SHE'S FEMALE. SHE'S WHITE. SHE RHYMES. SHE'S SIGNED. MEET SARAI.
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Eminem has broken the ice – a white rapper who has earned both consumer dollars and industry respect. What’s next? A white female rapper, of course. Everyone knows it’s coming, and every major label is searching. In her own words, Sarai is "the one." But is she any good? Well, she caught the ear of Orlando-based Epic A&R Big Vic. OZONE caught up with Sarai during a recording session at Clientell Studios to see if she’s for real. First of all, walking into the studio, we hear a very, very tight track, one of the completed joints for her upcoming album. Heads are nodding hard all across the studio and Big Vic is dancing wildly, like a madman. The engineer, Lick ‘em Low, also lets us hear her second track, another club banger - very bouncey, very radio-friendly. There’s definitely potential for commercial success. Her voice could be compared to Angie Martinez, and some of her hooks are vaguely reminiscent of a hip-hop version of Christina Aguilera. Lyrically, she’s not at the intellectual depth of Eminem yet, but the tunes are very, very catchy and radio friendly.
What is your background like?
Originally, I’m from upstate New York. The neighborhood I grew up in was very mixed. Every race, every religion. Now, I live in Atlanta.
How did you get into hip-hop?
I’ve been writing poetry ever since I can remember, and my older brother really got me into hip-hop because he listened to NWA and Public Enemy when I was growing up. My first commercial taste of it was when they started playing Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff on the radio. Hip-hop was just around me, so I absorbed it. When I was a teenager, me and my girls started rhyming about the chicks in our town as a joke, and I just never stopped.
When did you start seriously considering music as a career?
About two and a half years ago. I lived in New York, but was on vacation in Atlanta, and by fate I met a producer from Infrared Productions. She called me about six months later and asked me to come back to Atlanta and spit for them. They really put me on.
How did you get signed to Epic?
My manager, Keith, who I got linked up with through Infrared, hooked up with Keith Sweat, who has a deal with Epic. I had to go audition for days.
Being a white woman in a black man’s industry, is your color an advantage or disadvantage?
I definitely can’t deny the fact that I have some kind of advantage. It gives me more power in a way, because people look and me and don’t expect it, so I’ve always got that element of surprise. In other ways, it’s tougher because people don’t always take me seriously. But I’m here, doing what I do. When they hear the music, most people don’t believe it’s me. Sometimes when I do a show I’ll come out hoodied up and spit something a capella, then I take it off and the whole audience be like, whaa! (laughs)
If you were a black female, do you think it would have been harder for you to get signed?
I don’t know. I do know that it helps me get the initial attention quicker, because there is no ‘me.’ There’s nothing like me – they haven’t seen it yet.
How would you describe your music?
I don’t spit about stuff I don’t live. I’m not gonna rhyme about guns and all that. But as far as rippin’ the mic, I am hardcore. [The label] wants me to lay off, and be more ladylike (laughs). As far as lyrics, I have lots of different stories. I have songs about child abuse, about being with a dude who gets another chick pregnant. I would like to talk about issues that make you think, but that’s going to come on a later album. Right now, we’ve gotta do the partying, my girls, my man, don’t take my man, that type of thing.
What do you think about Eminem?
I think he’s incredible. Even if you don’t like dude, it doesn’t matter, because you can’t deny his skills. You could hate him, but still, nobody can ride the beat like he can. I don’t think that just because someone is white they should get put on – but they found him freestyling. All you have to do is listen to him.
Do you think the industry is ready for a white female rapper?
I don’t know if they’re ready yet (laughs). They kind of expect it, they know it’s gotta be coming. Everything’s been done already. Eminem is already out there, so they know a female has got to be bubblin’ in the background somewhere.
Are you the one?
Yeah. I’m the one.
If you make it to that level, do you think Eminem is the one who opened the doors, or is it just people’s mindsets changing?
Both. I think he had something to do with people’s mindsets changing, because he showed that it’s not about his color, it’s about his skill.
What’s the status of the album right now?
There’s no release date yet, everything is still in progress. I’m here recording three joints at Clientell Studios, and I think I’ll be back later. I also have a few joints we did with Scott Storch out in L.A., and some tracks from Bulldozer and Infrared Productions. We’re getting tracks from all over.
When you come to the studio do you know what you’re gonna lay down or is it more spontaneous?
It depends. Sometimes they send me a beat, other times they have somebody who’s already worked on it and we vibe together. The beats I’m working with here, I wouldn’t have necessarily picked them even though they’re hot. I’m still doing my thing, but I don’t have that A&R mentality. I can’t step outside myself yet and think about what other people are looking for, instead of just what I want to do.
What other artists do you want to collaborate with?
I’d love to work with Eve, and Missy’s style is crazy. I love her cuz she’s so damn innovative, not scared of anything. She’s on that next level shit. I’d also like to do something with a singer, like Nelly Furtado or Pink.
Do you ever feel hated on because of your color?
Some people start out hating, but when I get on stage it turns into love. I really haven’t gone through anything serious. Most people are real supportive.
What about your family?
Everybody’s crazy supportive right now. My mom is my biggest fan. We had her in the studio with us in Cali. My grandpa though, he’s like, ‘Get a job! What do you think you’re doing? You need to go to college!’ He doesn’t understand – I’m not made for the regular life. This is where I’m supposed to be.
Photos and interview by Julia Beverly
(Pictures below: Epic A&R Big Vic, and Clientell engineer Lick ‘em Low)
