Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher was born in Newark, NJ, and studied electrical engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. A brief stint with short-lived Rap duo Twice the Flavor and an alliance with Jersey Hip-Hop outfit Outsidaz led to a high-profile appearance on "Cowboys," a stand-out track from the Fugees' multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning LP The Score.
After spotting an eight-months-pregnant Digga onstage at the legendary Lyricist Lounge in New York City, A Tribe Called Quest frontman Q-Tip quickly took the fledgling femcee under his wing. This chance encounter later led to her introduction to Busta Rhymes and her eventual induction into his revered, now-defunct Flipmode Squad.
Rap Pages Magazine recently tracked down the former Flipmodian, a.k.a. Harriet Thugman, busy in the lab putting the final touches on her long-overdue magnum opus, Classic. The release also celebrates the 10-year anniversary of Digga's eponymous debut, Dirty Harriet...
Rap Pages Magazine: Digga Digga, good to have you back, girl! Where the heck have you been hiding at? Rah Digga: Living in California, studying acting and film directing.
RPM: Oh, okay, very nice! So, why did you decide to stay away from the Rap game for so dang long? RD: I got bored with my situation with Flipmode, so I got into other things.
RPM: Well, in addition to studying both acting and directing, are there any other things that you've been dibbling and dabbling in as of late? RD: I do non-profit work, teaching kids Final Cut Pro and Pro Tools. I also have a foundation that deals with feeding the homeless.
RPM: Very cool! Now, whatever became of your promoted, yet permanently shelved, second LP, Everything Is A Story, and your contract with J Records? RD: Flipmode was dropped from J, and the album was practically given away for mixtape purposes.
RPM: I see. So, speaking of Flipmode, what actually caused you all to disband? RD: I left them right after "Touch It" was released. You have to ask Busta what went wrong with Flipmode.
RPM: Fair enough. Well, back to this highly-anticipated sophomore collection, Classic. That's a pretty serious title you got right there... RD: [That's] because it is [a] classic, grassroots Hip-Hop album of Rah Digga with Nottz production. Just like Dirty Harriet.
RPM: So is that why you recruited Nottz to do Classic in its entirety? RD: [Yeah,] Nottz was the primary producer of Dirty Harriet. We work well together.
RPM: I definitely agree! Well, you kicked the Classic campaign off with "This Ain't No Lil Kid Rap." What's the inspiration behind this bold lead offering? RD: I made a record that completely goes against simple catch-phrase jingles, that mature audiences can also enjoy.
RPM: Do you have a favorite joint on Classic? RD: Not really. I love them all!
RPM: Are you incorporating any special guests into the record? RD: No guest appearances whatsoever.
RPM: Regarding the topic of production, I know you worked exclusively with Nottz, but how much overall input do you have when it comes to a Rah Digga track? RD: I have ALL of the input!
RPM: Oh, alright! So, you're releasing Classic on a virtually unknown imprint, Raw Koncept. Is this a particular venture of yours? RD: Raw Koncept is not my imprint, but it is the independent label that's distributing the album. You can check the whole lineup at RawKoncept.com.
RPM: Now, let's go back to your roots... When did your love for Hip-Hop first begin? RD: Elementary school. Started as a hobby, and been doin' it ever since.
RPM: Coming up as a young, aspiring rapstress, whose music did you gravitate more towards? RD: Kool G Rap, Juice Crew, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Rakim, [and] KRS-One.
RPM: The true pioneers! Now, originally, where did your moniker, Rah Digga, derive from? RD: My brief chapter of being signed to Das EFX. It was originally Rah Diggedy!
RPM: That's right! Describe for me your unique sound and style. RD: Hardcore, minus the violence. Very serious. I'm into lyrics first and foremost.
RPM: So, then, did you know from early on that music was your calling? RD: I knew I was putting out an album since the age of 12.
RPM: Wow! Well, since you started out as member of Twice the Flavor, how did the whole transition over to soloist come about? RD: I left her and Das EFX at the same time. They thought I was too much of a loose cannon. I wanted to battle, get in ciphers... According to them, that was beneath us.
RPM: That's kinda crazy! You're also an extended member of the legendary underground collective Outsidaz. What's currently up with your fellow Jersey-ites? RD: Everyone is disbanded...doin' their own thing.
RPM: That's too bad, you all were mad dope! So, initially, how did you even come to the attention of Mr. Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squadron? RD: I was signed to Q-Tip, and we started having creative differences...
RPM: So, let's change gears a little. You've appeared in a couple of films. Will you continue in your pursuit of acting? RD: If it happens, it happens, but I prefer behind the scenes.
RPM: On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip-Hop? RD: Everybody's corny to me!
RPM: Like that?! With that being said, how then do you fit into the whole scheme of things? RD: [I'm just] a rhymin'-ass soccer mom!
RPM: I'm feelin' you on that! Well, outside of your bangin' beats & rhymes, what does this "rhymin'-ass soccer mom" like to do for fun? RD: Play video games, and hunt and fish and hike. Do things with kids. I'm everyone's fairy godmother. I practically live in movie theaters.
RPM: Ultimately, what's next for Rah Digga? RD: To release two more albums before I retire from rapping. At which point, I will then focus on editing and directing.
RPM: Now, Classic is due out when exactly? Also, are there any current plans to tour behind it? RD: September 14th is the official release date. The video [is out now,] and a promo tour with some of my labelmates is in the works.
RPM: Cool! So, what can be expected from Rah Digga 2010 versus circa 2000? RD: No "Party and Bull" or "Touch It," or any of that jazz. You're gonna get joints like "Straight Spittin'" and "Curtains." I try to use a band as much as possible. A lot of drums and bass in my music, but that's Nottz for you.
RPM: Sounds extremely hot! Also, are there any mixtapes or cameos on others works to look out for from you in the near future? RD: I'm doing a compilation of past works with different producers, like J Dilla, 9th Wonder, S1, RZA, and Pete Rock, as well as an exclusive mixtape for 2dopeboyz.com, which will feature all Nottz instrumentals. I'm currently featured on a joint called "The BBQ," with Eternia and Lady of Rage, produced by MoSS, and also the "Cars (Remix)" with Nottz, from his upcoming album.
RPM: And finally, do you remain in touch with any of your friends and former musical colleagues, like Busta, Spliff Star, Rampage, DJ Scratch, Baby Sham, etc.? And, more importantly, is there any chance of a reunion, either on stage and/or wax? RD: Never say never, but I don't see it any time soon. We all still cool, though. I speak to Scratch all the time. He has a very popular DJ site: www.scratchvision.com.
RPM: Is there anything else that I may have left out or just plain forgot to ask you about? RD: I think you touched on just about EVERYTHING! [giggles]
RPM: Sadly, just over one year ago, on Thursday, June 25th, 2009, the world lost the greatest entertainer who ever lived. What was your first reaction upon hearing the tragic news? How does Michael Jackson’s untimely passing affect not only you, but music in general? RD: I cried. With all the negative attention he had received in the years prior to his death, I thought it was shameful that it took his passing for people to realize how much of a great person he was and recognize all of his contributions to the world.
RPM: So very true! Well, in closing, do you have any parting words? RD: Thank you! Follow me on Twitter: @therealrahdigga for constant news and updates!
After moving to the Big Apple in the early eighties, Texan singer-songwriter Sandra Kay Matthews, professionally known as Sandra St. Victor, quickly secured work with Roy Ayers's touring outfit, Ubiquity. After witnessing a performance, the indelible Chaka Khan invited St. Victor out on the road, where she performed with Khan, along with Freddie Jackson and Glenn Jones, throughout the remainder of the decade. She later connected with one of the most successful backing vocalists of that era, the Grammy Award-winning Lisa Fischer, known for her work with the legendary Luther Vandross. It was through Fischer that Sandra met producers Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith. The Family Stand were born that very day.
St. Victor recorded her first album, Sanctuary, in '93. Unfortunately, Sanctuary was permanently shelved. Sandra has since farmed out some of the tracks to various artists, including Prince, Chaka Khan, and Tina Turner. 1996 finally saw the release of St. Victor's critically-acclaimed premiere solo outing, Mack Diva Saves The World, followed nearly five years to-the-day later by her indie second CD, Gemini: Both Sides. During her stint with The Family Stand collective, St. Victor has also written for others, most notably Paula Abdul and Lalah Hathaway, and discovered R&B Motown quartet Profyle.
Rap Pages Magazine.com is proud to present our interview with the incomparable Miss Sandra St. Victor...
Rap Pages Magazine: You recently dropped your brand new EP, Sinner Child: At My Spheres. Why did you opt to title your record this? Sandra St. Victor: I'd been trying for a while, like most artists, to figure where I fit in. Well, I've decided that the only place I need to fit into is myself. So my sphere is MY sphere.
RPM: Oh, okay. So, with that being said, how does this effort measure up to previous SSV releases? SSV: It's the first time I'll be releasing EPs. [It's] giving me the chance to put music out quicker and to do all the genres that appeal to my senses without forcing it all onto one album.
RPM: Makes sense! Well, being that this is the first in a projected five-part series, what's to be expected from future installments? SSV: I've got a Rock EP coming up, produced by Vernon Reid of Living Color; a Soul EP in the works, featuring a duet with Dave Hollister; [and,] of course, the remix EP of At My Spheres is also gonna be killer. I'm just having fun doing it all.
RPM: In addition to both your solo work and past contributions to The Family Stand, you are also rather well known for your songwriting. To date, can you give me a quick run-down of your extensive résumé? SSV: You should watch my Egomentary: http://www.vimeo.com/12105044. But, yeah, I've been blessed to collab with some of the best of the best, from Curtis Mayfield to Lalah Hathaway, Paula Abdul to Prince. Cool, huh?
RPM: Very! When it comes to penning your lyrics, where do you draw your inspiration from? SSV: Simple life [and] complicated love. I'm a sponge. I draw from things around me and elaborate. Of course, when I write for myself, it comes from my own well of experience and emotion.
RPM: Describe for me a typical session when you are writing a composition for a particular artist, for example, Paula Abdul or Lalah Hathaway? SSV: Working with Lah was one of the best. When you can spend time just chilling in an artist's "natural habitat," so to speak, you can pick up their innermost thoughts and feelings, kind of like a radio signal. We'd already been hanging, touring together. So chilling with her to write was organic. After that, everything is everything.
RPM: Is there anyone in particular who you haven't worked with already that you'd definitely like to? SSV: Coincidentally enough, two of the people I'd like to work with are a couple. I'd love to write a song for Beyoncé, and I'd love to blow a chorus on a Jay-Z song. My own little twofer! In the legend department, I'd kill to do something with Bettye LaVette.
RPM: Longevity—what do you attribute yours to? SSV: Insanity. Patience. Perseverance...under pressure, disappointments, et cetera. Hey, I couldn't do anything else if I tried. I am who I am! This is it, nah'mean?
RPM: Do you have any other aspirations, maybe even away from music altogether? SSV: I'm gonna write a book...one day. I'd like to do some acting as well. You know what else? I wanna invent something. Haven't figured out that piece just yet. But it'll come.
RPM: To date, what has been your biggest career highlight? SSV: I gotta say the duet with Curtis Mayfield. He meant a lot to me before I met and worked with him, but afterwards, he became and IS a returning focal point for my perseverance and dedication to what I believe in. He inspires me.
RPM: It is my understanding that there is another The Family Stand LP in the works! What can you tell me thus far about this forthcoming magnum opus? SSV: I like that, "magnum opus!" It's Family Stand stretching out into our own future. Testing the waters of tomorrow. We've asked ourselves, and in turn asked the audience, "In a thousand years, will we still be funky?" That question sparked quite some interesting songs. I think people will be pleasantly surprised.
RPM: Now, who exactly makes up the group Daughters of Soul? And what are your future plans & goals for this collective? SSV: The main body is Lalah Hathaway, Indira Khan, Simone, Nona Hendryx, [and] Joyce "Baby Jean" Kennedy. We've also had Caron Wheeler, Deniece Williams, and Leah McCrae. We added Syleena Johnson recently as well. I would really love to get this project on wax, actually. Or DVD. This needs to be documented for posterity. Things like Daughters Of Soul don't happen often enough. Everybody is on their own paths, so when it does come together, it's a shame if it isn't documented somehow.
RPM: So true! Well, looking ahead, say, five or even ten years from now, where do you see yourself? SSV: There. Right now, I'm here. Then, I'll be there.
RPM: What's next for Sandra St. Victor? SSV: I'm writing now with Vernon for the Rock EP, as well as working on a theatre tour for Europe with Sinner Child.
RPM: Any closing thoughts? SSV: Each day brings with it something new, curious, [and] interesting for me. I believe as long as you find things to keep those synapses firing another space in your head, you'll continually move ahead, grow, and enjoy your life.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 14:18
Leela James: Heart And Soul
Written by Tia Price, Rap Pages Magazine.com
Thursday, 08 July 2010 01:18
Back for the third time, Leela James has enchanted fans with her new album, My Soul, bringing the music world yet another taste of her soulful voice. This time around, the plentiful-puff songstress is giving us a deeper look into her life.
Rap Pages Magazine: What was the inspiration behind the new album title, My Soul? Leela James: Basically, this album I was involved in from top to bottom as one of the executive producers, and I didn’t really have a lot of chefs in the kitchen; it was just my ideas and what I wanted to do, so it just fit to title it My Soul. Not that the records in the past weren’t soulful, but this was coming from me from the roota to the toota.
RPM: How would you describe your sound? LJ: I would naturally say it’s soulful. It’s rich, it’s gritty, and it’s raw. It has a down-home southern vibe, like a hot and humid sticky day sitting down on some porch.
RPM:What did you listen to growing up? LJ: I listened to everything from Hip-Hop to Soul, Gospel, and Funk. I listened to a little bit of everything.
RPM: You recently co-hosted the BET show My Black is Beautiful. Tell me about your TV experience. LJ: I had a wonderful time. It was so much fun working with Kim Coles, Tasha Smith, and Alesha Renee. They are definitely veterans in that game, and that was my first time doing any television. Just to be a part of such a wonderful movement was a blessing. I’m so excited about it. It’s about empowering black women in all shapes and sizes. It was such a great experience, and I just enjoyed myself immensely.
RPM: Can we expect to see you doing more television or maybe even movies? LJ: Oh, yes! That’s the plan!
RPM: I know everyone always asks you about your hair! How would you describe your look? LJ: Well, someone else described it as “foxy funky.” [laughs] I just call it foxy funky free, I guess. I don’t really think it is a look. I just like to do what’s comfortable. I’m really lazy when it comes to hair and all that stuff. I wear makeup when I do shows and television, but I’m not very good at the makeup thing and eyelashes and all that stuff. I’m really not that diva type of girl, but I do what I gotta do.
RPM: Are you dating, single, involved? What's your situation? LJ: My situation is my situation! [laughs]
RPM: What do you do for fun? LJ: [Aside] from singing, I actually like to decorate. I like doing interior designing.
RPM: If you weren’t singing, what do you think you’d be doing as a career? LJ: Probably real estate.
RPM: Anything else you would like to say to the readers of Rap Pages Magazine.com? LJ: Make sure to check out my website [http://leelajames.com/] for all my upcoming tours and music. You can also follow me on Twitter [http://twitter.com/LeelaJames], and the most important thing—my album is in stores! If you don’t already got a copy, go out and get one.
Reef the Lost Cauze: Sound Of Philadelphia
Written by Todd Davis, Rap Pages Magazine.com
Friday, 11 June 2010 03:45
Coming up as a local emcee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's underground Hip-Hop circuit, Reef the Lost Cauze (née Sharif Talib Lacey) quickly earned a name for himself, primarily due to his undeniable lyricism and fierce battle skills on the mic.
In 2001, Reef dropped his "official" ten track solo debut, The High Life, which garnered praise from fans and critics alike. Invisible Empire, his second studio effort, followed in '03, with Reef finding himself gaining greater recognition on a national level. Album number three, the acclaimed Feast Or Famine, arrived in September 2005, and to date is considered not only his biggest success, but also a favorite among his diehard followers.
Around that same time, Reef also joined forces with both The JuJu Mob and Army of the Pharaohs for Black Candles and The Torture Papers, respectively. He also appeared on The Snowgoons' German Lugers CD, before releasing his own A Vicious Cycle and The Stress Files in '08.
Rap Pages Magazine.com recently sat down for a little one-on-one with the 27-year-old wordsmith...
Rap Pages Magazine: Let's just jump right into this brand new fifth solo effort, Fight Music. Although it's pretty self-explanatory, still, tell me why exactly you chose this title. Reef the Lost Cauze: Well, it's just a very aggressive record. Myself and Stu and Scrilla just wanted to make a street record, and not put too much concern into it. I made this album at a time I just needed to vent and get some anger out of my system, and just be that kid in the stairwell with a hoodie and blunt spittin' with his friends, ya know? No big themes, just me in the studio whilin' out. All the joints Scrilla produced were pretty much done in one night in D.C.—it was that type of record. And at the end of every session, we'd all be like, "This is some fight music shit!" and just ran with it.
RPM: How does Fight Music differ from and/or compare to previous Reef the Lost Cauze LPs? Reef: Well, that's the thing I have to explain a lot, it's not just a solo album, it's Reef vs Guns-n-Butter, who are two amazing producers who are gonna be huge soon. But, this is just as much their record as mine, and that's the main difference, because every other one of my projects, aside from Stress Files, which was done with my brother Stress, has been all me creative-wise, from writing to pickin' beats to collabs to fuckin' song order and time length! [chuckles] I'm beyond stubborn with that shit. So, it was letting go of that control and allowing them to share their ideas, and it's really a group effort.
RPM: "What We Rep," featuring Big Noyd, is the just-released lead offering from the set. Tell me about this joint. Reef: Yeah, that's actually not the first song. The first song was "I'ma G," followed by "Get Me Outta Here," which are both out there right now. But, we put them out before the real push for the album started, so the Noyd track is kinda remindin' folks it's coming. I love that song! Just everything about it is dope to me, from the beat to the hook to the verses. And I like that it's gettin' a good response.
RPM: Earlier, you mentioned that Fight Music was entirely produced by Guns-n-Butter. What prompted this decision? Reef: Like I said earlier, I met them a few years back. Stu first, through Leedz and Matty Trump up in Boston. Every cat in Boston that rhymed was in and out of that studio, and Leedz always would bring me up for shows and to record, so it became like a second home for me. I've recorded like 15-20 songs/verses up there, real talk. So, me and Stu clicked and we just contiuned to work, and then I met Scrilla, went to D.C., and knocked out his joints for the record. And the rest is history! This was as organic as you can allow, without it being...you know, like, "creepy hippy organic."
RPM: So how much overall input do you have when it comes to an actual Reef the Lost Cauze track? Reef: Oh, man, that's like asking how much overall input you get for your interviews...I would assume all of it! Cuz I can't ever allow really anyone to tell me how to do a song. I'm just too stuck in the belief I know what I'm doing to ever let anyone tell me different. So yeah, man, I have total control over that aspect of music, always.
RPM: Do you have any particular personal favorite song(s) on Fight Music? And what reason do you give for your pick(s)? Reef: Personally? The intro. When I listen to it, it makes me remember why I'm doin' this and who I am. But, I think most people are gonna love "I'ma G," the joint with Noyd, the joint wit' [Kool] G. Rap and [R.A. the] Rugged Man. It's just a really ill record.
RPM: For Fight Music, you are inked to a fairly newer independent imprint, Enemy Soil. Why sign to a lesser-known indie, rather than a more well-known major? Reef: Well, in all honesty I'm not really in the sight of a major, and at this point, there's no such thing as majors—that's a old, dead word. We were shopping the record and trying to find the right place for it, and all agreed this would be a great place for the album.
RPM: And finally, there is starting to be a huge buzz surrounding you and this album. Did you expect this type of response so quickly? Reef: I'm very excited about the potential of the album. I'm hoping the buzz remains and it can translate to the record making a good impact for all involved.
RPM: Explain the derivation of your moniker, "Reef the Lost Cauze." How did you come to be known as this? Reef: It just came at a time in my life when I was in fact a lost cause. It was sort of how Em had the "Slim Shady" alias. I was on that shit, too, just not givin' a fuck. There was no one who could stop me or tell me different. I was a "lost cauze!" It allowed me to be extremly free in my writing.
RPM: You have your very own label, FU Pay Me. What are your future plans & goals for this venture? And who currently makes up its artist roster? Reef: Well, FU Pay Me has always been more an idea than anything, but this summer, I'll be making it official. Any future projects I release will be under that brand, trust me.
RPM: In addition to being a soloist, you also moonlight as a member of both The JuJu Mob & Army of the Pharoahs. What's up with these two collectives? Anything currently in the works with either of them? And, with that being said, what's next for Reef the Lost Cauze? Reef: I'm currently pushing Fight Music, as well as a few new free-for-download mixtapes, and I just started getting the beats together for the album I'm doing with the Snowgoons. I'll also be re-releasing my old albums High Life and Invisble Empire, both limited physical and on iTunes. Other than that, just trying to stay on the road, stay on the 'net, new videos and songs, et cetera. Really focusing on taking total control over my future.
RPM: Is there anything I left out or plain forgot to ask you about? Reef: Nah, man, you've covered all bases, great interview, and thank you for your time.
Choppin’ It Up With Curtis: A Young Story
Written by Tia Price, Rap Pages Magazine.com
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 21:27
His face might look familiar, but rapper Curtis Young plans on proving to the world that he is much more than just the son of legendary rapper and producer Dr. Dre.
Rap Pages Magazine: Tell me about the new album. Curtis Young: Well, the new album is called Product of My DNA, and it consists of me being a product of my father [Dr. Dre].
RPM: Do you feel like there’s pressure on you, being the son of Dr. Dre? CY: No. I actually don’t. I feel like people think there’s more pressure [laughs], but me, I don’t try to own up to his expectations.
RPM: Speaking of Dr. Dre, is it true you just met your father a few years ago? Tell me about that experience. CY: Um, no, that’s not correct. I met my father for the first time when I was 20 years old. And the experience was great. You know, I grew up being a fan of his. Me finding out who my father was, it was like hitting the lottery. It inspired me to push more what I wanted to do, as far as focusing on music, which I was already into before I met my father.
RPM: Ok, well, since we're already getting personal, let’s continue…do you have a girlfriend? CY: I definitely got a loved one. [laughs]
RPM: What does music mean to you? CY: Music to me is actually like a statement. You just have to feel it.
RPM: What kind of music are you listening to right now? CY: Jay-Z, Kanye [West], some of my pop's old stuff. That’s pretty much it. I don’t listen to a lot of artists like that.
RPM: What do you enjoy doing for fun? CY: There are a lot of things. Bowling, music—that’s a hobby for me—working out, kayaking, there’s a whole list of things that I do.
RPM: Tell me something people would be surprised to learn about you. CY: Well, they don’t know about me yet! [laughs] But they will know. They don’t know I’m the life of the party.
RPM: When can the readers of Rap Pages Magazine look forward to the album coming out? CY: Well, the mixtape is coming out first. The mixtape is called The Legacy Continues, Volume I. That contains, like, a quarter of the album. I just wanted to give the people something before Product of My DNA comes out. So that’s what you can look for first. Then the album is set to come out this year, probably by the end of the summer. My new single, “Muzik,” is out now.
