L.A. Based Transgendered rapper Foxxjazell has been becoming a hit on the
Gay music scene for the past few years. The Alabama born rapper has appeared on the Tyra Banks Show as well as performed at various Pride events around the world, and to top off her success, her single “Ride or Die Boy” got lots of air play on MTV last year, earning her several award nominations.
I met with the lovely rapper at the famous Starbucks Café while she was in New York to discuss business and to attened the Out Music Awards, which was unexpectedly canceled.
DA-PROFESSOR: How does it feel to be back in New York?
FOXXJAZELL: It’s amazing. However the weather I can do without (both laugh).
DA-PROFESSOR: How did you become involved in music?
FOXXJAZELL: Howe I get involved with Hip-Hop? I got involved at a very young age. 16. I always had a love for Hip-Hop, so therefore it’s only natural it engaged me and I was attracted to the art form.
DA-PROFESSOR: Which female rappers inspired you?
FOXXJAZELL: Salt-N-Pepa, M.C. Lyte, JJ Fad and Lil’ Kim.
DA-PROFESSOR: What make you admires those rappers?
FOXXJAZELL: I admire their overall confidence. Their female swagger. Their ability to push personal issues and make them social issues.
DA-PROFESSOR: Was it hard entering the industry as a Transgender?
FOXXJAZELL: When I was rapping at the age of 16, I was a part of an all-male Hip-Hop group. None one knew about me at that point and that is when I decided to become a solo artist. I did face some challenges as a Transgender artist.
DA-PROFESSOR: What are the challenges?
FOXXJAZELL: Some of the challenges overall is Tran phobia. Homophobia. Something the Hip-Hop community is plagued with. And overall ignorance.
DA-PROFESSOR: What prompted you to keep on doing your thing?
FOXXJAZELL: The fact that it was challenging, and the fact that no one was rocking the mic as a transwoman, and the fact that I had social issues that needed to be address and why not address them through the art form I fell in love with?
DA-PROFESSOR: I gotta congratulate you on your single “Ride or Die Boy”
FOXXJAZELL: Thank you.
DA-PROFESSOR: What prompted you to contact Shorty Roc, Last Offence and Nano Reyes for the remix?
FOXXJAZELL: “Ride or Die Boy” was written because of the fact that was my way of paying tribute to the dream boy that I always wanted to have; somebody who’s gonna ride or die for me through thick or thin. As far as contacting the other artists, I wanted to have each of those artists because they (each) brought an different element to the remix that wasn’t on the original song.
DA-PROFESSOR: The video was hot. Whose idea was it to have ya’ll kiss the sexy guy in the video?
FOXXJAZZELL: (Laughs) That was me. I actually directed the video. It was my directorial debut.
DA-PROFESSOR: That was good to see that. I hear its gotten lots of nominations for awards and play on MTV. How does it feel to get all the accolades?
FOXXJAZELL: It feels really good. It’s a music video that will look at as a piece of LGBT Out Music history, but I don’t wanna be stuck in the mode of trying to out perform it with my next project.
DA-PROFESSOR: Are you releasing any other singles from your CD?
FOXYJAZELL: Hold up with Ashley Breathe
DA-PROFESSOR: You’ve been performing at various Gay Pride events. What’s that been like?
FOXXJAZELL: It’s been really well and I’ve been well received. I’ve stepped up my performance game as far as making sure that I had a strong performance element with my dancers and having a visual for my songs so they can get the same feel of watching a video in the comfort of their own home.
DA-PROFESSOR: I know you heard about the number of Gay Teens and young adults who have been bullied and committed suicide. How does it affect you as a person?
FOXXJAZELL: It affects me as a person, dramatically and it wounds my soul because of the fact not only as an artist, but as a person I have an duty to uphold of putting out a positive image and uplifting role model that LGBT youth and look up to and see their own kind and see inspiration to see another day.
DA-PROFESSOR: You’ve made a great point about LGBT youth having models to look up to. There are many LGBT people who wanna see openly LGBT singers and rappers perform at Prides, but the artists have problems getting booked. Do you feel that now Pride organizations will be more willing to book LGBT artists?
FOXXJAZELL: I think with the downfall of the major labels we’re definitely seeing more, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I definitely feel pride organizations are gonna go with major label acts or the acts that are gonna guarantee big crowds first before putting on their own.
DA-PROFESSOR: From your perspective why is that?
FOXXJAZELL I think it’s part a lot of them are not educated on other LGBT artists. If they don’t see them on MTV. They’re not gonna take a change on booking a Foxy Jazell opposed to Nicki Minaj that’s gonna guarantee and the only disadvantage about that is when you book a major act like that, you tend to attract a lot of people who aren’t gay and gay friendly.
DA-PROFESSOR: Which artists mainstream and LGBT would you like to work with?
FOXXJAZELL: Nicki Manji, Ari Gold and this is a far fetch one. George Michael and Tevin Campbell.
DA-PROFESSOR: What do you think of George Michael’s success as a member of Wham! And as a solo artist?
FOXXJAZELL: I think his success based on pure talent and he was a teen idol who appealed to both women and men.
DA-PROFESSOR: What about Tevin Campbell do you admire?
FOXXJAZELL: Well honestly, I’ve met Tevin Campbell a couple of times. Never really had a deep conversation, but I admire his genuine spirit. I admire the fact that he was a really great amazing voice. As underrated he is, he’ll be always be one of my favorite male artist singers of all time.
DA-PROFESSOR: Mines too. What do you think about Nicki Manji? It seems that there are people who love her, but there are also some who thinks she’s trying to be the next Lil’ Kim. What do you think about the public not giving her a fair chance?
FOXXJAZELL: I feel that her PR team behind is a very clever smart team because they were able to put it out there she was bisexual. They were able to convey and captivate the gay audience by putting out that she was bisexual and when she got mainstream success she was cleverly pulled the bisexual card away. I feel it work for us and again it works against us, deceives once again it puts it out there that bisexual people can turn it on and turn it off
DA-PROFESSOR: Do you plan on acting?
FOXXJAZELL: I do. One of the most interesting things about that is that when I first came to L.A. I started off as an actress, but the music just happened. I was drawn to the music but my background in acting is first.
DA-PROFESSOR: How do you like L.A.?
FOXXJAZELL: I love the weather. I love the energy. The people I can do without (both laugh). They’re not as genuine as people on the East Coast. However I live on the outskirts, so I usually don’t deal with the L.A. state of mind/mentality as much as others have to.
DA-PROFESSOR: Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
FOXXJAZELL: A very successful entrepreneur.
DA-PROFESSOR: How do you feel you’re making an impact on the LGBT community?
FOXXJAZELL:I feel that it’s still too early for me to see what type of impact that I am making, but I d get lots of trans women that hit me up whether it be email, Face book or whether they see me in the street telling me they appreciate what I do, and I’m setting a good example for them. I feel from that aspect I’m making an impact but I definitely feel to see the overall picture you would have to ask me that question 5-10 years from now.
DA-PROFESSOR: What advice would you give to any LGBT artist who wants to pursue a music career?
FOXXJAZZELL: I would say go based on your talent. Don’t try to do any silly publicity stunts; any sex tapes (laughs). All those things will wear off. I’ve had my own personal reasons for doing them which I can’t condone someone else for the fact that they’re doing it for some other reason.
