There are a lot of great things that come from the Planet Brooklyn; Michael Jordan, Notorious B.I.G., Spike Lee, Jay-Z and possibly… Niatia Kirkland. The 17 year-old rhyme maven appropriately billed as Lil’ Mama is coming for the throne. Far from a kiddie-MC, the former Edward R. Murrow High School student recently inked a deal with Jive Records. Her single, “Lip Gloss” is rising up the charts.

With a video and spins translating into buzz across the country, Ms. Kirkland is set to be propelled into the stratosphere with some of her elite peers. The catchy, kid-friendly song showcases the young starlet’s talents: rapping, singing and dancing. Graciously, she sits down with HHDX as she talks about her influences growing up, how life has changed for her and her plans for the future.

HHDX: So, what makes your lip gloss so… poppin’…?
LM: [Laughs] Because I’m wearing it! But, no… really, it’s just basically very pretty. All the ladies wear it. It’s glamorous. Mines is very sparkly… very pretty. I think mines just outshines the ordinary types.

HHDX: Your song runs tough in New York and the video is getting burn nationwide. What has changed in your life since people are now becoming familiar with you?
LM: Well, the one thing that I have become aware of is that people are starting to notice me more. I was walking down the street one time and there were people who were just screaming out my name… just to see if it was me. It kind of had me shocked. They’d be in shock, too. I am also traveling more and more. I’m performing in more places. One of my best performances was in New York. It was before I really got on and was noticed. It wasn’t even a rap show. It was a dance competition and those were the times where I had more fun. I really do have more fun dancing, performing my songs fully, by entertaining, not just rapping.

HHDX: Being that you’re 16 and came up in an era where there weren’t really any female MC’s poppin’ off – who were your rhyming influences growing up?
LM: Well, I’m 17 now and growing up I would look up to MC’s like Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot, MC Lyte, of course, Eve and Jay-Z just to name a few.

HHDX: A lot of older rap fans say that the young ones don’t know about hip-hop/rap music before ‘Pac. What are your thoughts about that?
LM: Personally, I’ll let them just believe whatever it is that they choose to believe and I’ll just continue to prove all my doubters wrong.

HHDX: People see a lot of potential in you. I just caught your freestyle over Hov’s “Show Me What You Got” and you are impressive with your flows. How do you manage to still stay yourself and enjoy your childhood while being in the spotlight?
LM: Whenever I am at home, I’ll be around my friends. They’re the same ones that I’ve had forever and I love them. I have had people tell me that I can’t do some of the things that I’m used to doing because of what I’m doing now. But I’m still going to do it anyway [laughs]. I really love to dance. I haven’t been dancing in awhile. I was in a dance group and we’d have practices and I miss that. Other than that, I’d go to Empire Skating Rink, but they’re closing that down, so I don’t know where all the kids’ll go now.

HHDX: You’ve been honing your skills for the past five years – what has been one important thing that you’ve learned about being in the business?
LM: Well, the most important thing for me that I’ve learned is to be constantly consistent and always, always stay humble.

HHDX: As you get older, do you see your content changing, as well?
LM: Really, I don’t know what I am going to do, yet. I’m still young, you know? I’m going to stick with what I’m talking about now because that’s relevant to me now.

HHDX: Where do you see your career branching out into as time goes on?
LM: I really want to get into acting… that would be my next move. I also want to take my career to the next level. I want to create a ballad and venture out into other businesses. I don’t want to place myself in a box by just being an “artist” or a “rapper.” I want to have no limits on my career.

HHDX: How do people like your classmates see you now that you’re on TV and on the radio?
LM: Well, the school I used to go to was cool. The people there are excited and proud of me. There were quite a few who thought that it would never happen, but are shocked that it did. People would say, “We always would see you dancing, singing or rapping up and down the hallways!” It feels good, right now, everything is lovely.

HHDX: With record sales going down and people downloading more than ever – if your solo debut falls short of your expectations – what’s the next move for you?
LM: I really don’t think like that, so I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m going to continue to keep God first and let him decide things. My next performance is doing something for Radio One in Miami, Florida. I’m also going to be down there to finish recording my album. We’re going to start pushing the next single soon, too. It’s going to be "Make It Hot."

HHDX: As a rising star in the game – what is some advice that you can pass on to others trying to make it into the business?
LM: All I can say to anyone is that you need to always stay focused and stay humble. I believe that by always working on your craft and not let anyone tell you that you can’t do it will also help. A lot of people will try to blindfold you so you can’t see your dreams, but it’s up to you to stay focused on what you want.