Rapsody

I wouldn't want it any other way.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

And you know, there are some challenges like, As a woman, I had to work 10 times harder. Coming up in the era that I did, it was early 2000s. So it was like the late 90s, early 2000s, a woman image in hip hop changed. And so it was like... finding our way back into that. And I felt like I had such a hard fight with that. It wasn't about the sexual image to me. It was all about the talent.

And you know, there are some challenges like, As a woman, I had to work 10 times harder. Coming up in the era that I did, it was early 2000s. So it was like the late 90s, early 2000s, a woman image in hip hop changed. And so it was like... finding our way back into that. And I felt like I had such a hard fight with that. It wasn't about the sexual image to me. It was all about the talent.

I didn't have a strong sisterhood village at that time. I'm so excited to see so many women now and to see their friends. I think that's so dope. I didn't get that experience. So the guy, Kendrick, held me down. Big K.R.I.T. held me down. My brother held me down. Nipsey held me down. The guys really looked out for me. But otherwise, it was just really hustle. I just put my head down.

I didn't have a strong sisterhood village at that time. I'm so excited to see so many women now and to see their friends. I think that's so dope. I didn't get that experience. So the guy, Kendrick, held me down. Big K.R.I.T. held me down. My brother held me down. Nipsey held me down. The guys really looked out for me. But otherwise, it was just really hustle. I just put my head down.

I don't know. I wouldn't take no for an answer. It was like I've been called everything. Ugly, I was chunkier than you. Fat, you'll never make it. Nobody wants to hear that. You're boring. It's too black. It was just thing after thing after thing. A lot of it from the early beginnings was from black women. I remember that was probably the hardest wave that I had to carry.

I don't know. I wouldn't take no for an answer. It was like I've been called everything. Ugly, I was chunkier than you. Fat, you'll never make it. Nobody wants to hear that. You're boring. It's too black. It was just thing after thing after thing. A lot of it from the early beginnings was from black women. I remember that was probably the hardest wave that I had to carry.

But you find your village.

But you find your village.

And this season is so beautiful.

And this season is so beautiful.

I mean, I'm always with the boys. I grew up with boys all my life. I'm from a big family. My mom is one of 13. But all my cousins around my age were boys. So that's what I was used to, comfortable with. But you grow up and you really experience life and you realize it's not until you find your sisterhood village. I have four or five really, really close best friends. And I was like...

I mean, I'm always with the boys. I grew up with boys all my life. I'm from a big family. My mom is one of 13. But all my cousins around my age were boys. So that's what I was used to, comfortable with. But you grow up and you really experience life and you realize it's not until you find your sisterhood village. I have four or five really, really close best friends. And I was like...

I understand the importance of having sisterhood now because the way we show up for each other and the way that we see each other and understand what we go through, I can't really have with guys. They have been my rock, but in the industry, I have a beautiful village. Rod Digger, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Erykah Badu. The last two or three years, we built a beautiful friendship.

I understand the importance of having sisterhood now because the way we show up for each other and the way that we see each other and understand what we go through, I can't really have with guys. They have been my rock, but in the industry, I have a beautiful village. Rod Digger, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Erykah Badu. The last two or three years, we built a beautiful friendship.

She's one of my best friends. I love her to death. Sanaa Lathan. You are now in my village, of course. Bianca, Sherri Bryant. And even the girls, Lady London. I love her too. Tiara Wack. I talk to her. So talented. I'm so happy.

She's one of my best friends. I love her to death. Sanaa Lathan. You are now in my village, of course. Bianca, Sherri Bryant. And even the girls, Lady London. I love her too. Tiara Wack. I talk to her. So talented. I'm so happy.

Yeah. Lighten has given me advice sometimes. That's dope. Bia has hit me before asking for advice. I've given her advice. I love it. That's dope. I love it. It's important to me because I know how it feels to not have that community. So I try to, for me anyway, I extend myself to everybody. But Queen Latifah has taken me under her wing and given me advice. Badu is always giving me advice.

Yeah. Lighten has given me advice sometimes. That's dope. Bia has hit me before asking for advice. I've given her advice. I love it. That's dope. I love it. It's important to me because I know how it feels to not have that community. So I try to, for me anyway, I extend myself to everybody. But Queen Latifah has taken me under her wing and given me advice. Badu is always giving me advice.