From the bottom to the top, at the age of ten Melina Jones was adamant about her destiny: to be a stone cold Bay Area rap machine. She is no stranger music as her father, Ernest East, is a local musician. In San Francisco during the 1970s, he was a vocalist for various soul groups including, The Invaders, The Fascinations, and East and Wes. Armed with an inextinguishable love for Hip Hop and rooted in soul music coupled with a full scale of music genres every lyric extracted from this rising star is propelled by an insatiable thirst, love, and conviction. As a member of the underground Hip Hop group Sum of Forces, Jones has graced the stages with her crew in a number of venues throughout the Bay Area, such as The Last Day Saloon (now Rockit Club), the Make Out Room, Studio Z, and the Octopus Lounge. Born in San Francisco, bred in the Bay and high schooling the Crescent City scene (north of Humboldt County), to some known as "Haute Lips" or "The Only Child", once again the city of St. Francis claims her residency with no intentions of giving her up. Assaulting all corners of the senses by juxtaposing hard-hitting lyrics with delicacy and beauty, each oscillation is even more enamoring with the next. "Swearing Off Busters," due at the end of 2006, is her Freshman solo album. Call her Haute Lips or Melina Jones -- this child of Hip Hop is truly worth keeping your eyes peeled and ears ajar.