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We at ukhh.com are often getting emails from you lot, saying that you'd like to see more Female emcee's being covered on the site. Well I thought I was time I got around to it, so I tracked down one of the most active. Estelle is just about everywhere right now, guesting on loads of peoples stuff, so don't sleep. So read on, and find out what she had to say... So do you want to break down your childhood or general pre-music days? My musical influences ranged from gospel, African, hip hop, pop, basically everything I got into. A lot of stuff but kinda stuck with hip hop. Musically, Artists like Redman, Da Brat, The Winans, Mary J bilge, Missy, The Commisioned, Tupac, Biggie, Pete Rock, Roxanne Shante, Salt n Pepa, Shelly Ann and Maxine, Guy Teddy Riley, Ella Fitzgerald, a whole bunch of people. I could give you a massive list but I'm sure you've only got a certain amount of words. I've heard you weren't allowed to listen to hiphop at an early age. What do your family think about you rapping now? They're into it. My mum supports me completely… I mean at 11 or 12 my mum wasn't trying to have me listen to the kind of hip hop I liked which had swearing. She didn't mind the more commercial stuff. But which Christian parent in their right mind would mind their 12 year old listening to ONYX talking about 'Throw Ya Guns In The air? As opposed to 'Jump' by Kriss Kross? Before we get into the whole rap thing actually, I want to ask you about your singing. I've heard a few of the hook's and things you sing, but are we likely to ever hear just a whole track of singing, or are you planning to contain both elements of you in your tracks? Yep. My stuff will be coming out solo both singing and MCing, you might hear something plain singing or something plain MCing, depends on how I feel when we're creating the track.
You used to be in group, Genetics or summin? What ever happened to that? I Was In a group with two guys, basically I started singing with them then dropped a verse and they asked me to be in the group. It was phat except we started doing our own thing musically and if I don't feel a beat I can't work with it. So we decided to continue doing own thing separately. But one of the guys is doing his thing proper and should be popping off this year. So look out for him…his name is Mr. Hectic. You are doing a lot of open mic sessions. Do you find that blokes won't battle cos they don't wanna show you up, and then you drop some killer lines, then they come up to you after and just go 'oh shit!'?
1) They want her number, and lets be real! 2) They want her to guest on their album 3) They feel truly embarrassed after undermining her… 4) They truly think she's talented. Have previous names such as Foxy Brown made it harder for you in terms of gaining artistic credibility? I mean I know people who have never heard a female rapper talking about anything but sex. Does the UK female artist thing hinder you even more or does it put you on a level platform in which you pretty much just get to play with other UK artists? Relating to The UK in the past 5 - 10 years there hasn't been any women that have been really recognized as representing what they're about without sounding completely contrived. So really there's a complete void for female MCs who talk about real things and basically what they want to talk about. As long as you are real with your music and your self then you have nothing to prove or explain to anyone. I don't knock Foxy and them because at the end of the day Sex is a feature in everyone's lives. I know lots of guys who have pictures of those artists on their walls. It's like Sisqo singing about bloody thongs! It's like yeah. I think every woman knew about thongs, the same way guys knew about sex in the way Foxy and Kim state it. It's just a think of guys can't handle women who are comfortable with themselves sexually. But to be honest I don't think it's an important issue. How did you hook up with the 57th Dynasty? They saw me at a jam Skinny Man did for the Mud Fam I got on the open mic and hooked up with Charlie Parker. So we were in the studio and 50 / 50 was doing this song and the lyrics were really deep. They made me seriously reflect. At the time I was going through a bad patch and the lyrics just kind of came out. He'd written the lyrics and I wrote the singing part in like 10 minutes. We put it down and left it then Charlie called me to record it properly and the rest is history. Have you heard the whole Skitz album yet? How do you feel your track will stand out from the other really good British talent on there? It stands out because it's got heavy lyricism just like the other tracks plus the beat and bassline is soooo phat! It's like one of those basslines you hear coming from the bubbling room at a jam and you run in there to hear it. DJ Skitz is a heavy producer I've been in love with his basslines ever since Fingerprints of the Gods. Your on the new Social Misfits album too yeah? The track called 'Who Am I' will be featured on the Social Misfits Compilation Album upcoming "Social Misfits - A Society Documented" Out around march If you haven't heard it go and pick it up any independent and commercial record shop and yes it comes on CD so there's no excuse! Are there many plans for solo stuff as so far I've only ever caught an Estelle track which involves you as a featured artist. Yep like I said before just keep your mind (and ears) open. So the UK scene on the whole. What are its strength's and its weaknesses? I don't believe I'm qualified to talk about its strengths and weaknesses because I'm already too self critical so I can only speak about my self. Have you heard of the new film 'Rage'? I think that's the sort of thing the UK needs, maybe it could bring a new audience in. What do you think? More power to the heads who made "Rage". Finally apart from material releases, what are your plans for Estelle as a whole? Wait and see Anything else you would like to add, shouts that sorta thing? Thank God - you are the reason. My Rock, DJ Sofine, DJ AM, Big Up all the MCs who have been doing this before me, Big up all the people who supported me with no hidden agendas, Big up Social misfits crew, Ty& DJ POGO for believing in me to start with, DJ 279 for playing "Who Am I" first, Big up DJ Skitz, Rodney P, Blak Twang, Roots Manuva, Shortee Blitz and I could go on for ages but I'll save it for the album liner notes… Thanks to Estelle for her time, and be sure not to sleep. 'Domestic Science' is out now on single with a video out soon, so check it! Check out my Domestic Science review.
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Estelle
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