I remember hearing about Audra The Rapper probably three years back. From what people told me and via my own research, she was known throughout a good part of VA as someone to keep their eyes on. A memory I have of her was a record she did about how she hated college – a unique twist to Asher Roth’s “I Love College.”

Anywho, fast forward to the present day and Audra is the first lady of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group and seems poised to build upon her own talent and her new affiliation. The Source caught up with the Richmond, Virginia, native to open up about her story, female beef and her dream collaborations.

Explain the journey of Audra The Rapper?

Just turned 21 a few months ago. I always knew I wanted to do music. When I was younger I use to film myself in the mirror just singing basically anything. When I was 14 though, that’s when I started to pursue rapping seriously. I’m from Richmond Virginia there is a radio station 106.5 The Beat, and they had call-in battle contests. Listening, it really interest me so I started battling at school. It was Dipset’s Diplomatic Immunity, that really inspired me. I thought I was dipset! Around 15 I linked with this team out in Richmond which also happens to be the team Chris Brown got his start with. So I started doing shows and did my first mix-tape by the age of 16. At 17 I dropped Sweet & Sour that’s how I got my foot in the door.

Well you already noted Dipset was one of your inspirations. Who are some other artists that helped inspire you to this point?

Lauryn Hill for sure. My last project The Miseducation of Audra was sort of my way to pay homage to her. I just love how you can listen to her and be able to tell where her mind is. Understand how she is feeling, what she is going through and her beliefs. She’s real definitely and an inspiration! TuPac, and Biggie’s Ready to Die is probably my favorite album of all time.

Now your officially signed to Rick Ross’ label Maybach Music?

I ran into him by accident in the beginning of 2010. I was in my hometown shooting a video, and one of my close friends is a radio personality on 92.1. He invited me up to the radio station to chop it up. So I’m sitting in the booth just talking to him, and in comes Ross and Khaled for their interview. So I hung around during their interview, you know sitting in the corner and Ross was talking about how he signed up for twitter that day. So during the commercial break I’m like whats your twitter? So he gave me his and asked for mine so I said @AudraTheRapper. He’s like oh you rap follow me. So we left the interview we went outside and he asked me to rap and rap and rap. So we exchanged contacts and he tells me later on you know I really fuck with your music. We ended up being booked on the same show during homecoming season, I did my cover of B.M.F. Afterwards in passing he’s like I remember you and really complimented me. So one day I get a tweet from his DJ saying hit us up. So the next day I get a call, the day after I had flight information, and then I’m recording with him in Miami. That’s how it went down.

To read the rest, click here.