The Rapper & Model from Beaumont
A note for Jamaica:You are such a beautiful melanated queen destined for greatness! I have watched you grow and flourish into a self made boss and it’s amazing to watch. I had the pleasure of being introduced to you almost 10 years ago which is crazy. Not only are you a beautiful spirit, but you are also my son's auntie. I can tell you that even if you weren't his auntie, even if I had never had him, I would still make sure to be there for you if you need me. You're not somebody I'd toss to the side and forget about. You are so special, intelligent, wise beyond your years, and simply amazing. You will ALWAYS be a sister to me. I hope you get everything in life that you are working so hard for! Love you sis & thank you for being apart of this. So let's jump right into it.
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
Born in Beaumont, Texas. Raised in Dallas, Texas, and spent my teenage years back where it all started, in Beaumont.
How old are you and how old were you when you started to take an interest into being a female rap artist?
Im 24 and I've always been a writer. I’m a poet. When my mom passed, writing became more of an outlet. and at 20 I had a dream that I was on a stage performing. When I woke up, I remembered the whole song so I wrote it down and have been writing music ever since.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involved music?
When my mom used to play her slow jams while cleaning up. I Cant Stop loving You by Kem to be exact, LOL. A sound, smell, and visual I will never forget.
When did you first realize that you had a passion for music?
I realized I had a passion for music very young. Music makes my body move and it makes me feel good. Even if I wasn’t an artist, music would still most definitely be my biggest passion for real. Music just does something to my soul, my mind, and my spirit… my energy honestly.
Who are your favorite artists right now in the rap game and did they have any influence on your music?
Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Kevin Gates, Mo3 and Missy Elliott. All of these artists have influenced my music in some way.
Who or what has been your biggest motivator to do what you do?
My biggest motivator is my mom. Even in her absence, I just want to make her smile and proud of me. That’s all I wanna do, and that's what I’m gonna do. She’s not here, but she's still my biggest motivator.
What does originality mean to you for your craft and what do you think sets you apart from other up and coming female artists in the industry right now?
Originality means everything to me for my music. This is a big reason I wouldn’t sign to a record label yet. I sometimes get in a funk where I don't wanna write or I get stuck. So if someone were to tell me that I needed to write something a certain way or in a certain amount of time, I’d completely shut down honestly. This is a passion for me, and if I were to sign with someone, it wouldn't be a passion anymore, but more like a task. I express myself with my music so I have to be in complete control of my music. It has to be mine and it has to be original, that is very serious to me. What sets me apart is because I'm me. I'm original and I have something to talk about other than my sexual features. I still pop my shit and talk my shit which I’ll always do, but my sexual features are not what defines me. There’s nothing wrong with this type of music, but I want to be more diverse. And the intentions I have with the meaning of my songs means a lot to me.
I absolutely love your Fake Friends single! It is in my playlist of music that I listen to on a daily. It’s a universal song in the sense that everyone can relate to it and honestly it's a major hit to me! What inspired you to make this single?
What inspired me to make “Fake Friends” was how alone I felt. Yes, I had my true friends and family, and my girlfriend there with me, but nobody was there how I thought they should be. It truly had nothing to do with anybody else, it had all to do with me and everything I had going on. Only God could help me through that time and everything else. It gave me the words to share with my fans and I really appreciate that you love that song because I feel like I can connect on a different level with so many people with that song.
Think back to your first performance and what it meant for you. All of the nervousness and excitement I am sure was a rush of adrenaline. Tell us about your very first performance. Where you were, how you felt, and what was the most rewarding part of that performance for you.
My very first performance was March 8th, 2022. It was held at the Hush Bar in Houston Texas. I opened up for SunniThaRapper who I’m a huge fan of. Ya’ll go check out her single “Thickkk” on all platforms. But, yeah I was very nervous… butterflies, like, stomach dropping nervous. I performed “Fake Friends” and my girlfriend and I surprised everyone with a song with both of us. After I performed Fake Friends she came out on the stage and we performed our single “War Zone” which will be out on my mixtape titled “My Time” which is coming soon. Ya’ll can go view that performance on our YouTube channel, Gemining with the Jays. At the end of it all, I felt accomplished. I was so excited and since then, I’ve performed over 20 times all over Houston.
I see you’ve done a few live performances and as a up and coming artist that is huge! It’s amazing that you are putting yourself out there and networking. In this day and age a lot of things are so digital, but it’s great to see young people getting out and making shit happen. How do you think your confidence has grown since your first live show to today?
My confidence has grown tremendously. I still get nervous, but I own it. I use those emotions to affect me positively and my performances.
Do you have any upcoming shows/performances?
I have an upcoming show on October 8th. On October 15th I’ll be performing at the Priority Music Festival and the address is on the flyer which is on my page! Make sure y'all follow me and make sure y'all go support.
I saw the promotions on social media for the 97.7 FM Radio HTX Indie Fest! That was a big deal for you I'm sure and I’m so excited for your success. How did you feel about being apart of something that could potentially take you to the top and get you the exposure you deserve?
That was a great experience. I genuinely love being apart of anything where people are expressing themselves and showing great talent, I love it.
What has been your biggest challenge as a female artist in this industry?
My biggest challenge has been not having a team behind me right now. Which is fine. Also trying to handle school, my dogs, and everything. It gets hard doing it all by myself. But everything I’ve done thus far, I’ve gotten done, and give myself a pat on the back for that.
How have you overcome adversities that you have had as an artist and what motivates you to keep pushing even when times get hard in this game?
So, something that happened in my career that made me want to give up was I was supposed to perform in Los Angeles during BET weekend back in June. I paid $1300 to be able to perform and long story short, I ended up not being able to go. I was supposed to get my money back, and still haven’t received my money. That was a big loss for me being that I haven’t made anything, but it pushed me to keep going and at this point, I have to invest in myself and that’s fine. I’m gonna take some losses, but it’s gonna pay out in the end.
What message are you sending through your music to your supporters?
I'm very diverse in the message that I send with my music. It really just depends on the song. I got some stuff that y'all probably wouldn't think you’d hear from me, but it’s all coming soon.
Are you currently working on any music projects that you are excited about? Mixtapes? Upcoming album?
I am currently working on my mixtape My Time. I plan to have 8-10 songs and it’s supposed to be done by Christmas, so y'all be watching out for that.
What is your creative process when you are writing a song?
My creative process with my writing, it takes time and I allow that for myself. I used to get frustrated and stop all together when I got stuck. But now I just move on, or I just write what's on my mind and come back to it when I think of something to continue it.
If you could sit down and have a conversation right now with any artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kevin Gates. He always tells a story and I’m a story type of girl. Beyond the music from what I can see, he’s real blunt and stands for something. A person of that nature would definitely be someone I’d want to have an intellectual conversation with.
I see that you also are a photographer and model. It is always good to have other passions and streams of income in today’s world. What inspired you to get into photography? Are you currently booking clients for photos or is this something that you do more as a hobby?
Everything about capturing a moment is what inspires me about photography. Its stillness, the memories it holds, just everything. I’m currently not booking clients so it’s really just a hobby right now.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I’m most thankful for God’s grace and his love. Im grateful for my family’s comfort, my girlfriend for her support, my dogs for their unconditional love, my job for providing, and life for growth. I show gratitude everyday for all of these things because I hold them close to my heart, and gratitude is something that so many people take for granted. You have to be thankful for what you have now to receive anything, in my opinion.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
My end goal, I am not sure just yet. I am just praying that whatever it is, it’s God’s plan and I’m helping others. When I’m able to do this, I’ll feel as if I’ve made it.
Do you have any shout outs you want to give to any special people in your life?
I wanna give you a shout out for what you’re doing right now. I really appreciate the recognition and opportunity to be apart of this with the soul writer, Marie. I’m very honored, and I love it.
Born in Beaumont, Texas. Raised in Dallas, Texas, and spent my teenage years back where it all started, in Beaumont.
How old are you and how old were you when you started to take an interest into being a female rap artist?
Im 24 and I've always been a writer. I’m a poet. When my mom passed, writing became more of an outlet. and at 20 I had a dream that I was on a stage performing. When I woke up, I remembered the whole song so I wrote it down and have been writing music ever since.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involved music?
When my mom used to play her slow jams while cleaning up. I Cant Stop loving You by Kem to be exact, LOL. A sound, smell, and visual I will never forget.
When did you first realize that you had a passion for music?
I realized I had a passion for music very young. Music makes my body move and it makes me feel good. Even if I wasn’t an artist, music would still most definitely be my biggest passion for real. Music just does something to my soul, my mind, and my spirit… my energy honestly.
Who are your favorite artists right now in the rap game and did they have any influence on your music?
Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Kevin Gates, Mo3 and Missy Elliott. All of these artists have influenced my music in some way.
Who or what has been your biggest motivator to do what you do?
My biggest motivator is my mom. Even in her absence, I just want to make her smile and proud of me. That’s all I wanna do, and that's what I’m gonna do. She’s not here, but she's still my biggest motivator.
What does originality mean to you for your craft and what do you think sets you apart from other up and coming female artists in the industry right now?
Originality means everything to me for my music. This is a big reason I wouldn’t sign to a record label yet. I sometimes get in a funk where I don't wanna write or I get stuck. So if someone were to tell me that I needed to write something a certain way or in a certain amount of time, I’d completely shut down honestly. This is a passion for me, and if I were to sign with someone, it wouldn't be a passion anymore, but more like a task. I express myself with my music so I have to be in complete control of my music. It has to be mine and it has to be original, that is very serious to me. What sets me apart is because I'm me. I'm original and I have something to talk about other than my sexual features. I still pop my shit and talk my shit which I’ll always do, but my sexual features are not what defines me. There’s nothing wrong with this type of music, but I want to be more diverse. And the intentions I have with the meaning of my songs means a lot to me.
I absolutely love your Fake Friends single! It is in my playlist of music that I listen to on a daily. It’s a universal song in the sense that everyone can relate to it and honestly it's a major hit to me! What inspired you to make this single?
What inspired me to make “Fake Friends” was how alone I felt. Yes, I had my true friends and family, and my girlfriend there with me, but nobody was there how I thought they should be. It truly had nothing to do with anybody else, it had all to do with me and everything I had going on. Only God could help me through that time and everything else. It gave me the words to share with my fans and I really appreciate that you love that song because I feel like I can connect on a different level with so many people with that song.
Think back to your first performance and what it meant for you. All of the nervousness and excitement I am sure was a rush of adrenaline. Tell us about your very first performance. Where you were, how you felt, and what was the most rewarding part of that performance for you.
My very first performance was March 8th, 2022. It was held at the Hush Bar in Houston Texas. I opened up for SunniThaRapper who I’m a huge fan of. Ya’ll go check out her single “Thickkk” on all platforms. But, yeah I was very nervous… butterflies, like, stomach dropping nervous. I performed “Fake Friends” and my girlfriend and I surprised everyone with a song with both of us. After I performed Fake Friends she came out on the stage and we performed our single “War Zone” which will be out on my mixtape titled “My Time” which is coming soon. Ya’ll can go view that performance on our YouTube channel, Gemining with the Jays. At the end of it all, I felt accomplished. I was so excited and since then, I’ve performed over 20 times all over Houston.
I see you’ve done a few live performances and as a up and coming artist that is huge! It’s amazing that you are putting yourself out there and networking. In this day and age a lot of things are so digital, but it’s great to see young people getting out and making shit happen. How do you think your confidence has grown since your first live show to today?
My confidence has grown tremendously. I still get nervous, but I own it. I use those emotions to affect me positively and my performances.
Do you have any upcoming shows/performances?
I have an upcoming show on October 8th. On October 15th I’ll be performing at the Priority Music Festival and the address is on the flyer which is on my page! Make sure y'all follow me and make sure y'all go support.
I saw the promotions on social media for the 97.7 FM Radio HTX Indie Fest! That was a big deal for you I'm sure and I’m so excited for your success. How did you feel about being apart of something that could potentially take you to the top and get you the exposure you deserve?
That was a great experience. I genuinely love being apart of anything where people are expressing themselves and showing great talent, I love it.
What has been your biggest challenge as a female artist in this industry?
My biggest challenge has been not having a team behind me right now. Which is fine. Also trying to handle school, my dogs, and everything. It gets hard doing it all by myself. But everything I’ve done thus far, I’ve gotten done, and give myself a pat on the back for that.
How have you overcome adversities that you have had as an artist and what motivates you to keep pushing even when times get hard in this game?
So, something that happened in my career that made me want to give up was I was supposed to perform in Los Angeles during BET weekend back in June. I paid $1300 to be able to perform and long story short, I ended up not being able to go. I was supposed to get my money back, and still haven’t received my money. That was a big loss for me being that I haven’t made anything, but it pushed me to keep going and at this point, I have to invest in myself and that’s fine. I’m gonna take some losses, but it’s gonna pay out in the end.
What message are you sending through your music to your supporters?
I'm very diverse in the message that I send with my music. It really just depends on the song. I got some stuff that y'all probably wouldn't think you’d hear from me, but it’s all coming soon.
Are you currently working on any music projects that you are excited about? Mixtapes? Upcoming album?
I am currently working on my mixtape My Time. I plan to have 8-10 songs and it’s supposed to be done by Christmas, so y'all be watching out for that.
What is your creative process when you are writing a song?
My creative process with my writing, it takes time and I allow that for myself. I used to get frustrated and stop all together when I got stuck. But now I just move on, or I just write what's on my mind and come back to it when I think of something to continue it.
If you could sit down and have a conversation right now with any artist dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kevin Gates. He always tells a story and I’m a story type of girl. Beyond the music from what I can see, he’s real blunt and stands for something. A person of that nature would definitely be someone I’d want to have an intellectual conversation with.
I see that you also are a photographer and model. It is always good to have other passions and streams of income in today’s world. What inspired you to get into photography? Are you currently booking clients for photos or is this something that you do more as a hobby?
Everything about capturing a moment is what inspires me about photography. Its stillness, the memories it holds, just everything. I’m currently not booking clients so it’s really just a hobby right now.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I’m most thankful for God’s grace and his love. Im grateful for my family’s comfort, my girlfriend for her support, my dogs for their unconditional love, my job for providing, and life for growth. I show gratitude everyday for all of these things because I hold them close to my heart, and gratitude is something that so many people take for granted. You have to be thankful for what you have now to receive anything, in my opinion.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
My end goal, I am not sure just yet. I am just praying that whatever it is, it’s God’s plan and I’m helping others. When I’m able to do this, I’ll feel as if I’ve made it.
Do you have any shout outs you want to give to any special people in your life?
I wanna give you a shout out for what you’re doing right now. I really appreciate the recognition and opportunity to be apart of this with the soul writer, Marie. I’m very honored, and I love it.
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