24: Hip-Hop's Hot New FeMC

In this corner, hailing from Montreal, Canada, of Jamaican and Greek descent and backed by her Just Blaze-produced single "Skully," is 24 (pronounced two-four). And in this corner, we've got, standing five-foot tall, Porno Kimmy. Ding! "I don't agree with what she's doing," 24 explains. "I think she's not repping our race or us as females. I think she's not saying a lot to young black girls coming up. I think it's really sad, especially high school kids that are finding role models in music. For young girls to come up and think they need to change their nose or stuff their bra, that's not right. Girls need to start being proud of who they are no matter how they come. I don't think she's a good representation and I don't appreciate it at all. Everyone says she's a real nice but" Things don't look good for Kimmy right now. 24's been obsessed with boxing since she was five. "I had an uncle who always had the gloves on. He got shot in the head seven years ago. I want to do this and it's also for his memory. Boxing is like rhyming. It's a rush." 24's been hithardand been down, but not out.

Not to mention her label is Madd Records. But this is no madd rapper. "I'm the label's golden goose," boasts 24. "I have a lot of backing financially. My DJ plays a big part in the label, which helps me keep creative control. There's no pressure to take my clothes off. I never felt the pressure of being a female MC. I never looked at it like that. I see myself as an MC. I come as I am and the label's alright with that. I wouldn't have signed to anyone who would have made me do that. I'd rather not do it. I have too many strong-rooted home values. I'd rather be in a cardboard box."

After spending time in the studio recording with Mr. Sinista of the X-ecutioners, 24's demo got passed around Loud right before it shut down, and offers started coming. "I went with who I thought was going to represent me and not get in the way of who I am as an MC, woman, person," 24 asserts. "My album was supposed to come out in October 2002. But the label decided, 'OK, you've impressed us. We want to take this to another level. We're pushing the budget up to an R&B budget. What do you want to do?' I wanted Just Blaze. Then our video director was a friend of Swizz's and Swizz heard my sampler and wanted to work with me. He made a beat, put his wife Mashonda on it. Cool and Dre came into the project because A&R brought them in when they were still up 'n coming. I've had the chance to meet really good people. I'm lucky."

Calling Montreal home may be 24's gift and curse. There's not much of an industry, everyone goes to Toronto to make it. But it gave her the chance to develop as an MC. "Either I was going where hip-hop started [New York] and make it or I was going to law school and settle down. I already had my BA in Psychology. I had my university degree. I started a marketing company. I have a head on my shoulders. I'm good. But this was my dream. If I'm going to make my dream come true, I'm gonna go 200%. I'm going to NY and make it happen. And if it doesn't, I don't want to do it." That confidence, that extremism, that cocky swagger is part of 24's appeal. "People appreciate my realness. I don't mind telling it how it is. That's what I love about Redman. He doesnt care if he doesn't sell 2 million copies because of that. I appreciate that as a person, a fan, an MC. I've always been taught not to be scared to say what I think. That's what I do. And that's what Quotable's about." So what female is 24 feeling? "I like Rah Digga. Eve's got serious talent and I appreciate the fact that she writes her own stuff. I think Foxy can spit. I don't agree with her taking her clothes off, but again, that's the pressure of the industry. You don't always get the backing of good people."

Since a person can almost count the number of feMCs on one hand these days, it would seem 24 would have a lot to complain about. Not so. "I think it's easier as a female," posits the thug princess. "Not easier in terns of making it or selling Platinum records, but easier to get noticed, easier to get people to first hear you. At that point, it's my job to keep you there. I don't think enough females can do that. They can get the attention but then it's like, 'I've heard this before.' I don't think I sound like anybody. I'm hoping people take me for what I am and appreciate what I got to say and what I'm trying to do for girls and women coming up."

Hopefully, it's 24's time. "Call me a female who feather plucks chickens. I don't think Ashanti is the princess of hip-hop. I am. I'm ready to change the industry to back to what it was or what it's supposed to be. Where no one feels pressure of what they're supposed to do because somebody told them to and everybody could be themselves. I'm looking forward to that."