How long have you been rapping?

Depends on when I start counting J Professionally for 10 years … just rappin on the playground and for the hell of it? Over 5 years more than that (smiles).

What would you call your style of rapping?

Damn — you know emcees hate classifying themselves right? But I guess I'll try to answer that: east coast, boom bap, traditional, lyrical, aggressive but personal … Umm … ask a listener of mine? (laughs)

You're straight forward and real, where does this come form?

(laughs). Damn that's a weird question. It comes from being straight forward and real! Ha … nah, I mean … I just really despise the opposite of that (people that aren't those things) so I strive and try my best to not be what I despise.

Being a strong and aggressive woman, did it seem to be difficult to break into the Rap industry?

I mean … in some ways yes, in some ways no. It was not difficult to catch peoples attention! (being that I am different than u'r typical emcee). But it is difficult to convince labels or music industry people period that they ain't takin too much of a risk on me. I'm viewed as a 'risk'.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Life. I know that sounds typical, maybe. I mean I view myself 'life emcee'. My content is about the everyday: relationships, struggle, good, bad … the whole album is about that. I don't do as much 'made up' storytellin, or as much battle raps, or you name it … I write about what I'm feelin and what I'm goin through. It's real down to earth that way.

Eternia is a different and unique name, where did it come from?

He-man!! (laughs) Seriously, Eternia was the planet. But ummm … I came up with that name as a young teenager, I wish I could change it now. It has grown to represent things like eternal, everlasting, complete … traits that I strive to apply to my rhymes, my life, in different ways.

What do you want to give to your audience through your rap?

I want them to be able to FEEL, I want it to be visceral, I wanna give them goosebumps and allow them to identify with me. Open jawed, like 'damn u took what I went thru like u were me and put it in a rap!". That's the best feeling. I also wanna show people that Hip Hop can be more than one-dimensional.

What do you think about Hip Hop and Rap today?

I think that what's on TV ain't even close to the full picture. Buts its unfortunate cause that's what most American kids think it is, cause they don't look outside of cable television to dictate to em what records to buy. I love overseas kids for that, they DIG and listen to ALL different international Hip Hop. There is inspiring shit out there right now. You just gotta look for it. I'm also waiting for the north to catch its shine (namely Canada). Because as my friend Mindbender was breaking down the other day, Hip Hop and its popularity has gone in stages: it started in the East … a decade or so later it was the West that dominated … now 10 years after that the South is where its at … so the trajectory would seem to be headed to the North next. I'm ready.

What's next for Eternia?

Well I just dropped my first full-length album in Canada (www.urbnet.com/eternia) I am workin on re-working it and dropping it in the U.S. for 2006. I'm workin on a new business partnership and production partnership with Fusion Unlimited, which I'm excited about … so a whole new approach to music and a new sound too.

Is there anything that you would like to say to your fans out there?

Well first of all, I like to call em 'supporters' or something … I feel condescending callin' em fans for some strange reason. I just would like to say that if u'r a supporter of what I do, that MUST mean that you're an independent thinker and not a follower … cause I ain't on MTV yet J so that means u had to DIG, and love me or my music for the SOUND, not cause it bumps on the radio 100x time a day. So for that alone, that makes y'all dope and leaders. Thank You.

Thanks to Eternia for this wonderful interview and if you haven't seen it yet check out her video in our Picks today.

Check out www.Eternia.ca for more info!