5 Questions for Rocky Rivera
Rocky Rivera, the rapper formerly known as Eyeasage and the writer known as Krishtine de Leon makes her official debut tomorrow, February 2, with her self-titled lp. Influenced by a character from the literary realm of Jessica Hagedorn, Rocky is the new manifestation and culmination of Krish’s years of artistic grind. To help promote the album, she was willing to do a quick interview for FOBBDeep, with a bonus question offering “Situation(al)” insight.
Ninoy Brown: The Bay, NY, or LA?
Rocky Rivera: The Bay to live, NY to work, and LA to play. If I could, I’d live in all 3.
How has your experience as a Hip-Hop journalist assisted you as an emcee?
Being a writer, you have to adjust to the medium that you’re using. It hindered me in a sense that I was too focused on being grammatical that I wasn’t able to let loose in the studio, and I was writing bars back to back without giving myself breathing room. It helped because I was aware of the process that it takes “behind-the-scenes” to get -noticed. As a journalist, we receive hundreds of music submissions every day, so you really need to stand out in order to get noticed, whether its in your press release, your approach, or your music itself. That definitely gave me an advantage to think of the “audience/readership” rather than simply making music and hoping that people “get it”. Plus, I kill it on these Q & As *wink*
As a member of the Love/Hater movement, would your Rocky Rivera persona categorize herself as a “gangster of love”?
In the Love/Hater Movement, I’m not just a client, I’m also the PRESIDENT! Rocky Rivera, the persona, is the ultimate “Gangster of Love”, one that knows the rules of Love and War, plays them to her advantage, and uses her femininity to restore balance to the world. There are no victims around here! Rocky is very much in charge.
What bugs you about being labeled a dope “female rapper” or a dope “rapper for a female?
At the end of the day, female rappers can’t just “do them” because there are layers of expectations that other people have that they, themselves, need to be aware of, so they don’t play into the superficial stereotypes. I just want to be treated as an equal - not be compared to other “female” rappers or be compared to the million-and-one wack male rappers to prove that I am better than them. I’d like to get on a track with some of the best, gas them, and not have to have them be cognizant that there’s a lady on the track. I want them to be afraid to go after me like they are with their male counterparts. I also have the ability to speak to everyone, if they listen closely. It’s not that my music is geared to women, it’s just more inclusive of the woman’s perspective, which in Hip Hop, has been greatly absent since the 90s.
Are there any questions from writers that you hate getting asked, as a rapper, that you had asked other artists when you interviewed them?
“How do you feel about the State of Hip Hop?” or “How did you get your start?”. I realize that these are the gatekeeper questions, but the answers are already predictable, and most annoyingly, too open-ended. It also reeks of inexperience, and quite-frankly, lack of research. The best interview questions I have are from those who have been following my work and already know my history. But even if you don’t, at least look me up before you ask!
***Bonus question: If you could/had to hang out with one “Jersey Shore” cast member, who would it be and why?
Pauly D. He just seems like the laid-back type. Snooki would be my second choice because she seems fun, but too trashy to roll with. Me and my crew keep it 100!
If you are in the Bay Area, make sure to check out Rocky Rivera’s album release party this Wednesday at Milk.
-Ninoy Brown