Keldamuzik Interview

  TrendPimp recently interviewed Keldamuzik, the Bay Area's most promising female emcee and the host of the hip-hop reality/documentary show Diva TV.

TrendPimp: How did you get started in hip-hop?

Keldamuzik: I started working with my partner, [rapper] Lingo Starr, to help him put out a few projects. I got real deep into writing, and discovered that I was not only good at writing reports and essays, but poetry and rhymes too. So I then started going to the studio and testing things out, and not only was I featured on other projects but I started to record my own project and released my first album Shut Up, Listen! in 2005 under Squash Music Group, which was an indie label based out of Oakland. In 2007 I released another album called Diva, which included my single “Bay Swag” featuring Dem Hoodstarz. I created my own company, Golddigga Entertainment, to release my own material and soon to assist other artists with their careers. I want to be known as the female Puffy in the game, because we are both entrepreneurs with a passion for not only music, fashion and film, but for the entertainment business as a whole.

TP: Do you feel that being a woman has made it more difficult for you to get your props from hip-hop fans, or has it helped you stand out from the crowd?

K: Well, it’s crazy, because I watch these interviews online with these major hip hop moguls and artists, and they are always talking about how hard it is to break a female in the hip hop game. To me, that is straight BS, an artist is an artist, whether you spit, sing, or dance. These are talents that we want to broadcast to the world, and I believe telling a female she cannot make it in the hip hop world is setting us back to those days where we had to fight for feminist rights. I mean, if you want to get political about it, look at the way Hillary Clinton's campaign is suffering because she is a female. Now of course the world is debating whether or not they want a female to run the U.S., but she has the knowledge and can perform the same duties as a man can. Only thing that is different about us is that we give birth. I actually don't even look at the fact I'm in the male dominated game, I look at it like I'm doing music and this is what I do.

TP: A lot of people seem to think that hip-hop today is missing something. Do you agree, and if so, what exactly has gone wrong?

K: Good question. I wouldn't really say it's missing something, I would say it's just changed over the years as different things have come into play. Whether it’s other races than black that are in this business, different music that is appealing to others from around the world, or just the way we change things on our own because we are always looking to upgrade and break out of the same old-same old. I mean, I like what I see now and I like what's going on, I just hope that artists don't over expose what hip hop really is. It's fun to have all these pop artists rap and work with hip hop producers, but I think they take it for granted and think it’s supposed to come with their career. With that being said, if they release a few hip hop tracks, and do the same tricks we do with our music, it will over expose it to others and wear it out, and if the artist is through with it and goes back to pop, then their fans will be through with hip hop too.

TP: What is Diva TV, and what was your motivation in creating it?

K: Diva TV is my own hip hop reality series. I created the show as a promotional tool for my career. All these artist are struggling when it comes to getting their music promoted and their face exposed to the world. I believe TV is the only way now. Through my TV show I can show people what I look like, use my own music as the soundtrack, broadcast my own videos, and show people what I do on a day-to-day basis with my career. I meet with a lot of different people on my show, and I like to show that to others. I'm just a regular human being that can look like a million bucks. That's what Diva TV is all about, doing the impossible.

TP: Where can people watch DivaTV?

K: Well, on TV it’s syndicated throughout the Bay Area, so check your local public access channel. I will be broadcasting online soon on several different stations, one of which is www.evolvingartist.com. Should be up real soon!

TP: What’s in store for you in the future?

K: Too much! Hoping to distribute Diva TV in other markets across the country, and creating more TV productions to generate advertising sales, and a bigger buzz for my music. I also plan to start working with other companies to start branding myself through them. That is the key word in this business, "branding". I'm also in partnerships with a TV station called Our TV. They’re broadcasting Diva TV in the East Bay market, and I help bring in advertisers, event planners and others to the table to help them out. In return my show is broadcast much more, and I'm eating up airtime!

  You can check the latest news and music from Keldamuzik on her official MySpace profile.

About the author:

  Curtis is a writer specializing in politics, popular media and the entertainment industry. Based out of Vancouver, Canada, he graduated from Kwantlen University College with an Arts degree in 2006 and is now a contributing editor at TrendPimp magazine. His online portfolio can be found at CurtisSpring.com.