What’s been happening with you since Georgia Peach?
You know I’ve been working, I’ve been on the road so much, just going around, doing a lot of shows in different cities. Constantly recording all the time, doing stuff like this, trying to stay consistent and focused and grinding a whole lot. Since the last album the fan base has grown a whole lot, so just grinding.
Are your fans all from the South?
Oh no, I’m starting to really go like to Pittsburg, to Ohio, to Phoenix, Arizona, Indianapolis… just different places. My fan base is growing on the national level. And I know it takes time and I’m seeing the changes over the years and it’s really good.
What is different about your music on Dat Type of Gurl?
Its just me. Just sounding real confident about what I’m talking about. Speaking for the women and saying the things we want to say but won’t. just putting it out there. Its just really good music. I’m happy about it. It’s stuff you wanna dance to, its about relationship situations that a lot of women can relate to and a good sound of music. I don’t sound like any other female artist. I don’t get any comparisons, so when people hear it they hear Rasheeda and they’re getting that sound. And that’s the sound that you’re always gonna get.
How did you choose crunk as your primary music genre?
People started calling me a Queen of Crunk because when I do shows I give a lot. I get out there ands I shake my hand and dance and really perform for people. So I started getting that name as I was out there performing and doing my stuff. Of course, Lil John came with the ‘King of Crunk’. So it was only right for them to say that I am the queen cause I’d be doing shows with a lot of the guys and giving a whole lot.
How would you compare yourself to Ciara, another artist focused on Crunk music?
There’s really no comparison to me. She sings and I rap. We’re cool, we don’t compare ourselves and people who really know don’t even try to do that. She’s great and she’s really grown so much as an artist and as an entertainer. I wish her the best because I can see her records and they’re hot. I can see she’ll be in the game for a long long time.
Your collaborations roaster seems rather extensive, but mostly Southern acts. Are there any New York acts that attract you for future work?
I don’t and not that I don’t want to work with New York artists, it’s just that I hadn’t. I worked with people that I’ve known for a long time or people that I run into on the road. Like ‘Hey, we’ll be in the studio doing this song’. So its nothing against New York artists. There are a lot of artists here that I really like its just that I didn’t really go and reach out to them. When I go and do something a lot of people would just follow to the studio and I’d be like ‘Hey, you need to get on this song’.
Southern female MCs and singers saw more success than female artists from any other region. Why do you think that is?
You must be talking about R&B, there’s not a lot of females in Hip Hop. I don’t necessarily thing so, there’s a lot of artists you have here, like Foxy and Lil Kim and Eve. I don’t thing there’s more down South, I actually thing there’s not enough females in Hip Hop. It’s really hard to break through and you gotta be really tough and understand what comes with it. Doors get closed in your face and people turn on you and you got to be able to look past it and keep forward and keep focused and keep moving ahead. So I got to say there needs to be more success for females as a whole.
Hip Hop music is mostly male dominant. Do you feel that it is more difficult being a female MC?
It’s extremely hard. The line that you kind of have to walk down as a female artist, being relatable and being the kind of female that other females can listen to and enjoy it and say ‘I can relate to that, I can understand where she’s coming from’. And also be sexy around the way but not over the top. And with the fellas its kinda like they wanna see someone who can deal in their field and play as hard as they play and at the same time being sexy and feminine as well. So it’s a line that I try to stay within. Its hard but I try to make it happen.
You spoke about representing for females. What specific emotions do you try to represent?
I speak from my experiences in my life but I’m just an average independent black woman trying to make the right decisions and trying to raise the son and trying to be in the business. I think a lot of people can relate to that. And dealing with walking in the club and fellas trying to holla at you and what to expect from the men and what you do and don’t like and what you’re willing to put up with. That’s the things that people can relate to. Like in my records, Pack Your Bags and Georgia Peach. Cause all women have been through these situations but we haven’t really put it out there in a sense that I put it out there, just straight to the point.
You’ve used a lot of sexually suggestive lyrics in your music. Do you feel that it hurts the female image or is it just music and should not be viewed literally?
I think it depends on how far you take it. I always try to be tasteful with it, I try to play with it instead of just saying something that make you wanna close your ears up. I would say that sex sells of course but I definitely try to be a lot more creative and come across with sexy, seductive, cute little ways. It’s entertainment but at the same time I’m a woman and I want to be pleased and stuff like that. I’m not afraid to say it and it’s a lot like talking to my friends.
How is your experience here at Imperial?
It’s good. It’s really new. We have a lot of things that we have to sort through and stuff but they’re great and everybody here is really nice and looking out for the project. They’re prioritizing things and that’s what I need so I think I’m good.
Southern music had a phenomenal ’06. What do you think Southern acts need to do to replicate that in ’07?
It’s not really something that we need to do. We’ll just keep on dropping great music. There’s more and more to come. It’s funny when people think that Southern music is just coming around, but it’s been around for years its just time that people started paying attention. I think the light is shining right now and it won’t stop any time soon.
Is there anything you’d like to add?
Be looking out for the Bubblegum video. Hit me up on www.myspace.com/rasheedagapeach check out the video there and go get the album June 19th