Raw Roots - Rap News, Interviews & Reviews

Lady Sovereign

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Written by Stu

Love her or hate her. This pint-sized female rapper from the UK has gotten comfy in the US after wowing Jay-Z, and her first single "Love Me or Hate Me" (we think it's tres Eminem) shot straight to #1 on TRL. Her whole bit is way in-your-face and after being a little difficult to pin down for an interview, she even responded to one question with a "That's none of your business!" Lucky for Lady Sov, playing hard to get kinda won us over. Public Warning is available now on Def Jam, and we'd like to warn the public, this ain't some gimmicky throwaway album; it's full of clever rhymes, tight beats and a side-ponytail we can't get enough of.

By Joanna Douglas

This Interview comes courtesy of ElleGirl Magazine (yes! Elle Girl, have hooked us up) you can view the original at http://www.ellegirl.com/article/7196

How did you come up with the name Lady Sovereign?
Lady Sovereign: I took a sovereign ring [traditional English jewelry] from the boyfriend of a mate of mine who was being nasty to my mate. I punished him! I kept the ring and named myself after it.

Geez! Okay, well, you call yourself "The biggest midget in the game.' How tall are you really?
5'1". Not a real midget. A big midget!

What artists did you grow up listening to?
First off, I listened to what my mum and dad played who were punks, and then I started listening to jungle, techno and UK garage.

How did you get started rapping?
Out of boredom. School didn't really interest me, so I had plenty of time to write lyrics at home.

How did you meet your longtime partner, DJ Frampster?
On an internet forum for the UK garage act So Solid Crew. He was looking for MCs to join his crew, I wrote back to him and that's how it started.

Have you always been able to talk really fast? Is that smoothness something that comes with practice?
Yeah I've always had that ability to rap pretty fast. I don't think it's that fast, it's just what I do. When I started I was quite #?$!, but with time and just doing it, I got a lot better.

I heard a story about how you had to audition for Jay-Z, Usher and LA Reid--is that true? How did you win them over? What was their reaction?
Yeah, I had to do a freestyle for them. I was very nervous but got through it. Jay-Z smiled a lot, I think he liked it, but I was tense! It all worked out in the end.

Do you think it's hard for people in the industry to take woman serious in the genre? What do you do to combat that?
It really depends how good you are not if you're a man or woman. If you're good--really good--you'll get taken seriously.

You did that diss record against Jentina called Sad Ass Stripper... would you ever do another one like that, and if you did who would be directed towards?
None of your business! Those things are best left spontaneous, out of the blue, without anyone knowing. If I told you, that would ruin it!

Do you think you're perceived differently in the UK as opposed to here? How do you think your fans are different?
I don't know, it's hard for me to analyze that stuff. I haven't done much in the UK for a while, but I love the US fans. They are really into what I'm doing. Some are bloody fanatical, it's mad!

How do you think you were able to cross over to mainstream in the US?
I'm different, not just in the female world but in the whole world--like it or lump it! And a lot of people have accepted that.

You've worked with AdRock from Beastie Boys... who else have you worked with?
I worked with Missy Elliot recently on a remix of "Love Me Or Hate Me." But my album's mainly made with UK producers, like Medasyn, Menta and Basement Jaxx. The only exception is Dr. Luke who's American and did two tracks with me. I met other American producers but I'm not going to force anything. What do you feel about getting super mainstream with songs like "Love Me or Hate Me" going in commercials
It's good exposure for my music. I wouldn't just fling my music into any old commercial--it has to be what I like. But it gets a lot more people listening who wouldn't normally hear my stuff like grannies!

Do you really wear Adidas track suits and a side ponytail every day or is that more when you're performing?
No, I wear lots of different things, but I do keep my ponytail in EVERY DAY!

What are your favorite sneakers/clothes to wear?
Adidas, Stussy, 10 Deep, Michiko Koshino jeans....those are my favorites.

What else do you do for fun?
Football. I love my team Manchester United and the England national team...That's soccer by the way. I also play football whenever I get the time, but there's not much time these days!

Public Warning