Thank you for asking. Most people could care less to ask me, I'm jus that 'white chick rappin.' I'm bi-racial. I'm Middle Eastern (Assyrian although my father was raised in Turkey), and Canadian (English).

On a positive note, my Grandmother inspires me. She’s probably the closest thing to a perfect angel on earth. I always compare myself to her… “What Would Grandma do?” (*smile*) I don’t always succeed. But she gives me strength.

 

I would either be a documentary film-maker, or pursuing a masters in cultural studies, or forensic science, or I’d be a veterinarian, or a… well you get the idea.  I have a number of interests and loves, that I would pursue if I was not pursuing rap. I may still... you know what they say about more than one career in a lifetime.

 

It made me pretty low maintenance, in certain ways. I was raised poor for Canadian standards. It also allowed me to see past race, we were raised around all different cultures, and so racial differences wasn’t something I became aware of until people MADE me aware of it when I became a young adult (and caucasian female rapper).   I was also raised extremely religious, and I think carry some of those morals and ethics with me to this day. 

 

Born in Canada’s capital, Ottawa. Raised all over, but predominantly Ottawa and Toronto. I consider Toronto home.

 

For being real. I don’t care what people think of me, as long as they know I’m a genuine, real, what you see is what you get, no BS individual. I really wanna be known for saying what I mean and meaning what I say. I want to be known for making the most honest music possible in a genre that does not encourage honesty or vulnerability. I also wanna be remembered for being one of the nicest emcees, period… I’m still working towards that last one.

 

My Grandmother. Because she’s the closest example to perfection that I know. I don’t have many heroes. Most people, millionaires, superstars or not, I view as equals to me.

 

I was outta high school for 2 years when I moved out of the house at 15. Then went back, kicked ass, graduated on the Honor Roll, went to Ryerson University for a Bachelor in Journalism, and graduated on the Dean’s List. Beat.

 

Little things. A good song. A cute boy. A responsive crowd. Visiting my family. Landing on the tarmac in Toronto. Reaping the rewards of my labour. Being acknowledged.

 

 I’m really a big, nerdy, cornball. Anybody that knows me knows that. And I’m not ashamed of it. I come from a long line of nerdy cornballs. I’m proud.

 

Violence against women. Specifically sexual assault on young girls, teenage girls. I went through it. It could have been a lot worse, but sometimes I feel like I should be talking in schools about it. I’ve had a gun pointed at me, forced to do shit. It’s real. I want girls to know other girls went through it. I want girls to know its ok to talk about it. I want girls to never, ever feel ashamed.

 

 Too many!! But for now I’ll go with my tried n true fave: Khalil Gibran “The Prophet”. I have many more though. I read a lot of George A. McDonald, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien as a kid. I read Madeleine L’Engle when I was really young. Then I would read “Behold a Pale Horse”, or “Celestine Prophecy” or Whitley Strieber, or Chinua Achebe, “Manchild in the Promised Land” or “The Four Agreements” as a teenager. There’s so much to say. I don’t know where to begin. I used to be a bookworm.

 

 TOOOO MANY!
“Low End Theory” – A Tribe Called Quest

“Sonogram” – One Be Lo

“The Sun Rises in the East” – Jeru da Damaja

“Whats the 411” – Mary J. Blige

“Diary of a Mad Band” – Jodeci

Anything by SADE…

I could go on… and on.. and on…this is just surface thoughts.

 

I was grounded for my first (junior) year of High school. THE ENTIRE YEAR. The funny thing is kids just thought I was too ‘snobby’ to hang with them after school.. they never remembered or believed that I was grounded. So I still came out of that being cool. Ha.

 

My over-simplified definition of Canadians?
This is a generalization , but I think we are often humble, conservative, polite, open, friendly, genuine, honest, independent-minded, sincere people. Sure there are exceptions to every rule, but rule of thumb most Canadians I meet are like this. I love Canada. 

 

Where is your favourite place to go? 

Toronto. HANDS DOWN. On the whole planet