H. Michelle: Ready to Conquer Rap and Beyond

Born Senegalese, raised in Chicago and now an L.A. transplant, H. Michelle's career has gathered steam, and now she's ready to blow. With a unique vocal and fashion style and lyrics like "I jus' wanna fu%$, I don't wanna make luv," she shouldn't have any trouble gaining further notice.

H. Michelle, f.k.a. Helluva, is multi-talented. She deejay's, models, writes, produces and is making a guest appearance in not one but two upcoming feature films. With a fuse of hip-hop, metal, and soul, H. Michelle creates an incomparable sound. H. has toured with 50 Cent and has been featured on songs with several multi-platinum artists such as Coolio, and Fieldy of Korn. Her hot track "Done Deal" was featured as the end title piece for Jamie Foxx's movie "Held Up." H. was also featured on Swedish rap sensation Infinite Mass' platinum single "I'll be Down."

Although she's busy working on new material and getting ready for some concert dates, H still took some time for us to share some insights into her background and career.

Where did you grow up and when did you start performing?

I grew up in Chicago. I was a bit of a tomboy growing up, so I had to always keep up with the boys. All the cool boys at my school would rap in the playground and at talent shows and everyone loved them for it. I wasn't going to let those stupid boys out do me, so I got one of those stupid boys to starting writing raps for me. Unbeknownst to him, he had created a monster who's skills surpassed his and everyone else on the playground. By the ripe old age of 12, I was already performing at arenas with people like Eazy-E, Scarface, and Too Short.

Have you alway combined DeeJaying and rapping?

I was always behind the mic. I actually started Deejaying so I could rap more.
Whatever venue I spin at, I don't hesitate to rock the mic and the party at the
same time.

With the top rappers traditionally being male, do you think people have different expectations from female MCs? How do you combat people's perceptions of female rappers?

People often discount the abilities of female MC's. There is a common misconception that female MC's don't write thier own raps and this is true for some female and male MC's as well. However I pen my own masterpieces, no one can tell my story better than I. Often times if a female MC is not associated with a click or a male presence, she's not official. I combat these stereotypes and challenges by discrediting their validity. I don't need 30 of my closes homies on stage like so many male MC's do, I think it's cowardly. I simply hold my own minus the posse.

Who are your music role models?

Different artists inspire me at different times for differnt reasons. Right now I'm inspired a great deal by Kanye West, because I can so relate to his struggle, so I have a great appreciation for his successes. 50 Cent is also inspirational right now, he won't shut the fuck up, he totally speaks his mind and he's truly free in his music, despite the challenges he's had to overcome.

What's in your cd player or iPod now?

Joss Stone, John Legend (he makes you feel good), Korn, Gwen Stefani, and The Massacre is in heavy rotation.

What influences your rapping?

110% personal experiences. My life is so fantastic at times, I mean the shit I
encounter on a daily basis is sometimes so ridiculous that people are looking at me like yeah either she's crazy or she's making it up. It makes for great material.

I understand you have a jewelry line as well, when/how did you get that started?

I've been making jewelry for a little over a year now. I'm not a person that follow's the trend, so I don't always have to be iced out or "bling-blingin'" if you will. I wanted to create a line of jewelry that was hot, sexy, sparkly, girly and fun without the astronomical price tag.

Who are some of your jewelry clients?

Actor Megan Good, fashion designer Barbara Bates and Charlenes on Melrose currently carries my line.

You've done some stage acting as well. Its all performing, but compare acting to rapping...differences? like one better?

As an actor there's a freedom that allow's me to live outside myself and experience the characters fully, so it can be challenging at times, letting go of my own personal ideas and submerging myself into the character. As a rapper the character you're playing is you, and that on stage experience is nothing short of orgasmic.

Are movie roles in your future?

I just completed the short Chi-Town, written and directed by Larenz Tate. I'm in the courtship stage of another film, so we'll see what happens.

What's you're approach to recording? Do you right out your lyrics and/or do some freestyle in the studio?

I create all of my songs and co-produce a many of them as well. I don't really write raps. I kind of make them up in my head as I go about my day; I store them in big file cabinet in my head and access them as I need to. The only time I write my material down is if I'm recording and I'm having challenges with the sequence. When you keep your arsenal of raps stored in your head, it's easy to switch a word or a line around, so I may write it down so I can keep the session moving. Freestyling for me is an energy and a momentum and those elements must be present for me to create an effective freestyle.

When can we expect new music from you?

I'm in the studio right now workin' it, I have Polar Bear, Mike City, Negro Kinevil, and myself on production and I'm hoping to have Fieldy (of Korn) come in and do some bass for me.

You often perform with a live band, do you feel that seperates you from others who only perform with backing tracks and/or a DJ?

Without question. There's a tremendous amount of energy and enthusiasm on stage with a live band, and it's easy to transfer that e&e to the audience. When you work off dat, cd, or deejay it's a lot more challenging to create that energy and transfer it to the audience, and there's also a lot of little helpers you privy to with live music. That's why you see so many male rappers with 20 people on stage with them, in an effort to create the necessary energy. I think that's weak and cowardly and takes the artist stock down. When I'm up there with my band it's just me on the mic, no crutches, no posse, so I damn well better hold my own. There's no other option.

Keep up with H. Michelle on her website and you can see her perform live Saturday April 2, 2005 at Forbidden City, 1718 N. Vine in Hollywood. Showtime is 10:00p.m.