5.So I’m hearing that you have a mixtape in the works entitled Blank Slate, so what inspired that
as the title?
Blank Slate to me is a new beginning. I am 21 years old, in college, work full time, i’m still
young and when some people look at me they don’t know what to expect. Blank Slate gives
me the chance to create a new individual within the Monaee character. People don’t expect
me to be a good artist because of my age, my style, my looks, where I came from. But I use
my past experiences to create my songs and I want people to see my mixtape with myself on
the front cover behind a white screen with black tape X’ed over my mouth because I want to
send a message, this is a new chapter for me with this mixtape release (hopefully within the
next few months) I have been X’ed out by individuals my entire life, now is my time to share
my message.
6. Any heavy hitter producers or features on the mixtape?
By: Darren James
1.South Carolina aspiring female hip hop artist and every individual artist believe
that they are the best but what about you or your music makes you deserve the selfacclaimed title of First Lady?
While still continuing to develop TakenOva ENT into a more noticeable and
recognized brand, my job as first lady is to ensure that TOE is well represented as
well as represented in a way that no other music team is represented. I like to rap
about things other artist don’t want to discuss. Ill talk about the woman who
won’t even talk to a guy without money in their hand. Ill talk about the
undercover men trying to front like they got money and fame when really their
game is done. Ill even talk about the bad bitch who is sleeping with someone for
status, or to get ahead in a “niggas world” . These things happen in every day
world, I want to be the one who expose and talk about it. In reality, a large
percentage will hear my music and turn it off because their close minded. But
another large portion will hear my music and turn it all the way up because its
something relatable verses something everyone talks about. I bring reality back to
local music. Its not about being the baddest bitch in the room, especially when
you know your worth without having to speak it aloud, its about making a
difference that actually matters to both men and women. Thats what sets me
apart from other artist and why I claim first lady.
2.So as the first lady of TakenOva Ent and with Stupid Money Studda as the president
is it safe to assume that there is a romance there or is it strictly business….. fans
just want to know?
Well, im sorry to put a halt on any juice that might be floating around, but it’s
strictly business. I came to TOE almost 2 years ago and I made it prominent to be
seen as an artist and to be taken seriously. I dont have any desire to turn this into
a love and hip hop outcome, I want to be seen as a real artist. Anything beside
business is a distraction and Monaee doesn’t get distracted from money or
business.
3.So who all does the TakenOva ENT roster consist of?
TOETAG (TakenOva ENT’s tag name) is founded and created by Stupid Money
Studda, I am the First Lady and only female artist on the team, I also provide
secretariat support in place of the founder if he is out of town or on business. We
have a beat maker, DTOnTheBeat (www.dtonthebeat.com) who works with the
production team called Beat Gods, accompanied by SSOnTheDrums
(www.ssonthedrums.com) and KODaNoble. Beat Gods are a separate production
team from TakenOva ENT, but we work closely together for production purposes.
4.So back to you and your music so, what is it the overall message that you try to
convey with your music and what topics do you mainly use when you write?
When I sit down to write, the first thing that comes to mind is “What are some things people
don’t want to talk about?” Im serious because the things people go through, and I know they
do, can be the most relatable lyrics I can put together. I was writing a song at my job and one
verse talked about a father stepping in to take care of a child that the mother wasn’t there
for, and I was practicing and my co worker heard it and said for me to repeat it, and when I
did, he instantly was emotional because you don’t hear that kind of subject anymore. I want
to write about the topics people shun from. The girl who cheated on her man because she
didn’t feel loved. The passionate sex between two people who just met in the club. The man
in the trap selling dope to get money for kids that aren’t even his. And don’t get me wrong, I
rap about things like twerking in the club, making money and getting rep, but I don’t only do
club hits I want to do it all. I want people to hear monaee and simply relate to my words, not
criticize or knock me before you herd me. Because on my mixtape, i guarantee you there can
be one song people might say “Oh she is a hoe for this one” and turn to the next song and say
“Oh my god, thats me!” and keep listening. That’s my goal for my music.
I have worked with many local artist within the community and I do that for a reason. Its easy
to get with a big name artist in SC and do a track. I want to make a fire mixtape with the loca
support in the community first before I contact big name artist so when I present my work to
them, I can show them I can work with anything and everyone. So bigger names are to come
in my future, for now i’m supporting local artist in my community. My features include of
course my manager and founder Stupid Money Studda, I collaborated with members of the
Salute A General’s team such as Ladii BB and Grip DaMisfit. I have future tracks with BlockBoy
MG, Shwagglord,