We talked to Sarai, the 22-year-old female rapper from upstate New York, about what it's like to be making her way in the guy-heavy world of rap; how she'd describe her sound; and how she feels about being dubbed "Feminem." Read on, then click here to watch her video for "Ladies."
Where are you right now?
I'm in California getting ready to tape The Craig Kilborn Showand The Sharon Osbourne Show.
How has it been traveling so much?
It's been fun. I've gotten to see so many things that I wouldn't have gotten to see if I wasn't doing what I'm doing. I'm definitely enjoying it. It is overwhelming at times.
How did you get discovered? Were you always interested in having a career in the music industry?
I wasn't looking for a career, but I was always writing flows — it's just something that I did. But I was on vacation in Atlanta at a gas station with one of my friends. She starts talking to these two guys, they say they have a studio down the street. So we went down there, and had a session. There were two chicks there, and one of them took my number. I went back to Kingston [New York] and she called me six months later, asking if I remembered her and did I want to do some work. I'm like, "Yeah, right!"
When you met these guys in the gas station, were you like, Uh, right, you've got a studio?
Of course that goes through your head! I'm like, "What if we're setting ourselves up here?" It's something I usually wouldn't have done, and it definitely wasn't a safe gamble. I got lucky.
Why do you think rap is the kind of music that you wound up gravitating toward?
For a variety of reasons. My brother had me listening to hip-hop when I was younger. And maybe it's just something that spoke to my heart because I always wrote poetry, so it's a type of music that I could write like that to.
How would you describe your sound?
It's full of variety; it's all different flavors. I don't want to box it because I can't box myself.
Is there a song you're most proud of on your album, Original?
I'd say "Black and White," because it was an expression of myself at that point, the struggle that I went through, trying to get into the game, trying to make people understand. The song is about people judging me, and they don't even know me. And just assuming I'm something because of my skin color, and looking past all that.
Some of the press you've been getting has talked about the fact that it's unusual to be a white, female rapper in a business that's traditionally associated with being black, and male. How do you feel when people ask you questions about that, and about being "different" in this industry?
I really don't pay too much attention to it. I don't mind people asking me about it — it's something I need to expect because it is brand new. I just try to do what I do and not really pay attention to it.
One of the articles named you Feminem. Were you flattered or insulted?
I was totally flattered, but in a way I was like, "Oh, they're setting me up." Because I don't want it to seem like I said that because I didn't, and I don't want people labeling me just because I'm white. So I'm definitely flattered and if it's for the right reasons then I'm cool, but if it's just because of the skin, then it's kind of like, eh.
Do you feel it's tough just to be a female in the hip-hop industry?
I still think females have their own struggle in the industry, but I don't think it's as hard as it was way back when, because there have been so many females that have been paving the way.
How do you get the audience's respect when you're doing a live show?
I just do my thing. They see that it's real. I'm not out there frontin', I'm not out there trying to be something that I'm not. This is something that's really in my heart. When I flow, I'm giving you every ounce of me.
Have you had to win over a crowd, or have most of the audiences been enthusiastic?
It depends. We went to some cities where they were already hyped, but some cities, they don't know who we are. Especially before "Ladies" was doing what it is right now. You know if it's a good crowd because you get good energy from them. But I don't mind having to win them over.
Is you're family still in Kingston?
Yeah, most of the people I grew up with in Kingston, I have to go back and see. I just saw them a couple weeks ago. My mom still lives there, my great-grandma. My brother's up there, too.
Who was your role model growing up?
It was definitely my mom. She's a very strong woman, she's been through a lot of stuff. She was 21 [when she had me] and she was 17 when she had my brother. So she was very young, and dropped out of school but ended up going back and graduating. She's a wonderful, intelligent, beautiful woman.
Is she into your career?
Absolutely! She's like, Go Sarai! She sings it all.
Is there one hip-hop star that you look up to and say that's the type of career I want?
It depends again, like different angles of it. I definitely admire Missy, just for her creativity and how she does her own thing, breaks out of the mold. So creatively, it would definitely be her.
Did you finish high school?
Oh, yeah, I graduated with honors from high school. I went to one year of college, a community college. I actually went for a job interview to be a flight attendant, and they offered me the job, and then [I got the call to come sing], and so I had the choice.
I guess you're glad you made the decision you did.
Yeah, absolutely!
