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You started rapping when you were a teenager. How did that happen?

Well when I was a younger, my older brother was part of a gospel rap group and I thought it was so cool. I also thought “I could totally write raps too“. While they would be working on their songs, I would go in the corner and write my own verse but never share it with anyone. I was pretty shy back then. I just kept on going even after they split up, writing and recording little voice notes. When I got into university I met people as passionate about music as I was and that essentially brought me all the way here.

You then joined a group called Jinus. Can you tell us more about that experience?

Jinus was a gospel rap/music group I joined back in university. Back then, it had about 3 rappers, 2 singers and 1 awesome producer. We met in church actually. It was an awesome experience, that was where I got to perform in front of a crowd for the first time. We would record our tracks sometimes in a member’s little room and perform them at church. The group still exists actually, back at the University of Benin, with fresh talents. I and other founders are official alumni.

You name Run DMC, Nas , Nelly and Drake as some of your influences. What do you think is so special about them?

Each of these acts had/have a unique sound, I think that’s what essentially drew me to them.

How did you meet Montreal producer Teck-Zilla and how did you two start working together?

I met Teck early 2014, I tagged along with a friend who was going for a hip hop show that happened once a month. Teck was the DJ at the event, I had my friend do me a solid and tell him I wanted to perform a track I had been working on, and thankfully they let me… After the show, he told me about a project he was working on, sent me a beat and we hit the studio. One track turned into to two, three, and the rest was history.

You just released a track called “Phlowetic Justice” inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice”. What made you want to do it? 

Crazy coincidence. Actually Teck made that beat before he had met me. “Poetic Justice” is a song I have always loved and often performed at karaoke bars.Teck had no idea when he played that beat. I loved it and it just sorta fell into place, and the play on the name had a nice touch too.

Who are your female role models and why?

Ada Lovelace, the first female programmer, who is freaking awesome, Maya Angelou, that goes without saying, taking a bold step and sticking to it, that’s definitely something I look up to.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why?

That depends on your definition. I believe one should be able to do whatever it is that they want, being male or female should not have to determine or hinder what you wish to achieve.

What are you listening to these days?

So many different sounds ranging from EDM to rap, Jon Bellion, Drake, The Chainsmokers.

What are your upcoming projects?

I’m working on a couple of projects: one featuring Swedish producer Ryko and the other with another talented female rapper Cyclone, produced by Teck- Zilla.

 What do you think of Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?

I feel it’s a great outlet for female rappers to showcase their skills to the rest of the world. It definitely gives women into hip hop a much needed platform for self-expression in a male dominated genre.

Find Phlow on Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter and Instagram.

Where does the name BauBô come from?

BauBô is the goddess of bawdy humor and the belly in Greek mythology. I discovered her when I read Clarissa Pinkolas Estes’ book Women Who run With the Wolves. She is a small goddess with eyes at the end of her breasts and has got a vulva instead of a mouth. She plays a central part in the myth of Demeter: “Overcome by her daughter’s disappearance, who was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld, Demeter meets Baubô along her search. To help Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvests, out of her torpor and allow the earth to be reborn, BauBô lifts up her skirt and her bottom mouth speaks all kinds of bawdy jokes. Demeter bursts out laughing. Her laugh gets as far as Hades. And Hades, laughing, accepts to free Persephone for half of the year. The earth is saved!” I thought “I’m gonna stick with this one!”

When and how did you become a street artist?

From 2006, after realizing that everywhere in the world male and female were granted unequal importance, in favor of men, I began to work on how to highlight women by drawing uteruses as a symbol.

Two years later, I tried to show and share my work and contacted galleries, but in vain. I had the idea of putting my work on the street at the time.

In the following years, I learned that 80% of gallery artists were men (!), I had then little chance to be exhibited. I made an attempt on the street in 2011, but I was so freaked out that I thought it wasn’t for me.

When I tried to understand why I got so scared – because there was no reason to be, Paris, 10^th arrondissement, 6 AM, in front of my place, I wasn’t taking too many risks! – I discovered that I absorbed and came to terms with the idea that I didn’t have the right to take space and even less mine. I had been forbidden to go out and made believe that I would get raped/assaulted/harassed, a kind of conditioning that all women know too well. I was super pissed! I worked on it for several months until I felt free and ready to take the street. In August 2012, I was out there with my glue and brush!

You’re also a hip hop dancer. How is it similar to street art?

I don’t know, maybe it is complementary, regarding emancipation, freedom and exploration. Hip hop is still a young and wild dance, without any frame or norm, maybe that’s what attracts me to it, like urban art…

You often work with different feminist organizations. When did your feminist awareness rise and how did it happen?

I don’t recall anything specific, but I know it was close to my 30^th birthday. I was stuck in a thick fog and didn’t understand what to do to live here. My constant questioning made my face my conditioning as a woman and made me discover male domination. By dint of looking for the light, I found it!

You recently started to rap and released the track « CHIPS ». Why did you want to rap?

In the beginning, I wanted to sing. Sixteen years ago, I took my first singing lesson. For years, I tore my hair out because, despite a real desire to express myself through this medium, I couldn’t feel anything.  I recorded a few demos, as an author, and then as an author/composer but after ten years of classes and musical attempts, I still couldn’t feel anything. Aggrieved, I decided to stop taking lessons.

I then joined a gospel choir, hoping that I would be able to free myself, but nothing happened there. I gave up singing but as I wrote many texts and felt I belonged on stage, I thought that if I couldn’t sing, I could at least declaim.

So I started to slam. That’s when I first felt something physically speaking and that people told me my flow was close to rap. I was surprised and a little moved, it was an art form I really liked but I thought it wasn’t for me, as if it was impossible. But I stuck with this idea and in 2015, as I was trying, for fun, to spit my texts on an beat, I set up my flow all of a sudden as if it had always been there.

Rap is an artistic genre that exactly matches what I have to say and my perception.

You directed the video for CHIPS. Why was it important to you to do it on your own?

It wasn’t important, it was simpler! I already had the video I wanted in mind so I did it. I already tried to direct and edit with the Kauzette Kauz sketches on YouTube and knew more or less what I could do. The result works with what I imagined.

Do you think it’s possible to be a feminist and love rap?

For me, rap is an art form that combines rhythm, urban poetry and (or not) protest. So of course, you can be a feminist and love rap. We didn’t wait for rappers to be deluged with misogyny, pop music and rock overflow with it. Using hatred against women is very opportunistic and common, especially when you know that nothing is more tolerated/accepted/authorized/encouraged by society. Despising women is convenient, it allows you to feel superior at a lesser cost and without any effort! To come back to rap, there are a lot of female and male rappers who don’t use society’s hatred to make a name for themselves, so there’s plenty to do for those who love this art form.

What should we do to increase women’s representation in hip hop?

The other day, I went to see Casey’s concert at Centre Pompidou. As I was asking at the entrance where the concert was, the guy told me “the male rapper? It’s on the third floor”. I told him it was a female MC. He looked at me, stupefied, and said: “a female MC ? So there are women who rap?”… Here it is. For the mainstream, in France, rap is like football, a guy thing, because female rap is not broadcast! It’s really sad to see the invisibility of women in French rap.

What should we do? Honestly, that’s the main question! Have women in distribution companies/labels and radio stations? More open-minded decision-makers? More curious broadcasters? And especially a lot less norms and clichés!

What are your upcoming projects?

Le mur Oberkamp on September 10 in Paris. It is a project based on urban knitting and collage with Les Sœurs Chevalme and the Café Culturel de St Denis-La Fabrik on the place of women on the street. The first part will be shown at the 6b starting from November 15. Concerning music, I’m going to record new tracks and keep the adventure going…

What do you think about Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?

It’s excellent! When I discovered it and posted it on the social networks, there was an impressive number of enthusiastic reactions! People expect a lot about rap and women.

Find BauBô on her blog, Twitter and Facebook.

© Street Art Shooters

Should we call you Blimes Brixton or Oh Blimey? Sorry we’re confused!

Blimes Brixton. Oh Blimey was the younger version of me. I feel like I’ve grown a lot in the last few years both as a human and as a writer and I wanted my career to reflect that.

How and when did you discover hip hop?

I discovered hip hop when a baby sitter I had this one random time told me that she would let me listen to her cassette player if I didn’t tell that she smoked cigarettes. She had the Marshall Mathers LP in there and I listened to the whole thing front to back. I was addicted to how dangerous and rebellious it felt. After that I grabbed every single hip hop tape I could get my hands on, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Blackalicious, Andre Nickatina, Too Short, Jurassic 5, Jay Z, Digital Underground, Missy Elliott, and the list goes on…

You won a series of rap battles. How is battling different from “traditional” performances to you?

It’s very different. When I perform a concert, I feel like I have the ability to uplift my audience, the other performers, and myself in a positive way. When I was battle rapping, I felt like in order to get ahead, to be loved, I had to step on the heads of others. It didn’t resonate with the person I truly am. I am feminist at heart, strongly against racism, and just love people. I felt like I was perpetuating hate being involved in that arena. I can’t lie and say it didn’t feel good to win, but it wasn’t worth the negativity I was focused on in preparation for battles not only towards my opponent but towards myself.

Can you tell us the story behind the track “Old Habits”?

“Old Habits” is about being back on familiar ground, back where I used to sell drugs to get by and coming in contact with an ex that still calls upon our romance to get the substance I always provided.

The LA female hip hop scene seems thriving. How would you describe the role of women on the scene?

It is. It’s beautiful. Not only is it thriving, but there’s unity which is amazing. 5-10 years ago, it was nothing like this anywhere. Females felt that they were all competing for ONE slot that the mainstream held, but now with open eyes, we’re accepting that we’re far more powerful as entities than enemies. Women’s roll in the scene is shine. It’s our time. It’s our turn. We can’t let shit be easy for these men anymore. We gotta let ‘em know that we really are competition. The ladies are KILLING it in LA right now.

Hip hop is often considered to be sexist and homophobic. How is rap perceived in the LGBT community and vice versa?

Hip hop is actually thriving in the LGBT community more than ever right now and its beautiful. I think that Queer people just got sick of the music they love and vibe with, not ever being written from their perspective. Now you have parties and festivals having queer artists like Le1f , TT The Artist, and myself headline and give us a voice and it feels good.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why?

Yes. Cuz we can do anything boys can do.

What are you listening to these days?

Been going through the final stages of mixing/mastering Gavlyn and I’s new joint EP “Dodgy” so just rounds and rounds of revisions of that haha. When I get the chance to take a break its either Anderson .Paak , Majid Jordan, Gallant, Chance the Rapper, Etta Bond, ScHoolboyQ or one of the homies like Gavlyn, Olivia Braga, Adam Vida…

What are your upcoming projects?

“Dodgy”! Got videos and official release on the way. Gonna drop the first single in the next couple weeks then the full project when Gavlyn and I get off Tour at the end of September.

What do you think of Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?

I love it. I think a lot of people, not just women, but people in general are looking for where they can find dope female artist because there are FAR more women making music than the 5 that are in the mainstream. Keep it going! Advertise on other hip-hop blogs too so that you gain more visibility and in turn we all do! I’ll keep reading.

Find Blimes Brixton on her website, Facebook, Soundcloud and Twitter.

When and why did you change your name from L.S.G (Little Shady Gigglez) to Lil’ London?

I had been releasing/performing music under the name L.S.G. from such a very young age, around 2007 I just felt like it was time for a change. Initially, Lil’ London was just going to be used as an alias when releasing music in other genres (House etc.) but it just stuck.

You released your first solo record at the age of 14. How did that happen? 

I was working with a very talented producer called Bobzee (who was a family friend) he later introduced me to a music manager who worked with a few other producers (Ebey & Curtis). I wrote the raps and the producers came up with a great sample.

I totally cringe when I hear it now though… I had a fake American accent and everything (as did most UK rappers back in the 90’s) lol.

You worked with Ski Beatz. How did you two meet and what did you learn from this collaboration?

I went to stay in New Jersey for a while in 2012. A good friend of mine D. Rilla (also a rapper) flew out to NY to visit his sister, who is a friend of Ski Beats. We all hooked up at the Dojo (Ski’s recording studio) D.Rilla and I ended up staying there, and recording a track with him. Ski is such a kool, humble and talented guy! He just plays around with sounds, scraps them and starts something new, and I’m sitting on the edge of my seat like “but that was sick!”

The track “London’s I” is very political. Would you say you make conscious hip hop?

I do have a conscious side to my music. I’m full of opinions and write what my head/heart feels at the time. I don’t particularly like labels, and I hate being put in a box! It’s great when people can relate to your music, and if you can spread a positive message or teach something with your lyrics, that’s even better, but I’m a versatile artist and tomorrow I might just wanna make something to make people jump about and dance. People have many moods and so does my music.

You’ve featured in several independent movies. What would you say are the similarities between acting and making music?  

I think it’s very similar, learning lyrics/learning lines, performing and being in front of people & cameras. Sometimes you may not want to go out on stage or smile to the camera, that can be an act in its self. I’m actually in the process of learning lines for a role in an up and coming movie “198 Grand“.

You coproduce your music and codirect your music videos. How common is it for UK female artists to do so?

I’m just a control-freak lol! I always have ideas and I really enjoy being involved in the creative process that goes on behind the scenes. I think it’s important as an artist to know what you want or to at least have an idea of how you want to come across, look or sound like, otherwise your just someone else’s puppet! I think a lot of male & female artists leave important decisions to other people to make. I’m blessed to have one person (Rozar) I always bounce ideas of off, and he always seems to share my visions.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why?

Again I’m not really with the labels, but I definitely support women! I’m all up for equality, but think we need to be careful not to lose our already great God given attributes, whilst fighting for something more. I think it’s very important that women build each other up, instead of trying to knock each other down! Especially in the music industry, people always want to put women up against each other, and compare us, like there is only room for one female rapper at a time. I’m not about to burn my bra, but I love strong, independent women, and love to see other women do well! I’m always open for collaborating with other talented females, but it seems people would rather see women go up against one another, rather than work together. I don’t compete with anyone but myself! I hate when women go against all that we have already fought for, undoing the hard work that’s been done before us… That’s when I turn on beast mode and will just want to attack & assassinate lol, hence some of the tracks that I’ve got coming out. (“Hunting Season”, “Bang Girl”, “Fight Talk”)

What are you listening to these days?

I’m old school lol…Wu-Tang Forever  is currently in my car. On my laptop you may find Billie Holiday open in my tabs.

What are your upcoming projects? 

I took a little time away from the hip hop scene, and was focusing on session and writing work. I’ve recently got back in the lab with my boy (rapper/producer) John Hectic , we have been collaborating on a few tracks and are in the process of putting some treatments together for some visuals. I’ve got an EP that I’ve just started working on, and will also be shooting videos to accompany those tracks too. I recorded a House banger that we were expecting to be released this summer, and I’m currently learning lines for a film… So lots of new and exciting projects coming up.

What do you think of Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?

I luv luv what you guys are doing, and think it’s great that Madame Rap are giving females a platform… We definitely need more of that!

Find Lil’ London on Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

© Kay Mills at Captured Studio

Is it true that you started to rap at the age of 13 because you disliked your voice as a singer?

I wrote my first poem at the age of 9 and continued writing poetry for many years. I’ve only recently realised that when I became a rapper, the poet or writer within me always remained. I fell in love with words first. At about 13, some friends and I started a singing group. Didn’t take long at all to realise singing wasn’t my strong point although I’m singing a little more in this album.

You grew up in South London but have Jamaican origins. How did your origins influence your music? 

Jamaican culture is so colourful and engaging that the world is enamoured by it. I’m blessed to have deep rooted connections it. It’s very powerful and beautiful.

You name Tracy Chapman and Me’Shell Ndegeocello as major influences. What do you like best about them?

Their simple eloquence as writers. When they write, they only say what needs to be said. Restraint can be very sexy.

You won the 2009 Mercury Music Prize for your debut album “Speech Therapy”. How did this award help you in your career?

Confirmation I wasn’t crazy or misguided in my belief I came into this life to share words. As artists, we imagine our future and the future of the world we live in. Some of us work toward creating that reality so when people acknowledge your art, it becomes such a relief. Like all things it can be a burden too but balance is life really. It depends what you decide to believe.

As a female artist, have you ever been discriminated against in hip hop? 

The music business like the rest of the world is a boy’s club. Two months ago in London we had The Red Bull Culture Clash. I watched about 100 men touch the stage and mic and only one woman. Being a black woman on top means we are even more ignored although we enabled others to find their own voices. Unfair but not uncommon.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why? 

Equality between the sexes and races, that’s the aim. We have been overrun with too much male energy and it’s starving us of our ability to love and have compassion. The balance between male and female energy needs to be addressed. We need more divine feminine.

What are you listening to these days? 

Oh man, Spotify Weekly playlist really helps me discover new music. If not, I’d be just listening to Beres Hammond and old school hip hop and R&B. I’m still listening to Denai Moore album a lot. Today, I started listening to Giggs new album, which I’m loving.

What are your upcoming projects? 

I just dropped an EP called “Breathe” that is streaming now. Then the album later this year called “Tantil before I breathe” which I co-produced. You can check the two tracks from the EP online now: “The Work” and “Terms and Conditions“.

What do you think of Madame Rap? What should be changed or improved?  

I think you’re doing the work wonderfully. Don’t change unless you feel it’s time!

Find Speech Debelle on her website, Facebook, Soundcloud and Bandcamp.