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  Lady Paradox Interview
interview 0400 added
05.05.06 words:
Madrox
technical:
QED
When I first met Miss Paradox, she was just 16 years
old, rockin shows
around the Midlands and showing some serious potential.
A few years have passed since, and even though she's in
what some would call a 'less-formiddable' position,
without label backing. She's been continually expanding
on her sound, and putting words to beats at every
available opportunity - Here's what she had to say...
Good morning Miss Paradox, a few heads reading this will
be familiar with your works on Main Rock and your
occasional appearance on this lovely site of ours. But
for those that don't know. Would you care to state your
name, where your from and what your about?
 Lady Paradox:
I'm Lady Paradox, 18, from Leicester, and I have an
obsession with hip-hop that sounds decent. I used to be
on Main Rock but left and now I’m unsigned, unconnected
and undefined. Oh, and I also write rhymes and sometimes
I even record them.
Haha. Well I wouldn't pry into your reasons for leaving
but I’m sure you had them. So having left your 'comfort
zone' so-to-speak, what have you been piecing together
of late? And do you think your time on a label helped
mould your style and sound to what it is now?
Lady Paradox:
Lately, I’ve just been working on feature after feature,
so you'll just have to look out for me hidden on other
peoples' albums. I've also been working on my own
tracks, but I don't know exactly what their purpose is
at the moment, as I have no money to release anything.
Maybe I’ll just give them out for free in the street.
And yeah, being on Main Rock definitely helped me a lot
and I got some good advice from being on it, but I’d say
my style changes all the time, it's more interesting
that way.
Most definitely. Many artists approach guest slots and
there own material very differently. Often crafting a
lot more thought and opinion into there own stuff (for
obvious reasons) what kind of subjects has your solo
material been running with? Anything we wouldn't expect?
Lady Paradox:
I wouldn't say I’ve done anything real extraordinary of
late... I did a tune the other week about all the things
I’d do if I only had a week to live, which included
getting naughty on the London eye. Apart from that, a
few loved up tunes, a couple of break-up tunes and just
'ME' tunes. I've started to work on a track about my
thoughts on religion, 'cause I’ve been dragged to church
since before I could walk and I have certain views on
the way organised religion is run. So we'll have to wait
and see.
“...I’m unsigned, unconnected and undefined...”
A thought provoking little mix. I have to ask this I’m
afraid, clichéd as it is. But do you find it harder
being a female in an industry largely dominated by male
ego's? Or even perhaps easier?
 Lady Paradox:
To be honest, because I haven't released any solo
material I don't think I’ve had the experience of
actually being a female 'in the industry', but from what
I have experienced, I’d say at times it can be a
disadvantage, and at times it can be to your advantage.
To be honest, I don't want it to be to my advantage. I
want people to feel my music because it's good, not
because I don't have a dick. It pisses me right off when
someone says "You're good FOR a girl", but I haven't
heard that for ages now, so it's all good! Obviously, a
lot of people will listen to me because I am a girl in
the first place and some people like something
different, but at the same time, a lot of people refuse
to listen before they've given me a chance. I do think
it's becoming slightly more equal though, with female
emcees getting limelight and stuff, it's just that I’m
blatantly better than a lot of them. Nah jokes... I
haven't really answered the question have I? It’s hard
and easy depending on the situation!
Haha, well there was so much to that answer I’m sure you
managed it somewhere in the midst of that, haha. Ok,
moving on. What’s the best gig you've ever done and why?
Lady Paradox: Well I ain't had a gig for about a year now (hint hint
to any promoters out there), but it was definitely a gig
I did at Deal Real for a female allstars night. The
shop's only really small, but the atmosphere was heavy.
There were people outside in the street listening in,
and then some battles went on afterwards. I think it's
just the way the promoters run it. Little One was
excellent I remember, and they're just well supportive.
It makes the whole night run smoothly, and I like being
right next to the crowd, so in a shop it works for me!
“...I did a tune the other week about all the things I’d do if I
only had a week to live, which included getting naughty
on the London eye...”
Sounds awesome! Gutted I missed it. Ok, let's move onto
something more broad now. What are your opinions on the
currant spat of 'London-hood' movies? Living quite close
to Assassination city, does gun-crime ever come into
your day-to-day? What are your views?
 Lady
Paradox:
To be honest, I haven't watched any of them yet... I’m
always a bit slow on the uptake. But gun crimes apparent
in every city. I think the media has a massive influence
over what people perceive as a city with high gun rates,
cause obviously they choose what to report and what not
to. But I think films like that will be a positive thing
if they depict the truth of what goes on, rather than
just the statistics we hear everyday. I'd have to
comment after I’d watched them.
I'm hoping to watch that 'Kidulthood' soon so my views
will be clearer then.
Thats cool. So back to your good self.
Actually....before I go any further. "Hypa Tyga" - whats
all that about then? Haha Care to explain?
Lady Paradox:
Haha, to be honest it's a mixture of random things. It's
just my a.k.a. Hypa, cause I can be proper hyper
sometimes to the point of scariness - and Tyga cause
they're kinda orange which is my favourite colour (as
you can see on myspace), and they're a strong, dominant
creature, like me when I rhyme.
Grrrrrrrrrreeaat! Hahaha. (sorry!) You mentioned before
that people might have to find you 'hidden' away on
other peoples mixtapes and lp's. Would you care to make
this guessing game easier for people by telling us some
of the people you've been working with? And any
favourites in particular?
Lady Paradox: Yeah I suppose that'd make sense. I have an awful memory
so if I miss anything I don't mean to offend anyone...
but I did a track with 'Eardrums', which I think is
gonna be on their EP, or possibly album, maybe even mix
CD! Just look out! And I did a track with an MC called
Detin8, featuring Wordsmith and Big Roe, which is gonna
be on his mix CD. Hmmm, then there is Chinners mix CD.
I'm on HHB volume one, which you can check now, and I’ll
be on two when that comes out. Also, DJ Mystro's EP,
which is where you will find the one about having a week
to live on it... I think. S.Kalibre's mix tape, which
has one of my proper old verses on it. Sorry my memory
is pretty bad, this is hard. Apart from that just look
out for tracks with Logan, Medasin Man, Lauren Jade,
V.E.X, Redeye, Lo-cut, Semantix the sorcera, Jake Shears
and many more!
“...To be honest, I don't want it to be to my advantage. I want
people to feel my music because it's good, not because I
don't have a dick...”
I’m shocked and offended you left me out! Haha Just
kiddin...you did fail to mention which was your
favourite though?
 Lady
Paradox:
Oh crap... and The Room, with you, me and Logan (I
wasn't sure if you were using it still!), and also I
forgot Menace (from Hoods Underground), his mix CD...
and A-ball's mix as well. Oh damn, and Wytfang who is
TOO HEAVY. My favourite right now, as it's a finished
track, is probably the one with Detin8, Wordsmith and
Big R.O.E, cause the beat is heavy and everyone comes
nice on the track.
Haha, not the best place and time to apologise for the
delay but ...sorry for the delay haha. You actually have
2 tracks on forthcoming things by me... It sounds like
you've got so much goin on you could just walk into a
hip hop store, see your name on a CD and have no idea if
you spat on it or not. haha. Is life really that hectic
at the moment? How are you playing all of this alongside
your exams?
Lady Paradox: It can get hectic... which is why I tend to work with
producers that are overly patient and understanding.
I've got A levels now, and it's sometimes hard to
balance my time properly, cause I’d much rather be doing
music. But it's weird, cause this year all my subjects
actually seemed to have had a positive influence on my
music. Sociology shapes the way I think, English
Literature helps me write and I did a whole project in
Photography on hip hop culture, which was heavy! So if
anyone wants photographs taken or whatever I am here.
But yeah it can get hard sometimes, I try and revise and
think of rhymes, but then I turn my revision into
rhymes. It’s well helpful ya know. I’m planning to learn
the whole topic of crime and deviance in rhyme form.
Wow, that’s pretty cool! I got a picture of a rapping
barrister in my mind then briefly haha. Ok, so this is a
bit of a cliche again as far as interview questions go I
guess, but...Who are you feelin in the UK scene at the
moment? Hell...and outside for that matter?
Lady Paradox:
Damn... too many people. In the UK, I’m always feeling
Logan, cause I just think it's got something different.
Apart from that, Mystro is just heavy, in the way he
pieces his words together and it flows so smooth. I
picked up the Dirty Diggers album the other day and I
was well impressed with that, I think they're heavy.
Aside from that, my favourites would be Yungun, Skrein,
Roots Manuva, Jehst and I like listening to Sway as well
(if you haven't checked his album u need to check the
domestic violence tune cause that's heavy).
“...I think the media has a massive influence over what people
perceive as a city with high gun rates, cause obviously
they choose what to report and what not to...”
As for the US and anywhere else...I’m feeling
Supastition, Wordsworth, Aceyalone and Masta Ace to name
a few.
Nice mix. I heartily agree with the Logan comment, had
the pleasure of interviewing him the other week. Ok, so
I guess this is where I say - Any last messages for
promoters or heads out there reading this?
 Lady
Paradox: Well I think I’ve already shouted out a lot of people in
the interview so I’m not gonna write a list. But big up
all the producers who keep sending me beautiful beats.
Promoters - I’m here for gigs! MCS... I’m here for
features. And People... I’m here for the listening (www.myspace.com/ladyparadox).
BIG UP UKHH.
Hahaha eloquently put. It's been a pleasure Miss P.
Thank you very much for your time...
Lady Paradox: S'all good. I’m late for college now! haha.
So there you have it, a busy little bee as ever. You can
catch Miss P's words scattered over a menagerie of UK
releases in the close future. Including my own. In the
meantime there’s a nice selection over at
www.myspace.com/ladyparadox. Thanx for reading. Peace.
“...all my subjects actually seemed to have had a positive
influence on my music. Sociology shapes the way I think,
English Literature helps me write and I did a whole
project in Photography on hip hop culture, which was
heavy!...”
-
Madrox
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