Doin It Robbi Style
by Hilary RAWK
www.myspace.com/rawkmagazine
(Photo by Goyk Photography)
Robbi has been freestyle rapping since she was 8 years old and performing since she was 10.
With her tiny frame and just five-feet, two-inches, Indian rapper Robbi looks like a china doll. But don’t let her appearance fool you, this girl is tough as nails.
We hung out at my loft last weekend and talked about music, being a woman in the rap industry, and Indian culture. At one point, I walked over to my refrigerator, grabbed a handful of words from our poetry magnet set, threw them down on my kitchen counter, and Robbi free-styled fast and fresh and flawless.
So you said you started rapping when you were 8. . . how did that happen?
I actually did it when it wasn’t popular. People made fun of me cuz I was from the suburbs, and the only hip hop they knew about was MC Hammer, you know?
And I wasn’t trying to be cool or anything. It was mostly like self-defense. I was the only brownie in school, and people made fun of me like, “I saw your dad at the gas station.” (laughter) And I would respond with a rhyme, and people were like, “Oh, that’s cool!”
What’s your first musical memory?
Probably Dr Seuss. I think my dad or my brother, when they read it, they created a rhythmic pattern.
Tell me about your first performance.
You’re never, ever gonna believe where it was. It was in a mosque, Hilary. I was religious, so I wore the hijab (a traditional Islamic scarf). I’m rapping in my hijab in the mosque with the Moulana—the Moulana would be analogous to a priest—standing in the back of the room. But it was Islamic rap, so that was okay. You know, “Don’t do this, or you’ll go to hell.” Anyway, he was behind me and he was cracking up—he thought it was hilarious! So that was my first concert. I was like 15. But, see, that was seen as ‘cute,’ it wasn’t taken seriously. So as time progressed, the wondered why I kept doing shows. And people still think it’s a phase now. In our community, it’s seen as kind of a joke. Like ‘I’m a musician’ haha, okay. In the Asian community, music isn’t seen as a career, it’s seen as entertainment—it’s not traditional.
What about Bangra?
Bangra is a production, though. The production of it is great. It’s okay to be behind the scenes, but if you’re in front—especially with Indian women who are supposed to be quiet and stay at home—it’s just, it’s not traditional.
How does your family feel about your choice to be a musician?
At first they didn’t like it, but now they’re like, “She’s 25, what can we really do?” Plus they like it more if it’s popular. For example, when I was in college, they were like, “I don’t really know why you’re doing all of these shows.” So I told them, “Come to my next show. I’m getting paid, it’s gonna be a nice event at Northwestern Auditorium.” And they came! I got a standing ovation, everyone loved it. And they were like, “Oh, we’re so proud of you!” But it’s not something I’m going to try to make pretty for them. Because it’s not pretty.
Is there anything you absolutely won’t do?
I refuse to work with gangster rappers. One of Kanye West’s relatives who is really popular wanted to work with me, and I told him no. He was a gangster. He wanted me to be the ‘bitch’ of the crew. And I was like, “Why would you even approach me? I don’t understand.” I don’t do rap, I do more hip hop. I also sound different, too, I sound more alternative.
So where do you get your beats?
Right now I have a trance producer. It’s really good music. The music that he makes is so amazing—kinda like Moby or Robert Miles—but it’s so intricate and it’s so intelligent and it’s so beautiful that he makes hip hop look easy. He remixed “Leech” into an electro-dance song. It’s on my myspace page right now.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Industrial. EBM System Machine Gun I like them a lot. I like NIN’s sound, I don’t like their lyrics at all. Esthero, Shiny Toy Gun, Muse, Tori Amos, Cause And Effect . . .
How do you feel about music sharing?
I can’t really care about it too much. I feel like if people like me, they’ll pay me. Because, after my last show, I’m really confident. It went so good, and I had an encoure, and it was packed, and my CD sold out to the extent that I only had singles, and I only had singles with three songs on it, and I was selling those for $2 cuz I felt bad cuz they were ghetto, and people were buying it. So people will buy it if they like you. And I don’t really care that much about CDs right now because CDs are becoming extinct.
How did you get your last CD pressed?
Ghetto. (laughter) I cut the paper, I got some pictures from my friends, and I put the text in on Microsoft Word, and I went to Staples, and it was a lot of hard work but I need to get someone to do it right now for the CD I’m working on.
So what’s it like to be a woman in the rap industry?
It sucks! I hate it. I don’t want to be a rapper any more because of that. That’s why I have a different sound. I don’t want to be straight-up hip hop and be a woman. I just don’t like the association with it. It’s degrading, and I love it when people are like, “You’re good—for a female.” And I’m like, “I’m good for a human.” Actually, this is a good story. . . One time, a few years ago, the radio host of WGCI was there, and he asked anyone in the audience wanted to rap. So I went up there, and the guy was like, “Take off your shirt!” So I take the mic and start rapping, “Just because I’m female, does it have to be sexual? / Cut off your testicle, shove it down your throat like a vegetable / You wanna battle me? / Alright, I’ll check my schedule.” And he was like, “Okay, girl, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” (laughter) It was hilarious. I had to put him in his place.
What inspires you to keep writing?
I’m an egomaniac. (laughter) No, it was motivating mostly because of my race. Because I wanted to do something for South-Asians cuz they are so brainwashed. Well, not just South-Asians, but traditional people in that manner. So that mentality inspired me to get out there, and I know people like music. I know people listen to music when they’re pissed off. People listen to music as medicine. That’s how I am. I listen to music to put me into a better mood. I use it like a drug. It’s kind of like drugs. So, I’m making drugs. (laughter) I want to be a drug dealer.
Are you into anything besides music?
Well, I was out of a job for a while, and my friend told me to look online. So I looked on craigslist, and I saw an ad that said they needed an Indian woman for this movie. And I was like, cool. So I told them I had no acting experience, and I sent m my pictures, and they called me and asked if I was interested in coming to India, and I was like yeah, sure. I was actually going to India anyways, so they emailed me back a 5-page script based on my pictures. It was for a supporting role in an Owen Wilson film called the Darjling Limited. It’s about three guys and their spiritual journey through India, and I was the whore. (laughter) I did the Indian accent, and I did the American accent in my audition. I’m pretty sure I didn’t get it, but now they have my face on file.
How do you feel about selling out?
Actually, a couple of years ago I was shopping my work in Hollywood, and I went there, and I was talking to this entertainment company. The guy I met with wanted me to be associated with Disney, and he said I had a really good future ahead of me, but he was trying to fix my image. He was like, “We need to get you into some heels. We need to get you into some tight pants.”
I couldn’t do it. I started yelling at him. Looking back, I don’t know what I was on, but I just couldn’t do it. And it’s funny because, before that happened, I was like, “I’ll probably sell out.” All this money, it’s so tempting, but I can’t live through that. And I’ve had radio stations ask me to tone down my lyrics and sex it up a little bit.
But then I look at Lady Sovereign, and you can’t even tell what gender she is. So, you don’t have to be like that. And that’s why I didn’t go the Disney route. Because if I did that, I would have to get sexed out later. My music would not be good. It would be really poppy, and I would be so unhappy with myself. I couldn’t lead a life like that. I have to be true to myself.
What’s your plan for the future?
I’m looking to get signed right now. But I want to sell 10,000 copies of my album before I get signed. I have one dance track called “Get Ready” I’m trying to get into the clubs. Also, I’m working on getting airplay for my track “Suffocate,” so please make sure to request it on Fearless Radio and on all the radio stations.
BAND MEMBERS
Robbi
WEBSITE/ CONTACT INFO
http://www.myspace.com/robbi
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