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INTEVIEW bnesfinest.net ETERNIA - It's Called Life Reported by: UNDA DWELLA INTERVIEW w Eternia UNDA DWELLA INTERVIEW w Eternia What sparked your initial interest? My Brother. He was the older brother, u kno, anything he was into I was into? He-man. And Hip Hop. So ya, he got me into it. But strangely enough a few years later he moved on to other musical tastes, I never did. Do you think that there needs to be more females in the industry? I think there’s mad females in the industry. Just not in the spotlight. And why is that? I would *guess* because we don’t have the same kinda infrastructure and teams behind us that a lot of the male acts do. I mean that’s part of it. But I mean, Hip Hop has always been a boys club. Its like tryin to be a professional boxer or golf player or construction worker… it’ll take a looong time before females are 100% accepted behind the mic rappin. How do you feel about the females that use sleazy marketing to get attention? I don’t think that’s them as much as the machine behind them at work. I mean, of course they down to do it, but when I see sleazy marketing I think of the marketing dept. of that major label first and foremost.. lots of these girls are puppets u know? I think that doesn’t bother me as much as women who Are dope, leave their clothes on, and Aren’t supported by majors cause they leave their clothes on. I blame the machine, not the individual :-p What artists are you feeling at the moment? Zion I. One Be Lo. Always feel Brother Ali. Ummm.. lotsa stuff from the Justus League camp, especially my boy Cesar Comanche’s cd at the moment. What else? This girl Tiffany Paige who’s only released a 12”, but she workin with a lot of cats I know… she sings… she’s dope! Ummm… damn more people I forget J My Sister, Jessica Kaya!!! She’s on my album, first time recording. I look forward to hearing more music from her. And of course, I always am feelin cats like Common and Nas. I like Reef the Lost Cauze outta Phillie… too many people to name. This question always gets me in trouble honestly, all the people I don’t name… bastards. What do you think of Aussie hip-hop? I like it a lot. I think its still pretty ‘underground’ soundin’ for the most part, but my bad for the generalizations, I hate that term. Basically less commercially tainted, which can be a good thing. I think that its EXPLODED in the last few years! I mean even back in 2003 it was a lot easier for me to keep track of all the names, now in 05/06, I can’t do that anymore… too many cats in the game! And that’s a beautiful thing to see. You've been over to Australia twice already, do you plan on coming over again? I hope so!!! I mean I consider Oz a second home now, it’s a shame if I didn’t come back to visit fam. And I’ll tell you unequivocally for the record, I ALWAYS have MAD fun in Brizzy!! I don’t’ care what NSW’ers say about Queensland! lol You recently moved from Canada to New Jersey, what was the reasoning for the move and do you feel much difference between the two? Canada is a nicer country. But the U.S. has more options with makin a livin’ doin music. I basically didn’t see much a future for me in Canada musically. So that’s the reason for the move. If I could have it my way I’d live on an island and do the music…. Fly out to gigs,.. call it a day J But for now I’m hustling, broke in NJ. It is what it is. You've done some amazing collabs already, what artists do you really want to work with? Man. I been saying Pharoahe Monch for years, maybe I’ll stop sayin it (laughs). I wanna work with a lot of cats, I feel a lot of cats. But generally the people I really work with are people I know and like already. I’d do more with Wordsworth, with Cesar and the whole Justus League camp, with One Be Lo.. man I always told Amp Live (Zion I) I wanna work… lots of people. I just would really like s’more nice beats though. Lol. And a producer that can deal with my ass. Ha. How do you feel about being dubbed 'Canada's #1 female MC'? It’s a blessing and a curse. I’d prefer to just be a dope emcee period. At the same time, I understand a journalist’s role, they have to describe something and often that goes hand in hand with categorizing. And it was a compliment. I wanna move up to dopest emcee.. period. (hehe). What artists are you influenced by? Tribe Called Quest. Blackthought. Pharoahe. Apathy. Lots of people I rolled with… ummm… I mean lots more , but that’s what I can think of for now. I am not easily influenced that’s why. Gotta listen to someone a lot to absorb em. What advice would you give to females trying to get into the industry and do the rap thing on a serious level? I’m sick of this question. (laughs). My bad, don’t be mad, I’ve just lost count how often I been asked. So here goes: a) have a thick skin, don’t get sensitive, esp. when cats critique u b) don’t view yourself as a ‘female emcee’ but just an emcee period… throwin the gender out there will just hinder your attempt at bein viewed seriously and c) be in it for the right reasons. If it isn’t a supreme love for this shit, get out now… get out while u still have a soul :-p (laughin) ha ya | ||