Coi Leray on Love, Motherhood & Being “Really Her”

My next guest is a Grammy-nominated rapper whose record players climbed the Billboard charts and took over Tic-Tac. She's hit the biggest stage, she's gone viral, and she's earned co-signs from Busta Rhymes, Beyoncé, Cardi B, and more. But what I respect most about Coil Array is how she's grown in real time. From being open about mental health, to stepping into motherhood, and now entering a bold new era of music, she keeps evolving. And that's what this space is about, evolution, honesty, becoming. So we're about to get into all of that and more, 'cause baby, this is Kiki Bomber. ♪ Kiki Bomber, yeah. ♪ Please welcome Coil Array. ♪ Ooh ♪ Hey, you look so good. Hey, oh my God, you are beautiful. Right back at you, girl, last time I see you, we was together on New Year's. New Year's, you and I, that's like, girl, I'm living two, girl, after that, I fell right asleep in the car, I was so mad. Girl, I'm so happy to have you on a show because this is supposed to be happening in 2025. But I would say you were pregnant, a lot of things are going on. You look so good, thank you. Mommy to me, yo, go. She's here. She's here. That's crazy. I get to be here. Yes. Have her say hi to you guys. I'm so excited. She's so freaking cute. Thank you. Okay, but let's get into this pretty show, pull up questions, get into your mind a little bit. So you're a Taurus. Yes. But you don't know you're some moon rising. I don't. And I'm ashamed of one of them that I think that I am. What is it, do you think I cancer? You don't like cancer, you know, you do get cancer because it's very level, girl. Cancer is a very level girl. Are so emotional, I'm a cancer rising. Cancer is one of those, my rising moon, it's one of them, but I know for sure it's in there. Do you feel very Taurus? You give Taurus to me as well. I feel like the biggest Taurus in the world. Taurus is always somewhere looking cute. And we're the best. Like we really are. Like everybody says, like, I love a Taurus. Stop. Because what do they do wrong though, honestly, they really, they really are one of the signs that you don't have too much crazy to say, except for they say, y'all stubborn. We're stubborn. But we keep it real. Yeah. Yeah. So you do feel stubborn a little bit. I'm very stubborn for sure. Okay. What are you most grateful for today? Waking up in nice weather. Girl, the weather has been crazy though for a while though. Yeah. Because you know, I moved back to Jersey. So to be out here in LA during this crazy winter storm. Yeah. I'm like sure. So you still live in Jersey. Yeah. Oh my gosh. So New York or LA, I lived out here for four years, but I moved back when I had got pregnant. Yeah, yeah. Be closer to my mom. I had bought a house like five minutes. Congrats on that. Thank you. Yeah. And, um, but I've been out here working on new music and getting ready for this new year. So. And you're feeling good in LA. It feels good to be back. Oh. As a mom. Sunlight. And a pool in jacuzzi. I can go swimming any day. I love it here. I love that. Okay. And then a relationship or friendship, non-negotiable for you. I forgive. I don't forget. So once somebody crosses you, they're done. Is that what you mean by that? No. Like, I could forgive you. Yeah. Like, honestly, you really got to do some crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy, sneaky stuff to me to make me hate you. But I don't have no hate in my heart. I could forgive you and not deal with you at the same time. How does that go in your future sometime? Do you feel like people really push you to the edge because they know you're so forgiving because I feel like that happens to me. Yeah. They take my kindness for weakness. Because you could be forgiven and never hear from me again. So it's all good. Yeah. What's a question you wished you were asked more in interviews? My nationality. Yeah. But I know Puerto Rican, black, Cape Verdean. Yeah. Yes. And I feel like you do share that. Yeah. Yeah, you do share that every now and then. If people just get a look in. I feel like, yes. Like, the ones that know know, but I feel like that is the main question that nobody asks. How do you feel like you relate to all three of those? Well, I'm definitely got my Puerto Rican side because I love Spanish food number one. My grandpa's, you know, he speaks Spanish. Do you speak a little? I don't. But I feel like, I learned that in school. I think the only thing that stuck with me is Spanish. But you know, it's so cool. My nanny is actually Spanish and she teaches me, OK, Spanish. So she goes, bravo. I don't know if bravo is really a Spanish word. But I know she goes bravo and then Yoco claps to bravo. She be like, "Basito." I'm like, oh my gosh. "Basito." That's kiss. Yeah. "Basito." Fuck you. Who is someone you met that made you feel a starstruck? I'm actually surprised by this LeBron James. Are you a basketball fan? I feel like, I'm a big sports fan. My mom is big on sports. OK, especially football. Big Patriots from Boston, Tom Brady, and things been the same since Tom Brady left. I will say I'm forever Patriots nation forever, Celtic nation forever. However, LeBron has something about him that not only as a, like, not only as a basketball star and an athlete, he's a great father, he's a great, just a friend. I don't know. I don't know. I ended up representing him. Yeah. Like you. Girl style. Like literally. Like literally. The jack of all trades, like, just can't do no wrong in my eyes at all. Oh my gosh. So when you met LeBron, where were you guys at? You were at the game. First of all, you look. Oh my gosh. We're quick, quick. You look so cute at the game. I don't know which game this was, but you had you because a lot of times people overdo it at the game. Yeah. But you like, actually, look like you was going to a game, but it was Celtic. It was Celtic. It was Celtic's first Lakers. I was so happy to be there. You look like a casual cute. Look, but you was still cute. A little Chanel sweater. A little Chanel sweats. It's so crazy because everybody be like, Koi. I'm stuck between Koi. Put some clothes on and Koi. You have on too much. It's never too much clothes, but everybody tells me that I need to wear clothes. Well, it goes back to them early days, which I first, when I first met you in the pre-preade, we talked about the hoodie area. We all loved that, because it reminded us of Left Eye. You know what I mean? It was like, the industry had never been seen. Like, everything was so crazy, always sexualized. Yeah. So like, when you came on the scene, everybody's always thinking about that because we were like, Koi with them. Bray, she had a million girlfriends that I didn't even know I had at that time. Yeah. We'll get into that. We'll get into that. Okay. The last question was, what's a mantra you live by and why? I'm really her. Really her. I feel like I've heard you say this. True. It's so crazy because when I was writing that, I said, yo, I just tweeted this morning. I woke up and really had to remind myself, I'm that girl. Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, I started my day off with prayer mandatory. But I need that reminder, especially as a new mom, you know, coming in this industry, wanting to drop new music and beat your last. What makes you feel like that? I'm really her. Like, what is that? Like, how does that, what are those things that make you know that? Because as much as I go through, I can't be broken. And I'm really her. Like, I feel like I'm just a shield, like a badass shield with some Louboutins. Like, just imagine me as just a shield with Louboutins. Yeah. You do feel like, you do feel like tough, but also still sweet at the same time. Yeah. You do, Boston, where you're from. Yeah. So you're born in Boston, Massachusetts, but you grew up in Hackinsack? Yeah. Okay. So let's just tell me about Little Koi growing up, how you fell in love with music? What was life like back for you, Rona? So I felt like, I called myself Hannah Montana. Okay. You put on wigs? No. I'm stupid. No, but I felt like I lived the best of both worlds. Yeah. Yeah. Come on, best of both worlds. I lived the best of both worlds. I got to experience a side at one time where it was just a luxury. Nice swimming pools and jacuzzi's. And then I also got to experience the side of what it really feels like to struggle. Yeah. I'll be starving. And I think both of those made me who I am and wanted to be that her that I'll talk about. You know, what are some of your favorite artists growing up that you watched and helped shape your sound. You were saying, oh, my God, girl, it's so crazy because I feel like I grew up in an era of kids, right? Right. There was a time where like, like, and don't get it twisted. I love all genres and music, but it was just this time where there was no genre like kids Bob had little Wayne, black eyed peas, maroon five, like all on one project. I felt like so. Avril Lavigne and I was a big, like cartoon fan, so whatever celebrities and, but I honestly feel like I can see that in you as an artist that you really will hop into a character type vibe. That was one of the things that drew me to you when I first hit you up to be on my songs sticky. Yeah. I was like, I love everything you're bringing because you gave me character. And then you were hip hop, but it's, I still got that alternative vibe from you. And she was a little punk rock, when you, when it came to your music and I do think this is something that everybody loves about you, you play with a lot of fusion. Yeah. How do you go into that when you're, you know, figuring out doing a song or coming up with something? Well, it all depends. Like recently, I was just in the studio and I'm like, I want to pop my s***. Yeah. Summer is coming. I want to be in the clubs and still have that booty shaking, pop vibe, throw me in the, you know what I'm saying? I'll go ridden with the pop that s*** playlist, but I could be going through some real life stuff and then I want to kind of just vent so the beat changes, the vibes change. Just the other day I was in the studio with Mr. Hudson, shout out Ben and, um, yeah, - That's the guitar, he pulled up a guitar. - Yup. - And we started rockin' out. - Yes. I love that. - Yeah. - I love the rock. - I'm like, let me just try it. I don't even know if people are like, you wanna come with that. ♪ On your boner ♪ ♪ So you wanna do ♪ - Yeah. - I love it. - I love it. Right. (laughing) - I live for the e-girl movement. - Yeah. - And I think we need that fusion when we think about hip hop. Like when you were coming on to the scene, one of the things you got most viral initially was, would you say, "Huddy"? - Yeah. - I mean, what did you say coming in, what type of artist you wanted to be? What did you wanna bring to the game? - I came in raw, I came in gritty, I came in not following rules, doing what I want. And I think that's what kinda got me here today. I remember, "Huddy" wasn't even like, on the Billboard charts, wasn't making a lot of noise. It was in Jersey, I would say. - Yeah. - And "Huddy" is what got my deal. That's what, you know, Monty and Avery, that's when they saw the potential from "Huddy". And I kinda just took that raw and gritty-ness, just being this tomboy from Jersey one to pop my (beep) and the guys to be able to do my lyrics feel comfortably. Yeah. And then I started just, as I stayed in the studio, I just always created, created, created, created, but what stuck was the turn vibes. - Yeah, yeah. - Like if I would post a snippet, 'cause I would leak all my songs on my hip records, I would say on my Billboard records, 'cause when I leaked it, they like blew up, right? - And what'd you mean by leaked it? - Like I'll put a snippet on line, and then the traction that the snippet started getting, it would tell me like, okay, let's go, let's, we gotta go, we gotta drop. We love a little piloting. - Yeah, for sure. - And you're the only girl in a family of six. I have, okay, so I have five brothers in total. - Okay. - All four, me and my four brothers grew up in a household together, until we did it. My mom has, it's so confusing, 'cause it's like, I hate saying half brothers, 'cause they're still like my brothers in a day, but I got three on my mom's side, two on my dad's side. But you grew up with the four, we grew up, yeah. And one of them was in the hoodie video, right? Was one of your brothers in there? - Was one of them in hoodie? I don't think so. - I could be wrong, but I'm wondering how just growing up being like the girl with a whole bunch of boys, how that impacted just your vibe, your swag, and how you want to be seen. - I always felt like I was unstoppable, untouchable. I felt like I was the most toughest, biggest, FIFA foam person, and I was the smallest skinny little thing, and I just felt like I was the biggest thing in the world with them, 'cause boys are rough. We always played fight, I grew up off tough love, so all that girly stuff, nails and hair and makeup, I didn't have, well, it wasn't into, until I got older. And then me and my mom were always besties. So out of the boys, it was just me and my mom, and I'm like, you know what, mom? - Yeah, I grew up with nine uncles, and I remember they had me climbing the walls. - Nine uncles, girls. So I felt the same vibe, and then I got to the real world. I'm like, y'all not gonna go up for me? - Right. - Right. - The men in my family, they go up for me. Well, y'all not gonna go up for me. - Yeah. - I was gay, literally. - What? But you said that after your parents split up, things got really difficult, just, you know, I guess money to discrepancy, or just how it was living. Like how was, how old were you? And how did that affect your life all around? - So I was about nine, 10 years old when things took a turn. My mom and dad were together for about like 10 years, and then they broke up. I only remember so much from my childhood, from like first grade to, well, from first, since first grade, I would say. And it's so funny because being in the industry, a lot of people think I have like the silver spoon and all this other stuff. And I know so much about, you know, my dad and what he's done, but in reality, I've learned more than I've ever known while being in the industry for a past six years. - And also a totally different time. - It's a totally different time. But I say that to say, I don't know how he got it. - Yeah. - And I don't know how he lost it. - Right, right. - Me and him weren't close enough to have those conversations, I would say, to try to understand like, okay, where, how did you start this massive, you know, unbelievable, incredible moment in hip-hop? - Yeah. - And then how did you lose it? I feel like now that I'm older, we will be able to have us sit down one day and have that conversation. - I mean, when you entered and you started getting to the game, was how much of it was he a part of? Did he know or he saw, he just, I don't only know from the outside looking in. - I'm the same, I'm the outside looking in. And honestly, you know, being the only girl and my dad always having to work, we didn't have the best relationship. So we didn't, we couldn't have those conversations, but I will say, when everything was gone though, we had to figure it out. And I'm so grateful for those times because it molded me to this hustler. Like, I didn't think about me. I didn't, I don't know if it's a tourist thing, but I do feel like I am a natural born hustler, right? And I'm gonna make nothing out of something. I'm gonna get it by any means. I might complain a little bit, but I'm going to go ahead and complain while I'm doing it at the same time. Everybody's gonna do a little complain. - Yeah, I mean, it's natural. It's what a natural helps a let off thing. You even worked a couple of nine to five jobs. So what was like one of your craziest jobs and money we own the most fun jobs? - My most fun job was at working at this kids party place. People will book parties like for their kids. And we would have to be like, bring out the glow guns and bring out the pizza, bring out the cotton candy. I don't know, it was a fun environment. Kids running around, they hitting their head. There was just a bunch of things that you just had to be attentive to. The worst job I would say, which I wouldn't say it was worst. Because any, if you get money, I don't knock no hustle. I'm be honest. You can go pop that f***ing little real f***ing change and I ain't going to judge you. But I know it's a hard job. - That's a hard job. But I will stay working at the supermarket. - It was very repetitive and as a cashier. - With board. - I was bored. I was actually like, I want everybody to come to my line. 'Cause I knew the faster. In the more I didn't watch time, like dying a dash up in the morning. - Yeah, literally, you're right. - Ready? - So literally. - When Huddy started to pick up and you decided to leave school, you later called that time like humbling. So like what did that season teach you and what made you want to go back in 2021 to finish school? - Well, I dropped out of high school and I would say the beginning or towards the mid 10th grade. And I dropped out because an eviction notice came on that door and I had to choose between work. And school, the job that I actually landed that was paying me really good was in sales. And it was from nine to seven in school was obviously from eighth to three. So I couldn't do both. - Working in sales at 17. - 16. - 16. - Yeah, I was there. Like hello, this is Koi Collins. Am I speaking with John, the owner of ABC Trucking? - Wow. - I'd be like, your business listing is outdated. What time do you open? - You'd be like, I open at five o'clock. Oh, well, how are your customers supposed to know this? I used to be running it up, girl. - That's crazy. - Cold calling boots, boo, boo, boo, boo, hello. (laughing) - My money. - Okay. - What made you want to go back in 2021? - Well, I actually, between us, we'll think everybody is watching this in the world. I dropped out and then I started working and then I obviously just kept working 'cause I wanted my own. I ended up moving out early getting my own car and everything. This is before I started doing music. But it got to a point where when I, I didn't want to drop out, first of all. I wanted to go to college. I always felt like I could be like some physical therapist or something. I didn't have any long term goals as a kid, but I knew I wanted to graduate. In my mind, during those times, everybody that went to college was successful. - Yeah. - But I never went and got my GD, nor have I graduated still. And I went to go try to take my GD. And it was really hard. - Yeah. - I opened the book and it was like trigonometry the first book. - Okay. - The trigonometry? Yo, bro, I didn't even learn that in ninth grade. I opened the first page. I seen trigonometry. - And I said, yeah, me and I was a class full of people. - Yeah, it's a lot. I've thought about going back to school. So I didn't really, it was the same thing for me. I was a child entertainer, my family, when you're supporting them with my jobs. It got to a point where it's like, okay, am I gonna keep working? I'm gonna go to school. And I was like, well, I don't want us to have to like go all the way backwards. So I'm gonna keep working. So I tested out of high school. I don't even know what I got really. Like, I don't know what you call it. It was just like a test out kind of like an emancipation kind of thing. You know, and I thought about going back to college or going just to get more education. And, you know, but it's totally different, you know? - It's so different now. I feel like these days you really have to, and because I dropped out and I didn't have a diploma, I always felt like I had to keep myself in books. - Yeah. - But one thing I will regret not graduating high school and I recommend everybody to just finish high school. If you look back at it, it's so quick. Like, you're in no rush to just be grown. Like, literally have the best teenage years of your life 'cause when reality hits girl, it hits. And that makes me think about like, Ferris Brothers Day off. You ever seen that movie? - No. - It's like this old John Hughes movie, but the whole movie is really about kind of what you just said. Like, I think when you look at like high school or even college, aside from like learning and getting an education, which is great, like, you get to like (beep) up. Think with us or people like us, like a lot of people have had to grow up fast. Like, we couldn't really mess up. Like, we could, but it might cost people stuff. And I feel like in school, you get to learn communication skills. You get to learn vocabulary. Something that I still till this day struggle with is my vocab. Being an amazing songwriter. - Right. - And I love writing songs. I love, you know, I'm not, - But, but you're just talking about words. I mean, just words, you know? - You'll hear me a lot, ask on a regular day, like, what does that word mean? Like, somebody could just be having a full bloom conversation. I would have to stop them and be like, "Wait, what does that mean?" - We about to pull out that Scrabble. - Words with friends. - Literally. (laughing) - I played that, I played that. That's another good one. - It's a good little girl. - Yeah, I'm like on level 180. - You got your first RIA certified platinum hit. - Here you go. - Okay, and first Billboard entry was no more parties featuring Little Dark. - Yes. - What does that record mean to you in Little Dark? - For Little Dark. - For Little Dark. - For Little Dark. - No more parties was one of the most craziest times of my life. It was where I felt like, yo, you have to, you're either gonna do it or you're not. You're either gonna be big and successful and people are gonna stream your music or you're not. It's, you have one option here. It's either you're gonna do this music thing or go do something else. And I had to tell myself like, yo, I gotta put the pain in the music. I can't run and hide. You know, I always wanted to protect other people and be cogniz of what I say in my songs. But then I was like, you know what the fuck? I'm gonna be very vulnerable. So if you listen to No More Parties, I explain my life story. And, you know, it actually became one of my biggest breakout records, hitting that Hot 100 on Billboard. I was so excited. And it created TikTok, you know? Shout out No More Parties. No More Parties built the platform for all the young talented artists out there that could showcase themselves and their music. Yeah. Come on, come on. She said I'm a pioneer. I love it. Shout out to TikTok for helping me. I'm saying we did this together. What does success look like for you? Like is it? I just wanna make sure I'm touring. Is it, hey, I want my streaming numbers to go crazy? Is it, you know, what does it, what is, how do you define it? There was at some point where I felt like I wanted to be the biggest artist in the world I wanted to be like Mount Rushmore, you know, Faces. But I felt like over time it's so real. This industry will reveal itself over time and you kinda start. Start looking at things and people a little different. And I started realizing now, like I, of course I wanna be a global superstar. I think everybody wants to be a global superstar, right? But I'm okay with knowing that I can sell out my own tour. Right. I'm okay with knowing who my fans are, who's gonna come to the pop-ups. It's kinda like a big inspiration would be, like NBA Youngboy or Playboy Cardi. Yes. Right, like they're, for sure. Two massive artists who can sit there and sell out arenas, sell out, sell tickets, sell merch, die-hard fans. You see, Youngboy had like the whole, it was like Michael Jackson at the time where everybody was in the streets chasing him and he was just like polies escorted everywhere. And you know, you don't, you might, but however you won't see him at the Met Gala, you won't see him at the red carpets and stuff. And I think that's okay, you know? Yes, I think that is the same way. Perfectly fine. I think a lot of times we've confused visibility with success. Like to me, success is like being able to do what I love, make my money off of it, go on a couple of vacations if I want, you know what I'm saying? I ain't a slave to it. I have a little bit of freedom. And just yeah, being able to just stay diverse. Like I'm always diversifying. Are there other things outside of music that interest you? Like would you see yourself acting? Would you see yourself? I see myself acting, I could tap into the acting world, but and I've done a little acting in my teenage days. I've got a taste of it. The only thing is, and tell me if I'm wrong. Those call times, the six AM, the six AM. Yeah, how do you do that? Girl, you just, you just do it. You were like, I got to do this in my job. I was like, when you were doing the sales. Right. It's like, I got to just do it. You know, and then by the time you get out of here and make up and everything, you done woke up, you know, you ready. But it's like you like it, you know what I mean? It's what you would want to do. So that's what pushes you to do it. Speaking of acting, I'm sorry, but I see you on this billboard all over California. It is sickening. It's like you and four other people poking out a gate. The first. Yes. I'm like, oh my god. The poking out the gate. I'm kind of so lit. Like it's so eye catching. I'm like, oh my god, I can't wait. I love it. Girl, I'm so happy about that show. We literally just got a billion views on p-com, which I can't even. I'm like, well, how the hell are you? That's global superstar. The moment you get you a billboard, jive and regular, that's how you know you freaking one of the ones, my rush more. Nobody can mess with you. Oh my god, you're like, oh my girl, I love you. That's why I love when we did our song sticky like. I was like, yo, she dope real artists to artists because I remember I just hit you up and I was like, would you want to get on this? And you was like, yeah, like, let's go. And I remember you up on top of that car. And I was on top of the counters and she, yeah. That was a good time. It was such a good time, girl. It was such a great song. Yes, shout out to sticky, get into it, y'all. If you have it. But I have to let you know one of the dopest records of yours that gagged me like, that's spite through the spider verse. Oh, I felt love. I love that song. That's pretty much the title track. That's a title track. And Matt Metro, shout out Metro, shout out Star Wars. She's so dope. How did that collaboration come about? I love your voice on that song. Thank you. During the time, Saint, he was like, this is a second spider first that we have done. I was on the soundtrack of the first one. And then the second one, you know, Metro was doing-- Yes. --and I couldn't wait to work with Metro. I got the call like, yo, Metro wants you on this song. South love. It's going to be into the spider verse. So good. And I'm like, who the hell is not going to cut anything for Metro? Like, where's Metro becoming? I love him. I really wanted him once. He know what he'd be doing when it comes to the music. So I was like, oh, yeah, there's a dream come true. Oh my gosh, I just love that. I mean, you've collaborated with Gunna. You got to hit with David Gettah. You hopped on Sabrina Compertus nonsense. Your range is crazy. What do you attribute your versatility to? I-- it's so crazy because I struggle with my versatility every day in a studio. I don't know if I want to sing and be like this specific-- like, it's like, OK, I could go be this badass girl and be like, yeah, like, very pop star. And like, you know, my Katy Perry-- because I already say I'm the female at Katy Perry. You know what I'm saying? Like, I pop my-- I can Katy Perry for sure. Or I could be on my-- you feel me? Like, Cardi B, keep-- raw, you know? Like, Cardi, Megan, all the rap girls for real. Like, they keep it raw, you know? And even when they do get vulnerable, they still give you that raw, raw, raw. Not saying they're not pop, but-- Yeah, yeah. It's more straight hip hop. It's more straight, like, to the point to where I'll just be going so far left sometimes. And I don't know if that's my lane, because I'll get a lot of noise over here, but then I won't get a lot of noise on the soft side. But then I'll get more engagement on my R&B, sexy koi. But then my turn rap core, they're like, all right, we missed them a lot. So I'm going through an identity crisis. I mean, how do you decide what vibe you want to jump into next, because now we're entering this pink sweats era, which I think is playing with, like, some masculine feminine. Like, again, we go back to OG Koi. We live for that, like, yo, she low-key on that left eye. She coming at you with that TLC energy. How are you deciding that this was a vibe you wanted to get into in 2026? And what can we expect from it? Wow. Baby, this is Kiki Poma, yeah. Do you hear that? Baby, a warm getaway must be calling my name, because spring has officially sprung. We're saying bye-bye to endless winter layers, and hello, to sunny beach season. I finally have a little time off coming up. And with my crazy schedule, that's rare. So I'm thinking of a long weekend escape with my family. The question is coastal Santa Barbara vibes or desert stay in Palm Springs. All I know is that when I'm planning a trip, booking to stay on Airbnb just makes everything easier. I just love having a whole house to ourselves. We can each have our own space, no cramped hotel rooms to worry about, and come together for fun movie marathons or epic game nights in the living room. Everyone can be as loud as they want, because things can get competitive, y'all. And let's face it, a meal is better shared around a table than a bed, especially when it's my dad's cooking. But here's the real magic. We get to play locals, wandering through neighborhood parks, and popping into all the best family owned under the radar restaurants on the recommendations of our lovely super host. Mm, you already know I love a good food tour moment. So if you're planning spring or summer getaways with your favorite people, find a stay on Airbnb. Trust me, that home away from home feeling can't be topped. [MUSIC PLAYING] I would say becoming a mom, your mind just comes a little bit more clearer. Don't it? Foggy or unclear are at the same time. The fog comes, because you're not who you used to be. That's the foggy park. Yeah, you're not. And you're like, so what stays and what goes? Yeah. And I feel like, you know, I'm 28. I'll be 29 this year. Yeah. And I love that. You know, I came in the game and I was 21. Yeah, yeah. And I just feel like this new era is just very-- I'm her. I'm her. And then also, too, I seen somebody tweet this. I don't know who it was, but this was a tweet yesterday. And it was like, I'm not for everybody. And that's OK. And I think that stuck with me. And I think that's the vibe that I'm going to into this new music, new album, new era is. I'm not for everybody. And that is OK. The ones that get it, get it. The ones that. - Don't. - Don't. At the end of the day, I make sure I just move with, you know, as a genuine person. Keep God first. You know, and just work my ass off. Everything else can just come with it. - Sampling has been a big part of your DNA. Do you love it still? Are you not? How do you feel about it? Do we get some more samples coming in in 2026? - I love a sample. Can I get a sample? I love a sample. (laughing) I do samples are so cool because it's so dope to be able to recreate something. Like, for example, right now, my new song that I'm about to drop. - My milkshake ring on up next to the, this. - Tada, yours. - How did you flip this? Also, you with Varel in general feels like a match. - Oh my God. - Have y'all worked together, what y'all did, right? Didn't something, I saw something with y'all. - We had a song, not in store, come out. - Yeah. - For the Doodleverse. - Yes. - That he's done. And then we also have like six unreleased songs in my phone. - You guys feel like a very dope match to me. - He's amazing. - My milkshake ring on a boy's city art. So yeah, this is crazy. I can't wait to hear this girl. - Oh my God. - That's so fun. - You know who else I feel like? I don't know who you did anything with, I don't know if you did anything with them, but Miss Yelliot. - I love her. - I got to be in a studio with her in a real session with her at some point and she's also an amazing. - She's dope. - Yeah, she's amazing. - Who else would you want to work with that you haven't worked with yet? - The weekend. I really want to sing with the weekend. - Interesting. - Yeah. I feel like Sabrina Carbender owes me a swap. - I need a new one with Sabrina again for sure. I love her. - Yeah, I mean, the music is so dope. - I just think her sex appeal and my sex appeal together on my stage could just really make like, it goes very doting very fast. - Right. - She was daring with that cover art. - On the knees? - Girl, I was like, okay Miss ma'am. - I know that's right. - I was like, let's go Sabrina. - Oh my God, it would be the reverse. Get down. - Right. - No. (laughs) - Like this. - Let's break up. - Let's break up. - Oh my God, just me giving that Jada energy. Anyway, players was a huge moment for you. Your first Billboard Top 10. - Yes. - A Grammy nomination. You dropped remixes for the song. You even had Buster Rhymes. That's like OG royalty. - Yeah. - When you saw it take off, did you feel it coming? Like do you feel like you know when you got hit whatever that means? - I feel like everything I make is fire. It's just all about like when I, you know, what the people want. So that's why I teased. 'Cause in my mind, I'm like, I'm a number one fan. Like I'm gonna, if any, let's let everything fly. But, you know, you gotta talk to the fans. So I was talking to them. And when I leaked players, it went crazy. However, players dropped in December and it didn't blow up till February. A lot of people don't realize that dynamic. Also too, December is Christmas time. Yeah, the label shut down. No, no, no more coins. They don't want spend no money to budget. It's closed. And they opened the budget right on up for players in the middle of Christmas, a couple days before Christmas and made it happen for sure. - Wow, yeah. - But then you also said to Complex that during that time you were a little bit unhappy due to things happening so fast. - Yeah. - So what was happening so fast that we didn't see? - Well, I feel like now that I look back on things, I feel like I was at a place where, you know, you can't grow if people around you aren't growing with you. And I got to, you know, I'm on top 10 billboard. You know how hard it is to get a top 10 record solo like that's like. And still to this day, I want to beat it, you know? - Yeah. - On this top time, I want a number one. I want a top five. And it's so hard. And I felt like during those times, I didn't get to maximize off my opportunity. You know, I never went to the Met Gala's. I never, you know, when it came to the award shows, me being a part of the award shows, other than just a red carpet. I really wanted to be in those award shows. Being a fashion girlie, really, you know, it was so much I wanted to do that. I felt like I couldn't maximize on the opportunity because of the things that were going on behind the scenes. And was it just kind of like not having the proper support? 'Cause obviously like people, hopefully people understand like when it comes to like the Met Gala's, there's got to be a designer that wants you. Somebody that wants you at their table. You know, if you want to be X, Y, and Z, you got to have the glam, you got to be the budgets. Like, so what was actually some of those things stopping you? Just not having those political things in place or? - I felt like, yeah, like a bunch of, a mix of everything. You know, I even got to that point where I even learned like, yo, you being nice is gonna take you to the number one. And I even changed, I felt like my attitude and you know, the things that I've learned within and it still didn't get me to where I'm like, yo, I have a top 10 record in the world, I'm global. You can go on the airport. - Yeah. - You know, and the moment you hear your songs on the airplane that you made it. - Yeah. - And I'm on the airplane playlist. I'm in malls. I'm in, you know, forever 21. And I'm just like, oh, something's not making any sense. Why aren't the campaigns getting bigger? How come the brands aren't getting bigger? You know, and as artists, we are just the artists. You know, we got to have people out there pushing and still cold calling like when I was back in sales and picking up that phone like, yo, what's up, what's up? And my mom still sends out emails. - Still, you know? - Like the freaking newsletter. - Yeah. - Kiki Palmer is doing this lately. And it's like, you are me, Sharon. What are you doing? - And a lot of people, I feel like they depended on my organic viralness. - Sure. - And I hate that. - Yeah. - Because I deserve, I don't want to keep making videos in my bathroom. - And then going viral just for you to now want to come. - But because they make the money from that stream and they make the money for being where it is, they don't make all the money when it comes to your touring, when it comes to your merch, when it comes to you getting the campaign with you or. So it ain't only mine. So it's very important what you're saying, because at the end of the day those labels I just want to do what's going to get their money right now. - Right, right. - And then it's up to us to figure out how to maximize our brand. And some of the things you're saying is so interesting to me because I wonder how that affects how your brand has evolved in terms of just like, I hate to use this word, but commerciality. What people are expecting from female rappers. What people are expecting from women. So how, like on that journey, how did you grapple with like, I'm all these vibes, but like, how do I say true to myself, but then also give myself a brand that I feel like I can scale? - I stopped looking and I kind of just, I feel like I was looking everywhere else but within. - Yeah. - And then I had a reality check and I had to realize, I don't know, you would just have these days when you just wake up and you're like, hold on. I don't know if what blood I was smoking that day or what was going on that day, but I was just like, no one's gonna market myself better than me. And I can't dwell on what I don't have. And be mad at what I don't have 'cause that makes me feel very ungrateful because there is so many beautiful blessings that's going on. - Yes. - So it was playing mind tricks. I was talking to myself a lot. I just playing mind tricks for myself. Like, all right, you know, don't be ungrateful because God is blessing you with a lot. Even though you're unhappy and you feel like you deserve more keep pushing. - Yeah. - And, you know, I'm still on that wave and I feel like it's gotten me still this far. I can still say that I'm very much in the top, female artist category and really her. And, you know, I'm a tourist. I'm a competitor like nobody's (beep) and me like and I'm standing on that. - I'm in 2024. I mean, let's talk about the Grammys real quick. Beyoncé sent you flowers. Beyoncé showed you girl I love. - Yes. - I mean, real talk. What were you at when you found out? - I was at home. I had opened up for her with DJ Khaled, which is crazy. - Which is crazy. 'Cause no artist was ever beyond me. - I think I was actually there. I was at that show. - Yeah. - Watching. I saw it. - And I had the blue pixie. - Yes, and you were eating. I lived. Girl, you can wear any hairstyle that I ain't gonna lie. But I do love the pixie. - Yes. The blue pixie was a five, for sure. It was fun. Beyoncé is amazing. Then I seen her and Jay-Z at a Michael Rubens event twice and she came up to me and she was like, oh my god, like, how's Mommyhood? And I was like, it's going so good. Wait, I'm like, how do you know? Oh, you're watching. - You see me? - Honestly, I feel like she really, I remember back then, we used to think that she had like a little key snapchat page. She watching everybody's like, she gotta know what the culture is doing 'cause she gotta know what we need. - And at some point, I'm like, somebody's running, this account is ran by management. No, no, no, you'll be surprised. Beyoncé is out there watching. You don't do that. She's very much in tune. I love you, Beyoncé. - Who has been some of the sisters in hip-hop that have lifted you up and supported you, you know, over the course of your career? - Well, Shadow Cardi B, she was there during my pregnancy. - During the pregnancy? - Yeah, like she helped, she gave me some really amazing advice. - I thought she was honest. She was in a hospital. - No, no, no, no, no, she wasn't in a hospital, but, but she gave me some really, really great advice. Before I had my baby, and after I had my baby, you would share it, or was it like, low-key, super private? - Just more so, like, you do what is best for you and what you want to do. That's exactly what her advice was. Don't let nobody change your mind on that. Do what you wanna do in your heart. - And I kind of, I stuck by that, you know, being pregnant and vulnerable and, you know, first pregnancy, it's a lot of us, woman. - And as a career woman. - And in hip-hop, like I do remember when Cardi B, at the top of her career, decided to have a baby and everybody was like, "She's done, she's done." And even after her most recent, when she had these kids, they're like, "She's dead again, dead." She just keep on moving. And she just popped one down and hopped right back on tour, so though. - You know what I mean? - So I think that's really dope of her, you know. Now back in 2024, you tweeted, if you ask me, it seemed like these labels are behind the female controversy. They see it pushes the records. I mean, I feel like we all kind of think that, you know, even if we're not in the industry, like I think it seems, at a certain point it gives WWE. But at that time for you, when you tweeted it, what was happening behind the scenes for you? - I just feel like you gotta think about it. Like none of us female artists are from the same hoods. schools, grow up together, we don't, you know, I don't even think anybody's messing with anybody's boyfriend's behind the scenes. Because that would do it. That would do it. And maybe they are who knows, but I don't think so. And I feel like, yo, there has to be some reason why these people are turning on each other so much. It just don't make sense. Like, I don't have a hate bone in my body. I'm competitive. But at the end of the competition, I'll still be like, yo, we did this together. Like, I couldn't do it without you at the end of the day. And I feel like everybody wants to feel like that too. I feel like all the girls want to feel like that. But there's so much trusted shoes and BS that goes on behind the scenes that it creates, you know, that wall that we all put up and it makes you might feel like you do have to defend yourself or you might be feeling attacked in some way, not going live. At the end of this next song, I'm about to drop. I'm popping my ****. I'm like, get in the booth. You know, where are you ****? You can't dress? You can't rap. I'm sorry. Like, yeah, I'm popping it. But it's just like, I was ready for that. She said she ain't worried. I'm in the back. She said she not worried. You heard it in the wood. I'm not as ready. So I mean, because my thing is it's interesting too, like whenever girls beef and rap, it's like, oh my gosh, it becomes so critical. But I mean, obviously we've had some crazy beefs, even with male rap. We're **** not nuts. But I think like back in the day, a lot of times too, like, it seemed like more like sparring. I was almost like WWE, almost like how Twitch streamers pretend that they're arguing in order to bring attention to each other projects. Do you feel like that could be used more in female rap if the women actually agreed to? Like, would you be into it? I feel like I'm down to do a little, like, ain't nothing wrong with a, it's like a versus, right? But at the same time, true talent going out, shine everything. I feel like it's more than to our pin and it's more, it's more to being a female artist in your pin and just in your music. And that's where I think the competitiveness comes from because it's like, I could do a song and we could rap battle each other. But then it's like, all right, who gonna do the, who gonna look the best on the red carpets? I feel like or who gonna have that fashion week locked in or who's gonna do the, who's gonna be the best performer and really take it there? I think it's so interesting how you are so brand minded and then I think about what your dad created in culture. You guys are very aligned when it comes to like aesthetic and just like what it means to have a whole overall cultural reflection. Yeah. That's so much. Yeah, that's like, cause I'm like, you don't talk like just like, I'm just an artist. You talk like somebody that sees yourself as a brand. Yeah, for sure. That's, I mean, where did that come from? Does it just what you, how you think? Did you study? Always since a kid, I've always felt like, um, I, I played lacrosse one time. Did I ever think I was gonna play lacrosse? Like imagine being in high school like, yo, let's just go sign up and play lacrosse like, that was me. So I don't know, I feel like I'm a jack of all trades. I can do anything I'm very, but I think that's comes from being phrased by boys too. Yeah. Feeling like you can't do anything. They'll get on the bikes and ride down the hill and then like know how to press their brakes. And then I'm like, okay, yeah, let me get on and I don't know how to press my brakes. And now I'm like, all right, you know, you gotta get in there to figure it out. So I'm, I'm the best at getting my hands dirty and I don't mind unexpected. Yeah. I'm like, I'm a daredevil. I went skydiving before. I've always wanted to go skydiving. And so friend, they grow what's this like tell me like, did you just like, I was suffocating in the air. I was falling out. Okay. I was falling out. And I was like, and then the guy in front of me is like recording me and I'm like, he's like, you're good. I'm like, I'm like, I can't breathe. I can't breathe. They can't breathe. I'm like, help me while we're falling out of the air. And I thought I was going to die. And that was the day I was talking to God and I said, there's no way I'm going out like this. I didn't imagine. And then five seconds later, the parachute opened. Yeah. I was like, I was trying to cry tears and just, I was like, my God, I'll never do it again though. You have to land with your feet like this because the guy lands on his feet. So I thought I was going to die again. I'm like, all right, I didn't die this time, but we still got to get on the floor. Oh my God. And you have to land in the grass and he's like, you land, he's dragging his feet in the moment. You put your feet. You could break your ankles off. Yeah. It's a lot of impact. But that is sick. It was so fun. I need to do that. Yeah, you should. Also congrats on signing with epic records. You told the Hollywood reporter they support me, rather than tell me what to do, that is very difficult to get a label to do. Shout out Zeke. Shout out Sylvia. Zeke. Girl, let me tell you. Back in the day, Zeke was literally my A and R when I was, he was a songwriter, everything when I was a kid. Literally when I had my first record deal with Atlantic Records at 12, Zeke, I just seen him. He also does stuff with style. Shout out to you Zeke. Love you, baby. He's the best. I just saw him and I feel like he's aging backwards. Oh my God. He looks so good. So he's such an amazing man and I would say him being a songwriter and the CEO of the label and knowing so much of this because he's wrote and hits a lot of people don't know that. They don't even know. Icebox, that's him in the back. I don't even know if I'm allowed to say. No, he wrote Icebox. He wrote Icebox. And that's him. I'm so cold. Yeah. So cold. So cold. Yeah, no, I got the best CEO ever. Back in the day, he was a pretty sure a part of the clutch, which was like Harry Wilson was a part of that. Zeke was a part of that. Yeah. There was JQ. There was. Oh my gosh. It was another young woman, Lyskin. I can't think of her name right now, but that was a whole moment. They did so many hits. I even think they did four minutes for a bond. Y'all know nothing about a bond, y'all know nothing about a bond. But that's dope. So you love him working with them and you getting ready to drop this album or the mix tape. Like, what all are we going to expect to 2026 for me? Oh, we're about to come with records and we're gearing up for the album. I'm just not ready to drop the album right now. I just had a baby. I'm ready to get back outside, get in those trenches, get in the clubs. Come on, club. Yeah. The lovers aren't the same anymore, though, girl. Girl, come to my section. Come to my section. You know. I feel like I'll be up in there like this. I'll be up in there ready to, on Top of Cards. On Top of Cards. How did it feel having your baby, not literally having because Ouch, it hurts? I'm like, well, I want to see section. So they like numb you straight down and all I remember was looking at my mom and my mom was like staring at me like, like, I don't know what the hell. She was just staring at me like, like, are you, because she insides were out. Oh my god. And she kept going like this because it's a curry. She kept going, oh my god. I was like, what? And you didn't feel nothing. She's like, you're old and sound like, wait, what, what, I'm like, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die. Girl, it was crazy. And what did you didn't feel? None of it? No, you just feel like a little bit of pressure coming out, but no, your whole body's numb. I was actually claustrophobic because I couldn't move. So once they numbed all this, I was like, and I was eight centimeters dilated until she missed mom was just wasn't coming out, they was like, we got to do a C section. She didn't come out. Oh my god. And I was like, no, I wear low waist pants. I can't. I said, I'll push. I won't get her. I'll do anything. Just get out. And he was like, no, honey, that whole thing was so crazy for me. I will never forget. I was trying so hard to like, you know, do the whole not epidural thing, not that there's anything wrong with it. But I was just trying to be like, I want to see how strong I was. Girl, I was barely dilated. Did you do it? Yes, I got to ever do so fast. I was pressing that thing. I was like, yes. Numb these legs. Numb these legs. I mean, I remember like feeling the pressure of my son, you know, coming out and I just remember to think, please don't let me squeeze my baby until we get a weird heat shake, because you know what it gets stuck on the coming out and I'm like, I was so scared about that. But I just remember seeing my son and immediately being like, I'm so happy to meet you. It's so crazy, because do you feel like they say birth is such the hardest thing to do. But when you do, you kind of look back at it, I don't know what's more hard, the pregnancy or actually giving birth. Well, it depends, because like, the pregnancy for me, I feel like physically it was fine. But when I look back, I think emotionally, I was like so going through so much. But like it was, I was also weirdly happy, but I was also like, you know, also feeling like weird a little bit, you know, not totally supported. So it was like very strange. But then when I had my, my son, I feel like, yeah, I feel like that the birth was maybe more happy. I'm going to say easy, because it's like, it's like hard, it's like, you don't want to say easy, because they say giving birth is the hardest thing. But it's, once it's done, you get like the pregnant, anything for nine months is tough. How about that? You get, you just going at her, I had an ingrown toenail one time, I've never knew that you can even get. I'm like, not as pregnant. People have, but my body became a different color as well. I don't know if that happened to you. Mine is still, like it was just total, I'm like, what does that do to the body? Here, and it has like this little line of going down, yeah, it's like, so what did it mean, you know, like, how did that help the baby? Literally. Anyway, it's a, it's a journey. What would you say, motherhood has so far taught you about yourself that you didn't realize, if anything. Woo. Baby, this is, you keep all my, yeah. Motherhood has taught me patients. I had to sit pregnant for a very long time, well, because it feels like forever. But yeah, you sit for nine months and you have to wait, so wait a game. And then when your baby comes, you know, you want to give her or him the best life that you can everything possible. You know, and just imagine trying to give somebody the best life, like the best. Like you get everything that I did not go through. I want everything. I did not go through to happen. I want you to live better than me. And, um, you know, use it as motivation and I feel like it's changed me a lot. Not only as a mom, as an artist, but as a friend, as a girlfriend, as a daughter. Like my mom, I look at her so different since I had it. That happens real fast. Yeah. When I realize that I'm my mom's baby. Yeah. Because the way that I feel about my leotus, I'm like, mom, you feel like that about me. Girl, I'm so sorry. And I love you down, folks. Because it's so crazy when you feel the love of having your own child. Yes. You realize everything that probably scared your mom. Yeah. Everything that your mom had the courage to do for you. Sacrifices. Sacrifices. And we're lucky because we're so blessed to have, you know, the luxury and the success that we've been was able to provide, you know, for ourselves and our kids, our parents. So can you imagine? And I also feel for so many like mothers out there and single mothers out there. And the ones who are just like shout out to all of y'all. I want to let you know y'all doing an amazing job. For sure. Um, everybody. God's time is always on time. Everybody's testimony and journey is different. Yep. Never compare yourself to other moms. Give yourself grace and be easy on yourself. Please. Because I feel for you, girl. A lot of times that's the main thing we need is just a little compassion and gratitude for yourselves. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you've grown in the public eye from internet backlash to charge success to now motherhood. Yeah. When you look back at your career, what version of yourself are you most proud of protecting? I feel like being an artist and a female artist and a female artist and hip hop, um, your passion can be mistaken as being a bitch or having an attitude or, um, but no, I'm always someone who knows what I want. And I'm not settling for anything less. Obviously, you want to move with kindness. You want to be sweet. You want to have grace. You want to be an impact. But, um, now I'm standing on anything and everything I've ever went through and ever said in this industry. I'm standing on it. It made me who I am. You know, because at one point, I said to say I won't point people try to say, you know, a coil array is a little difficult or coil array is crazy or a coil array might not be the easiest to work really. Yeah, but I learned this. You're only not going to be easy to work with when they don't want you to do what they want you to do. But they don't want you to do what they want you to do. Yes. That's the only time you become difficult. Yeah. And, um, I had to stand strong and believe in myself, no matter what, no matter what, you know, um, and not let that affect me. And the people around, you know, having a goal to having to meet people in real life and in person to be like, hi, like, hello, I'm, I'm coy. Like, and people would be like, oh, my God. I didn't even know you was, I know you was that cool. A lot of people think I'm cocky. I know you was just humble. So yeah, if people it's interesting, cocky, people say that, but it's also like, you seem to affirm yourself. And I think that's really awesome. I'd be heard. Yeah. Like, you shit. Why shouldn't we affirm it? Just because I'm heard on me, you not her. Like, that's what I think the thing is. You gotta know just because I'm saying I'm dope and I ain't saying you not dope, right? You know, um, you care so deeply about mental health, which I think I found out about your camp courage. You started camp courage, you know, Sinan prophet that's dedicated to empowering and uplifting youth in inner cities. Was that something you always wanted to do or did it kind of find its way to you? I feel like as a female artist or a public figure, you have to make this like the brand thing, right? What is your purpose? I can sit here and make music, travel the world, but like, what is the purpose behind all this stuff? And I might not be the best role model, right? I don't want to ever and I don't mind being a role model because I'm a really great person. Yeah. And I'm very smart. So I should be I am a great role model for whoever means a role model out there. Um, but I just know that there's a bigger purpose to everything and all these club nights and all the traveling that we do and all the glam and the glitz and what about the people that aren't that don't get to experience this lifestyle or they don't even get to see it. And coming up with camp courage world, courage to cowardly dog is one of my favorite cartoons. That's a good cartoon. And I that's how I came up with the name because courage was somebody who protected his family no matter what even the grandpa. He was so mean to him and he's still no matter what made sure he protected Maryam and he protected him and and he was scared but was fearless every time every obstacle and every demon that came courage is way he fought it and he did whatever he needed to protect his family. So I feel like we camp courage world, you know, outside of just looking cute and everything us female artists or all artists in general have to come together in a way to give back and share shed light in other ways that people can relate outside of just what we got going on. Yes, I love that. You know what that just made me think about when you was saying that was just like, you remember the song, "Ladies Night?" Yeah. I beat a wine smoking your pepper crackers with like, there was all the girls. You know what I mean coming together. We haven't had something like that in a really long time but I tweeted about that like four years going like, "Damn, there's never going to be another ladies night." I wish so. I feel like you can champion it. I feel like if we do a ladies night with everybody, everybody's going to be like, I'm going to go first, I'm going to go second, I'm going to go third, like, or I want to have, or someone's not long enough here or long enough here. Oh my god. And then that ain't unheard your verse and that ain't what it needed. That ain't what it needed. Girl, you should have showed up from the beginning. You should have just showed up. Baby, getting the boot annoying work. You've, what's helped you? You would you say, personally, protect your piece as you've grown. If there are things that you do, like, are you into, you know, meditation or yoga or just put your family? The gym helps. Okay, yeah. I do like the gym too. I was in the gym like at 108 pounds but I wasn't going to try to get the body. I was going because I needed a hobby. Like, I would wake up and be on my phone and just be on my phone and scroll. I'm like, "No, bro, you gotta wake up and do something." The moment you just are stagnant is when the chaos comes because you sit with your own thoughts and your brain will, like, literally have a mind of its own. So I feel like, you know, going on walks, I like camping, I like fishing, I like hiking. Oh my gosh, yes. Cooking. I love camping and I love fishing. My dad used to take me fishing a lot back in the days. I go, you know, Midwest girl, we be eating sardines. I'm like, sardines out the can with the hot sauce. It's just those memories to me that that's the type of stuff that money cannot buy. What are those things that you can't wait to show me, oh, your daughter? I can't wait to take her around the world. I feel like that's something I have always wanted to do. Still till this day, like, being, I've been around so many places and I didn't even get to experience the place because it was just like work, you know, you come in, you come in for a show and you're ending you're out. But no, I want to take her all around the world. I want her to experience new food, just that tourism experience, you know, I want to, I don't want to just go and go to the, the Ritz Carlton resort and chill on the beach for a little bit. Sure. I'm trying to hit the excursions, jump off the mountains, go to the museums. Yeah. I want her to learn that there's so much out there in this world than, you know, any negative negativity or anything that can cloud her mind because you'll be surprised like, have you been to India? I just went to. You went? No, I went to Indonesia. That's still very far though. Well, I haven't been to India. I'm saying it like I've been, but it's like, bro, that's one of the main places I really want to go. Oh my gosh, yeah, because you want to be on that numb your whole range. I want to just go experience. I want to feel the fabrics. I want to see the sandals. I want to see your hairs. I want to everything. I want to learn about the culture, the traveling, traveling, traveling. It's so awesome. I remember I was talking to, I went to ABFF, like the gala that they do and I was sitting next to Mario Van Peebles and he was like telling me how him and his son went to Costa Rica and lived for a year when he was a little boy. And I was just like, that is so cool. And I was thinking to myself, 69 years old, I could do that. I want to retire on a farm. You don't rip man rock. Oh, rip man rock, the floor is yes. Yeah. His hair is everything. I'm so glistening. I'm jealous. Okay. I love him. I want his whole life. He wakes up in Hawaii with these mountains behind him. He feeds his chicken. He got his avocados. Now when did he move there? He's from there. He's been always there. I think he's always been there but maybe he was out here working. Sure. Sure. He go on his TikTok girl. Girl, I just live for that. There is something about me that wants to be off the grid. Yeah. You know, I still got some stuff that I got to do in the grid. But I would love one day just be like, "We y'all smell like a sea cake." Right. But she has. You know what I'm going to eat? I'm going to eat our farms as next to each other. I'm just like, "I want milk from the cow." Girl, one of my close best friends, she has chickens. She was living in New Orleans and I don't know if she, when she moved, she changed, but she used to give me eggs. And she never ran out of eggs. Never ran out of eggs. As much as expensive eggs were shout out to everybody. I got the old chicken coop. But you know, we got to get into this love because I mean, you're in love, girl. It's like, Honestly, it is not easy to find partnership at any stage in your life, but especially after you have a kid as a single mom, you know, just being busy even, let alone the emotional capacity. How did you find yourself back in a relationship and even be okay with sharing it with us? - Yeah, I am. Okay, so it's so funny because I didn't expect to be in another relationship anytime soon. And I was very focused and locked in, I'm still very focused and very locked in, but I was like, you know, coming from my last situation, I'm like, no, I gotta just, me, my daughter, there's work, nothing else. I am a robot, don't talk to me, don't talk to me. That's how my mind was. I am a robot, don't talk to me, I am a robot. Don't talk to me, I am not a robot. And then I met Justin and we did, I went on his podcast, made me mad flowers. It's so crazy because after the podcast, like I didn't expect what to walk into. I know what he looked like, I know what I just knew that. Okay, I'm coming to release the music. It's time to promote. - Girl, the moment I see him, like we locked eyes so crazy, but what? - Yeah, but, girl, I know, but after that, I was like, no, I am about to let him run his movie on me. Like, I don't trust it, I got my guard up. So I dubbed him for a couple of weeks. Like, but he applied pressure. - He just kept hitting you up. - He kept hitting me up. He's like, y'all, I want to take you out. I want to take you out. He's like, let me take you out. I'm in a city or in Jersey. Like, let me take you out. And I'm like, no, Justin, you're not about to run your movie on me. I don't have the mental capacity to get my feeling down. - And I y'all the same age as the oldest, young age. - He's 34, I'm 20. - So just a little bit older. - A little bit, yeah. - But it's very, it's giving from me angry. - And so what did that first date entail? - This little lamp, that was crazy, she said. - Oh my God, I'm so funny. - That's too funny. What did he say? What was on this date, girl? Because y'all have, I've seen y'all been locked in ever since that we'd sound y'alls together. - Yeah. I just felt, I think I fell for his personality. He's the most funniest person ever. (laughs) - He's such a good vibe. He's such a good time. But also too, like, you know, now that we're together, I've gotten to experience, like it's a way he pours into me. And I think that was the main thing that I fell in love with because I've never been with anyone, ever, that poured into me the way he did. You know, it doesn't feel like a competition. - Yeah. - It doesn't feel like there's ego there. It doesn't feel like, you know, he's, he doesn't care if I'm more successful as an artist. And I don't care if he's more successful, you know what? As an media, but it just seems like we're so. - What do you think made you unafraid to be public again? Because I've never even really been that public. And the little splashes that I've gotten, it's like, I don't want anyone ever to know me, you know? So how do you be like, I'm gonna do an interview and we gonna do a park and like, you know what I mean? What makes you fearless with that? - I always have that organic girl. I'm telling you, like, if I could just play you guys a timeline of everything and you could just see, like behind the scenes, you'll be like, oh wow. Like it just fell into play. Like we just end up, I don't know who posted first. Him or me. I think he posted me first and then I posted him. But it was just like in the moment. And then also too, I'm a tourist, like, yes, my man. - My poor guy. - I mean, show you how it's going on. Like I honestly feel like you shouldn't hide yourself together. I'm standing on that. I think that you should let the world know. You don't have to make it your lifestyle, but I do think that you should let the world know. - Jayla told me that. She was like, if that's your man, that's your man. - That's your man. - What the hell? - Burgos are like, hell no. - I got like, what man? - I'm a man. - We know we're all healing. - I know that we're all healing. - Well, I guess I gotta let you go. But before I let you go, boo, we've got to play a little game. - Okay. (upbeat music) - Female rap is one of the hardest genres to break through, period. So when we talk about legacy, we're really giving flowers to women who kick the door open. So today, I want to see how well you really know female rap across generations. So we're going to go ahead to head and some female rap trivia. - Okay. - This is ladies who rap quiz. Okay, we're going to take turns. So I'll let you go first as the guest. Which female rapper became the first rap artist to win a Grammy for Out of the Year? - Who's my choices? - Lauren Hill, Cardi B, Moni Love, Lil' Kim. I'm going to say Lauren Hill. - That was a good answer because that's a great answer. (laughing) - Yes, that's Lauren Hill. - Okay, who was the first female rapper inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame? A, Queen Latifa, B, Missy Elliott. - Missy Elliott. - Damn, that's true. - That's wow. - Are we on a timer now? - I'm like Missy Elliott. - She knows. - I couldn't wait to answer that one. - Shout, Missy. - Shout out, Missy. (laughing) - Shout out. - You all turn it in, baby. - It's my egg, egg, exactly. It's my, now, I can't say. Oh my gosh, I love you, Missy. - Yes. - Your turn. - Okay. - Who was the first female rapper or rapper in general to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show? - Oh. - Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, or Queen Latifa? - This is tough. - It is tough. - It is tough. - Queen Latifa, Mary J. Blige, Nicki Minaj, or who? - Missy Elliott. - Missy Elliott. - The first. - The first female rapper to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. - Just think about who you haven't seen on there. - 'Cause I feel like we ain't seen Nicki. - No. - We definitely ain't, I mean Mary J. Blige isn't a rapper. We've never seen Queen Latifa, have we seen Queen Latifa? - I feel like it wasn't a, uh oh, uh oh. - We've seen her. - You and I, T-Y, it was Queen. - Aaaaah! (laughing) - Yes! Come on, Queen Latifa. - That's crazy. - Queen Latifa is everything to me. She was like, I was that little kid that was like, who do you look up to, Queen Latifa? - My favorite, Queen Latifa moment, I'm sorry, is. ♪ Day after day ♪ ♪ Day after day ♪ - She'd be like. - I hate that they shot her. - You cry? - I cry too. - I can't even watch that movie. - Like they're ending to see when Jada Pink and they playin' ♪ And I missin' y'all ♪ - That, I cry, get on my nerves. Okay, um, which female rapper had her own self-titled sitcom in the early 2000s? Foxy Brown, Lisa Lefty Lopez, Eve or Remy? - Eve. - It was Eve, right? - It was Eve, Eve, yeah. - Cause Eve had a show. - She did and it was really good. I used to love Eve's show. But it was weird because our name was like something else on the show. - Yeah, it was like Eve. - The show was like, the Eve show, but then she was Shelley in it. I'm like, who's a director? Who wrote that script? I need to see, I need an answer. - Like what? - All right. Which female rapper was the first woman to win Best of Rap Song at the Grammys? Mag the stallion, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice or Doja Cat? - Well, I know it ain't Nicki cause she's mad. So, it ain't her. - It isn't? - No. - It ain't her. It had to be. So name the other people again. - Ice Spice, Doja Cat, Mag the stallion. I'm gonna say Mag the stallion? - Yeah. - It was Meg. - She won a Grammy. - I'm a Sash. - Classy. - Boogie. - Ratchet. - That was during COVID, too. - Right? - She had the. - That was hard for us all. - Sure was. - Okay, this is gonna be hard. So I'm gonna make the last one a little bit. Which 90s female rapper was part of the juice crew and known for rap battle? Or a battle rap? We had MC Light, Lil Kim, Roxanne Shantay, Missy Elliott. - It's gonna be between Roxanne and MC Light. I'm gonna go with Roxanne. And you would be correct. - Oh, let's go! - My mom is a big Roxanne fan. - Roxanne, Roxanne. - Yeah, my mom loves that. - Roxanne, Roxanne. - I'm so happy for everything. - Okay, I love that conversation. You don't always get to see every layer of an artist in one sitting, from the grind, to the growth, to stepping into motherhood and a whole new era. She is only get. And that's powerful. Make sure y'all stream the new music and tap into everything she's building because something tells me this next chapter is about to be made here. I'll see you next time. On Baby, this is Kiki Palmer. ♪ Baby, this is Kiki ♪ ♪ Baby, this is Kiki Palmer ♪ Yeah!