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Home » Interview With Lady Twist

Interview With Lady Twist

by
Cheryl Coward

May 7, 2008

AE: If you had to rate these four artists, how would you rate them: Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, Lauryn Hill and MC Lyte?
LT: Number one I would go with Lauryn Hill, because I bought her CDs for my mama one year and I ended up listening to it a lot myself. So Lauryn Hill number one, followed by Lil' Kim because I used to listen to her music a little bit, then Foxy Brown.

Now this is going to sound terrible to most hip-hop lovers, but when MC Lyte was at her height I was still in diapers, so I wasn't really up on her music. So I'm just going by the CDs that I've actually heard. … No disrespect to the great MC Lyte, but seriously I was a baby when she was hot, so I never really heard any of her music firsthand.

AE: Who is your favorite artist right now on the charts?
LT: I'm really disappointed in the current state of hip-hop. A lot of stuff that's going out there is content-less music. I gotta go with Ludacris. He's not exactly number one on the Billboard charts right now, but in terms of lyrical content and whose CD I would actually go out and buy, everybody knows Ludacris is my man right now

AE: You're from Illinois. There's Barack and there's Hillary; what's your take on that situation?
LT: Well, I think that regardless of which two of those candidates make it to the White House, this is definitely a history-making election, but I gotta go with Obama. He's from Illinois, he's from Chicago. You know that may be a shallow point of view, but I think that it would be hot to have in the White House a black man.

At the same time, I love Hillary because when I was 8 years old and Bill was running for office, I don't know how the hell I knew what was going on, but I was like, "I want Bill Clinton to win." And he got in and I was happy. But now I gotta go with Obama.

I mean, Barack or Hillary either way — like if it's the first black male or the first woman in office, either way I'm gonna be proud of whichever one of them gets in, but my vote raps with Obama.

AE: What are your future goals?
LT: Right now I'm getting ready to graduate from college in two weeks. I'm finally getting my journalism degree. My plan has always been to use my journalism career to help propel my music career. I want to always have something to fall back on. I know I've got lyrical ability. I know I've got entertainment value. I've also been doing some comedy shows lately around the Chicago area. A lot of people tell me I'm funny.

My ultimate goal is this: I want to start my own record label and get my own stuff out there. That way I won't have major-label restrictions. If a major label wants to sign me, no problem, but [my] ultimate goal is to run my own business, my own thing.

I do the comedy thing. I write. I produce, make beats, press my own CDs and everything. I'm a business-minded person. I'm not just an artist and I'm not just an entertainer — I'm a businesswoman at the end of the day. …I really want to be able to handle my own affairs, and I don't want to have to answer to anyone.

For more on Lady Twist, visit her MySpace page.

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shedetective's picture

Dang I feel old

Submitted by
shedetective (149 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 1:25am.

No disrespect to Lady Twist, I hope Ma keeps doing her thang.. but

When she was talkin bout being influenced by KRIS KROSS and Another Bad Creation...WTF! (i thought we were talking about HIP HOP)  And her coming from the Chi I just knew she was gonna say somthin about Da Brat!  But its cool cause in a few years your gonna have artists talking about how they were growing up being inspired by NSYNC and Brittany Spears...

All in all, this show wears me out but great interview!

RhapsodyNPink08's picture

She probably didn't think

Submitted by
RhapsodyNPink08 (33 posts)
on May 20, 2008 - 12:22am.

She probably didn't think about mentioning Da Brat because Da Brat was put on by So-So Def, an Atlanta label.

 

Now I can understand Kriss Kross, but I was thinking she would've said SOMETHING about Death Row, Nas, and Jay Z.

pecola's picture

She Had Me Until...

Submitted by
pecola (1504 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 1:36am.

First and foremost, thanks for this interview. I've been watching Miss Rap Supreme sporadically and it's great to see one of the lesbian emcees get promoted on AE. It's clear that Lady Twist is the same laid back woman she is on the show (unlike some contestants on Miss Rap Supreme who have proven themselves to be batshit crazy).

My big misgiving about the show, though--and the reason I don't watch it regularly--is because I don't feel like the contestants respect the art form and, moreover, that Serch and YoYo don't really go out of their way to teach it.

I mean, like this:

Quote:
Number one I would go with Lauryn Hill, because I bought her CDs for my mama one year and I ended up listening to it a lot myself. So Lauryn Hill number one, followed by Lil' Kim because I used to listen to her music a little bit, then Foxy Brown.

Now this is going to sound terrible to most hip-hop lovers, but when MC Lyte was at her height I was still in diapers, so I wasn't really up on her music.

Are you serious? I mean, Lauryn Hill as #1, I can possibly see, but...MC Lyte in 4th, behind Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim?! Blasphemy! And not really knowing Lyte? How can any reputable female emcee not know "Lyte as a Rock" or "10 Percent Diss" (one of the great rap diss tracks ever) or "Ruffneck?"

That's just crazy to me.

-----

Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.

- The Lion in Winter

kate's picture

I agree with what LT was

Submitted by
kate (20 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 2:53am.

I agree with what LT was saying about the disregard of MCs that are actually saying something, but “Y’all don’t wanna hear me, you just wanna dance” (Andre 3000) I don’t understand why she likes Ludacris then, he seems pretty “content-less” to me.

She's 23, that's no excuse not to be familiar with MC Lyte. I'm 20 and in Australia, and I've got all her albums, but I guess she was saying about not being aware of her in her prime, which is a valid point. Word up on Lauryn at 1 though (come back!), but I add Jean Grae, and Invincible (a really intelligent MC, who also happens to be openly lesbian, don’t sleep!) second. I admit I am a fan of Lil’ Kim because she writes her own lyrics and is a talented MC (LOVE La Bella Mafia) unlike Foxy Brown – never a fan, never will be.

Huge props to being you Lady Twist!
kate's picture

I agree with what LT was

Submitted by
kate (20 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 2:52am.

I agree with what LT was saying about the disregard of MCs that are actually saying something, but “Y’all don’t wanna hear me, you just wanna dance” (Andre 3000) I don’t understand why she likes Ludacris then, he seems pretty “content-less” to me.

She's 23, that's no excuse not to be familiar with MC Lyte. I'm 20 and in Australia, and I've got all her albums LOVE "Paper Thin" and "Stop, look, listen", but I guess she was saying about not being aware of her in her prime, which is a valid point. Word up on Lauryn at 1 though (come back!), but I add Jean Grae, and Invincible (a really intelligent MC, who also happens to be openly lesbian, don’t sleep!) second. I admit I am a fan of Lil’ Kim because she writes her own lyrics and is a talented MC (LOVE La Bella Mafia) unlike Foxy Brown – never a fan, never will be.

Huge props to being you Lady Twist!

____________________________________________

"Strong people don't need strong leaders" - Ella Baker

www.youtube.com/user/katejb

Brooknam's picture

There is no Lauryn, Kim or

Submitted by
Brooknam (9 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 8:52am.

There is no Lauryn, Kim or Foxy without MC Lyte....gotta do ur homework....the fact she was in diapers at the time is not any reason not to know lyte is the epitome of the female mc...I'll put lauryn hill at #2 only because she hasn't had a full length hip hop album

Kate: as far as kim writing that's debatable...between BIG, cease and maino her pen skills are questionable...however, her flow is sick 

 

MC Flow's picture

Lesbians and their "friends"....

Submitted by
MC Flow (10 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 9:31am.
I watch the show every week, and what really bummed me out this week was that Lady Twist was talking to a girl on the phone, saying "I miss you so much...blah blah" and they labled the person on the phone as "Lady Twist's friend" -- If Lady Twist is an out lesbian, and Vh1 knows this and asked her about this first (as she says in the interview), it is LAME that they couldn't put "Lady Twist's girlfriend" or "Lady Twist's partner" up on the screen for all to see. It's just another way to keep dykes invisible. Ugh!
CorrineMo's picture

MISS RAP SUPREME

Submitted by
CorrineMo (1 post)
on May 8, 2008 - 9:56am.

If you like Miss Rap Supreme you will LOVE Lil' Miss Rap Supreme. Its an online only mini series created for the show. You can see it on VH1's website or just go to this VH1 link below. Seriously, its hilarious.

 http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1585264&vid=223952

sloane's picture

mc lyte

Submitted by
sloane (255 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 7:37pm.
i think lady twist is cute, but she's definitely got some homework to regarding mc lyte. i'm not even really a hip hop head, but she is one of best and lyrically sound mc's out there. she is really creative. and i'm 23 and i remember yoyo and third bass. i agree with bone, thugs, and harmony...they were the f**cking best...better than rich boy or whatever bullsh**t they want to play on the radio. i miss them. i just want to know why foxy brown or lil kim were even listed...what about queen latifah or even da brat? anybody would be better than those two. i feel they're more like spectacles then serious mcs.
Brooknam's picture

why were lil kim and foxy brown even listed?

Submitted by
Brooknam (9 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 8:51pm.
I guess the interviewer named the most popular female rappers...the top four to date are lyte, rah digga, lauryn and jean grae...as for da brat and queen latifah....by time lauryn, foxy and lil kim hit, queen latifah and da brat were no longer relevant...i personally don't think any of the contestants on the show can be the next hottest female mc...i'm patiently waiting but unfortunately that is another arena where men dominate and dictate
chilaxing's picture

BUENA SUERTE

Submitted by
chilaxing (296 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 9:26pm.

Haven't seen the show or heard her music but I like how blatanly honest she is in this interview. She didn't just name the best rappers just so she can sound down. I'm 26 yrs old and I still bump "Iesha" by ABC and Kriss Kross joints. In fact KK was the first rap act that I saw live back in the day..... Keep doing you LT! 

http://tamika-mindofa.blogspot.com

 

Hank's picture

oh my god this show.

Submitted by
Hank (1497 posts)
on May 8, 2008 - 10:30pm.
I got semi-addicted to this show because it's so ridiculous, but it's not girls being ridiculous over a guy, which is why i can't stand most shows. But yeah she's definitely gonna hafta get up on MC Lyte..I know Lauryn Hill raps, but doesn't she mostly sing now? So i wouldn't really put her in there with rappers, and i definitely wouldn't have put Foxy Brown in with MC Lyte..i was but a wee one as well but yeah. I got a dick like a mule...with a big dick.
Dhanu's picture

She wasnt the only out lesbian on the show...

Submitted by
Dhanu (88 posts)
on May 9, 2008 - 12:27pm.

Contestant Bree is aslo a lesbian, she's still in the competition

 

"You motherf---in' liar! F--- you, you lyin', lowdown, nanny-f---in' motherf---er"- Kit porter

"You can take it or leave it, but I'm not going to change, not for anyone."-Christina Aguilera
Melissa Hsu's picture

I thought Da Brat was lesbian?

Submitted by
Melissa Hsu (not verified)
on May 11, 2008 - 1:12am.
Then again I know bugger all about rap ...
RhapsodyNPink08's picture

She never officially came

Submitted by
RhapsodyNPink08 (33 posts)
on May 20, 2008 - 12:26am.
She never officially came out, but I must say that there's something mighty suspect about a 37 year old butch/stud woman. LOL
smellgoodsista's picture

Gotta Love Twist!

Submitted by
smellgoodsista (23 posts)
on May 22, 2008 - 9:30pm.
I'll always love Twist. She's a great individual, has a wonderful sense of humor, and I respect her realness. She has her own youtube channel as well, I love how she talks about these tacky rappers of this new brand of rap and hip-hop music today. I'll be waiting on that offical album Twist. Keep doing it big!

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