Maddy Clifford

writer. musician. muse.

I write and perform poetry, hip-hop music, essays, and comedy. I delve into what are often dubbed “sensitive topics” and “complex issues,” but my curiosity lies in understanding what renders a topic taboo in the first place. I also want to know how “touchy subjects” are shaped by gender and race. My artistic approach is anchored in Black feminist praxis, adopting bold and playful tactics to address issues from online dating woes to street harassment. 

My latest solo album, “downCHANTS,” is a twenty-track response to the Climate Crisis. I currently work with Debt Collective and contribute essays to KQED, TruthOut, Prism Reports, and Teen Vogue.