@UTHENTIC Collective: AUTHENTIC CHICK of the MONTH

Sooo ... for those of you who haven't looked over to the left side of your screens recently ... the AUTHENTIC CHICK OF THE MONTH issssss .... *****dunh dun dun dunhhhhhhhh***** (extra)

Fiona Simone

Fiona Simone solely relies on her own perceptions and theories on how her reality is defined, manifesting her ideals through music, fashion, and vernacular. She is everything the game has been missing. Being multi-faceted and multi-dimensional are synonymous with the Female MC. She is more than a critically acclaimed rapper. In addition to rap, she produces, engineers, ghostwrites, and is adept in graphic design.
Fiona Simone is not a novice when it comes to the music industry. She has been rapping since the age of 15 and began experimenting on making beats shortly thereafter. In 2006, Fiona launched Open Mind Music, her own production company and signed her first artist. A Miami native, she has been living in Atlanta for over 10 years.

For those of you who didn't catch the writeup about Fiona on Kholi's Blog a couple weeks ago .. DON'T EVEN WORRY! We have something even better than that!

Soooo ... you know AUTHENTIC is always stalking talent ... so we somehow (never under estimate the power of big words and batted lashes) convinced Fiona to get us an interview! GIRL! Read BELOW! ... as ALWAYS ... take notes, chicks!

TELL US WHO YOU ARE ... USING YOUR FAVORITE LYRICS.

"What don't kill me builds me/

What don't break me makes me tougher/

There were many times when I felt it couldn't get no rougher/

Times I rather died than to suffer/

Engine still gunning, tank on empty/

Me against the world, all odds against me/

Ain't no love, it took a lot to convince me/

Now I'm like fuck em though, I'm-a keep trucking yo'/

If you ain't feeling me, what is all the fronting for/

I'm-a do Fi, nothing less and nothing more/

Tell 'em don't get comfortable cause I'm on they're ass/

And I'm-a prove I ain't gotta change my swag/

Critics so blind, when they gone see/

That it's a million Tomboys just like me/

And I'm the leader of the movement, I gotta keep it moving/

How you gonna refuse it, when it's excellent music/"

-Welcome Back Ladies Room 2.5

I know that's like an entire verse but that's the best I can describe myself and how I feel. It's pretty much self explanatory. It tells my struggle and frustration as a talented artist that has faced a number of adversities due to how I choose to present myself visually and verbally.

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR TYPE FIVE INFLUENCES? ... MUSICALLY?

My top five music influences are Tupac, Outkast, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye, & Jay-Z.

HAVE THE INDIVIDUALS YOU WORKED WITH INFLUENCED YOUR WORK IN ANYWAY? IF SO ... HOW AND WHO?

The people I've worked with have definitely influenced me and my music. I would have to say I'm more influenced by producers and engineers than artist because they play a major role in over all production of the music. A great producer and engineer can make an amateur artist sound advanced. I learned how to produce and engineer by observing them over the years.

BESIDES OTHER MUSICIANS, WHAT HAS HELPED YOU EXPAND YOUR ART THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?

People who have helped me expand my art over the years would have to be a collection of investors, producers, managers, dopeboys, friends, and fans.

WHAT'S THE PERFECT FIONA SIMONE SONG FOR ....

The perfect Fiona Simone song for the club would have to be "Limelight"...

Limelight - Fiona Simone

for the car would be "My Car," lol....

My Car Feat. Bandkamp - Fiona Simone

for the bedroom, "Give It To Me".....

Give It To Me Feat. Chu & St - Fiona Simone
(A PERSONAL FAVORITE ... :-) ... HEHE)

for the kitchen, "My Place" ...

My Place - Fiona Simone

for an early morning jog, I would say, "Keep It Moving" ....

Keep it Moving Feat. Bandkamp - Fiona Simone

and for shopping, "Feeling Some Type Of Way."

Some type of way - Fiona Simone
(FAVORITE OF ALL TIME!)

For those of you feelin' some type of way right now ...

maybe we all need a couple more pics of what this AUTHENTIC hustler looks like ...

I mean ... who doesn't love a chick on her GRIND?

... ready to reconvene? cool. pens poised. notepads at hand?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE WORLD IN 09?

My plans for the world in 09 is to instill hope and faith in female rappers again. I will prove that females rappers can be just as prominent as any successful male rapper by displaying the creativity, content, and lyricism.

WHAT'S THE SOUNDTRACK FOR YOUR LIFE? PICK 7 SONGS.

I - Crumbling Herb (Outkast)
II - Me Against The World (Tupac)

III - A Change Gone Come (Sam Cooke)

IV- The X Factor (Lauryn Hill)

V - What's Going On ( Marvin Gaye)

VI- Grind From The Bottom ( Fiona Simone)

VII - Song Cry (Jay-Z)

FINALLY, TELL OUR LADIES HOW TO KEEP THEIR HUSTLE REAL AND AUTHENTIC IN 09.

The best way to keep your hustle Real and AUTHENTIC in 09 would be to do it yourself. I learned from 08 that if you want different results then you must do things differently.

...

For those of you who can't get enough of FIONA SIMONE ... click HERE to hear The Ladies Room 2.5 on IMEEM.