EYE CANDY Ms. Hollywood, weren’t you in the group Spoil’d Rotten? Ms. Hollywood: Yeah, that was my first venture. I was just rapping and Triple J wanted to start a girl group. I’m from West Palm Beach. How did you end up in Tallahassee? Ms. Hollywood: I came to Tallahassee to go to Florida State University for Law. Spoil’d Rotten got a little buzz off your female version of “Wait (The Whisper Song).” What gave you that idea? Ms. Hollywood: It was a hot song at the time that had leaked out in Tallahassee, and we just jumped on it real quick. It got us known in Atlanta and parts of Alabama and Mississippi, really all through the South. We were really doing publicity all over the South. What happened to Spoil’d Rotten? Did y’all break up? Ms. Hollywood: The group broke up because we were having problems with the producer, and my partner had a panic attack. Everything went downhill after she had a panic attack so I decided to branch off and go solo. How did you meet up with Taelermade to form the group Eye Candy? Ms. Hollywood: We knew each other from Palm Beach. I actually introduced her to it. one day I just asked her to rap, and one of the managers we were working with heard her and was like, “Yeah, she could rap.” Taelarmade: This was my first rap project. My dad used to do music. Do you think it’s hard to break out of a smaller market like Tallahassee? Ms. Hollywood: Nah, they show a lot of love in Tallahassee. It’s easier than our hometown of Palm Beach, cause they show a lot of local love in Tallahassee. What music does Eye Candy have out now? Ms. Hollywood: “Go Head” was a song we did produced by Hutch Daddy Dollars. Another song we’re featured on is by BSU, “Beat It Up.” They play those two on the radio. Musically, what’s your style like? Ms. Hollywood: We’re kinda a modern SaltN-Pepa or TLC. We’re trying to come with something different. We’re not trying to
imitate Trina and other female rappers in Florida, we’re trying to do something different. We’re gonna cross over into pop and different types of music. Who does your production? Ms. Hollywood: Money Mark, Will Baker, M-Geezy. What about features? Who have you worked with? Ms. Hollywood: BSU, Young Cash, and Money Mark. What’s your goal right now? Are you gonna put out an album independently? Ms. Hollywood: Right now we’re really just trying to run with our single and see what that does. We’re basically getting our demo CD together. Since you’ve come out with a sexy look, do DJs and industry execs take your music seriously? Taelarmade: Nope. (laughing) Ms. Hollywood: It’s hard being a woman, and it’s hard being pretty. It’s hard to have DJs take you seriously, but they do help you to a certain extent because sex sells. But we’re not just pretty, we have talent too. Aside from sex, what kinds of things do you rap about? Ms. Hollywood: Men. (laughing) Doesn’t that fall under the “sex” category? What else? Ms. Hollywood: General hot topics. We listen to other artists and try to find out what’s hot, what’s the new phrase. We try to go off the hot topics of what’s going on today. Do you write your own lyrics? Ms. Hollywood: Yeah. How old are you? Ms. Hollywood: I’m 19. Taelarmade: I’m 20. Is there anything you want to say to the men who are reading? Taelarmade: They always ask us, “Do you live up to what you rap about?” Ms. Hollywood: Yep. We do. (laughing) Do you want to give out any contact info? Ms. Hollywood: Our website is coming soon, and you can email us at MsHollywood561@aol.com or Taelarmade561@ aol.com. - Julia Beverly (Photo: Samuel Cobb) OZONE
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