"Rasheeda shares her Bumble Gum with Queen Princess" Exclusive Interview!

Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007

Hey we're back again with another interview for ya on the sly tip with homegirl, Rasheeda and our very own Queen Princess. For the naagaas out here reading this jank, Rasheeda is not only a fine mamacita but also a talented MC hailing from Atlanta, Georgia whose down with the DTP click and Ludacris. She first got on the scene with her alubm entitled Dirth South in 2001. On the EP, there was that classic banger called "Do It" (click here to reminiscience) with Pastor Troy, remember that? Anyways, homegirl just dropped a new joint mane called Dis Dat Type of Gurl which is in stores. Hey, she's got game cuzin. So if u see her in the club ,you better come correct. Cool? Awright then, check out more about shawty in this exclusive interview with her and Queen Princess. Get yo game right fellas...

Queen Princess: Hey Rasheeda, how are you doing, you ready for the interview?

Rasheeda: Yeah, I’m ready.

Queen Princess: What’s been good with you today staying busy?

Rasheeda: Yes ma’am, I’m getting ready to go on the road tomorrow so I’m rehearsing. The usual stuff, running around and trying to get stuff together.

Queen Princess: Well, that’s what you gotta do. It’s weird ‘cause I’m always interviewing male artists and I haven’t really had a chance to interview any female artists who are holdin it down. It’s a nice little change. Anyway, you started in a group so how did you make the transition to a solo artist or when did you realize it wasn’t working?

Rasheeda: It wasn’t really that, it just got to a point where we started doing different things and I wanted to continue to do music, I mean it was like a quick transition for me because I went into the studio right after we decided to go our separate ways and started recording a solo project and came out with a record in the next six months from when we did that.

Queen Princess: Okay, so it wasn’t hard at all making the transition?

Rasheeda: No, not at all (laughs)

Queen Princess: I mean that’s important when you have to keep it moving. So how would you say you’ve changed since you came out with your first album Dirty South? How are you different?

Rasheeda: Every year I’m learning more about the business and my artistry and you know becoming my own. At this point in my career, I’m extremely confident and comfortable with my music and the things that I talk about and you know just period. The experience over the years, I went through different ups and downs in the industry period and that’s what made me a stronger artist and a stronger business woman and I really couldn’t ask for much more. Back then I was a lot younger and a lot more inexperienced especially in the business end of it. I was Rasheeda trying to come into myself, but now I’m full fledged 100% knowing who I am, where I’m going and what I want to do.

Queen Princess: That’s what’s up, okay so would you say it was difficult to stay in the game? Does it get harder every year?

Rasheeda: Oh yeah it definitely gets harder, it gets harder every year. You know the most important thing with me is staying consistent and putting out records whether they reach nationwide or not, but just staying hot in the streets. Being on remixes and doing different records and keeping records out there and keeping your face out there. As soon as you take a break and think you can relax is as quick as you’re forgotten.

Queen Princess: Right.

Rasheeda: You know I still have so much ground to cover and so many things that need to be accomplished in my career, I can’t afford to slack off. I just keep on going and it’s extremely hard, it’s male dominated so I just have to stay really really focused and keep grindin all the time.

Queen Princess: Yep it really is male dominated. You know people are saying that hip-hop is dead and it’s in a bind or whatever. You do more of the crunk music, so would you say there’s anything about crunk music that’s changed that you don’t like?

Rasheeda: Well, I’m not specifically a crunk artist and I don’t think there’s anything that’s changed. It’s starting to be a lot more of a business than people looking at it as far as the music aspect is concerned, you know what I’m saying? I don’t think there’s anything as far as crunk. Crunk is just a word that we use for highly energetic music that moves in the club. Down here in the south we do a lot of music that’s for the club and that’s where crunk kind of came from. I think people kind of consider it to have trickled down a little bit and it’s starting to become regular so it’s not specifically crunk you know what I’m saying?

Queen Princess: Yes, and you’re the type of artists who says what she wants to say in your songs and you don’t hold back in your lyrics. Do you feel it’s important to get out what you want to say as opposed to always being safe?

Rasheeda: Yeah, I definitely do. I think that’s being true to myself and I also think that people understand and know that she’s talking and being real about it and not trying to sugar coat nothing because then it’s not staying true to what you’re trying to put out there. With me, I feel as though I’m a strong independent black woman out here trying to make it and grind and gain my respect and working. And I feel as though I need to say the things that are on my mind, because a lot of the time those are the same issues and thoughts that other women are going through. You know if I try to sugar coat it they’re going to be like naw I don’t know I’m not really feelin that (both laugh). They feel me on the real things that I talk about.

Queen Princess: How do you want people to receive your music?

Rasheeda: My music pertains to a lot of women and those are the things that I’m finding out as I’m doing interviews and going to different cities and stuff and I’m just glad that women are accepting it and the men are really really liking it. It’s the type of music that has hard hitting tracks and on a lyrical standpoint it’s just real stuff that everyone can relate to and the fellas are like man.

Queen Princess: What would you say has been the greatest accomplishment of your career?

Rasheeda: The greatest accomplishment is gaining more fans and people embracing my music and people saying my lyrics. Just being blessed to keep on going and having the strength to keep on going and being able to constantly put out albums.

Queen Princess: Okay, do you ever see yourself on tour with other female rappers?

Rasheeda: Oh yeah! That would be something that I would love to do. I mean it hasn’t been put together yet, but you know.

Queen Princess: I mean it’s never really been done before with female rappers; that would be something new to bring to the game. So what can listeners expect from your new album?

Rasheeda: Um….you know just realness. Real woman talk.

(both laugh)

Rasheeda: Great beats and hot lyrics. I’m putting out them issues, I’m putting them right out there on the table.

Queen Princess: Okay, who were you able to work with on this album?

Rasheeda: On the album there’s Akon, Jazze Phae and Baby. Pastor Troy, Diamond and Princess from Crime Mob, who else……? There’s another guy on the record his name is Dream. Production wise Don Vito, Jazze Phae produced, Akon produced, Jasper produced and an in house producer named Shiwen he produced a lot of the tracks on there as well.

Queen Princess: Alright, you got a lot of collaboration going on with this album.

Rasheeda: Yes

Queen Princess: The album is called Dat Type of Gurl, so what is your definition of dat type of gurl?

Rasheeda: That’s exactly what they get, the type of girl that I am. When you listen to the album you’ll understand where I come from and how I get down. With the different things that I talk about you kind of come into my world. It’s especially saying I’m dat type of gurl who’s that around the way classy chic who ain’t afraid to speak what’s on her mind and put it out there but at the same time rumble with the big boys.

Queen Princess: Is there anyone that you didn’t get a chance to work with on the album?

Rasheeda: Not anybody that I would say I couldn’t get or anything. That wasn’t the basis of anything. I just kind of hit a couple people up like hey I’m at the studio and everybody I called basically came straight through. There wasn’t anybody that I missed or anything.

Queen Princess: Atlanta’s the place to be too, that’s were everybody’s at these days.

Rasheeda: Yeah, there are a lot of people moving here and a lot of artists live here.

Queen Princess: So how is Dat Type of Gurl different from Georgia Peach?

Rasheeda: Actually there’s some songs from Georgia Peach on Dat Type of Gurl. The albums came out kind of close together and at the same time, but the difference is in the tracks, there’s some really hot joints. You’ll feel the records like you did the previous ones but on the new ones you feel the swag and the confidence. You know, it’s an enhancement of Georgia Peach, it’s the next step.

Queen Princess: What do you want to happen after the album drops?

Rasheeda: I just want to grind it out and keep working and continue to do shows. Of course you’re always thinking about the next project and I’m going to be working on another project too myself and Kandi, she’s a former member of Xscape.

Queen Princess: Of course.

Rasheeda: Me and her are a duo of hip-hop and R&B and we have an album that we’re finalizing that’s dropping soon so I’m out here working on that project. I’m just staying busy and the name of the group is Peach Candy.

Queen Princess: Okay, That’s something new as well that has never been done by females before either.

Rasheeda: No it hasn’t, we’re real excited about it, we got some real hot records, it’s off the chain.

Queen Princess: Okay..…well do you have anything else that you would like to share with hip-hop ruckus?

Rasheeda: Basically, check me out on my myspace. Pick up the album June 19th Dat Type of Gurl and check out the videos on my page as well. There’s a video for “My Bubblegum,” and be looking out for that Peach Candy album as well.

Queen Princess: Alright well thank you so much for doing this interview.

Rasheeda: Oh girl, no thanks for having me I appreciate it.

Word up, we'd like to thank Rasheeda and all that for doing this interview with on the sly. Much luv and show some love to sista girl by hitting her up on her official page.

Got questions or comments for the Queen Princess, email her at this link.