All Rise! Now bow down and show some respect! There is a Queen in the building! Renaissance brings us the gift of her music from Brooklyn, NY! To listen to her music is to take a trip through heart and soul. You can FEEL her pleasures, her pains, her pride, and her sensuality in every song.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my extreme pleasure to introduce Renaissance - a true Queen!! This young lady's music DEFINES what SOUL music is supposed to be. Soul music is supposed to take you inside the SOUL of the performer. Renaissance's album "Life's Soundtrack" does just that.
When and how did you first become interested in music?
I really don’t know. From a kid, all I remember is music. I don’t remember there not being music in my life. It was either my parents’ old soul music or my older brother’s rap music. Guess that’s why I mesh the two in my music.
How long have you been playing music?
At 9, I was singing in my elementary school choir. I wrote my first song at about 12 years old. I started producing after graduating college.
Where are you from?
Born & raised in Brooklyn, New York. But, both of my parents are from South Carolina. So I’m a southern yankee. Depending on my mood or the day, you may get my southern drawl or my New York talk. Holla, Haha
Where do you perform?
Anywhere the ppl would like to see me. All they gotta do is holla. But right now, mostly, the NYC area.
What are your musical influences?
I dig lots of different kinds of music. So anything I hear that I like is an influence. Anything from soul to Spanish to international to rock, even to country. But I really love old soul music. That’s prob my favorite 2 listen 2 most of the time. But I keep a pretty eclectic Ipod.
Does anyone in your family play music?
Not unless some one has a secret gift I don’t know about.
What else do you do besides play music?
I was a writer first and foremost. B4 I made music, I was a writer. And I still am. I write poetry, I’ve written plays, screenplays, short stories, lots of things. I love art too but can’t draw worth nothing. But I mess around with some computer graphic design a little and I’m pretty good at that. I designed the artwork idea of my CD package.
OK - your song “Take Your Clothes Off is just flat-out sexy! Why did you write or decide to play that song?
Thanks so much. Funny thing about that song is it wasn’t made for the album. It was just a joint we did on the fly. I was working on a joint for my boy P. Nameck’s (the track’s producer) mixtape. We finished the mixtape joint and I was like ok, lets do another one just cause. So he started playing beats and when that one came on, I was like, “Oh that sounds sexy. That sounds like sex music to me.” And we started writing based on that premise. We put the joint on a mixtape and I threw it on my myspace page and it seemed like everybody that came by my page either put it on their page or told me it was their favorite joint or the best joint they’d heard in a while. It got so popular on myspace I decided to add a new verse and put it on the album.
When I listen to “Nothing 2 U, it makes me think about a long-term relationship gone bad. What is that song really about?
You hit the nail on the head really. My ex and I were breaking up but it was one of those long messy breakups because we had been together so long and had so much history. So much had gone on and was happening that everything just got real convoluted and it was like a, ‘yo, do u even still care because it seems like you don’t. Yet we’ve been through too much for you to not care,’ sort of thing. I was in a real confused state about the relationship at that point. Like if you peep the lyrics of the chorus, it’s real simple. “Baby/ tell me/ what I’m supposed to do/ When u /make it seem like/ it’s nothing 2 u”. I wanted to be told something concrete. We was just going in circles and I wanted some definitive direction. Like, do we keep fighting for this or is it finally over? That was one of those joints, I wrote while I was in the moment so I guess that’s why it comes across so effectively like it does. And so many other people have been there so they connect strongly to it. Lots of sistas got it as they myspace page song. *smile* So I’m glad it’s here to help them through their moment.
Listening to “I'm a Queen” made me want to find my red-black-and-green medallion and black gloves and throw my fist up in the air! What does this song mean to you personally?
To me it’s something, the sistas can take and stand up with. It’s something to make us feel good about ourselves. Something to remind us of who we really are cause we’ve been lead 2 believe otherwise. We’re not the monsters and degenerates they call us or portray us to be. So it’s just a reminder of what the truth is. We are queens and kings. “Remember I ruled Egypt y’all / So I don’t trip off the small shit y’all” You know what I’m sayin?
I loved the creativity you showed in the song “Time”. Culture Club + Main Source = a throwback classic! Tell me the story behind this song.
Another one of those joints I wrote in the moment. My cousin actually was the inspiration for the song though. She had been with her son’s father for like 10 years and they were going through a break up and she was venting to me one day and one of the things she said was that she “wanted her time back”. And that phrase inspired the song’s concept. So I took some of what we were both going through at the time and used that. I went home and wrote the verses that night. About a week later I sat down and did the beat from scratch. And there u have it.
What is special about that song?
It’s special because, its one of those joints u connect with emotionally. It’s about that relationship revolving door. Break up 2 make up 2 do it again, ya know. All because u don’t want 2 feel like u’ve just been wasting your time all along. People everywhere have felt that and immediately connect.
Of the songs we have discussed, which one means the most to you personally?
I lived all of them so I could never choose. They’re all equally personally meaningful. “Nothing 2 U” is probably my Tupac-esque joint tho. Meaning, it’s the realest shit I ever wrote. Ha ha. It’s definitely the most personal and introspective look at my mind state at that time.
What makes this kind of music "good" to you?
Its about real life and real emotion. You can feel it because we’ve all been there. I love hearing music that makes me feel something. Then I know it’s good.
Why did you choose to play this kind of music?
I needed 2 tell my story. It was my therapy. I had a lot of emotions with all the changes I was going through and I needed 2 get it out. Extreme emotions can make you bug out if you don’t have an outlet for them. Thank God for music.
Tell me about when you decided that you wanted to be a musician?
I wouldn’t say I decided moreso than, it was decided for me. I don’t remember ever not being surrounded by music so I had 2 be hooked from very young. Wanting 2 create it was the natural progression from loving it.
Can you explain your creative process to us?
I’m unusual I think. I hear a lot of people say they write everyday but I don’t. In fact I can go months and not write much of anything. Then suddenly, one day, I’ll start writing and wont stop for months. The same with production. Then I’ll look up after a while and find myself in the middle of a stack on new songs, lyrics, concepts, and beats. I try to write in the moment whenever I can when the emotion is most potent, so that I’m saying exactly what I feel at the time. So my songs are like cameras, they capture a specific moment in time. I like to work completely alone (unless it’s a rare collaboration). Not just in an empty room but an empty building if I’m so lucky. I feel most free alone.
How do you feel about the music that's on the radio today?
I’m not feeling much of it all. There’s a lot of garbage music on the radio. Not just in hip hop but across the genres. There’s a lot of Kleenex artists, ya know. Use em once and throw em away. And that’s the kind of music they’re making. Nobody’s making anything ppl can connect to on an emotional level.
Where do you get your ideas from?
Life. Movies. Friends. What is a normal day like for you? I don’t think I have a such thing as a normal day really. But I do spend a lot of time online. Catch me on my myspace page (www.myspace.com/RealRenaissance) or updating my website (www.RenaissanceOnline.net) I create whenever the spirit moves me, so that could be any time of day.
Do you have any children, any pets?
Nope, no kids, no pets.
Who is your "famous" favorite artist, and why?
That answer changes every so often but the usual suspects are Jay-Z, Rakim, & Eminem cause they are so lyrical, I’m loving Kanye’s new album, Salt n Pepa & Lyte because they gave me female inspiration and let me know I could be a female rapper and be myself and 2pac because he touched me emotionally.
Who is your favorite artist friend?
Big Trip & P. Nameck. Look out for both those dudes to do big things next year.
What motivates you to create?
I don’t love anything else like I love doing this. There’s a rush u get when u sitting there cooking up a new beat and you just KNOW it’s dope. Or you’re writing a verse and come up with a line that makes you get mad excited and go ‘whooooo!!’ when your writing it. Nothing beats those moments and feelings.
Does your family influence your art?
Not so much my art, as my drive to succeed.
The Men want to know! Are you married, single or in a relationship?
*blushing* I’m in a relationship.
If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
Italy. I’ve dreamt of visiting there since I was in high school.
What is your dream? Where do you want your music to take you?
I actually have no desire to be a superstar or anything. If I can live a comfortable life, doing what I love, making music and running my label and just kind of stay just below the radar, I’m good. I don’t need the paparazzi snapping pics of me with a cheeseburger in my mouth to make me feel special.
What is wrong with the world today?
Oh man, people’s greed and the need for instant gratification is destroying the world. If people didn’t want everything and then more of everything, and then want it, not only now but right now, things would be better. You can’t continuously take and take and think you don’t have to give something in return at some point. And you can’t expect to have everything when you want it. Life just doesn’t work like that. Not to sound corny but truth is truth. The universe don’t owe us nothing. If anything, we owe the universe, for our existence. So I hope people will begin to recognize that and become more patient and giving.
Tell us one thing about you that would shock the world!
With all the craziness going on in my music, actually, I live a pretty boring life! Shocking huh? Ha ha.
What do you do for fun?
I can’t stand the cold but I love snowmobiling. I’ll go to the mountains for a weekend and speed around on the snowmobile. Doing 50 or 60 mph on a snowmobile ain’t the same as doing it in a car. Ain’t no seatbelts, haha. I love going to the movies and shooting pool. When I get some money I wanna put a real fly pool table in my crib. Like one of those special custom made pool tables. I like going to new restaurants and trying different food. But as long as I’m surrounded by good company, I could be doing pretty much anything and have a good time. And if I can’t find anybody available well, I go make some fun by myself somewhere. I’m interesting enough to myself, lol.
Tell us about the CD Life's Soundtrack.
The album was truly a labor of love in more ways than one. It’s the snapshot of a time period of my life. It’s a concept album that tells the story of the relationships I was in and the things that were happening and how I was feeling about them. Some were good moments, like with “I Love You” and some were angry like with “F.U.N.” some were reflective and thoughtful, like with, “Time”, some were sexy like with, “Thug Passion” and “Take Your Clothes Off” and some were fun and carefree like with “HomeWitMe” and “I Don’t Need A Boyfriend”. My emotions were really running the gamut of extremes at that time and it’s all in the album. It took a few years to get it completed. And there were times when it looked like it wasn’t gonna happen. But the day the actual completed CDs were delivered was one of the happiest moment ever.I wrote, produced, & mixed it myself. I designed the artwork concept myself and even did the CD cover art myself as well. The CD is a whole package. Not just good music but I took time in creating a great looking CD package. So when you get it, you’re getting a whole experience. It’s my life as an epic Spielberg movie…. My Life’s Soundtrack.
Of the 13 tracks, which one is your personal pride and joy?
That could be any song on any given day depending on my mood.
Is this your first CD?
Yup.
There are some very sensual tracks on this album - what inspires the sensuality in your music?
I’m a Scorpio. And if there’s anything the general public knows about Scorpios is that we are very sensual people. So when that comes across in my music, it’s just a reflection of what’s innately inside me. Most people focus on the big finish, but I think the most important thing is the initial starting point. Like peep my lyrics in “Thug Passion”: “I can already feel the sweat/ Beading up on your head and chest/ Just relax lemme kiss ya neck/ Sheets all wet/ Got you open and I ain’t even took your clothes off yet” Thug Passion is a real sexy song lyrically. And if you notice, it actually goes from foreplay to orgasm in each verse without being raunchy. I think there’s a difference between sensual, sexy or freaky as opposed to being just downright nasty. There’s a creativity that goes with sensuality. Anybody can say, “Let’s *&$# now”. Nothing’s arousing about that. But if I tell you, “Any inhibitions you got/ papi put that aside/ no convertible/ but I’m a drop my top and papi I’m gonna ride” ….now that’s sexy.
You seem to be very connected to your heritage, and it comes through in your music. Describe your personal journey to discovering your cultural heritage?
I started wearing my hair natural about 6 years ago. Since then things have become very clear to me about just how disconnected Black people really are from our culture. When I wear my hair out, I get a lot of attention. Mostly from Black people. They tend to be surprised almost. I think it’s because we’ve forgotten who we are. We’ve forgotten that we are just naturally fly. Cause we were told that we weren’t for so long. That our natural look isn’t beautiful. But it is, it so IS! And so when I come through, fresh to death, hair out big, bold and natural, they look at me and realize, “oh, it could go down like that? It could be fly like that.” And I’m living proof that yup, we sure are fly like that, just the way we are.
Other than MySpace, where can we find you and your music?
Tell me anything that you would like the world to know that we haven't asked above.
I’m bigger than any box you can imagine to put me in. I’m a whole person full of flaws and contradictions. I’m not any one thing. I’m part New York, part country. Part street smart, part college graduate. Part artist, part entrepreneur. A sexual creature but not a hoe. I’m strong, I’m proud and I’m a female. One who happens to write the dopest rhymes and make the dopest beats. I am The Hip Hop Woman.
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The Music 
I started wearing my hair natural about 6 years ago. Since then things have become very clear to me about just how disconnected Black people really are from our culture. When I wear my hair out, I get a lot of attention. Mostly from Black people. They tend to be surprised almost. I think it’s because we’ve forgotten who we are. We’ve forgotten that we are just naturally fly. Cause we were told that we weren’t for so long. That our natural look isn’t beautiful. But it is, it so IS! And so when I come through, fresh to death, hair out big, bold and natural, they look at me and realize, “oh, it could go down like that? It could be fly like that.” And I’m living proof that yup, we sure are fly like that, just the way we are. 
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