After many failed attempts to make a major name for herself in the music industry, it looks like 2012 could be her year to shine since her recent signing with G.O.O.D Music and the release of her long awaited mixtape. Now she speaks to Complex magazine about those who doubted her, her fashion influence on the likes of Rihanna and Rita Ora and more.
Read the excerpts below:
How’d you go from being the stylish friend to being on a couple of records on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy?
One day he called me while he was working on the album. He wanted me to come to the studio to check out some pieces that Balmain had exclusively made for him and he wanted me to check out his album.
Even though the invite really was to check out clothes, I had told myself I was going to get on that album—whether he knew or not. [Laughs.] I’m not even a morning person and he wanted me to come at 9 a.m. I get there and I like his clothes. He’s like, “I knew you’d like this!” Then he started playing his album and I start humming and doing some little runs to what I’m hearing on the sly tip. I came in there humming! I knew what I was doing. [Laughs.] So he hears me and is like, “You can really sing. Yo, can you put some backgrounds on this song 'Hell of a Life'?” He knew I was signed to Pharrell and all that, but I guess he didn’t know what I could really do. Like I said, we were more fashion friends. He just knew I was fly.
So then he tells me to do “Dark Fantasy.” At the time it was pretty empty, just verses. He put me in another room by myself and said, “Go.” I came back with a whole intro and chorus. I did all the scratches and the cuts myself with my voice. That’s not a DJ thing when you hear my voice go like that. I was so nervous when I played it for Kanye. I hadn’t been in the studio for so long. I was so excited to be trying out for that song. Rihanna was there.
One day he called me while he was working on the album. He wanted me to come to the studio to check out some pieces that Balmain had exclusively made for him and he wanted me to check out his album.
Even though the invite really was to check out clothes, I had told myself I was going to get on that album—whether he knew or not. [Laughs.] I’m not even a morning person and he wanted me to come at 9 a.m. I get there and I like his clothes. He’s like, “I knew you’d like this!” Then he started playing his album and I start humming and doing some little runs to what I’m hearing on the sly tip. I came in there humming! I knew what I was doing. [Laughs.] So he hears me and is like, “You can really sing. Yo, can you put some backgrounds on this song 'Hell of a Life'?” He knew I was signed to Pharrell and all that, but I guess he didn’t know what I could really do. Like I said, we were more fashion friends. He just knew I was fly.
So then he tells me to do “Dark Fantasy.” At the time it was pretty empty, just verses. He put me in another room by myself and said, “Go.” I came back with a whole intro and chorus. I did all the scratches and the cuts myself with my voice. That’s not a DJ thing when you hear my voice go like that. I was so nervous when I played it for Kanye. I hadn’t been in the studio for so long. I was so excited to be trying out for that song. Rihanna was there.
When did you first think being signed to G.O.O.D. was an actual possibility?
After I heard “Dark Fantasy” being played on The Hangover 2 trailer and at basketball games, it really got me thinking, “Who else is really fly enough to be the first lady of G.O.O.D. Music?” I don’t feel it could have been anybody else but me. And I’m a humble person. But you couldn’t name another person who’d be a better first lady.
After I heard “Dark Fantasy” being played on The Hangover 2 trailer and at basketball games, it really got me thinking, “Who else is really fly enough to be the first lady of G.O.O.D. Music?” I don’t feel it could have been anybody else but me. And I’m a humble person. But you couldn’t name another person who’d be a better first lady.
Did you ask for a release from Star Trak because you were frustrated with how you were being handled?
I wouldn’t say it was frustration. It’s just that I was signed to Star Trak for six years. And I was not working. If anything, it got frustrating for me because fans would ask me where my new music was and I’d be like, “I ask my label the same questions you ask me. I wonder the same things.” People don’t know the politics behind being signed to a label. So they just blame me like, “She doesn’t do anything” not knowing that if the label doesn’t move, nothing happens.
So I eventually asked for a release. I wanted some time to find myself as an artist and to release a mixtape and to just be a free agent. And they gave it to me. I deserved it. It was a blessing. What if I had peeked at 15, 16? I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be here at G.O.O.D. Pharrell was a blessing, though. Now it’s Kanye.
Speaking of your style, you were one of, if the not the first, chick to bring back the more street look for women. You were wearing Jordans and BBC and fitted caps when you first came out. Now Rihanna and Rita Ora are on it. Do you feel like that’s your look?
I do feel like I influence a lot of artists. But the way I look at it is not in a negative way. I love them. When I came in the game, it wasn’t okay to be a girl and wear sneakers and hats and streetwear. They called me gay. Now the tomboy thing, it’s sexy. Rihanna and Rita Ora are fly and sexy. I’m happy I was able to pave that way. I love seeing our artists dressed like that. You ain’t gay if you throw on sneakers and a hat. Nobody can take that away from me and say, “Oh, she didn’t start that trend.” They all know. I’ve always been about this life and mixing kicks with high fashion on some ghetto chic shit.
Read the full interview here
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