The Return of Gangsta Boo: Femcee Talks Music Scene, Working with GloRilla, Latto & More

The music helped Gangsta Boo develop into a scorching subject but once more on social media, and Billboard caught up together with her to debate how she acquired on “FTCU,” her return to the music scene, taking part within the Verzuz battle with Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Lord Infamous’ influence on her, feminine rap and extra.

Let’s begin with the current day. How did you find yourself collaborating with Latto and GloRilla?

Well, Latto has been displaying me help for some time. I at all times see her mentioning my title once they ask her who had been a few of her inspirations, and when she talked about her dad, she informed me that her dad used to help a whole lot of feminine rappers and I used to be one in every of them.

So, that’s form of the way it happened. We simply began following one another on the Internet and supporting one another and s—. And yeah, she hit me up final minute. She was like, “Man, I smoked a blunt and had a genius idea.”

She’s like, “The song already done, we already did the video and s— but I want you to be on the outro, the intro or some sort of adlibs.” I used to be like, “Of course, Latto. I got you, man.” It was easy similar to that. Of course, I’d’ve wished to spit and kill on that mom — however simply anytime I can contribute and help any feminine rapper that I like, that like me again, I’m at all times down for it.

What are your ideas on GloRilla Grammy nod seeing that she’s from the identical stomping grounds?

She just about got here out the gate form of working. They use the quote rather a lot. They say, “Gangsta Boo walked so a lot of people can run.” If this can be a second to say that exact quote, I’d f— say it as a result of that b—- took off full pace. And she is fairly gifted. I like the best way she places her bars and s—. She’s bumping. I’ve been watching GloRilla and listening to her for a few years now.

There’s a lot occurring these days, I need to know, do you assume feminine rappers can coexist with one another?

You know what I believe? Okay, for instance. I like what Latto is doing. I believed that was dope how she is bridging the hole. She was like, “You know what? The song is already done but f— that. I still won’t Gangsta Boo on this motherf–er.” So, it’s like not solely do I’ve followers, she does too.

Some of her followers in all probability don’t hearken to me or know who I’m and vice versa. I believe bridging the hole is just about all we acquired to do, and there’s a lot of feminine unity that helps one another and stuff. Everybody doesn’t must sing “Kumbaya” on the dinner desk. But so long as you simply present respect and preserve supporting one another, whether or not it’s from afar or up shut, I believe it’ll be cool. It’s solely a handful that acts petty and s—.

Like when Nas and 21 Savage acquired collectively to do “One Mic, One Gun,” that was sensible to me as a result of it’s like, it’s okay to work with motherf—er that got here out earlier than you that also doing their s— and that’s nonetheless popping and that that’s not on the washed up trying s—.

I believe that proper there, that’s the place we have to normalize it and never make it so awkward. But so far as feminine hip-hop and rap, I believe it’s in a very good area. I wish to see extra MCs have several types of context, and subject material to speak about aside from the attractive stuff, which I really like. Because I discuss my attractive s— too. But I positively would like to see extra.

What different femcees would you prefer to work with?

I f– with Missy Elliot. I f– with Cardi. Rapsody, I vibe together with her. But I’d say out of all of them, Missy can be numero uno. If I had the chance to be within the studio together with her and to see how she creates and to vibe off her vitality and have her vibe off mine, I believe it’d be dope. Because she was one in every of my influences, utilizing my voice as an instrument.

Sometimes if I don’t use a DJ to scratch, I’ll simply make up a sound scratching. And I acquired that from Missy and Timbaland and s—. So, I’d simply like to see the place she would take me. I’d let her produce some s— for me.

Since we had been on the subject, the place do you see the brand new sound of Memphis headed and the place would you prefer it to be?

Man, I really like the place it’s. I believe the Memphis sound simply must continue to grow and we simply preserve it as Memphis as doable. I don’t need no person popping out of my metropolis that seems like they’re from New York or that sound like they’re from L.A. or it seems like they’re from Washington or sound like they’re from Houston.

I need Memphis to remain Memphis as f—. We acquired a slogan that claims “Memphis as f—,” and I simply assume that Memphis ought to say Memphis as f— as a result of Memphis is the house of a whole lot of nice musicians from Al Green to 8 Ball & MJG. I believe so long as we preserve Memphis the best way it’s, I really feel like s—, it’s solely room for development and alternatives.

Because proper now, we by no means took off like Houston did or like Atlanta did or like L.A. did and even like New York and even in Miami as a result of we’re this small place. But out of that small place comes some huge motherf—ing sound, some huge noise, and a few huge music. That’s why we name it Big Memphis.

You know Atlanta acquired crunk and entice, and Texas is thought for the chopped and screwed-sound. What is Memphis’ distinctive place in hip-hop?

Memphis is the originator of crunk. That’s apparent. Shout out to my boy Lil Jon, that’s my brother. But he is aware of that as nicely. Memphis is the originator of crunk. So, Memphis sound is crunk, get buck. The Memphis sound is 8 Ball & MJG. The Memphis sound is Young Dolph. Memphis sound is Three 6 Mafia. It’s laid again, it’s participant, it’s rowdy, it’s pimpish, it’s easy, it’s jazz, it’s rhythm, it’s blues. Memphis is the house of the blues. And it comes throughout in our music too with the darkish baseline, with the heavy baselines, the excessive hats. Keeping this s— Memphis.

“Cheefa Da Reefa” was the primary solo music you recorded with Three 6 Mafia. But, what was the defining second for you that mentioned, “I made it?”

Well, proper now, simply nonetheless getting my recognition and my newfound accolades and when different girls come out, it’s at all times like, “Wow, this person sound like Gangsta Boo,” or, “Why is Boo’s name not mentioned enough?”

But on the similar time, I nonetheless have a lot work to do. I haven’t had that but aside from that like, “Damn, I’m dope as f–. People are still talking about me.”

And I haven’t even dropped a whole lot of music and back-to-back or a whole lot of content material. But individuals nonetheless, the followers, once I search my title on Twitter, each time any individual comes out, I at all times see them in comparison with me. And that’s a type of, in my thoughts like, “Damn, b–. You that b–, like the blueprint, so you did make it.” But on the similar time, I nonetheless really feel prefer it’s a lot alternative for me. I’m enthusiastic about that, to be trustworthy.

You coined the adlib, “Yeah Hoe.” Legendary. How would you describe your legacy or influence on feminine rap and hip-hop on the whole?

I’d truthfully say that I’ve to confess, respectfully and humbly, that I’m the blueprint. I hear my cadence in a whole lot of males and feminine rappers. It’s arduous to f– deceive myself and says, “Oh wow, she’s from New York but she raps like she’s from Memphis. Oh wow, this person is from f– wherever, but they rap like they are from Memphis.” Because I’m not speaking about anyone particularly, however my sound is a Memphis sound. It’s a Gangsta Boo sound, it’s a Three 6 Mafia sound. So, I’m the blueprint and I put on that badge proudly as f–.

I used to run away from it. I used to didn’t need to even give myself flowers as a result of I’ve been so low-key and humble, however I’m on some f– that s—. It’s time to say what’s mine. I’m one of many most important b–. And it feels enjoyable to nonetheless be capable of look good and be related in a spot the place I don’t have this million-dollar machine behind me and I’ve all my pure physique components, no shade to those that don’t. But it simply feels nice to face in your self and look within the mirror and be like, “Wow, you did that.” And not promote your soul and go to mattress at evening with a smile in your face. Because I don’t have any strain.

Let’s speak about your late group member, Lord Infamous. What form of influence did Lord Infamous have on you earlier than his passing in 2013?

S—. Lord was my brother, man. Lord, he was one of many originators of Three 6 Mafia. If I’m not mistaken, he got here up with the title Three 6 Mafia with Paul. You see, Paul is Lord Infamous’ uncle. He was an enormous affect on how I wrote my raps and my lyrics and s—. How he put his phrases and the way clever he was, the books that he learn, the issues that he spoke about, it’s nonetheless influential to me as a result of he wasn’t simply rapping about easy s—.

You needed to be educated to even take note of comply with what he was saying. It’s form of arduous for me to even rap easy as a result of I don’t even know methods to do it. Lord wasn’t a easy rapper. And to me, that’s what sort of motivated me to not be a easy rapper and to only go arduous with my pen.

What’s your fondest reminiscence of him?

He was very quick and soft-spoken however was an enormous outdated beast and he didn’t take no s—. I keep in mind I used to rap on his answering machine, and his home telephone once I was youthful to get him to inform Paul how good I used to be.

So if it wasn’t for him, I in all probability wouldn’t even have been capable of be within the group. And for 2, he additionally was the one which helped put the group again collectively once we had been capable of tour because the Mafia 6. When Juicy wasn’t round, it was the Mafia 6. It was me, Paul, Lord Infamous, Koopsta Knicca, Crunchy Black, and Lord Infamous who made that occur. So that’s my fondest reminiscence of him, with the ability to full a Mafia 6 challenge with him on it and with the ability to shoot a few movies with him in it earlier than his passing.

Three 6 Mafia repped Memphis so nicely on VERZUZ. How was your VERZUZ expertise general? How did the town react?

Man, we turned the town up. They had been so happy with us as a result of that was our first time on the stage altogether, minus those that we misplaced, which had been Lord Infamous and Koopsta. And Bone Thugs a gaggle that we used to have points with again within the day, are legendary. So, once I walked out on that f– stage and I couldn’t flip my ass round, I used to be like, “Oh s—, I’m on the stage and Paul and Juicy.” And I used to be the one woman on the market till they introduced out La Chat.

So, in hindsight 2020, it was surreal as f–… I simply really feel so blessed and simply so grateful to nonetheless be making strikes like that and related like that as a result of you may’t be irrelevant to be paid, for one. So I’m simply actually, actually honored that our sound continues to be so related to the purpose that it makes individuals nonetheless intrigued at what we have now to say.

What is the toughest lesson you needed to be taught concerning the music business that different younger girls who need to comply with in your footsteps ought to know?

Man, take your time, be totally different, and be unique. Don’t burn your self out and don’t let individuals play you. I’d say don’t get misplaced within the sauce. Money ain’t going to have me doing one thing that I can’t look within the mirror and be happy with. And you don’t must be a porn star both. Be an MC. I like that totally different s—. Everybody doesn’t must have a viral second or be stylish. Because when that development goes away when that viral second goes away, then what?

I heard you bought a brand new challenge within the works. What’s subsequent for Gangsta Boo?

Right now I’m simply engaged on a challenge, it’s known as The BooPrint and hopefully, I’m dropping that first quarter subsequent 12 months I’m simply joyful to be dropping content material now. I acquired a music known as “Sucker Free” that’s obtainable on all platforms produced by Drumma Boy. I acquired a music known as “I’m Fresh,” that’s obtainable.
And to be trustworthy, woman, I’m simply excited to be working with the Lattos and I’m joyful to see ladies like GloRilla signify Memphis, so simply excited…that’s motivating me to need to preserve doing my music.