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| I did want to keep it a little short.
There's no features on it, cause I was used to do lots
of cameos and working for other people. So I wanted to
keep it just myself; no guest appearances. And keep it
short and sweet and to the point. The next album will
probably be longer. In fact I'm even thinking about doing
a double album. |
| When I look at the list
of producers, that includes Mr. Len, Da Beatminers, Masta
Ace: you were on each of their records. So it's almost
like: 'okay, I will be on your album, but you gotta do
a beat for my album.' |
| I don't think it was necessarily
consciously done like that, it's just that those are the
people that I consider family, and that are around and
I work with. And when I asked them if they'd be willing
to contribute, even if I hadn't done anything for them,
it definitely would have worked out. I'm very picky about
my beats. And I wanted people who could do emotional work.
I definitely am very blessed to have them work with me
for the budget that I had, which was pretty much zero.
Or a little bit below zero. |
| You mentioned that it's a personal
album, so maybe you can go into detail what you talk about. |
| Experiences I've been through, whether
love wise or just experienced being in the music business.
And even if it's not necessarily a personal song, it's
a social commentary, like "Block Party". I don't
wanna be very preachy to people however, but everyone
has their opinions. |
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| And I don't think I'm
overly opinionated, I'm just stating my views on
things. I think if you don't speak your mind, but
you're willing to hold your tongue, then you're
not doing your job as an emcee. If you are able
to have a captive audience, why not say something? |
| Let's get into a
couple of tracks, like the track you mentioned:
"Block Party", where you talk about the
need for people to go places. If you'd have a bus
full of folks, where would you take them to? |
| I don't think "Block Party"
was necessarily about me taking people places, it
was more about 'you need to get out on your own
and see what's out there.' Instead of being so close
minded, whether it may be with music, or political
views, or your personal views on life. I'm not trying
to change anyone's ideas. We don't have to agree
on everything, but it's easier when you know that
there's a choice of things out there for you to
do. Whether it's what you are going to do with your
life, or what music you are going to listen to.
I think there's a whole world of opportunities out
there that mainly inner city kids don't get to see.
And I think it's good for them to know, that you
don't have to have money, to educate yourself about
the world around you. It's very easy to take a trip
off your block to see what else is going on out
there. There's kids that have never been off their
block. And it's not necessarily their fault for
not doing that. But I also think other people who
have they have the chance to come in contact with
them, aren't sharing their knowledge. And it's solely
unfair and it's holding us back and is keeping us
very stagnant. |
| Now if I'd get up and get over
to New York, where would you take me to? |
| Uhm, hmm... I like to eat (smiles). |
| I like to eat too. |
| So I'd take you to different restaurants
in different neighborhoods. Because it's always
interesting: you can always meet different people
from so many different backgrounds. There are so
many people that you wouldn't think that you are
able to relate to. You never know if you have something
in common with someone in Tibet. Unless you go there
and find out yourself. So that's definitely an interesting
place to meet people from different social settings.
Not even having to worry about if you fit in or
not. |
| Now, if you get up and go to
places, and take the subway to get there, what do
you think is most interesting when you ride the
subway? |
I think in New York it's just interesting
the way people interact with each other, which is
actually, you don't interact with anyone in the
train. Like you never wanna keep eye contact for
too long. It just seems very invasive (laughs).
New York seems to be very protective of their own
personal space. New York is kinda like: 'this is
my space, this is your space: why are you walking
so close to me?' Probably because the city is so
packed. It feels like you have to have your little
protective barrier around you all the time. You
know, I've had some interesting experiences with
people on the train. Where everybody kinda feels
like they bond.
I don't know, I kinda try to stay in my own little
world, especially when travelling I kinda always
keep a walkman on. |
| Now I do have the track listing
somewhere, but I didn't have it with me when I was
listening to it, and I don't have it in front of
me right now. But I was listening to track number
three a couple of times, and I was wondering if
it's just the obvious: you writing in a male perspective.
As at the same time I was thinking, that you could
easily be taking the position of God, then again
even a woman, then again, it might be a song, where
everyone can think him/herself into it, and read
everything into it. As just every possibility feels
kinda right. Does this make any sense? |
| Yeah, that is very interesting.
That track is actually called "God's Gift".
Originally it is written from a male perspective.
But a lot of people have come to me, with different
perceptions of it. And that's fine, you know. Whatever
different people wanna read into it, even if I originally
intended it to be something different, after the
CD goes out of my hands, it's kinda like: however
you chose to interpret it is fine. I think that's
the beauty of a lot of things, just leaving it a
little bit open for everyone to draw their own decisions
from it. |
| So it's more that than 'oh,
you didn't get my point.' |
| Sometimes it does get to be a little
irritating I think. Like with the cut from the Masta
Ace album "Hold You": I thought it was
pretty much obvious that I was rhyming from the
perspective of a microphone. But a lot of people
didn't get it, and thought that I was rhyming as
his girlfriend. And that'll get me a little bit.
And it sorta tells me that people aren't really
listening. But if it's something like "God's
Gift", I don't mind if it's a little open to
everybody's judgment. That's fine. |
| But what had you write a song
out of the perspective of a man? |
| I actually really didn't have it
planned when I got the tape with the beats on it.
I went through it and that was the one that grabbed
me. At times when I start writing, I don't have
planned out what I'm going to write before I actually
do it. And so I go wherever the beat leads me. And
in this case, that's what I immediately started
to write; that was where the beat took me, what
I felt like I should be saying. |
| Machismo is very much part of
hip hop. At the same time feminism is very much
not part of hip hop. However, these are opposites
that could cause a friction that might even forward
the whole art. What are your thoughts on that? |
I'm not much for the either of
them. I'm very much for creativity and individualism
(smiles). Whether or not you're male or female,
it's about having guts enough to just be yourself,
and not follow the formula of everything that's
going on. There's nothing wrong with being a braggadocios
emcee; you have to do that. Everybody's gotta have
spit tracks. And I think there's a difference between
what machismo should be and the level they are taking
it to nowadays. Which is you are more of a man by
degrading women. And that doesn't work out well
with me.
I don't like to flaunt the whole female bit. Obviously
you can tell I'm female, and there's different topics
that I can touch on, because I am. But it's not
necessarily something that I need to promote. It's
very obvious. Let's not keep running over that again
and again (smiles); let's just get on with the music.
And there doesn't necessarily need to be an answer
record to every male record, with a girl answering
back, and then the guy answering back. Why would
you worry about what everybody else is doing? I
don't think enough people are concerned with just
themselves, instead of hating on everything else
that comes out. So I'm very much just for everyone
just doing their own thing. |
| And you're not Roxanne Shante. |
| Yeah exactly (laughs). And that
too. |
| Then again, if you think about
it: if some archaeologist digs up some old records
in the future, don't you think that the female voice
is rather if not severely under represented in hip
hop. |
| Oh of course. I think even if there's
as many females out as there are now, the female
voice is still under represented, because most of
the stuff is written by males. I think in mainstream
music, yes. I think there are a lot of females in
the underground who are definitely trying to come
up and say something and not necessarily just for
the point of 'we're representing women.' But they
happen to be representing for hip hop. And that's
definitely not represented in mainstream culture.
Labels are scared to deal with it. Because they
don't think the consumers are ready for it. |
| But you don't think that there
is actually a pressure or a necessity for you to
talk about certain issues. |
| I think no. I really don't. I think
there's a necessity for women to come up and not
to have to worry about it and just do their own
thing. I've had a few reviews saying that it's not
a party album: "she's going to have to work
more on doing something that's a little more now,
to get us to listen." But these are the same
people who say that they are tired of the same females
coming out, shacking their asses, while no one is
doing something intelligent. But when you are offering
them that, they say they want you to party. But
I think they get really confused and maybe don't
exactly understand what they want. I think fans
are really fickle, but I think we're definitely
hearing a change in music. Nowadays and especially
this year. I think that there's room for everything.
From party records to... there's gotta be a variety.
There's definitely a variety in the male side of
the music, so why can't there be just as many things
represented female wise. |
| Now I don't wanna stress this
issue topic too far, so I'm only going to ask two
more questions, but what I find interesting is,
that as soon as you have a strong women in hip hop,
that says positive things, she's immediately labeled
a lesbian. Unless they really blatantly stress the
sex thing. It happened to Queen Latifah, it happened
to MC Lyte, and I'm sure it could easily happen
to Apani or to you. Why do you think that is? Insecure
man that need to ridicule women that are stronger
than them? |
No. I think in a couple of cases,
that you named already... well, you know, they kinda
are (smiles). And I mean, 'hey, more power to you.'
(laughs) But naw, I think that's because when they
are questioned about things, they say 'no comment.'
I mean, if that's your lifestyle, then great. But
that has nothing to do with the music, so I couldn't
care less. Queen Latifah is still going to be Queen
Latifah. I don't care what she does behind doors.
Unless you are recording it and are putting it on
the album, or bringing it to my house and acting
it out, I really don't care (laughs). So, uhm, no
I definitely don't think that's a problem.
I think it is an issue if we choose, for underground
females, to do something slightly sexual. That's
not even dirty or trashy and then being taken by
the underground as 'oh, she's on some Lil Kim shit
now.' That's definitely a knock against, I guess,
the underground female. But let's see when Apani's
album comes out. However you know what? I have sex,
I have every right to talk about and do it as well.
It's not mainly the thing I'm pushing, but when
I try to be a well rounded artist, I'm going to
talk about everything. |
| Now, the last question on this:
I'm pretty sure you've heard of the book "Women
are from Venus, men are from Mars". I don't
know if you'd be interested in writing an extra
chapter, but if you did, what would it be about? |
| I honestly don't believe in that.
I think we're closer to each other than we really
would like to admit. On both sides. And I think
it's pushed more by the media and society that we
are so separate and different. And it actually only
promotes it. I think we are much more connected
and we are able to relate on a different level if
we wouldn't segregate ourselves so much and think
of it in terms of gender. I know that when I relate
to my male friends, we don't look at each other
as male or female. In terms of relationships, yes!
(laughs) But in terms of social settings, or gatherings
or every day interaction, I think it could definitely
be turned around, if we'd stop to place ourselves
in the roles that society has for us. |
| Thing is, my two introductions
to you, was first the Herbalizer stuff, and next
"How To Break Up With Your Girlfriend".
Do you actually have a preferred introduction, who
you wish people got to know you, your music? |
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