 Phonte | Memphis Bleek  |
I think when I first did ["Nann Nigga"], I was thinking, 'Oh, my goodness, everybody is going to be thinking that I’m off the hook!'
Any woman with enough balls to proclaim herself the “Baddest Bitch” doesn’t ask for respect. She demands it. Of course, just one glance at Katrina Taylor’s provocative album cover for her classic 2000 debut, Da Baddest Bitch (Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic), makes it clear that the bold Miami rapper has eschewed the traditional feminist model. There she is, gloriously thick and dressed in a form-fitting nurse’s outfit, straddling a bruised and bloody man who looked like he’s either taken the beating of his life or become the lucky victim of a bedroom bully.
Either way, Trina’s sassy and at times shocking rhymes made critics and rap fans take notice. Over the years, the woman who was first introduced to rap fans on Trick Daddy’s 1998 hit “Nann Nigga” has proven her longevity well beyond her sexy image. She released three more albums (2002’s Diamond Princess, 2005’s Glamorest Life, and 2008’s Still da Baddest) while paving the way for a bold new generation of female MCs. Now Trina, 30, who frequently makes tabloid headlines for her relationship with Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin (those are her lips tattooed on the man’s neck) is set to drop a new album Amazing (Slip-N-Slide) this September. And yeah, she’s still bad.
VIBE: The buzz for your upcoming album Amazing has been bubbling since your appearance on Rick Ross’s “Face.” How much fun did you have recording such an over-the-top, raunchy song?
Trina: It was cool. I love collaborations; the whole female vs. the guys thing. It’s really a great record to perform, too. Rick and I are more like family no matter what labels we are on. It’s always that same love. I’m looking forward to him being on my album.
Talk about some of the other collaborations and producers featured on Amazing.
There’s a record featuring me and Ludacris (“B R Right”) that was leaked to the Internet, which will be featured on the album. I worked with a lot of different producers like Red Spyder, J-Roc, Scott Storch, and CP Hollywood. I just got a crazy record from J-Roc. He did the “Look Back At Me” record and that was a crazy song in the club.
Now let’s go back to your 1998 debut on Trick Daddy’s “Nann Nigga.” You were saying some pretty wild things on that track like, “quick to deep throat the dick.” Do you laugh at how young you sound on that cut?
[Laughs] I was the most nervous person in the world. I was more nervous performing it than recording it. It was a crazy song! I’d known Trick for a while and he was always a fun guy, and me and my friend were just hanging out. So Trick was like, “Come on, I want y’all to hear something.” While in the studio I was talking on the phone, and I was mad about something, just going crazy. And Trick was like, “I want you to get on this record and talk just like you were doing over the phone.” I just thought it was a joke. I was like, “Yeah, Trick, whatever. You are crazy.”
Obviously the man wasn’t joking.
When I heard it, I knew it was going to be crazy. It was Trick and his boys and I didn’t want nobody in the studio while I was recording [laughs]. Later a lady calls me and says, “Slip-N-Slide wants to sign you.” Then Trick told me about an album release party they were having the following day. So I’m there and he gets onstage and performs the record and calls me on the stage! He put me on the spot. I promise you, I performed the whole song with my eyes closed. That’s how nervous I was. But [“Nan Nigga”] had become one of those records that was all over the place. The streets were bumping it, the club was bumping it, the girls were bumping it. So when I stepped on the stage, I didn’t even have to recite the verses. The girls were saying it word-for-word. Trick was just grinning and laughing.
Did you have any reservations about rhyming some of those X-rated verses?
I think when I first did it, I was thinking, “Oh, my goodness, everybody is going to be thinking that I’m off the hook!” I was fighting with myself early on. I was just thinking what was my mama going to say? [Laughs] But the funny thing about it is [“Nann Nigga”] is so street and reality-based. It was a significant record for the times. I was talking crazy in that song, but it was really about how females were no longer taking mess from the guys.
“Nann Nigga” also established the “Baddest Bitch” character that would become a huge part of your image.
Exactly. I promise you we were in the studio and Trick was like, “Your album is called Da Baddest Bitch.” And that album was like yikes! It became a brand. As I’ve toured all over the world, every girl in every city would say they were the baddest chick. I’m talking about all the way to Japan, Germany, and everywhere I have performed. It became a big thing.
Are you disappointed that you are one of the lone female MCs still doing it today?
It gets me because I know there are so many talented female MCs out there. There’s Lil’ Kim, Missy, Eve, and all these beautiful women. They have all made great albums in the past. I just wish we had the same type of relationship as the guys. I think as women we are little more emotional; we have egos. That’s what’s making female rap smaller and smaller. After so long you just get tired of wishing about stuff. One of my favorite records of all time is Lil’ Kim’s “Ladies’ Night.” Mostly every female that was in the game was in that video. I think that’s what we are missing. That unity. But the great thing is there are other girls coming up like Nicki Minaj. We have to show that women are relevant in hip hop. We have a voice. We do have things to say. But more importantly women need other women to make them feel strong. I come from a family of all women, so that’s the strength that I get.
During this past NBA season, your relationship with Kenyon Martin became tabloid news. Are you surprised that people are so interested in your personal lives?
It’s comfortable territory for me. As an artist, there is no privacy as far as going out into the public. Whether you are a ball player a rapper or an actor, your business becomes everybody else’s business. They want to know. They need to know. I just try not to say too much. I’m happy living my life. I’m in a great relationship with Kenyon and I’m in a great place. I’m making some great business decisions. I have artists coming out this year. I’m doing television. I’m moving ahead.
Talk about the artists you have under your wing.
I have a group by the name of Pretty Money. It’s three girls—two girls rap and one is a singer. They are three beautiful girls that are going to smash the game. I’m trying to mold them and show them the way. When I sit back and I’m at their rehearsals and I’m looking at them, I see so much of me in them from when I first started out. Their feistiness and their whole aggressiveness is all me. It’s amazing because it was all guys around me when I came into the game. I was the princess of the crew. Now it’s a beautiful thing to be able to share my experiences and be in the position to put out artists and keep it moving. I’m [also] working on a television show that will be out late this summer. I’m so excited. I have so many tricks up my sleeve.
With so much going on, a lot of people would look at you at this point in your career and ask what motivates you to continue to pick up the mic?
I think it’s the fans. That’s the motivation for me. They show me so much love. They keep me humble everywhere I go. It’s amazing to still be able to sell out shows and perform in some of the biggest events. Whether it’s 300 or 20,000 people screaming your name, it’s great having that support. It makes me work harder. It makes me want to continue to do it. There are times where I’m so tired of the business. But when I pull up to a venue and its just crazy outside, I’m like, Wow. All these people came to see me?
Press play to watch Trina's video for "Single Again"
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