Rap artist Rye Rye shows us how she gets it poppin' in Baltimore

Rye Rye, the reigning princess of Club Hop, speaks to Groove Effect about being a female MC, her personal style, and the difference between Juke music and Baltimore Club. With an album in the works and a major world tour under her belt, this Hip Hop teen is poised to take over the music scene, and she's not compromising herself to do it.

What made you decide to choose music as a career?
I wrote a lot of poetry. I was always writing poetry. I used to be scared to rap in front of people, but my brother, he kept telling me to rap in front of Blaqstarr, so finally I wrote a verse and I rapped it on his answering machine. But I used to be too shy to rap. After that, I went into the studio all the time with Blaqstarr, so that's how I got into music.

You're described frequently as M.I.A.'s protégé. How did the two of you meet?
I did a song in Baltimore and Maya overheard it. I was in the studio and Diplo and Maya were there, and Maya said "oh my goodness, I've been looking for you for the longest time". After that I started making music with Diplo.

Is it hard going to school and being on tour?
"Going to school and touring is tiresome. I'm the coolest person in the school, so all my peers are really supportive of me. But I was pretty popular before I started touring and I act normal when I'm in school.

How would you describe your personal style?
I just like jeans and skirts. I dress up too. "I like to look cute and fly". When I'm home I wear clothes that are comfortable, but when we're on tour we're in tights!

Do you have a new album in the making?
I'm working on an album now, but I don't know when it will be released. Shake it to the ground is on I-Tunes.

Here in Chicago we have juke Music, What's the music scene like in Baltimore?
Club music in Baltimore is called Baltimore Club and that's what people dance to. Mano has played juke songs for me and they sound like Baltimore club music. They sound similar since its "all party music". "I think juke music is just a little faster".

Do you consider yourself a rapper?
Yea I do

What do you think the female rap game is missing?
I think a lot of female rappers coming out are trying to do the same thing as Lil Kim and rappers from the past. A lot of people feel they have to expose their body. But this new generation, we're just having fun with it. There's good female rappers out there though.

http://www.myspace.com/tharealryerye