CLFACTS
#29 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
Active: 2007 to Present
Lee Chae-rin (born February 26, 1991 , better known by her stage name CL, is a South Korean recording artist.
She was born inSeoul, South Korea and spent much of her early life in Japan and France. She trained in JYP Entertainment before joining YG Entertainment, and became a member of the girl group 2NE1.
Early career
CL was born in Seoul, South Korea, but spent most of her childhood living in Paris, Tsukuba Science City and Tokyo. She attended international schools. When she was 13, she moved back to Paris alone where she studied for two years.
She got an audition with YG Entertainment when she was 15.
CL's first feature on a song recording was Big Bang's "Intro (Hot Issue)" in 2007.
Later that year, she had her first stage debut at Seoul Broadcasting System's Music Awards alongside her label mates at YG Entertainment.
Her first credited appearance in a song was in 2008, with Uhm Jung-hwa's "DJ," in which she rapped.
2NE1
2NE1 debuted in SBS's The Music Trend on May 17, 2009 where they performed "Fire. For 2NE1’s second album Crush, CL wrote the lyrics and co-composed the music for the tracks "Crush", "If I Were You", and "Baby I Miss You". She also did the lyrics for her solo track "MTBD", as well as the track "Scream".
Solo activities
In August 2009, CL collaborated with label-mates G-Dragon and Teddy Park of 1TYM for "The Leaders", on G-Dragon's first solo album, Heartbreaker.
In August, after finishing "I Don't Care" promotions, 2NE1 members released their own solo singles. CL collaborated with fellow member Minzy for "Please Don't Go," which charted at number six by the end of November.
CL's first solo single, "The Baddest Female", was released on 28 May 2013.
Musical style and influences
CL is the leader, vocalist and rapper in her group. She cites 1TYM leader Teddy Park who produces much of 2NE1's music as influences and inspirations, as well as Madonna, Queen andLauryn Hill.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Sunday, June 28, 2015
LIL MAMA FACTS
#LILMAMAFACTS
#28 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2006 TO PRESENT
Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American hip hop recording artist from Brooklyn, New York City, New York. A rapper, singer, songwriter,entrepreneur, spokesperson,dancer and actress, Lil Mama was also a talent show judge for seven seasons on America's Best Dance Crew.
She experienced Billboard placement with the release of her debut album, VYP (Voice of the Young People), which spawned the hit single "Lip Gloss".
She was also cast for the role of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, in the VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired in October 2013.
Life and career
1989-2005: Early life
Lil Mama was born Niatia Jessica Kirkland in Harlem, in 1989. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York where she attended Edward R. Murrow High School. Kirkland is the third child and eldest daughter of eight kids. Being the eldest daughter of eight, she acquired her nickname "lil mama".
Kirkland faced personal and financial struggles at an early age. As one of eight brothers and sisters, she started to express herself artistically through poetry and dance.
Her mother Tara, died on December 15, 2007 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.
2006-08: Career beginnings and VYP (Voice of the Young People)
In 2006, Kirkland signed a recording contract with Jive Records. In 2007, she was featured in Dr. Luke's remix of Avril Lavigne's song, "Girlfriend".
Her first studio album VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in late April 2008. The album spawned four singles: "Lip Gloss", "G-Slide (Tour Bus)", "Shawty Get Loose" and "What It Is (Strike a Pose)". The album sold 19,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200.
Lil Mama served as a judge on the competitive dance contest television series America's Best Dance Crew. She joined the judges's circle in 2008 at the age of nineteen.
2009-present
Since the release of her first album, Lil Mama has been in the studio working on new music. She released the singles "Dough Boy" featuring Mishon, "On & On & On", and "NYNYLALA" featuring Snoop Dogg. She has since released two singles entitled "Scrawberry" and "Hustler Girl" featuring Clyde McKnight.
In 2009 she announced the title of her proposed new album as "Voice Of The Young People: I Am That", although this has not been released.
On October 7, 2012 RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records and Jive Records. With the shutdown, Lil Mama (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release her future material on the RCA Records brand. "Voice Of The Young People: I Am That" will have guest appearances including SOULJA Boy, Khalil, Angel Haze,LoLa Monroe, Teyana Taylor,Trina, Keke Palmer, Nas, Chris Brown among others.
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Lil Mama came onstage while Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed "Empire State of Mind". While Jay-Z was ending his final verse, Lil Mama left her seat in the audience, got onto the stage, and started bobbing her head to the beat. Jay-Z was surprised but continued to perform. Right before this moment, Beyonce had even tried to hold her from going up.
Jay-Z patted Lil Mama on the leg to fall back, jokingly telling her, "you T-Paining right now," a reference to a similar incident two months earlier when T-Pain jumped onstage with Jay-Z at Summer Jam during his performance of "D.O.A.". At the end of the performance, Lil Mama came to foreground and posed alongside Jay-Z and Keys.
She later clarified that she "would never ... try to disrespect Jay-Z or take a moment that someone has created it and try to relive it. I’m too original for that and I respect him too much for that."
In October 2009, she also appeared in cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model. with Benny Ninja.
Lil Mama starred as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the VH1 TLC biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired on October 21, 2013, alongside Keke Palmer and Drew Sidora, who played Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, respectively.
#28 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2006 TO PRESENT
Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American hip hop recording artist from Brooklyn, New York City, New York. A rapper, singer, songwriter,entrepreneur, spokesperson,dancer and actress, Lil Mama was also a talent show judge for seven seasons on America's Best Dance Crew.
She experienced Billboard placement with the release of her debut album, VYP (Voice of the Young People), which spawned the hit single "Lip Gloss".
She was also cast for the role of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, in the VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired in October 2013.
Life and career
1989-2005: Early life
Lil Mama was born Niatia Jessica Kirkland in Harlem, in 1989. She was raised in Brooklyn, New York where she attended Edward R. Murrow High School. Kirkland is the third child and eldest daughter of eight kids. Being the eldest daughter of eight, she acquired her nickname "lil mama".
Kirkland faced personal and financial struggles at an early age. As one of eight brothers and sisters, she started to express herself artistically through poetry and dance.
Her mother Tara, died on December 15, 2007 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.
2006-08: Career beginnings and VYP (Voice of the Young People)
In 2006, Kirkland signed a recording contract with Jive Records. In 2007, she was featured in Dr. Luke's remix of Avril Lavigne's song, "Girlfriend".
Her first studio album VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in late April 2008. The album spawned four singles: "Lip Gloss", "G-Slide (Tour Bus)", "Shawty Get Loose" and "What It Is (Strike a Pose)". The album sold 19,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200.
Lil Mama served as a judge on the competitive dance contest television series America's Best Dance Crew. She joined the judges's circle in 2008 at the age of nineteen.
2009-present
Since the release of her first album, Lil Mama has been in the studio working on new music. She released the singles "Dough Boy" featuring Mishon, "On & On & On", and "NYNYLALA" featuring Snoop Dogg. She has since released two singles entitled "Scrawberry" and "Hustler Girl" featuring Clyde McKnight.
In 2009 she announced the title of her proposed new album as "Voice Of The Young People: I Am That", although this has not been released.
On October 7, 2012 RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records and Jive Records. With the shutdown, Lil Mama (and all other artists previously signed to these three labels) will release her future material on the RCA Records brand. "Voice Of The Young People: I Am That" will have guest appearances including SOULJA Boy, Khalil, Angel Haze,LoLa Monroe, Teyana Taylor,Trina, Keke Palmer, Nas, Chris Brown among others.
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Lil Mama came onstage while Jay-Z and Alicia Keys performed "Empire State of Mind". While Jay-Z was ending his final verse, Lil Mama left her seat in the audience, got onto the stage, and started bobbing her head to the beat. Jay-Z was surprised but continued to perform. Right before this moment, Beyonce had even tried to hold her from going up.
Jay-Z patted Lil Mama on the leg to fall back, jokingly telling her, "you T-Paining right now," a reference to a similar incident two months earlier when T-Pain jumped onstage with Jay-Z at Summer Jam during his performance of "D.O.A.". At the end of the performance, Lil Mama came to foreground and posed alongside Jay-Z and Keys.
She later clarified that she "would never ... try to disrespect Jay-Z or take a moment that someone has created it and try to relive it. I’m too original for that and I respect him too much for that."
In October 2009, she also appeared in cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model. with Benny Ninja.
Lil Mama starred as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the VH1 TLC biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired on October 21, 2013, alongside Keke Palmer and Drew Sidora, who played Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, respectively.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Snow the Product Facts
#SNOWTHAPRODUCTFACTS
#27 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2007 TO PRESENT
Claudia Alexandra Feliciano (born June 24, 1987), better known by her stage name Snow Tha Product, is an American rapper of Mexican descent and singer, signed to Atlantic Records.
Snow is mostly known for her singles "Holy Shit" and "Drunk Love" and her mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings. She released her first independent album Unorthodox in 2011 to positive reviews.
Her debut studio album "40z in First Class" is set for a 2015 release.
Musical style and influences
Snow is known for her "rapid-fire" style of rapping. She can sing without the help of voice-correction software like Auto-tune, but she doesn't consider herself a "singer".
She states she admires and supports artists, who have their own original style. Snow is influenced by artists, such asMissy Elliott, Da Brat, Big Pun,Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Andre 3000, Ludacris,Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Tupac,Tech N9ne and Brotha Lynch Hung, as well as Mexican actress María Félix and singers Gloria Trevi and Lupita D'Alessio.
Snow is bilingual, speaking fluently English and Spanish, and recording in both languages.
#27 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2007 TO PRESENT
Claudia Alexandra Feliciano (born June 24, 1987), better known by her stage name Snow Tha Product, is an American rapper of Mexican descent and singer, signed to Atlantic Records.
Snow is mostly known for her singles "Holy Shit" and "Drunk Love" and her mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings. She released her first independent album Unorthodox in 2011 to positive reviews.
Her debut studio album "40z in First Class" is set for a 2015 release.
Musical style and influences
Snow is known for her "rapid-fire" style of rapping. She can sing without the help of voice-correction software like Auto-tune, but she doesn't consider herself a "singer".
She states she admires and supports artists, who have their own original style. Snow is influenced by artists, such asMissy Elliott, Da Brat, Big Pun,Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Amy Winehouse, Andre 3000, Ludacris,Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Tupac,Tech N9ne and Brotha Lynch Hung, as well as Mexican actress María Félix and singers Gloria Trevi and Lupita D'Alessio.
Snow is bilingual, speaking fluently English and Spanish, and recording in both languages.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
PEPA from Salt n Pepa FACTS
#PEPAFACTS
26 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 1985 TO PRESENT
Sandra Denton (born November 9, 1969) better known by her stage name "Pepa" is a Jamaican-born American hip hop artist and actress, best known for her work as a member of the female rap trio Salt-n-Pepa.
Early life and education
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 9, 1969, Denton's family moved to Queens, New York when she was a child.
In 1985, while studying nursing at Queensborough Community College, she met Cheryl "Salt" James.
Career
With production by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor", James and Denton released a single called "The Showstopper" which became a moderate R&B hit. They were joined with Latoya Hanson who was the original DJ of the group.
Shortly after in 1986, Deidra "Spinderella" Roper joined as the group's DJ as a full-length debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious, was being released.
The trio released a total of five studio albums: "Hot, Cool, and Vicious" (1986), A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988), Blacks' Magic (1990), Very Necessary(1993), and Brand New (1997), plus several greatest hits albums.
Salt-n-Pepa disbanded in 2002 several months after their Brand New album was released on Red Ant Records. Pepa's group member Salt had stated she was ready to leave the music industry. The trio reunited for a performance on VH1's Hip Hop Honors program on September 22, 2005.
In 2005, Pepa was a cast member of VH1's The Surreal Life (season 5). Pepa's acting credits also include the motion picture Joe's Apartment, an appearance in the HBO movie First Time Felon, and a stint as Officer Andrea Phelan on the HBO drama, Oz. She also starred on The Surreal Life: Fame Games.
Salt-n-Pepa reformed in 2008, and are still in the process of releasing an album since reforming as they work out past issues. Pepa teamed up with Salt for VH1's The Salt-N-Pepa Show.
Pepa also starred in her own reality show on the network entitled Let's Talk About Pep, a name play-off the group's hit song "Let's Talk About Sex". She can also be heard speaking a Jamaican chant in the song "Need U Bad" by Jazmine Sullivan.
In August 2008, Pepa released her autobiography, which was also entitled Let's Talk About Pep. It was co-written by Karen Hunter, and it offered a look behind the fame, family, failures, and successes of her life in one of hip-hop's most successful groups.
It features an introduction by Queen Latifah, and an epilogue by Missy Elliott. To accommodate the book, Pepa launched her own social network for her fans. On October 23, 2008 Salt-N-Pepa performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
In January 2011, Pepa appeared in an episode of the TBS sitcom "Are We There Yet?" as a woman who falls for the Terry Crews character of Nick.
Personal life
In 1990, Pepa gave birth to her first child, son Tyran Moore. She made a guest appearance on Ricki Lakein 1993, teaching teenage girls the responsibilities of being a mother.
In 1999, she married Treach of the rap group Naughty by Nature. She and Treach had one daughter, Egypt Jahnari Criss (born September 2, 1998). After allegations of physical abuse by Treach, they divorced in 2001.
26 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 1985 TO PRESENT
Sandra Denton (born November 9, 1969) better known by her stage name "Pepa" is a Jamaican-born American hip hop artist and actress, best known for her work as a member of the female rap trio Salt-n-Pepa.
Early life and education
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on November 9, 1969, Denton's family moved to Queens, New York when she was a child.
In 1985, while studying nursing at Queensborough Community College, she met Cheryl "Salt" James.
Career
With production by Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor", James and Denton released a single called "The Showstopper" which became a moderate R&B hit. They were joined with Latoya Hanson who was the original DJ of the group.
Shortly after in 1986, Deidra "Spinderella" Roper joined as the group's DJ as a full-length debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious, was being released.
The trio released a total of five studio albums: "Hot, Cool, and Vicious" (1986), A Salt with a Deadly Pepa (1988), Blacks' Magic (1990), Very Necessary(1993), and Brand New (1997), plus several greatest hits albums.
Salt-n-Pepa disbanded in 2002 several months after their Brand New album was released on Red Ant Records. Pepa's group member Salt had stated she was ready to leave the music industry. The trio reunited for a performance on VH1's Hip Hop Honors program on September 22, 2005.
In 2005, Pepa was a cast member of VH1's The Surreal Life (season 5). Pepa's acting credits also include the motion picture Joe's Apartment, an appearance in the HBO movie First Time Felon, and a stint as Officer Andrea Phelan on the HBO drama, Oz. She also starred on The Surreal Life: Fame Games.
Salt-n-Pepa reformed in 2008, and are still in the process of releasing an album since reforming as they work out past issues. Pepa teamed up with Salt for VH1's The Salt-N-Pepa Show.
Pepa also starred in her own reality show on the network entitled Let's Talk About Pep, a name play-off the group's hit song "Let's Talk About Sex". She can also be heard speaking a Jamaican chant in the song "Need U Bad" by Jazmine Sullivan.
In August 2008, Pepa released her autobiography, which was also entitled Let's Talk About Pep. It was co-written by Karen Hunter, and it offered a look behind the fame, family, failures, and successes of her life in one of hip-hop's most successful groups.
It features an introduction by Queen Latifah, and an epilogue by Missy Elliott. To accommodate the book, Pepa launched her own social network for her fans. On October 23, 2008 Salt-N-Pepa performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
In January 2011, Pepa appeared in an episode of the TBS sitcom "Are We There Yet?" as a woman who falls for the Terry Crews character of Nick.
Personal life
In 1990, Pepa gave birth to her first child, son Tyran Moore. She made a guest appearance on Ricki Lakein 1993, teaching teenage girls the responsibilities of being a mother.
In 1999, she married Treach of the rap group Naughty by Nature. She and Treach had one daughter, Egypt Jahnari Criss (born September 2, 1998). After allegations of physical abuse by Treach, they divorced in 2001.
Monday, June 22, 2015
KREAYSHAWN FACTS
#KREAYSHAWNFACTS
25 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2008 TO PRESENT
Natassia Gail Zolot (born September 24, 1989), better known by her stage name Kreayshawn, is an American rapper, creative director of OK 1984 and music video director from Oakland, .
In 2011, while serving as a member of a rap group with her friends, she released the music video to her debut single "Gucci Gucci", to internet viral success.
The popularity of the song and its video led to a recording contract with Columbia Records soon after. Kreayshawn released her debut studio album, entitled Somethin' 'Bout Kreay, on September 14, 2012.
1989–2009: Early life and career beginnings
Natassia Gail Zolot was born on September 24, 1989, in San Francisco. She has Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry from Russia on her mother's side. Her mother, Elka Zolot, is a former member of the San Francisco garage punk band The Trashwomen.
Kreayshawn moved to East Oakland and got her first video camera at age ten, and started documenting her raps and films about herself and everyday life.
At the age of 13, she enrolled at MetWest high school, which she described as a "new alternative type of high school".
Instead of having the usual classes, such as English and mathematics, she had to take an internship at a local radio station three days a week. She was dissatisfied with the lack of work and wanted to go to a normal high school, so she switched to Oakland High School.
However, according to Kreayshawn, she "went to none of [her] classes, ever" at her new school, which led to her finishing the term with a 0.0 grade point average and getting expelled for truancy.
After taking a short break, she went to Alameda High School but after a few months she was expelled for threatening to throw a watermelon at a schoolmate.
After the incident, she then enrolled in the continuation high school, Island High, where she then completed her sophomore year. While attending, she began skipping school for weeks on end. After two weeks, she returned to find out the school moved to a different location. Since she had no address or any contact with the school she was unable to find the new location and never went back.
At the age of 16, she moved to live with her aunt in Berkeley and was taking care of her little cousin. She later moved again to live with her friend V-Nasty and enrolled in a work program, where she passed her GED test.
After graduating, she received financial support from her work program and used the money to get her own apartment. She became employed at IKEA, and was also selling marijuana and working a short-lived stint as a "Craigslist pimp" in her spare time.
When she was 17, she got a laptop and began recording songs and exploring her interest in cinematography, by shooting music videos for local artists such as Lil B.
Her videos caught the attention of dean Patrick Kriwanek, and she attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute with a full scholarship for two semesters.
She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music video career. Her manager Chioke McCoy, whom she met while directing a video for DB tha General, encouraged her take on a music career of her own.
Kreayshawn performed in the hip hop group the White Girl Mob (WGM). The group included her friends V-Nasty and Lil Debbie. The White Girl Mob, after many disputes, disbanded in 2012. However, the entire White Girl Mob crew appears in Kreayshawn's video "Go Hard (La.La.La)".
2010–2012: "Gucci Gucci" and Somethin 'Bout Kreay
In 2010, Kreayshawn released her first mixtape, Kittys x Choppas, as well as her first music video for the song "Bumpin Bumpin." On May 16, 2011, she released a music video for her single "Gucci Gucci", which generated nearly three million views on YouTube in the first three weeks.
"Gucci Gucci," according to Kreayshawn, is a song coaxing people to wear their own styles and not succumb to being "basic bitches,"
The popularity of her "Gucci Gucci" video caught the attention of several record labels, and Kreayshawn quickly signed a contract with Columbia Records. Kreayshawn's management was contacted by the label representing the Red Hot Chili Peppers about directing a music video for the band's single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" (from the album,I'm with You).
In August 2011,Billboard ranked Kreayshawn number 34 on their Social 50 chart for her presence on social media.
Kreayshawn sparked controversy during a Tiny chat freestyle, wherein she insulted rapper Rick Ross by calling him "fake." She later retracted her statements and described it as a misunderstanding; however, a few days following her statement, Kreayshawn continued making negative remarks about Ross's body weight, once again calling him "fake" and stating that "he can't rap." These remarks eventually led to Rick Ross verbally threatening Kreayshawn and her manager Chioke "Stretch" McCoy entourage during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
She was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, but lost the category to Tyler, The Creator. She also hosted the Red Carpet event.
The same night, nude pictures of herself were leaked via her Twitter being hacked. She claimed the photos were taken when she was underage.
In July 2011, Kreayshawn's first physical release, Nattymari presents Kreayshawn and Sortahuman Murder in Memphis Vol 1, came out on cassette tape via Clan Destine Records.
Produced by Nattymari with features by V-Nasty and Yung Hawaii Slim among others, the release was limited to 100 copies and celebrated Memphis' culture of murky, underground rap distributed via tape. Side A of the tape is available for free online via clothing company Mishka NYC, while the instrumental side B is tape exclusive.
In 2012, Kreayshawn was nominated for the O Music Awards.
Kreayshawn's debut studio album,Somethin' 'Bout Kreay was released for digital download on September 14, 2012 under Columbia Records in the United States.
It was released on CD elsewhere on September 25, 2012.
The singles, "Breakfast", featuring 2 Chainz, and "Go Hard (La.La.La)" precede the album. A music video was released for "Blasé Blasé" exclusively through HungerTV.
2013–present: Motherhood, upcoming EP, and "Lost in Thot"
On May 5, 2013, Kreayshawn announced via her Instagram that she was expecting her first child.
She gave birth to her son, Desmond, on September 18, 2013.
On one of her YouTube videos she stated that she's working on an EP. On February 15, Kreayshawn vlogged her at the shoot for her new line of jewelry along with her appearing in a new music video with Bukkweatbill for their song "Pipe Down" Kreayshawn announced in a vlog released on February 22, 2014 that she has recorded several songs that might be on her upcoming EP, she also announced that she had an interest in getting a production crew together and to start directing again along with making a reel.
In the same vlog, she also said that she had been unsigned from her label after she had had her first child.
On July 24, Kreayshawn released a collection of chokers called "Hella Cute". Kreayshawn has been the creative director of OK 1984 since releasing her first collection last summer.
She also released a new song "Pizza Song". When responding to a fan on Twitter, Kreayshawn stated that she was working on music and would have something out by the end of 2014 hopefully.
On October 22, Kreayshawn announced on her Facebook page that she had created a podcast called "Lost in Thot" which features Kreayshawn and Chippy Nonstop.
Lost in Thot is usually released on SoundCloud and Stitcher.
In the first two weeks of November, Kreayshawn directed Dev's video for her single "Honey Dip" from her EP "Bittersweet July". The video was released on YouTube on November 25.
Artistry
Influences
Kreayshawn has stated that the biggest influences on her rapping style are the Spice Girls and Missy Elliott.
Kreayshawn states that Missy Elliot is her strongest influence because "she's always been stylish, and she’s always kept her own thing going." In an interview for M.I.S.S., Kreayshawn stated that there were several musicians she was a major fan of, some include Waka Flocka Flame,Kool Keith, Aaliyah, and The Spice Girls.
Musical style
Critics of Kreayshawn's music cite cultural appropriation and "exploitation of African American culture."
West coast rapperGame released a diss track, titled "Uncle Otis", containing lyrics criticizing Kreayshawn for her alleged use of the word 'nigga' though she has never used the word in her music, she has expressed frustration at repeatedly having to account for her friend V-Nasty's use of the word.
She's working together with Grimes and Lady Tragik as the Alternative Hip-Hop/Seapunk group L$D.
Accolades
In 2011 Kreayshawn was listed as on of the 19 most important white rappers in 2011 in the same list like Eminem or Mac Miller by Business Insider.
Furthermore Kreayshawn is one of the most successful artist in terms of social media at the moment especially compared to the poor sale numbers of her debut album. She was ranked #1 on Billboard 's Next Big Sound with almost 700.000 Facebook fans presently.
OnInstagram she has more than 300.000 followers. Therefore she was placed on Billboard 's Social Chart as #35 briefly.
Her 2011 hit song Gucci Gucci was critically heavily acclaimed while referred by Pitchfork as #141 of The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far.
Writing: "An amateur pops off with a genuine hit—it's nearing 50 million views, aka Bieber numbers—and suddenly everyone has to make sure you know she didn't write her own lyrics, that everyone just liked the beat, it was really the Odd Future cosign, that the writer deserves the credit, that anything can and must be taken from her. But "Gucci Gucci", a perfect pop-rap record, has sustained, because Kreayshawn was at its center. Not that collaboration didn't help it come together: DJ Two Stacks' beat was immediate and hooky, and the song's lyrics are eminently quotable. But the spirit of Kreayshawn was what people wanted, what captured our eyes and ears. Down to the quotidian detail, she got what it was like to be a young and urbane hip-hop head in 2011, growing up on the Cool Kids and Curren$y, choosing style over fashion, dealing Adderall out of your backpack and shooting music videos for the gangster rapper up the street.
In one record she built a universe—and transformed "basic" into the slang term heard round the world. — David Drake" Gucci Gucci was included in many music critic year-end lists.
Rick Ross
A few weeks before 2011's MTV Video Music Awards, Kreayshawn had dissed rapper Rick Ross several times by referencing him in one of her songs with the lyrics "I’m about to grab a knife, you tryin’ to play me like a boss, But you faker than Rick Ross" and also making several live streams saying he was fake.
After the 2011 VMAs, a video surfaced online showing Kreayshawn's security talking to Rick Ross and his crew, with Kreayshawn being lead out of the building shortly after. Kreayshawn revealed in a radio interview that she and Rick Ross had talked it out and everything was fine between the two.
Kreayshawn also ended up including the song "Left Ey3" where she dissed Rick Ross on her debut album "Somethin' 'Bout Kreay", with the lyrics referencing Rick Ross changed.
Azealia Banks
Kreayshawn had a brief feud with American rapper Azealia Banks on Twitter in early January 2012 after Kreayshawn had retweeted a link of Azealia Banks' video for her song "212" on PornHub, Banks responded with a string of tweets telling Kreayshawn that she couldn't rap and wasn't funny for tweeting the link.
Kreayshawn responded by telling Banks that she was a fan of her music and that Banks' frustration was confusing to her. After several tweets from Banks describing her anger towards Kreayshawn retweeting a video of her song on a PornHub video, Kreayshawn told Azealia "Come on you mad because I retweeted your link? Because I like your music? Pffff get outta here! Not a fan anymore." Several months later after their Twitter feud, Banks tweeted her apologies to Kreayshawn and offered to do a collaboration with Kreayshawn and Angel Haze. Kreayshawn accepted her apology and stated her looking forward to them collaborating on music.
25 TOP FEMALE RAPPER
ACTIVE: 2008 TO PRESENT
Natassia Gail Zolot (born September 24, 1989), better known by her stage name Kreayshawn, is an American rapper, creative director of OK 1984 and music video director from Oakland, .
In 2011, while serving as a member of a rap group with her friends, she released the music video to her debut single "Gucci Gucci", to internet viral success.
The popularity of the song and its video led to a recording contract with Columbia Records soon after. Kreayshawn released her debut studio album, entitled Somethin' 'Bout Kreay, on September 14, 2012.
1989–2009: Early life and career beginnings
Natassia Gail Zolot was born on September 24, 1989, in San Francisco. She has Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry from Russia on her mother's side. Her mother, Elka Zolot, is a former member of the San Francisco garage punk band The Trashwomen.
Kreayshawn moved to East Oakland and got her first video camera at age ten, and started documenting her raps and films about herself and everyday life.
At the age of 13, she enrolled at MetWest high school, which she described as a "new alternative type of high school".
Instead of having the usual classes, such as English and mathematics, she had to take an internship at a local radio station three days a week. She was dissatisfied with the lack of work and wanted to go to a normal high school, so she switched to Oakland High School.
However, according to Kreayshawn, she "went to none of [her] classes, ever" at her new school, which led to her finishing the term with a 0.0 grade point average and getting expelled for truancy.
After taking a short break, she went to Alameda High School but after a few months she was expelled for threatening to throw a watermelon at a schoolmate.
After the incident, she then enrolled in the continuation high school, Island High, where she then completed her sophomore year. While attending, she began skipping school for weeks on end. After two weeks, she returned to find out the school moved to a different location. Since she had no address or any contact with the school she was unable to find the new location and never went back.
At the age of 16, she moved to live with her aunt in Berkeley and was taking care of her little cousin. She later moved again to live with her friend V-Nasty and enrolled in a work program, where she passed her GED test.
After graduating, she received financial support from her work program and used the money to get her own apartment. She became employed at IKEA, and was also selling marijuana and working a short-lived stint as a "Craigslist pimp" in her spare time.
When she was 17, she got a laptop and began recording songs and exploring her interest in cinematography, by shooting music videos for local artists such as Lil B.
Her videos caught the attention of dean Patrick Kriwanek, and she attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute with a full scholarship for two semesters.
She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music video career. Her manager Chioke McCoy, whom she met while directing a video for DB tha General, encouraged her take on a music career of her own.
Kreayshawn performed in the hip hop group the White Girl Mob (WGM). The group included her friends V-Nasty and Lil Debbie. The White Girl Mob, after many disputes, disbanded in 2012. However, the entire White Girl Mob crew appears in Kreayshawn's video "Go Hard (La.La.La)".
2010–2012: "Gucci Gucci" and Somethin 'Bout Kreay
In 2010, Kreayshawn released her first mixtape, Kittys x Choppas, as well as her first music video for the song "Bumpin Bumpin." On May 16, 2011, she released a music video for her single "Gucci Gucci", which generated nearly three million views on YouTube in the first three weeks.
"Gucci Gucci," according to Kreayshawn, is a song coaxing people to wear their own styles and not succumb to being "basic bitches,"
The popularity of her "Gucci Gucci" video caught the attention of several record labels, and Kreayshawn quickly signed a contract with Columbia Records. Kreayshawn's management was contacted by the label representing the Red Hot Chili Peppers about directing a music video for the band's single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" (from the album,I'm with You).
In August 2011,Billboard ranked Kreayshawn number 34 on their Social 50 chart for her presence on social media.
Kreayshawn sparked controversy during a Tiny chat freestyle, wherein she insulted rapper Rick Ross by calling him "fake." She later retracted her statements and described it as a misunderstanding; however, a few days following her statement, Kreayshawn continued making negative remarks about Ross's body weight, once again calling him "fake" and stating that "he can't rap." These remarks eventually led to Rick Ross verbally threatening Kreayshawn and her manager Chioke "Stretch" McCoy entourage during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
She was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, but lost the category to Tyler, The Creator. She also hosted the Red Carpet event.
The same night, nude pictures of herself were leaked via her Twitter being hacked. She claimed the photos were taken when she was underage.
In July 2011, Kreayshawn's first physical release, Nattymari presents Kreayshawn and Sortahuman Murder in Memphis Vol 1, came out on cassette tape via Clan Destine Records.
Produced by Nattymari with features by V-Nasty and Yung Hawaii Slim among others, the release was limited to 100 copies and celebrated Memphis' culture of murky, underground rap distributed via tape. Side A of the tape is available for free online via clothing company Mishka NYC, while the instrumental side B is tape exclusive.
In 2012, Kreayshawn was nominated for the O Music Awards.
Kreayshawn's debut studio album,Somethin' 'Bout Kreay was released for digital download on September 14, 2012 under Columbia Records in the United States.
It was released on CD elsewhere on September 25, 2012.
The singles, "Breakfast", featuring 2 Chainz, and "Go Hard (La.La.La)" precede the album. A music video was released for "Blasé Blasé" exclusively through HungerTV.
2013–present: Motherhood, upcoming EP, and "Lost in Thot"
On May 5, 2013, Kreayshawn announced via her Instagram that she was expecting her first child.
She gave birth to her son, Desmond, on September 18, 2013.
On one of her YouTube videos she stated that she's working on an EP. On February 15, Kreayshawn vlogged her at the shoot for her new line of jewelry along with her appearing in a new music video with Bukkweatbill for their song "Pipe Down" Kreayshawn announced in a vlog released on February 22, 2014 that she has recorded several songs that might be on her upcoming EP, she also announced that she had an interest in getting a production crew together and to start directing again along with making a reel.
In the same vlog, she also said that she had been unsigned from her label after she had had her first child.
On July 24, Kreayshawn released a collection of chokers called "Hella Cute". Kreayshawn has been the creative director of OK 1984 since releasing her first collection last summer.
She also released a new song "Pizza Song". When responding to a fan on Twitter, Kreayshawn stated that she was working on music and would have something out by the end of 2014 hopefully.
On October 22, Kreayshawn announced on her Facebook page that she had created a podcast called "Lost in Thot" which features Kreayshawn and Chippy Nonstop.
Lost in Thot is usually released on SoundCloud and Stitcher.
In the first two weeks of November, Kreayshawn directed Dev's video for her single "Honey Dip" from her EP "Bittersweet July". The video was released on YouTube on November 25.
Artistry
Influences
Kreayshawn has stated that the biggest influences on her rapping style are the Spice Girls and Missy Elliott.
Kreayshawn states that Missy Elliot is her strongest influence because "she's always been stylish, and she’s always kept her own thing going." In an interview for M.I.S.S., Kreayshawn stated that there were several musicians she was a major fan of, some include Waka Flocka Flame,Kool Keith, Aaliyah, and The Spice Girls.
Musical style
Critics of Kreayshawn's music cite cultural appropriation and "exploitation of African American culture."
West coast rapperGame released a diss track, titled "Uncle Otis", containing lyrics criticizing Kreayshawn for her alleged use of the word 'nigga' though she has never used the word in her music, she has expressed frustration at repeatedly having to account for her friend V-Nasty's use of the word.
She's working together with Grimes and Lady Tragik as the Alternative Hip-Hop/Seapunk group L$D.
Accolades
In 2011 Kreayshawn was listed as on of the 19 most important white rappers in 2011 in the same list like Eminem or Mac Miller by Business Insider.
Furthermore Kreayshawn is one of the most successful artist in terms of social media at the moment especially compared to the poor sale numbers of her debut album. She was ranked #1 on Billboard 's Next Big Sound with almost 700.000 Facebook fans presently.
OnInstagram she has more than 300.000 followers. Therefore she was placed on Billboard 's Social Chart as #35 briefly.
Her 2011 hit song Gucci Gucci was critically heavily acclaimed while referred by Pitchfork as #141 of The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far.
Writing: "An amateur pops off with a genuine hit—it's nearing 50 million views, aka Bieber numbers—and suddenly everyone has to make sure you know she didn't write her own lyrics, that everyone just liked the beat, it was really the Odd Future cosign, that the writer deserves the credit, that anything can and must be taken from her. But "Gucci Gucci", a perfect pop-rap record, has sustained, because Kreayshawn was at its center. Not that collaboration didn't help it come together: DJ Two Stacks' beat was immediate and hooky, and the song's lyrics are eminently quotable. But the spirit of Kreayshawn was what people wanted, what captured our eyes and ears. Down to the quotidian detail, she got what it was like to be a young and urbane hip-hop head in 2011, growing up on the Cool Kids and Curren$y, choosing style over fashion, dealing Adderall out of your backpack and shooting music videos for the gangster rapper up the street.
In one record she built a universe—and transformed "basic" into the slang term heard round the world. — David Drake" Gucci Gucci was included in many music critic year-end lists.
Rick Ross
A few weeks before 2011's MTV Video Music Awards, Kreayshawn had dissed rapper Rick Ross several times by referencing him in one of her songs with the lyrics "I’m about to grab a knife, you tryin’ to play me like a boss, But you faker than Rick Ross" and also making several live streams saying he was fake.
After the 2011 VMAs, a video surfaced online showing Kreayshawn's security talking to Rick Ross and his crew, with Kreayshawn being lead out of the building shortly after. Kreayshawn revealed in a radio interview that she and Rick Ross had talked it out and everything was fine between the two.
Kreayshawn also ended up including the song "Left Ey3" where she dissed Rick Ross on her debut album "Somethin' 'Bout Kreay", with the lyrics referencing Rick Ross changed.
Azealia Banks
Kreayshawn had a brief feud with American rapper Azealia Banks on Twitter in early January 2012 after Kreayshawn had retweeted a link of Azealia Banks' video for her song "212" on PornHub, Banks responded with a string of tweets telling Kreayshawn that she couldn't rap and wasn't funny for tweeting the link.
Kreayshawn responded by telling Banks that she was a fan of her music and that Banks' frustration was confusing to her. After several tweets from Banks describing her anger towards Kreayshawn retweeting a video of her song on a PornHub video, Kreayshawn told Azealia "Come on you mad because I retweeted your link? Because I like your music? Pffff get outta here! Not a fan anymore." Several months later after their Twitter feud, Banks tweeted her apologies to Kreayshawn and offered to do a collaboration with Kreayshawn and Angel Haze. Kreayshawn accepted her apology and stated her looking forward to them collaborating on music.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
YoYo the Rapper
#YOYOFACTS
#24 TOP FEMALE ARTIST
Yo-Yo (born Yolanda Whitaker on August 4, 1971) is an American hip-hop artist and actress.
Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music.
She is the protégé of gangsta rapper Ice Cube. Yo-Yo dubbed her crew the IBWC, which stood for the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.
Music career:
Yo-Yo first appeared as a guest on Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted album in 1990, on the track "It's a Man's World."
Cube returned the favor by appearing on "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo," which was on Yo-Yo's 1991 debut album,Make Way for the Motherlode.
Her follow-up in 1992, Black Pearl was well received by critics, partly because of its focus on positive messages and uplifting themes that contrasted the popular gangsta rap style.
However, despite a plethora of renowned producers such as DJ Muggs, this did not translate into a hit with mainstream hip-hop audiences, and the album's sales were considered a disappointment.
Less than a year later, YoYo released her follow-up "You Better Ask Somebody".
The final track on the album was her third recorded hip-hop duet with Ice Cube, "The Bonnie and Clyde Theme".
Yo-Yo's next album was 1996's Total Control.
In 1998, she finished her fifth album, Ebony, but it was not released.
In 2008, her single "Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" was ranked number 92 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.
Later that year, she performed with MC Lyte, the Lady of Rage, and Salt-n-Pepa at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
As of 2009, she has been at work on an EP, titled My Journey to Fearless: The Black Butterfly.
As of 2012, she is currently running the Youth program "YoYo's School of Hip-Hop."
In 2013, it was announced she has joined the upcoming BET reality series Hip Hop Sisters which will focus on six female rappers' lives and their attempts to relaunch their careers. Other rappers confirmed to appear are MC Lyte,Lady of Rage, Monie Love, Lil Mama, and Smooth.
Acting career:
She appeared in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood.
1993's Menace II Society and other urban-oriented films.
Had a recurring role on the television show Martin as Keylolo, the sidekick of comedian Martin Lawrence's alter ego Sheneneh.
And appeared on other TV shows, including the Fox network's New York Undercover.
She has also made many cameo appearances, including the music video for Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)".
She has also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as a voice actor.
She has two daughters named Tiffany Whitaker and Sanai Whitaker.
She got engaged to DeAndre Windom, the mayor of Highland Park, Michigan, in August 2012. They married on August 17, 2013.
#24 TOP FEMALE ARTIST
Yo-Yo (born Yolanda Whitaker on August 4, 1971) is an American hip-hop artist and actress.
Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music.
She is the protégé of gangsta rapper Ice Cube. Yo-Yo dubbed her crew the IBWC, which stood for the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition.
Music career:
Yo-Yo first appeared as a guest on Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted album in 1990, on the track "It's a Man's World."
Cube returned the favor by appearing on "You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo," which was on Yo-Yo's 1991 debut album,Make Way for the Motherlode.
Her follow-up in 1992, Black Pearl was well received by critics, partly because of its focus on positive messages and uplifting themes that contrasted the popular gangsta rap style.
However, despite a plethora of renowned producers such as DJ Muggs, this did not translate into a hit with mainstream hip-hop audiences, and the album's sales were considered a disappointment.
Less than a year later, YoYo released her follow-up "You Better Ask Somebody".
The final track on the album was her third recorded hip-hop duet with Ice Cube, "The Bonnie and Clyde Theme".
Yo-Yo's next album was 1996's Total Control.
In 1998, she finished her fifth album, Ebony, but it was not released.
In 2008, her single "Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" was ranked number 92 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs.
Later that year, she performed with MC Lyte, the Lady of Rage, and Salt-n-Pepa at the BET Hip Hop Awards.
As of 2009, she has been at work on an EP, titled My Journey to Fearless: The Black Butterfly.
As of 2012, she is currently running the Youth program "YoYo's School of Hip-Hop."
In 2013, it was announced she has joined the upcoming BET reality series Hip Hop Sisters which will focus on six female rappers' lives and their attempts to relaunch their careers. Other rappers confirmed to appear are MC Lyte,Lady of Rage, Monie Love, Lil Mama, and Smooth.
Acting career:
She appeared in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood.
1993's Menace II Society and other urban-oriented films.
Had a recurring role on the television show Martin as Keylolo, the sidekick of comedian Martin Lawrence's alter ego Sheneneh.
And appeared on other TV shows, including the Fox network's New York Undercover.
She has also made many cameo appearances, including the music video for Missy Elliott's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)".
She has also appeared in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, as a voice actor.
She has two daughters named Tiffany Whitaker and Sanai Whitaker.
She got engaged to DeAndre Windom, the mayor of Highland Park, Michigan, in August 2012. They married on August 17, 2013.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Monie Love Facts
#MONIELOVEFACTS
#22 TOP FEMALE RAPPERS
ACTIVE: 1988 TO PRESENT
Monie Love (born Simone Gooden; 2 July 1970) is an English emcee and radio personality in the United States.
She is a well-respected figure in British hip hop, and made an impact with American hip hop audiences as a protégé of female American emcee Queen Latifah, as well as through her membership in the late 1980s/early 1990s Native Tongues.
Love was one of the first BritHop artists to be signed and distributed worldwide by a major record label. Love was born in the Battersea area of London.
She is the younger sister of technomusician Dave Angel, and was a daughter of a London-based, jazz musician father.
Musical career
Love began her hip hop career as an emcee in the British Jus Bad crew, which featured DJ Pogo, Sparki, and MC Mell'O'. The group released the single "Free Style/Proud" on the independent tuff Groove record label in 1988.
Love first gained critical and commercial notice in the United States in 1989 for her cameos on Queen Latifah's Grammy Award-winning and pro-woman single "Ladies First", on Adeva's "Ring My Bell", on the Jungle Brothers' well-received single "Doin' Our Own Dang" and on De La Soul's hit single "Buddy".
The acclaim led her to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records, making Love one of the few British hip-hop efforts released by a major label. Love also has a place in hip-hop history as a member of the Native Tongues, a positive-minded hip-hop collective that included Queen Latifah, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, the Jungle Brothers, and a number of other acts.
Her versatility was demonstrated with her involvement in the emerging popularity of house music with her own single "Grandpa's Party" as well as providing rap for the Dancin' Danny D Remix of Adeva's house hit "Respect".
Love's debut album, Down To Earth, spawned two, Grammy-nominated hits, "Monie in the Middle" (a high school-set track dealing with a woman's right to determine what she wants out of a relationship) and "It's a Shame (My Sister)" (which sampled The Spinners' "It's a Shame", written for the band by Stevie Wonder) and featured house-music vocalist and then-label mate Ultra Naté.
The album reached #26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Love also appears on the song titled "United" from Inner City's third album,Praise.
Love was featured on her brother Dave Angel's remix of Whitney Houston's R&B hit "My Name Is Not Susan" in 1991, and appeared in the music video alongside Houston. Love's 1992 single "Full-Term Love", from the Class Act movie soundtrack, reached #7 on the Hot Hip-Hop Singles chart.
Love collaborated with Marley Marl on her second album, In a Word or 2 (1993), which featured the Prince-produced single "Born To B.R.E.E.D." (which reached #1 on the Hot Dance Music chart and #7 on the Hot Rap Singles chart), as well as a re-release of "Full-Term Love".
The same year, Prince asked her to write lyrics for a few songs on a side-project,Carmen Electra's eponymous album, Carmen Electra. Love's last release as lead artist was the single Slice of Da Pie in 2000. In 2013, she featured on the track "Sometimes" by Ras Kass, from his album Barmageddon.
Radio career
From 2004 until the week of 11 December 2006, Love was the morning drive host on Philadelphia's WPHI-FM 100.3.
The 22 December 2006 edition of the Philadelphia Daily News confirmed that Love left WPHI-FM on amicable terms after contract negotiations stalled.
Love's departure from WPHI followed soon after her December 2006 interview with Young Jeezy, where the two argued over whether hip hop is dead.
Love is also an official MySpace.com DJ, according to her Myspace page. Love currently resides in Miami, Florida, and is a single mother to four children. Currently, she has a radio show on XM Satellite Radio called 'Ladies First Radio with Monie Love'. It airs Thursdays 6PM ET and Sundays 8PM ET.
#22 TOP FEMALE RAPPERS
ACTIVE: 1988 TO PRESENT
Monie Love (born Simone Gooden; 2 July 1970) is an English emcee and radio personality in the United States.
She is a well-respected figure in British hip hop, and made an impact with American hip hop audiences as a protégé of female American emcee Queen Latifah, as well as through her membership in the late 1980s/early 1990s Native Tongues.
Love was one of the first BritHop artists to be signed and distributed worldwide by a major record label. Love was born in the Battersea area of London.
She is the younger sister of technomusician Dave Angel, and was a daughter of a London-based, jazz musician father.
Musical career
Love began her hip hop career as an emcee in the British Jus Bad crew, which featured DJ Pogo, Sparki, and MC Mell'O'. The group released the single "Free Style/Proud" on the independent tuff Groove record label in 1988.
Love first gained critical and commercial notice in the United States in 1989 for her cameos on Queen Latifah's Grammy Award-winning and pro-woman single "Ladies First", on Adeva's "Ring My Bell", on the Jungle Brothers' well-received single "Doin' Our Own Dang" and on De La Soul's hit single "Buddy".
The acclaim led her to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records, making Love one of the few British hip-hop efforts released by a major label. Love also has a place in hip-hop history as a member of the Native Tongues, a positive-minded hip-hop collective that included Queen Latifah, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, the Jungle Brothers, and a number of other acts.
Her versatility was demonstrated with her involvement in the emerging popularity of house music with her own single "Grandpa's Party" as well as providing rap for the Dancin' Danny D Remix of Adeva's house hit "Respect".
Love's debut album, Down To Earth, spawned two, Grammy-nominated hits, "Monie in the Middle" (a high school-set track dealing with a woman's right to determine what she wants out of a relationship) and "It's a Shame (My Sister)" (which sampled The Spinners' "It's a Shame", written for the band by Stevie Wonder) and featured house-music vocalist and then-label mate Ultra Naté.
The album reached #26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Love also appears on the song titled "United" from Inner City's third album,Praise.
Love was featured on her brother Dave Angel's remix of Whitney Houston's R&B hit "My Name Is Not Susan" in 1991, and appeared in the music video alongside Houston. Love's 1992 single "Full-Term Love", from the Class Act movie soundtrack, reached #7 on the Hot Hip-Hop Singles chart.
Love collaborated with Marley Marl on her second album, In a Word or 2 (1993), which featured the Prince-produced single "Born To B.R.E.E.D." (which reached #1 on the Hot Dance Music chart and #7 on the Hot Rap Singles chart), as well as a re-release of "Full-Term Love".
The same year, Prince asked her to write lyrics for a few songs on a side-project,Carmen Electra's eponymous album, Carmen Electra. Love's last release as lead artist was the single Slice of Da Pie in 2000. In 2013, she featured on the track "Sometimes" by Ras Kass, from his album Barmageddon.
Radio career
From 2004 until the week of 11 December 2006, Love was the morning drive host on Philadelphia's WPHI-FM 100.3.
The 22 December 2006 edition of the Philadelphia Daily News confirmed that Love left WPHI-FM on amicable terms after contract negotiations stalled.
Love's departure from WPHI followed soon after her December 2006 interview with Young Jeezy, where the two argued over whether hip hop is dead.
Love is also an official MySpace.com DJ, according to her Myspace page. Love currently resides in Miami, Florida, and is a single mother to four children. Currently, she has a radio show on XM Satellite Radio called 'Ladies First Radio with Monie Love'. It airs Thursdays 6PM ET and Sundays 8PM ET.
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