“There is room for many types. Remember Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliot, Da Bratt, Lauryn Hill, Left Eye, EVE and many more were all making music around the same time and it worked.”
It all started when…
SOULDEGA: When did you first begin rapping and song-writing?
RED: I first began rapping at the age of 11. I would freestyle rap to songs I would hear on HOT 97. Everyday after school at 3pm I would run home to hear Angie Martinez and DJ Enough. I would just rhyme over a song that was playing and realized I love doing this. My Mother one day caught me rapping and told me to never stop and keep going. I started songwriting around the same age when I started rapping. I knew I needed to develop my skills to place my thoughts into a song rather than just freestyling. So I started to write my own songs. As the years went by I also started writing songs outside of Hip hop. I would always have certain melodies and flow ideas in my head that would fit perfectly for a singer rather than for a rapper. In 2019 I decided to take my songwriter for singers further by taking songs that I have written, called up my singer friends to ask to record demos for me which led me to dive further working with RnB and Pop singers.
SOULDEGA: What does your song-writing process look like? Do you prefer to work alone, collaborate or both?
RED: When I am writing songs I mostly write alone especially when it's lyrics for my songs, but I do write and collaborate with others when approaching another artist's song. When I write for or with someone, I would listen to their stories and feelings which helps me to write their emotions into a song. When I write for myself, I would write alone while working on my flow and cadence that brings out my personal style. I enjoy writing alone and writing with others. I get to learn about my own style more and the style of others, which helps in my growth as an artist.
SOULDEGA: We noticed you have a new single coming out "Enough is Enough", what is the inspiration behind this song?
RED: Yes! my new single Enough is ENough that I just released on Monday . I was inspired by the movement that is happening right now in our nation. Black people have been sharing our cries and burden with much pain for decades and to now see other people finally woke up to our cries is very hopeful. I was having so much emotion during these times, so everytime I tried to write a song I couldn't think of any other topic besides injustice. I felt the need to share my thoughts of how much we had enough and to know we must continue to fight and have hope until justice is served. That's the beauty of Hip Hop, we get to be the voice of the people and for the people.
SOULDEGA: What has been some of the rewards and challenges of being a female rapper in an industry that is still male dominated?
RED: Wooo where do I begin haha. The challenges are how the industry always wants to compare you to another female rapper but not in a good way. It's always felt like it must only be thriving at a time. I had to face people wanting to change my image to fit the more sexy and vulgar look. I have no problem with female rappers wanting to dress a certain way, I just don't like how the industry tries to force myself and others to be more like Nicki or Cardi when female rappers come into many forms. We all don't have to be twerking and half naked all the time. There is room for many types. Remember Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliot, Da Bratt, Lauryn Hill, Left Eye, EVE and many more were all making music around the same time and it worked. Each of these women are so different but yet in today's world the industry is only focusing on one type and the rest of us are being pushed in the background. I do believe things are changing since Rapsody is finally getting recognition she deserves. This new generation is helping to shine a lot of female rappers of all forms. I am so happy times are changing. BET now brought back the Best Female Rapper category. That's big.
SOULDEGA: Who are your top three female rappers?
RED: My favorite three female rappers? Aww man I actually have four haha. Left Eye, Missy Elliot, Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill
SOULDEGA: What advice can you give young female rappers during this time of a pandemic and racial uprising?
RED: I would tell them to never shut their voice. Always speak out and stay true to your art. Rap about what you feel, not what someone is forcing you to do. If you are having writer blocks or your creative flow is not flowing it's alright. SIt back and process what is going on. Sit and feel in your emotions and when you are ready let your pen game be the voice this generation needs.