Today Vibe.com guest editors, Dawn and Kalenna of Diddy's Dirty Money, aren't only criss-crossing the globe and wearing the hottest clothes out, they are respected singer/songwriters that were asked by Diddy, himself, to join his group. Sure, you make know Dawn from her Making The Band days but a lot has transpired since then. As for Kalenna, she may be a new face to you but she's earned her strips writing with the likes of Rodney Jerkins and more.
How do you approach songwriting?
Kalenna: I talk to people. Being around different experiences. It enables me to talk about things that I may not know. Being part of [Dirty Money] and Last Train to Paris, this is Diddy’s vision. For this project it’s about being an actor or actress. We just step into his shoes
Dawn: For me it’s about therapy. I’m a little bit more introverted but its like being a journalist it’s the things that I wouldn’t normally say and do. People are going through the same thing I’m going through. We are on one accord. Dirty Money is the epitome of that. Different people coming from different points of view. That’s why I’m so proud to be apart of this. We can be in 3 different areas and do the same thing.
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"You are signing up to do what you love and taking the crap that comes with it. Now I have a better grasp on things." - Dawn
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Diddy has been doing this for a while and has come to terms with being in front of the public eye. What are the precautions you’ve taken when handling the new attention and fame?
Kaleena: The crazy thing for me I have yet to understand what’s really going on I’m so caught up in my craft; I have these blinders on that I forget who I am. I forget that I’m Kalenna in Dirty Money. Puff has had a lot of his personal biz out there but there are still some things that he holds dear. There is a fine line but there is a balance that we keep. Certain things that are kept behind closed doors. Puff is isn’t always Diddy. Sometimes he’s Sean. It’s a fine line and a learning lesson. This whole process has been a sped up version of college.
Dawn: The great thing about this process … it shows you the person I am. I went on the show cause I love to sing and I wanted to make it. The show was a price I had to pay to do it. I didn’t want to fall in love and do all those things publicly. I wanted to sing I just happened to have those things happen. I didn’t want people to know about how Katrina affected my family. You are signing up to do what you love and taking the crap that comes with it. Now I have a better grasp on things. Now I have to protect it cause I saw what it was like to have it plastered everywhere. You have to fight for who you truly are.
Dawn, since you brought up Making the Band, what is your relationship like with your former Danity Kane members?
Dawn: I love those girls. I loved the whole process. The lying, the fighting, the cussing…everything made me better
Kalenna: I didn’t follow the show at all. Coming from being a writer it was a whole different world of expression. Now, I had Dawn here to hold my hand. She taught me so much from her experience that I don’t have to deal with. When people bring up MTB, I don’t say anything about it because I wasn’t there but watching and hearing her talk about that time, Im learning that everything happens for a reason. You learn so you can get better.
Making the Band definitely was a cultural phenomenon that is still in people’s mind. Dawn are you able to watch yourself?
