Introduce yourself to our readers…

Thank you for welcoming me to the Gateway. To all those who care to know my name is Eavesdrop - the lady who loves the mic and hip-hop.

What made you fall in love with hip hop and what would you say you trying to achieve through hip hop?

I have never felt more welcomed and free than when I hear the beats of hip hop and that makes me fall in love. I have a crazy life and what I observe is unique to my reality so I have plenty of stories to tell and hip hop is my vehicle, the provider of mobility.

Tell me who touched you, who made you go 'oh my god'?

My influences stem from a background of soul music, which my mother is proudly responsible for. I grew up listening to Womack&Womack, Maize, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield etc. When I first heard Nina Simone hit a minor key in one of her dark ballads it evoked emotions in me that I had not yet found words to articulate. My influences are deeply rooted in a feeling and vibration more than in any particular genre or person if that can be understood.

How do you feel about the current state of the movement?

There is a Big Gaping Black Hole patiently waiting for female rhyme-sayers to assert themselves and that is not being fulfilled with the consciousness, which is required in order for society to take note! Progression and elevation through mental stimulation is the only way in which we can get anywhere and most women who achieve the opportunity to represent forget about the original agenda and get side-tracked instead leading to the path of destruction. Hip-hop is a reflection of the universal psyche and right now there is a state of emergency. My question is how many of us recognise this?

What do you think of the evolution of our scene?

We have a lot to keep up and catch up with and I don't think that enough of us are looking at the bigger picture, which means that the movement gets stifled. There are those who keep the wheel turning quietly but we need some solidarity and attention to skills development and education on all levels.

More sistas have been rocking the mic lately, e.g. Godessa laid down the foundation for a lot of people…

I guess so. They became popular too soon I believe and now we hardly hear much from them. They were onto something good but then the message became diluted, I can't say that they are my influence directly because I believe that there is a big difference in being a solo rapper and a crew especially as a lady, you have to be STRONG!

You been doing ya thang locally in ciphers and I remember running into you last year at the Grahamstown festival. It seems like all the sacrifices are finally starting to payoff. You working on a album right? Tell us more bout the project?

I have yet to cross that bridge but when I get there you will be one of the first to know!

As a woman growing up in the Cape Flats what was your inspiration? Did that effect your music positively cos the only images we seem to be getting is about gangsterism and drugs?

The Cape Flats is a rough place but at the same time it's home and that is where my Grail lies. Gangs and Drugs are everywhere but in the ghetto it is the combination of ignorance that kills our people spiritually and later physically. I have been privileged to gain exposure and, as a woman, knowledge is not granted on a silver platter and neither do destructive men nor women tolerate it. So it is a challenge but the positive side is that the box has hope right at the bottom and my one on one experiences and observations of my people allow me to rhyme TRUTH and REALITY because God is with me.

As a hip hop artist who aint signed to a major label do you feel that at some point you'll be forced to compromise part of yourself or your art in order to sell records?

I have too many talents to ever compromise my music! Just for the record, I will not be signing a record deal in the future. Idealist? Hell Yes!

You were chosen as one of the students for this years Red Bull Academy in Seattle?

Well now can you hear the audience applaud and chant the name of her who listens in uninvited? Ha Ha!! The Academy is a blessing from above and I have been granted the responsibility of representing S.A. More on that when I return.

If you had one thing to accomplish before you die what would that be?

Teach my children the beauty of being who they want to be and equipping them with the orals from the oracle of our ancestors: who you are is always enough and the universe has rules to be obeyed, so never disrespect the Mother of your Nature.

I have just stretched ya brain cells with eleven questions I think I need to let you go and write some lines, give me your final thoughts…

To all those who want to accomplish what others tell them cannot be done, show them your middle finger and work harder towards your ultimate goal. The keepers of Darkness will always try to pull you down but the Torch Burners are the Warriors of Light always ready to defend the honour of the good. Whatever your vehicle may be keep pushing, the battle is never over we have just reached another level…God Bless

Interview by Rush. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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