relationships. Eventually, she faced a moment that forced her to confront her

See Full Page