MARS: 14 YEARS OLD. I TRIED TO EMULATE BEATS THAT WERE FEATURED ON THE RADIO. I GOT GOOD ENOUGH TO WHERE THE TRACKS I WAS EMULATING WOULD SOUND JUST LIKE THE TRACK OR EVEN BETTER. YOU KNOW I MIGHT BE GOOD AT THIS. SO I STARTED MAKING MY OWN BEATS.
VE: Did you always know that you were going to be a producer?
MARS: I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT BEING A PRODUCER ENTAILED. BUT I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE DOING MUSIC. I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO MUSIC. OCCASIONALLY I WANTED TO BE A BASKETBALL PLAYER BUT I KEPT WITH MUSIC. INSTEAD OF PRACTICING MY FREE THROWS I WAS PRACTICING MY C NOTES.
VE: When you were younger, did you know that you would have this much success by age 25?
MARS: OF COURSE YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH SUCCESS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE. BUT I DEFINITELY HAVENT EVEN REACHED HALF OF MY POTENTIAL.
VE: Who are your musical influences?
MARS: MY DAD, MICHAEL JACKSIN, J DILLA, QUINCY JONES, STEVIE WONDER, DONNY HATHAWAY, ANITA BAKER, MARVIN WINANS, THOMAS WHITFIELD, MARVIN GAYE, PARLIAMENT, JAMES BROWN.
VE: How did you get your start? Tell me about your come up, working with Just Blaze and Brian Michael Cox.
MARS: I MOVED OUT MY PARENTS HOUSE AT THE AGE OF 17. GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL EARLY. MY DAD TOLD ME WHEN I FINISHED SCHOOL I COULD DO MUSIC. I SIGNED A ONE YEAR INDEPENDENT CONTRACT WITH THIS LADY LATISHA, HAD MY OWN STUDIO OWN APARTMENT. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS GIVE HER 15 BEATS. MY HOMEBOY JONATHAN INTRODUCED ME INTO LARRANCE. WE ALL PLAYED IN CHURCH. CAME BY HIS STUDIO. I PLAYED HIM SOME STUFF. LARRANCE SAID “I PLAY SOME STUFF FOR SNOOP YOU SHOULD COME BY AND PLAY SOME STUFF.” WENT AND PLAYED. SNOOP LIKED IT. SINCE THEN WE BECAME PRODUCTION PARTNERS. WORKING WITH JUST BLAZE AND BRIAN MICHAEL COX WAS GREAT BECAUSE THEY ARE SEASONED VETS AND BIG BROTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY. EVERY TIME I WORK WITH THEM I LEARN SOMETHING.
VE: Do you play any instruments?
MARS: I PLAY THE DRUMS, ORGAN, PIANO, BASS, ANYTHING WITH KEYS, KEYBOARDS, XYLOPHONES, WHATEVER.
VE: Damn that’s a lot lol. What are some of your biggest tracks.
MARS: DOPE BOYS BY GAME, TAKE YOU DOWN BY CHRIS BROWN, STRONGER BY KANYE WEST, WHICH ONE BY SNOOP, SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT BY JAY Z. WE GOT SOME STUFF COMING OUT ON SNOOPS NEW ALBUM. GET THAT. “MALICE IN WONDERLAND.”
VE: Which of your beats if your favorite?
MARS: I LIKE TAKE YOU DOWN. TAKE YOU DOWN MIGHT BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BEATS.
VE: What was your first major hit?
MARS: GANGSTA LOVE BY BOBBY VALENTINO.
VE: Describe the feeling when you first heard it on the radio.
MARS: I DIDN’T HEAR GANGSTA LOVE ON THE RADIO. THE FIRST MAJOR HIT ON THE RADIO WAS DOPE BOYS. IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
VE: What do you think about the current state of hip-hop.
MARS: THERE ISN’T TOO MUCH GREAT MUSIC OUT RIGHT NOW. SO THAT GIVES ME A LANE TO DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO WHICH IS GREAT MUSIC. EVERYBODY EXPRESSES THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY.. I LIKE THE WAY LUPE RAPS THE WAY HE EXPRESSES HIMSELF. HE HAS STORIES AND CONCEPTS.
VE: Is it in your plans to produce other genres or are you content with hip-hop and R&B?
MARS: I PRODUCE OTHER GENRES, I PRODUCE GOSPEL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO PRODUCE OTHER GENRES.
VE: What projects are you working on now that we should look out for?
MARS: SNOOP, LUPE, THE GAME, REDMAN, UHHH MAN JUST A LOT OF THINGS. IF ITS REALLY HOT YOU KNOW I DID IT. YOU KNOW ITS FROM THE HOTTEST PLANET: MARS.
VE: First and foremost, I’m always excited to see a Grenadian doing big things in this business. I’m trying to track us all down. So far I know you, Craig David and Estelle. I’m trying to be the next on that list lol. Do you know of any others?
AD: hahaha nice! No I can’t say I do. Unless of course you count Sparrow!
VE: True! You and Estelle are actually pretty good friends right?
AD: yup
VE: New York is very different from Inglewood and Miami where you grew up. What is it about NYC that made you make it home?
AD: Actually, I grew up in the Valley and Orlando. NYC just has a vibrancy about it that speaks to and inspires me. I knew when I visited at 12 that it was where I wanted to be.
VE: Dam this faulty internet information lol. An educated young woman, you have a degree from Columbia University in African American studies. How was your experience at NY’s Ivy and why did you choose to study that?
AD: I got my master’s at Columbia. I went to SUNY Purchase as an undergrad. Originally I was in the acting program but after my first year I left and created my own major. Black Studies with a concentration in the Visual and Performing Arts. I decided to get my master’s in the topic because one of my favorite professors stopped me on campus one day and said, “you’re gonna change the world and you’ll need your master’s to do it.” That was that!
VE: It’s hard to say where people might know you best from, because you’ve done a little of everything. MTV Hostess, SIRIUS Radio Host on the Hip-Hop Nation Show, replacing Natalie on the Floetry tour, your own mixtape & ep’s, appearances on Nickelodeon and Def Poetry Jam back in the day. How do you describe your career? Like what do you tell people who ask you “what do you do?”
AD: When people ask what I do I tell them, I do it all.
VE: What has been the highlight of your career so far?
AD: The highlight of my career? That’s a tough one. There’ve been a few, hosting on MTV2, interviewing Outkast, the first time I performed with the Roots, being featured on Q-tip’s album alongside greats like Norah Jones, Raphael Saadiq, & D’angelo, stand out.
VE: Now you have amazing art that you create, which is the main reason we’re featuring you today. How do you describe your artwork?
AD: My art is just like me, vibrant, strong, detailed and funky.
VE: How long have you been drawing/painting?
AD: I’ve been drawing since I can remember but I didn’t start painting until 10th grade.
VE: Where do you pull inspiration from in your creative process?
AD: basically from my surroundings and also this imagination of mine. I just have random images in my head. A lot of them involving lines. I have a thing about lines and symmetry.
VE: How has your artwork been received so far?
AD: Amazingly well! I can’t believe it. I’ve kept it to myself for so long I’m astonished at the overwhelmingly positive response. I think folks are so tired of fake shit like autotune, etc so to see an authentic skill like painting, they get hype. It feels good.
VE: I noticed that your work is also reasonably priced. I know a lot of artists with your skill level and notability try to charge an insane amount of money. Was there a thought process behind your price points?
AD: My price points are only reasonable because I know that I have to build to insane prices. Trust, when I can charge insane prices I WILL! Because there is a piece of your soul so it shouldn’t be reasonably priced! But prints will be;)
VE: What is next for Amanda Diva?
AD: I’m working on my first solo art show in nyc. Sponsored by Swizz Beats whom a lot of people in the hip-hop world don’t know is an avid and well respected art collector. I’m also working to expand my hand-bag line and really push to get it to the people. Otherwise I’m always working to bring quality work to the fore, so the music, web shows, etc are growing as the art does.
Guess who’s bizzack? Silkk. Yessir, Silkk the Shocker. Your favorite New Orleanian who helped put the No Limit movement on the map in the 90s. I had a chance to catch up with multi-platinum, multi-millionaire artist and entrepreneur, who forreal is just a really cool dude! We chopped it up on everything from the projects he’s working on, Lauren the Shocker, his brother C-Murders murder trial, jerking [PAUSE: We’re talking about the dance] and what he’s been doing with all that good green $. Check it out…
BB: You’ve been laying low since your last album. What you been up to?
STS: I’ve been working on this clothing line, working on a lot of films. Just focusing on the business side of stuff.
BB: I’m a believer that life influences art. Artists who release projects back to back without living seem to lose inspiration. Do you pull from life experiences to create your music?
STS: It’s funny you say that because I just talked to somebody about that the other day. That’s exactly what I did, I felt like I been doing [music] for about 12 – 13 years straight. We’re talking about being home for maybe a month out the year, if that. I did a lot of great things but didn’t have time to enjoy it. I would do back to back shows, like 28 shows in 30 days. You do all that stuff, a lot of great things, but you don’t enjoy it. So that’s exactly how I feel about it. I love music, I love everything about it, but I wasn’t really pressed to come back. A couple years went by but it doesn’t feel like it. I was doing things I really enjoy. Writing, I’m working on a book called “Poor Little Rich Kid.” I just got fed up with doing everything for everybody else so I just took some time off. We’ve done a lot of good stuff music, so I decided to take some time to enjoy what I’ve done. Once I did that I realized, wow, there’s something else besides music.
BB: Do you think people are ready for you to come back?
STS: Yea! Even though I haven’t put the record out, I’ve done a few shows did a couple of appearances and you know what, it’s actually the perfect time because my music right now is my best ever. People who’ve heard it, my family my brother they’re all are saying this is the best ever. And I agree, because there’s no pressure, I just love the music. I’m my worst critic, and if I like it, I think it’s pretty good. I liked my music [before] but uhhh… this one, I’m at my best. I’m very excited about it and it’s really not even my #1 focus to sell a billion records. If everybody likes it like how I like it, then I’m good with that.
BB: I hear you. You’re on that Diddy, Janet level where you’re not doing it for the money anymore because you’re all set in that respect. You’re just doing out of the pure passion for music at this point.
STS: *LOL* Exactly! You hit the nail on the head. I feel like I can go in the studio for 12 days and make a thousand songs and it would all be good. I’ve never felt how I felt now creative wise. When I got in the studio, I felt no pressure. When you feel like that, you have no writers block, you just give me a track and I do it. I really do feel like a Puffy where I’m just trying to make good music for the people. I’m pretty sure the fans are really going to embrace it. I speak to my fans all the time, they’re always asking when I’m coming back or they say “man, the rap game needs you!” And it feels good because, if I felt there was no need to come out, I wouldn’t even come out. I just feel there’s a lack of good music.
BB: What’s the vibe of the new music you’re working on? Like what can we expect? Is it serious, fun, laid back, upbeat?
STS: It’s a little of everything. I got heartfelt songs, I got rowdy songs, I got club songs, I got inspirational songs. I really can’t wait to see people’s perception of it. I really think I may have snuck up on what could be a classic, but you aint hear that from me *LOL* It’s definitely something for everybody on there. And I think by being such a good record, I think it will draw people to other songs. I like all types of music, no music is horrible to me. But let’s say like I don’t really listen to country, but I’ll listen to a Garth Brooks song every now and then and I start realizing how talented that guy is. And that’s how I feel this record is. You might like my rowdy stuff, another person my like my crossover stuff, another person my like my reality songs. At the end of the day, if you’re a true musician, you’re just happy that people are putting you’re record on.
BB: Will you be T-Paining all over that joint? Or you stand behind team DOA?
STS: *LOL* Yooouuu funny. You know what? I did one on [the album]. I’ve never done autotune before but my boy Tip produced this track, and it’s funny because I decided to try it. The good thing about it, it became one of my favorite joints on the record.
BB: What’s the name of it?
STS: It’s called Smiling. But yea, I like it; it’s one of my best songs on the record. But I didn’t get carried away and do too much of it. What happens is, I respect Jay and I respect T-Pain, but I just like music. I like Soulja Boy, Jim Jones, Jeezy, everybody who does good music. The catch is, as the music goes, you got to be able to respect all types of music. Certain parts of music, take you to the next genre of music. Like now it’s jerking. I mean I don’t jerk but I respect the fact that it keeps hip-hop going for the next person to come back. Like maybe the next Jay or the next 50 brings their next style. We don’t want to kill anything about hip-hop, we don’t want to stop jerking, T-Pain, Jay-Z. We want everybody to consistently put into it and then guess what? I might come out and they might stop jerking. But my point is they already got enough people trying to stop hip-hop, we don’t need to be trying to stop it amongst ourselves.
BB: A lot of people probably don’t know that you’re first album “The Shocker”, was released without the support of major label distribution and still went gold. That doesn’t happen for every indie artist. Why do you think people took to you so much, even without all the heavy video and radio promo?
STS: I just think it just caught on. I don’t know if it’s because I was always on my brother P’s record. I mean there was this one song with him, I can’t even remember the name of it. I don’t know what I did, but I kinda really did my thing on it. *LOL* Like it was just good, everybody was telling me I killed it.
BB: *LOL* Right, like “I don’t want to toot my own horn but, I MADE that record” *LOL*
STS: I did, he’ll tell you! But I didn’t realize how good it was until we look back on it now. So like I guess I set the bar with what I did there. The people grabbed it, almost like how Jeezy did on So Icy. I was only like 14 and I kept hearing my name. I remember E-40 was like “I’m a big old fan.” It’s funny, I don’t think I ever told this story before, but I remember I was on a video set, and I seen Tupac, I’m looking at him, he’s looking at me, so I thought he wanted to fight or something. *LOL* Like we just kept going back and forth and eventually I found he was a big old fan too, so that was a really good feeling, because you know, Tupac was a big deal. That was just kind of crazy. I guess overall it was just an energy, guys felt it, ladies felt it.
BB: I got a couple questions coming up about the ladies situation so you hold on to that. *LOL* How important is knowing this music business and making investments to your pockets? A lot of aspiring artists still think it’s all about talent and making hot music.
STS: The business side of it is #1. The first contract, the first thing you sign, you’re going to sign because you’re coming from nothing. Who knew that Jay-Z would be Jay-Z? Who knew Puffy would be Puffy? You’re not going to know that so you’re just going to try to get in somehow, which is good. You might get a contract with $500,000 up front, but that really isn’t anything. If you’re a big old star, you get a car for $90,000 a house for $250,000 and then you’re done. Not to mention, everything you do is recoupable, from the traveling budgets to the videos. Just put it like this, you’re going to be in the hole for five years.
Here’s what I would tell them and someone told me the same thing…Make them spend as much money as possible on your first record. I mean if they can spend $10 mill make them spend it. Make your single blow, become a big old star.
BB: So you’re saying make them make the investment early on and the money will come through later?
STS: Nah you’re not gonna get any money from them period, from record sales at least, so just get in the hole as much as possible. I should teach a class on this. *LOL* Say I want a million dollar video. I want a three million dollar marketing plan. Being in the hole half a million and five million is all the same thing, because you’re not even getting out of it, so don’t even worry about it. In the meanwhile you become this big star; you’re plastered everywhere, top of your game. Then, the next year, after you sell a lot of records everybody knows your name, then you just go in there, rip up the contract in their face and say I want a new contract.
BB: *LOL* that sounds like a good gameplan. I’m not even mad at that.
STS: Next interview you do an interview with anybody in this business, ask them how much they made on their first record. If they say they made one buck off of it, you call me and tell me who it is.
BB: *LOL* Aight.
STS: I’m just trying to be real with you.
BB: I like to focus on the positive, but I know people want to know your thoughts on your brother C’s murder trial. Any thoughts you can share with us?
STS: I can’t really talk about the case but I can say this about him. I’m proud of him, and I’m backing him up 100%. He’s a different dude. If he did the crime, then he should go to jail and do the time. I wouldn’t want anybody to come kill my brother so I’m not going to be biased on that. But he didn’t do it. If you read the pages, you know what’s going on. The justice system aint all right, you can tell something aint right. The first trial got overturned.
The Supreme Court doesn’t overturn a trial if everything is right. They wanted to sentence him because of his name. If we’re talking about justice, I mean I know he isn’t perfect, he has a history, but we’re talking about guilt and innocence. I can’t lock you up just because you hang with this guy. That means all our people, family and friends are in jeopardy. Now if he’s guilty, he needs to do the time. But if we know he didn’t do it, there’s all kinds of shady evidence in there, that aint right.
We need to fight, I’m not saying fight for C, but we gotta fight for the system because it could be you in there it could be me in there. If we don’t fight for this, they’re going to think they can do this all the time, to your kids, my kids, everybody.
What I do respect about C is that he is a different person at 20 than he is at 30. Yea he was a knucklehead, he did some stupid things, but as a man, and he got three kids now, he took his 10 years for that. But when I talk to him now, he’s a totally different dude. He changed, and he can do a lot of good. People listen to him, there’s a lot of dudes in Compton and Inglewood that know that he’s been through hell and back. He wants to talk to them and let them know this gangsta stuff aint all what it seems. Just like when I was 18, I thought I knew what I was doing, but I’m on a whole different page business wise right now. I thought I was doing the right thing at 18, but I’m doing the right thing now. We are able to change and we may have to suffer the consequences for what you didn’t do right in the past, which he has already done.
BB: Definitely hear you, thanks for sharing that. I recently interviewed Dawn Richard from Danity Kane who is also from New Orleans. Artists don’t always get the chance to speak on the good things they do. Have you contributed to the rebuilding of New Orleans? Or any other charity/non-profit efforts you want to let people know about?
STS: That’s all I really do now is charity. I’m doing a charity weekend with the city of Las Vegas, with City Councilman Barlow. We’re doing a back to school thing with the kids. We always give back to New Orleans and try to rebuild back that place. Really our main focus right now is the kids because that’s our future.
BB: Aight, enough business. Let’s get to know Silkk. I know ladies love you. This one girl named Lauren would have everyone address her in high school as “Lauren The Shocker” otherwise she wouldn’t even answer you *LOL* So I must ask on their behalf, are you single?
STS: *LOL* Ummmmm, you know everybody’s taken in some way. I’m pretty good right now. *LOL* yea I’m somewhat taken right now. You gonna get me in a lot of trouble on that one! *LOL*
BB: I’m saying, if I didn’t ask you that, Lauren the Shocker would not be a happy camper right now.
STS: Nah mean I was gonna wait for Lauren! But she never got with me so I was just kinda like, I needed to occupy my time. But I still got Lauren on speed dial. *LOL*
BB: I understand man, you can’t wait forever.
STS: Right! *LOL*
BB: What do you like to do for fun outside of roll around in big face hunnits?
STS: *LOL* I like to play basketball, bowl, do a lot of swimming and stuff. Just take care of myself, I exercise a lot. I sleep ridiculously, relax a lot. I go to sleep early most nights. I just chill, I don’t even be tripping.
BB: Who are some of your favorite artists out there right now? Or some songs that you’re feeling heavy?
STS: Lil Wayne is at the top, Jay-Z, Jeezy, Jim Jones. Drake has talent. I support everything. I don’t have a biased opinion. I don’t say anybody sucks, it’s just different. I send my assistant to go pick up albums on Tuesdays, just to support the movement.
BB: Have you heard any of the leaks from Jay’s new joint?
STS: I didn’t. I want to hear it but I don’t want to download it. I don’t want to support that. But I heard it was dope though. I heard it was tight.
BB: I mean yea, there’s a lot of different opinions going around. I try not to listen to too much of it, but I like the little that I’ve heard. But I feel like the situation is messed up. When there’s a release of that magnitude and it gets leaked, I just think that’s crazy. As if artists aren’t struggling enough.
STS: Yea, I feel like people should just be a part of the movement. I don’t like that. Like I don’t like the hating in hip-hop right now, period. Like if you go on the blogs and you see Soulja Boy, the guy is trying. But if you see the comments, like “he’s a F-ing jerk, he can’t rap.” I mean if you have an opinion, some criticism, that’s fine. Like say he needs to step his game up a little bit, whatever. But don’t be like “he’s the freaking worst.” Like I see 13 year old people calling chicks whores. But it’s like dude, how can you be sitting at home being a random hater?
BB: *LOL* So, How are you feeling about the current state of Hip-Hop?
STS: I’m up in the air about it right now. It’s good, the music could be a little bit better. But it’s kind of a stand still right now. The illegal downloading, all that takes away from it. Because I don’t see people really bootlegging rock & roll or country music like that. But it’s mainly our people, just constantly taking away from it.
BB: You’ve had movies, books, clothing line, music, record label, do you feel like you’ve conquered it all or is there something else out there that you’re itching to get into?
STS: I feel like I haven’t even scratched the surface yet. I go hard man. I’ve done a lot but I’m around people who’ve accomplished a lot more than I did. I’m usually the youngest around when I’m doing business, but I can hang with the best. So that inspires me. I don’t like to rush into doing anything, but if I feel passionate about doing something, I like to try it. Energy drinks, cartoons…
BB: Cartoons? What’s that about?
STS: This one is really big. This will be one of the biggest things I’ve done in a long time. We got the people who used to work at Disney who are doing it. Can’t talk about it much right now. But in a month or two you’ll know all about it. We’ll have a launch party and everything. But I don’t want anybody running away with my ideas.
BB: Is that under your production company?
STS: Yup!
BB: And when can we expect your album?
STS: My video is shot and everything, the single just dropped. The album is coming out December 4th. It’s called Holla At Your Boy.
BB: Any last words you want to share with our readers?
STS: Thank everybody. It’s going to be a beautiful year. I’m looking forward to coming back out and letting you know what I can do.
She’s sold millions of albums with Danity Kane. She was the realest and most outspoken on the DK breakup. She’s fallen in love in front of our eyes on MTV’s Making The Band. But these are all things past. Who exactly is Dawn Richard now?
Rondel Holder, founder of Vitalize Entertainment had a chance to catch up with the sweet starlet recently to discuss the new Dirty Money project, an upgraded look, carving her lane in this industry and all things moving forward.
BB: Hi Dawn, how are you?
Dawn: I’m good, how are you?
BB: I’m great, happy to be speaking with you. You’re a great talent that goes so underrated.
Dawn: Thank you, thank you very much!
BB: No problem! So let’s get to know Dawn. You’ve sold millions of albums with Danity Kane, we’ve seen you on TV laughing, crying and most importantly working on stardom. Do you still feel a sense of grind? Like do you still do the normal things in life -walk the streets, go to the beach, go shopping?
Dawn: Yea! Why would I stop? That’s where I came from. A grind is beautiful. A grind keeps you grounded. That’s all I do, I walk outside by myself everyday. I don’t know anything else. That will never change.
BB: Your voice seems like a blend of soul and hard rock. Who do you call your musical inspiration?
Dawn: Prince is an all time favorite for me. Of course Michael Jackson. And then going into my rock side, my first concert was Green Day. I love their melodies and how sometimes they have a hip-hop bottom, but the structure is rock, then underneath they had the melody that was crazy. And my second favorite of course is No Doubt. I was a really big fan of them. Then I got into more indie bands like Bif Naked, I don’t know if anybody even knows who that is. K’s Choice – the lead singer, I was so in love with her voice, because it has so much bottom. It wasn’t like a normal woman’s. It was different, it was sultry, and that’s why I loved her because I could relate to her voice the most, you know?
BB: Cool. So you guys are all hush-hush about the Dirty Money project with you, Diddy and Kalenna. Can you give our readers any dibs on what the project is about?
Dawn: Get on the train, or get left behind!
BB: *LOL* Nothing else you can give us?
Dawn: Go to Lasttraintoparis.com and add @DirtyMoneyCrew on twitter. We’re on Making His Band this season, you can hear the music. We’re gonna let the music speak for itself. We don’t wanna hype it up, we just want people to listen and be ready.
BB: Gotcha. And why is the title of the album The Last Train To Paris?
Dawn: I’ll let Puff explain that. For the most part, it’s about him being in London and having a rendezvous with this woman. Long story short, he’s trying to get to her, but he can’t take a flight, he can’t go by car, he has to catch the last train to Paris at like 9:40 and it’s already like 9:30. It’s that anticipation of getting to the train and the experience of the train ride from London to Paris to get to her.
BB: O.o that sounds hot. I didn’t get it when I first heard the title, but I see where you’re going now. Cool. Going back to Making The Band a few years ago when you sang “God Is My All” you killed that song. Have you always had that strong religious faith or is that something that came with age and experience?
Dawn: No I’ve always… I mean my family is very involved. My father was the choir director at church. God has been the biggest part of my life since I was born. I’ve been through so many things. I have testimonies on top of testimonies. It’s just something that’s instilled in me.
BB: One thing that makes you stand out as an artist is that you have personality. So many artists out there have the cute faces and they dress nice, but we all know that’s the work of makeup artists and stylists. When you see them in interviews it’s like a flatline in the emergency room. But you, you got that thing.
Dawn: *LOL* Aww thank you!
BB: So on that note, who are some of your industry buddies besides the Bad Boy camp?
Dawn: You know what’s funny? I’m like the typical non-celebrity girl. I’m the chick who rocks with people who’ve been with me from the beginning. If it aint Day 26 or Bad Boy, I’m rocking with my friends from New Orleans. Forreal. I’m a Leo so I’m a lion, I like to keep my pack small and loyal. There’s too many people out here who use you for the wrong reasons and I’m very aware of that. So I wouldn’t even say I have a lot of industry friends. Too many people just want something from you.
BB: I hear you and that might even help you strategically because there are some artists who’ve become so industry and just don’t interact with every day people so they don’t know what people want and quite frankly aren’t relatable.
Dawn: See that’s true. I mean there are a couple of people who I’ve befriended… like we don’t roll everyday but we share great moments. Chrisette Michele is brilliant, awesome. Jazmine Sullivan. These are people who even though they’re celebrities, they’re still cool and awesome and don’t change. And Keri Hilson, she’s great. And Brandy. Don’t sleep on that chick.
BB: I know you mentioned you’re a Leo. Guess what, we have the same birthday – tomorrow, August 5th…
Dawn: Aww well that makes you awesomer! I’m wearing a pink crown right now.
BB: *LOL* That’s dope! So, speaking of Leos, you know we have that super confidence and I know that you’ve only recently grown this confidence that you didn’t have before. You’ve mentioned that you didn’t always love yourself. What do you think brought you to that change where you’re completely comfortable in your skin?
Dawn: You know, I think just being a woman. Sometimes it’s really easy to believe the negative and throughout life, coming from New Orleans, Louisiana, being a darker skinned girl – not even dark skinned but just a darker skinned girl, it wasn’t always easy and I think you sometimes believe the negative. But growing up, being in this industry and seeing what it is, I’ve realized you can’t live your life for everybody else. You have to live your life for yourself. I just kinda realized when I got on my knees and prayed about it; when I hit my bottom I prayed about it, and then I chose to start loving myself. I would say a month or two months later, my life began to change. I found love when I wasn’t even looking for it, I found a career when I thought it was over, I bought my family a house, money came. Everything was put in perspective when I realized that no one will love you if you don’t love yourself. I had to realize that because I couldn’t understand why people were so mean, I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t right, but the reason why it wasn’t right was because I wasn’t right! And a lot of girls go through that.
BB: Yeah. My little sister who stalks you on twitter *LOL* – @theCHEEKsterr, I’m sure you’ve seen her a million times…
Dawn: Owww!
BB: *LOL* She completely loves you for that. That you rep for the darker skinned girls because she’s going through…
Dawn: We chocolate city all day baby! I’m telling you, we bringing chocolate back. They think it’s a game, we gon’ be walking with a whole new swagger. Light skinned people gon’ be scared.
BB: *LOL* I hear you. So on a different note, tell me about your new look. What was your inspiration behind that?
Dawn: You know, Puff came in and was like “Yo, I think it’d be a good look if we do something short” and I was like “I don’t know Puff. I never had short hair before”. He was like “Let’s play with some stuff”. We played with some things and I was like “Yo, I actually really would like if we do the old school…” you know, like Halle Berry?
And I was like “Yo, that kind of cut”. That’s when I got the mushroom cut on the finale of Making The Band. But as far as fashion was concerned, I’ve always been a fan of fashion. Always! My style icons are Kate Moss, Mary-Kate and Ashley, and of course Zoe Kravitz. Those are my favorites. I’ve always been a fan. I always like a good “Hobo-Chic” moment, big fan of that. I just didn’t have the cash so it would be a “Thrift Store” moment for me.The more my pocket got bigger, the more I got a chance to experiment with more things, you know?
BB: Yeah I know, and I mean. I’ve seen you in the media for a while. Your shoe game has been proper so that ain’t nothing new. I appreciate a woman in a good shoe.
Dawn: Thank you! The crazy thing is, if it’s something that I like then I’ll buy it. I’ll just try things. It ain’t a swagger steal. I ain’t stealing nothing. If I like something, I’ma get it. If I think it works for me, I’ma do it. I don’t go online, I don’t check what people are wearing, I don’t do that. I’ll never do it! I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, we don’t even really rock like that. It’s a different style, it’s a different grain. People always say you’re swagger jacking because you cut your hair and then other girls cut their hair. Nah man! Maybe I just like my hair short! Or maybe I just like the style. Maybe we were just inspired by the same person. You feel what I’m saying?
BB: Yeah, they act like you and Rihanna are the only two girls in the world who’ve had the haircut. I mean…
Dawn: – and that’s crazy because I love her, I love her swag, I love her style, but I think I’m totally – I like some of the things she wears, but I have my own little thing – my head is on some other stuff. But, if I like something she’s rocking because I probably saw it, or we all shop at the same store, oh well I’ll bag! *LOL* It just means we got it at the same store.But, it ain’t even that deep! It’s not even that deep.
BB: I know you went to college. Your degree was in marketing, right?
Dawn: Marketing, and a minor in marine-biology and marine science.
BB: Oh! Damn, okay *LOL*
Dawn: *LOL*
BB: So, do you think that has helped you in any way in your music career? Because I have a marketing degree too and I think it would definitely help an artist. I think that more artists should consider getting formal education. It’s only a few years in your youth, but it can help you so much in the industry.
Dawn: Definitely! My finances and everything from accounting to marketing myself as a brand. That was a lot of my whole thing, with my first experience in this industry with my group and even now. I just care – brand is important to me, product placement, all of that stuff. I take that stuff very seriously because I learned it and I try to put it to use in my business. It’s very important and it helped me throughout the way because it kept me here. I care about the business aspect of it because this business is so grimy. You have to know your stuff! This is a brand, you have to protect it. I think some of us don’t look at it like that, but we should.
BB: For all the aspiring artists out there, I’m not going to ask you the typical question of what advice you would give them. Instead, what do you think your biggest mistake was so far and how would you have handled it differently?
Dawn: No mistakes. I don’t think there was a big mistake. I think everything was planned that way. And I’m serious. Even if it was a bad mistake, it was planned for me to learn about that awful mistake. I never said “I want to take that back” or “I shouldn’t have done that”. I was probably just dumb in that moment and it was meant to be done for me to learn my lesson. *LOL* I don’t even know if there’s a big mistake that I shouldn’t have made. I know I shouldn’t have put those leggings on that I did yesterday! That was a mistake!But – my weave on Making the Band in the beginning when Katrina happened was a mistake! That blonde was a mistake. That’s a mistake right there *LOL* I wish I could take that back. I wish knew Pro Activ before the first season!
BB: *LMAO* That’s real…
Dawn: Right? *LOL* Those are the things I’d like to revisit. *LMAO* those things!
BB: Okay, I hear you! Not to dwell on the negative too much but I know your family is from New Orleans and had to deal with Hurricane Katrina. Do you still deal with that emotionally?
Dawn: I don’t, because yo, we were at the bottom when it happened. And somehow we found our way back here to a better place. It hurts to see the city trying to rebuild, but I think everything happens when it’s supposed to happen. I’m more into the people who have lost family members and still have to deal with that moment everyday, I feel for them. As far as my family, we’ve moved past it and we try to look at everything positively. Yea it sucks but life throws you bad cards. It’s all about the rebound and the recovery. If you can recover from the worst thing in your life, then you’re better off for it. You can do anything. I’m proud of the progress that we’ve made and yea we look forward, not to the past.
BB: That’s a beautiful way to look at it. So besides Dirty Money, I know you’re a hustler, you got the comic book coming out and I think a movie. Let us know what you’re up to.
Dawn: Yea I did a movie called Perfect Combination, it’s coming out in 2010. It’s with Debra Wilson from Mad TV and Christian Keyes, he’s done the Tyler Perry plays like Diary of a Mad Black Woman, he’s in the film. I’m excited about it. It’s my first film of many to come. So I’m excited about that, check me out in 2010!
BB: Excitement! So last question. When the music is done, there are no more studios and stages and you’ve retired from this game, how do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be?
Dawn: *pauses* I want people to say I was part of a change in music. You know how Prince and Michael came and changed the way music sounded? They inspired people to want to do better. Michael wrote songs about healing the world, making the world better. That’s what I want to be a part of. I think right now I’m on the road to that.
BB: Any last words you want to share with our readers?
Dawn: I’m fans of you guys. I thank you so much for your support. Anything you need, let me know. We’re just trying to make the best product for you guys.
BB: You’ve been laying low since your last album. What you been up to?
She’s sold millions of albums with Danity Kane. She was the realest and most outspoken on the DK breakup. She’s fallen in love in front of our eyes on MTV’s Making The Band. But these are all things past. Who exactly is Dawn Richard now? 
And I was like “Yo, that kind of cut”. That’s when I got the mushroom cut on the finale of Making The Band. But as far as fashion was concerned, I’ve always been a fan of fashion. Always! My style icons are Kate Moss, Mary-Kate and Ashley, and of course Zoe Kravitz. Those are my favorites. I’ve always been a fan. I always like a good “Hobo-Chic” moment, big fan of that. I just didn’t have the cash so it would be a “Thrift Store” moment for me. The more my pocket got bigger, the more I got a chance to experiment with more things, you know? 