AndtwonDaDon: First off, let me
say that I am very excited to have
the opportunity to meet you. I
first discovered you in December
2013 scrolling through battles and
I came across “Nina Cruzae Vs
Fendi”. I listened to Fendi’s bars
and — minus her slip up — I
thought that she had hard bars.
But then your round came up and
I thought to myself, “Wow. This
girl’s cadence is amazing. Not to
mention her performance is A1
and she has bars.” So, salute. How
are you?
Brooklyn Carter, Cee, B Magic,
Tay Roc and Bigg K.
Nina: Thank you. I’m fine. Fendi
is my boo. I love her bars; she
is super dope — my favorite
opponent, forever.
Nina: Of course the hunger,
but the versatility of all of the
new girls. Not one of us sounds
alike. We all bring different
flavors to the game. I feel we are
more lyrical than the old girls
— no shade.
AndtwonDaDon: So before we
get into your battle rap résumé
and future endeavors, let’s get to
know who Nina is. Where are you
from, how long have you been
rapping and just when did it turn
to battling?
Nina: I am from Brooklyn, New
York. Bed Stuy. I’ve been rapping
since 12. It turned into battle
rap at 25 years of age.
AndtwonDaDon: So who were
some of your influences as far as
mainstream music and battle rap?
Nina: Mainstream [influences]
will always be Biggie and JayZ; female-wise, Eve and Kim.
Battle rap [influences] would be
AndtwonDaDon: How many
battles have you had so far?
Nina: So far four; Lil’ Scar,
Fendi, Taylor Jay and Casey Jay.
AndtwonDa Don: I am really
impressed with the new breed of
females that Queen of The Ring
is producing. What do you feel
makes you and this new class
different?
AndtwonDaDon: You are right,
all of you sound totally different;
it is really a new breed. Cee’s
flow can’t be f**ked with. Diesel
keeps it so ‘hood and gangster,
but yet still punches. Melato is
one of the dopest lyricists I’ve
heard in a long time. Taylor Jay’s
delivery and flow is clever and
chic. MyVerse is like Method
Man incarnated. And Nina
Cruzae’s cadence is captivating
and melodic. I think sometimes
people can get so used to an old
formula and forget that times are
changing and with that always
comes a string of new talent.
I really want people to pay
nina cruzae
rising star
attention to all of you and listen to
your bars, because I truly believe
in all of you and I am so excited
to see what’s next. So speaking of
what’s next, what’s on your plate?
We just saw you battle Casey Jay.
Will there be a ring battle?
Nina: Yes, there will be a ring
battle. I can’t say against whom,
but just know I’m not sleeping
on none of my opponents. I’m
killing everything handed to me.
AndtwonDaDon: So tell me about
WeGoHard and tell me about the
Halloween event and who’s on
that fire card you just dropped.
Nina: WeGoHard is me and Cee
the Boss’ home league; she of
course being First Lady — as
she has rightfully earned. We’re
just a bunch of battlers from the
Brooklyn borough who came
into this s**t hungry and will
remain until we kill everybody.
Halloween Havoc 2: The Laurie
Strode card was put together by
me, for the ladies. WeGoHard
doesn’t have many females,
so City came to me to set a
beautiful card. We got Fendi, VA
Paper Chaser, Zan, Winter Cold,
Thicc Shady, Gucci, BK Fynest,
Uneek Fatal, Lyric, Kwani Kush,
Tae Diamondz, Lil’ Scar — I
wanted these females to be able
to finally get WeGoHard love for
the work they’ve put in.
AndtwonDaDon: That is a fire
event. We know that Brooklyn
Carter is your other half; would
you do a two-on-two with him
and another battle rap couple?
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