California bred rapper Marz Lovejoy is far beyond her 19 years, offering a new answer to the question: “Where are the women in Hip-Hop?” Don’t let the tats or baby face fool you—Marz is barely hesitant when sharing her insights on being a female rapper. She is also tackling the pursuit of business ownership under her parent company Elephant Soundz, which includes many of her artsy endeavors.
As Marz tends to her escalating buzz with store appearances, performances and panels, she caught a quick break at Juniors in Brooklyn, New York. She chatted about her childhood, Nicki Minaj, using social media and her new EP, “This Little Light of Mine.”
Tell me about your childhood.
I was born in Minneapolis but I was raised in Los Angeles and San Diego. I’m definitely a Californian but I was born in Minneapolis. All of my family is from there.
For High School we moved to Los Angeles. Automatically I gravitated towards people who made music. I wasn’t as public about my poetry…I did it in my room, recorded myself and didn’t want anyone to see.
I eventually went to all of the poetry spots in LA and started performing. Poetry is rap…and that’s kind of how I started rapping.
What exactly did your mother teach you about music and what did your father teach you about music?
My father is the person I can call and ask, “who sung this song?” and he’ll have a catalogue. He’s good with the names and putting me on to new people, especially older acts—jazz, R&B, soul. And even rap. He’s a big Tupac and DJ Quick fan. He put me on to gangster rap.
My mother is a listener of good music and played the steel drums. We have a really have a good relationship because she was a young mom. We have the same music taste—SWV, Immature, stuff like that. She’s a writer and just a smart woman all together.
Tell me about he first time you felt like you were coming into your own as an artist. How did you feel, where were you, what was the reaction?
I went to The Poetry Lounge in LA to perform my poetry for the first time and I was HORRIBLE. I was nervous, I literally wanted to run off stage and I thought I would never come back. And I’m not a shy person or a nervous person but just being on the spot [was a lot]. But after that I went harder, I did a lot of ciphers with boys so they would know that I did know how to flow.
Once I moved back to Minneapolis before I finished High school, I started Youtube videos and putting those up. Once I posted my stuff on Youtube and let people see, I got a lot of good feedback. Not that much negative, but even that helped build me. I was like, “alright I’m gonna keep on doing this, people like me”. That’s when I realized, I can do this; this can really be a career for me.
Was there anyone else you connected with from being on Youtube?
My producer Polyester met on Youtube. He sent me some beats and we realized over time that we already had mutual friends and knew each other. We communicated via e-mail.
Talk about being a rapper and being a woman. With Nicki Minaj, female rappers have been put back on the map. How do you feel about that?
Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of very cool influential female rappers. There was Da Brat, Lady of Rage, Lil Kim, Foxy, Eve…I could go on. But I don’t know what happened. Especially after Eve. We are in a drought for what we had in the 90s. Or even the 80s.
You’re going to have hardcore, mellow, smooth whatever. I think there’s so many different angles that I just have create my own little element.
Nicki Minaj is doing her thing and presenting herself the way she wants to, but that’s not the only way. Since we’re at such a loss, it seems like that’s the only way you can make it. You have to exploit yourself sexually but that’s not true. So hopefully people will catch on.
How do you feel you contribute a new image and presentation of women in Hip-Hop?
Everybody has different motives but I definitely have a lot to say. So that is what fuels me. Since my motives are different and I want to make a positive change, my thinking is different.
People my age or older than me had good examples. But the kids growing up now, the examples are not what I would want my kids to look up to. I’m just trying to be one of those people that kids and even adults can relate and connect with.
What has someone tried to make you compromise on how you want to present yourself?
People have tried to change the type of music and the route they want for me. Even what they want me to wear. I dress myself. I know in different situations you can’t choose but I hope for the most part I continue to see eye with whom I’m working with.
Tell me about your music making process. What do you need in your atmosphere? Does everyone need to be out of the room? Dim Lights? Etc?
Yes, I need to be in the room alone (laughs). I feel like I’ve been so spoiled to work with my producer Polyester.
I’m still learning what my process is when I work with other people because sometimes I just do need to be by myself. Depending on the beat, the words are already there. But other times I write, doddle, when I listen to a beat for the first time.
I prefer to make the beat from scratch. I want to be there with the person who’s making the beat and create the song together. That’s probably how I work best. Oh! And the lighting. That’s the most important!
Why?
When it’s too bright, it doesn’t work for me. If we’re in the studio, I like dim lights, candles and for the vibe to be mellow. Not a lot of people, or anyone that doesn’t need to be there. I love my friends but they don’t even need to be there sometimes (laughs).
Do people say you have an old soul?
Yes, I do think I have an old soul. I was raised by very strong women. I’m an only child so I did a lot of stuff by myself, with myself.
Why the tats?
Ever since I was young, I wanted them. When I was 14, I got my first one.
What did your mom say?
She wasn’t too happy. But she didn’t find out until a couple of years after. I had a couple already, hid them and placed them strategically where I could hide them. It worked for a little bit until I got caught.
She would tell me, “please don’t get any more tats”. But I’m a Taurus, I’m bullheaded.
It’s interesting that you experienced film school at one point. Can you talk about that?
I’m not even gonna front…I love movies and anything artsy. But film isn’t my passion. I was in Minneapolis trying to get back to California no matter what. I just graduated from High School. I thought I was gonna end up in a community college in Santa Monica and then transfer. I had everything planned.
I had to go back to Cali because of school. My mom left it up to me and suggested music school but I said that I will already be doing music. I just surrounded myself around musicians and picked up another talent.
I hope to produce my own videos and get better with my camera. Maybe I can do other people’s videos.
Is there another talent that you hope to use in future projects?
I would like to take up salsa dancing. I know how to sew also. Anything in the arts that I can pick up. Instruments as well. Taking piano lesions.
Do you feel you have balance in your life, especially with your music and personal life?
Overall, I’m blessed and have a lot of love and support. I’m happy and I’ve done a lot of hard work. But I know I want to do more.
My mom is probably so happy that finally found something I stuck with and she knows what I want to do. I was that kid that turned everything down. Now I’m very happy because this is something I can be in control of.
To Learn more about Marz Lovejoy, log on her to her website www.marzlovejoy.com.
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