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She's Poppin': An Interview with Lil Mama

Only 17 years old, New York's Lil Mama (born Niatia Kirkland) is quickly becoming the female rap star to watch, based on the strength of her uber-catchy, hand clap-driven single "Lip Gloss." Although she's still just a teenager, Lil Mama has been honing her rhymes since she was 10.

She could have easily been sidetracked in 2003 when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, but the hardship only increased Lil Mama's resolve. After persuading a Hot 97 DJ to start spinning her song, she was signed to Jive Records earlier this year, and her debut album, The Voice of the Young People, is due out this summer.

We caught up with the tenacious and talented rapper to talk about how she got her start and her message for the youth.

How did you get the name Lil' Mama?

My mother gave me that name when I was younger because my personality was of an older woman, so she was like "mama!"

There are a lot fewer female rap artists in the mainstream than men, what do you think set you apart to gain the larger audience's attention?

Basically my personality, and my talent, and my lyrics are so outstanding that what listeners can tell is that I put so much hard work into what I'm doing because it comes through my music. So I feel that my music for one will get my point across. I write from my heart and my spirit... You know what I'm sayin'? Some people don't know their place, they're just like "Oh I rap because I'm tryin' to get this or that, and I'm doin' this because I want to get money."

You have a lot of big-name producers on your forthcoming album, The Voice of the Young People, like Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz. How will your album be different from other albums they've produced?

They're so creative and it is something that they've been doin' for years with what I've been doing for years, but this is my first time getting what I do out to the world whereas they have done maybe 15 or 16 albums already. However, you're missing a very important name, and that's James "Groove" [Chambers], he is the producer of "Lip Gloss."

How did you and James get together?

Someone that knew my manager is involved with James' production company. And she brought me into the production studio to work with her, and I wanted to get really close with James because we connected. This guy is really talented; me and him are the ones that have the single out right now. There are some people that give you beats to work on, but then you have some people that are producers who stay in the studio with you who make the record with you, and who know the end product before you send it to them over the internet. I feel like he [James] deserves that credit and he is really putting the hard work in.

I was impressed with your dancing in the "Lip Gloss" video—where did you learn dance?

I've been dancing for years and that's something I love. Dancing is my passion, so it's always been with me, with and without the rap act. Harlem had a dance leadership program, and I studied there. I prepared for shows putting on productions with them. I also was a part of a group called Fully Loaded, in Brooklyn.

A lot of great rappers have come out of Harlem and Brooklyn—how do you think growing up in these two places has influenced your music?

When I was in Harlem, Harlem was more like my dance side. I'd go to team parties and dance and have fun and I'd chill with my friends. When I went to Brooklyn I went to the studio and with my family, that's why I spit so hard because of my Brooklyn side and that's why I am inspired. Harlem kept that fun inside of me to write fun music and, when I have a problem, to get over it a little bit and have fun because that's how Harlem is.

When your Mom got diagnosed with cancer you focused a lot of attention on your music. What was it like going through that?

I was already writing, and that just drove me to want to make it out there and share my thoughts and share my story with the world because it meant so much to me. When something is going on in your life and it's not good, it's like what positives are gonna walk into my life, what is gonna balance out the way I'm feelin right now? 'Cause if I don't make it in music then I'm just gonna have to get a regular job which I know is not something that is gonna satisfy me. I'd be miserable. So I have to move now and do everything that my mom taught me to do.

Are there going to be songs that showcase your vocal ability on The Voice of the Young People, or will it be primarily rap?

Yeah, there will be both rap and singing on the album.

What's the one thing you would like listeners to pay attention to on your new album?

Focus on the voice of the young people and focus on the movement. Listen to these songs and listen to life. Listen to "Don't Stress Him." I wanna wake my young women up, my peers, my young ladies, and help them to remain young ladies instead of becoming something, and not noticing that they are becoming that with their eyes.

- Christian Murcia
04.30.07