q&a La Chat (Memphis, TN)
W
hat part of the M-town do you claim? Westwood, my hood.
It’s been a minute since we heard a peep from you. What’s the business? What have you been up to? I dropped Dramatized last year with Juvenile and Mike Jones on there. It’s selling. It’s good to be independent, but other than that, I’ve been trying to keep it moving. What is the relationship between you and TVT artist Yo Gotti? I am the newest member of the I&E family. They just signed me on New Year’s. You have put it down with Three 6 Mafia, local label owner Nakia Shine and now you’re down with Gotti. How did you get started in the music industry? It was a guy who knew Juicy J back when I was in high school. He knew I was rappin and gave him my number. I did some underground shit with them back then. You are somewhat a veteran rapper on the underground scene. How long have you been rapping? I honestly have been writing raps ever since I was in the third grade. You really developed a fan base as part of Three 6 Mafia, even co-starred in their first straight-to-video flick Choices. What happened to the Hypnotized Minds deal? I sold over 150,000 copies and didn’t receive a check. The pay really was never proper, but I knew I had to make me a name before I left. It’s like you wouldn’t believe. I just set up my own publishing. I never saw a royalty check or publishing check. I felt [like] if I’m your artist and you know these folks ain’t seen no check, throw them something cuz they had it. They really got it now. Next time you see them, tell them I said give me something. (laughing) Mane, niggas wouldn’t even pay my mortgage. Three 6 Mafia is the only rap group to ever perform at the American Music Awards. What do you think about them winning a Grammy? I’m proud of them. They was due something. I ain’t no hater. The town grew up listening to them. Like I said - tell ‘em gimme something. (laughing) With the movie Hustle and Flow putting your hometown on the big screen as well as this newfound attention given to Three 6, do you think M-town will be able to have a stronger impact in the music industry? Memphis is already on a come up. That’s why Hustle and Flow was filmed here - about Memphis and our style. Then, we been having big boy fights and events going on. Plus, we got Yo Gotti doin his thang. So really, we just a fire city anyway. You are the only female rapper representing Memphis since Gangsta Boo. Being one of only two women from the town, what do you bring to the table? You hear a lot of people saying they the truth. I’ma say I’m the streets, from a street bitch perspective. The rap game is a hard arena to break into. Do you think it’s even more difficult for you being a female rapper? I really don’t know, cause I haven’t been dealing with majors again yet. But I know I got plenty shows, and they show me love. That’s how I been eating. You have made many accomplishments in music in such a short time. Do you feel that you get the respect that you deserve to get? It’s very important makin’ it as a career, cause it’s a lot you sacrifice to be a rapper. You try to avoid trouble; gotta leave your family from time to time. It’s definitely hard, but I feel I get the respect so far cause like I said - I do plenty of shows everywhere. And the people come out and show me love. 34
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There are probably many up-and-coming female rappers who look up to you as a role model. Who were your influences when you were coming up? I grew up off MC Lyte. I used to do her in talent shows. My dream is to do a song with her, cuz she really was an idol to me. Right now, I’m feelin’ Da Brat. You know, keep it gangsta. I love that. Tell me about your upcoming CD. When can we expect to see it in stores? What collaborators do you have on it? I’m gonna say probably for the summer. I got Gangsta Boo, Gucci Mane, All Star, Block Burnaz, and Yo Gotti. The past five years in the game have been quite impressive. Where do you see yourself in 5 calendars? I hope I have my own label, and able to put my folks out. But I really wanna be rich, so I can quit rappin’! You mean you would put down and mic and do something else? Why? So I can be a regular mom to my 10-year-old son. He needs me, but he knows he’s the reason I try so hard. Everythang I do is for him. I know your experiences have given you more knowledge than you could have learned in any classroom or textbook. What words of wisdom do you have for any rapper, especially female? Never say the word “never,” because anything is possible. In this game, you gone have to have patience. And for us women, we can do it. We are the strongest people in the world. We give birth, and that’s hard to do. Half of these men out here was taught and raised by women, so even if y’all try to keep us out the game, we gonna figure out how to get back in it. We can’t be defeated. I’m gone say this and I mean it - niggas ain’t slicker or smarter than us bitches out here. You ain’t know? It’s been more than a pleasure. Any last departing words or shout outs? Thanks for the love with this interview and all my fans keep supporting me cause I’ma stay coming in this game. And as long as I got fans, I’ma stay in it. What it do, CEO Grip, Yo Gotti, Denairo, Try, V/Slash, All Star, Tyrone, Ben Gotti, Certy Mac, Womack, Big Ceddy, Luke, Lucky and Doodie - the real hard hittas. How can the people get at you? Easy. The number is 901-691-4437, or email me at LaChatRap@Bellsouth.net. - JoJo (Photo: Julia Beverly)