Civil Interview: The ‘Sisterhood of Hip Hop’ Are MCs First, Reality Stars Second
by Staff Editor
People always ask, what is the toughest challenge for being a female rapper. I want to hear what you think are some of the pros to being a female MC.
Nyemiah Supreme: Besides our talent, with women people like to look at women so there’s a slight advantage of just people wanting to see you. See you and hear you. When it’s guys they just want to hear their music but I think for me it’s fun playing dress up, doing my hair and being a role model for other girls. It’s fun to see the younger girls I know and kids I know go ‘wow, you were able to do that.’ I think it’s cool to inspire other girls, kids and everybody that a woman can do anything.
Diamond: I’ve kind’ve seen that it’s always been women and kids that buy records. It’s also a blessing to be a female and have a voice to speak for women.
Siya: The fact that to me, women do everything better anyways, us having the talent that we have and like Nyemiah said being people’s mentors and be admired and looked up to – that’s just a blessing in itself.
Bia: I think the best part about being a woman in this industry is the underestimating that comes with being a woman. The fact that people automatically go into it like ‘ ahh she’s a girl, she isn’t going to go hard.’ And then when they hear they’re like ‘wow.’ I love that they underestimate me because I’m a woman.
Brianna Perry: I think that it’s great being a woman in this industry in particular, especially in our genre of music because it’s so few. So when you succeed you really win. You get to change your appearance so much, you have more leeway when it comes to putting together a show, a production. You just have no boundaries to be creative.
Do you think hip-hop forces women to look damn good while at the same time the lyrics have to be hard?
Nyemiah Supreme: For me, I think initially I always wanted to gain respect from male rappers like ‘she’s hard.’ But I do see that there are female rappers and they don’t have to go as hard. Like M.I.A. she’s a different type of female rapper so it doesn’t have to be hard and gangsta but depending on what you’re trying to appeal to – especially respect wise or lyricism wise – you have to come hard.
Brianna Perry: I think just to measure up to what’s going on already you don’t think like just because I’m a female you can play it safe. No, you have to have better lyrics than the dudes.
When the filming started, what was that adjustment period like to have all those cameras in your face?
Bia: Oh, that took a while for me. I’m a very private person. I’m very reserved when it comes to my family, my friends and my relationships so it was just an eye-opener like, ‘Oh my God they are really in my business.’ It was just certain things you got to be careful about opening up in your life. I was just being protective of my brand because I’m a new artist.
Brianna Perry: Just naturally as an artist you have to have some walls up and some type of guard in what you do because you already share so much of yourself. In your music and on your Instagram and on your Twitter so naturally that’s just how our mind is. I think for me it was knowing that it’s ok to just be you and relax because these cameras are all around you so you’re thinking like you’re still performing. Just getting accustomed to having the cameras smack in your face when you’re in your private setting, you’re chilling or you’re talking to your mother.
Siya: There’s been times where we’ve all wanted to kick the camera. I think I’ve shoved a few and I’ve seen Diamond do it too. That’s their job so I didn’t hate on it. We all knew what we signed up for and at the end of the day we all came on to the show to have the same ultimate goal. I think we all really achieved it. At first it was hard but you get used to that shit and then you just start cursing niggas out, ‘get out my face.’
Bia: Move the camera, this is not my good side!