A: I'm great thanks for asking, sorry for the delay on the interview, but as promised I got you.
2. You come from L.A how was it to grow up there & how did you end up in New York?
A: Actually I'm from Newark Nj, home of Redman, Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature and many more. I started rapping in LA when I was moved out there in my early teens. Ice T was my mentor and he introduced me to the business of Hip Hop. I then got serious and left LA right after High school came to NY with the only intention of being Def Jam's first female rapper and I did it! :-)
3. What was the first Hip Hop song or album that you heard?
A: Well I think my first song like most my age was rappers delight. It came out when I was young but it was the best song I had ever heard, considering I grew up on old school R&B which is what my mom played all the time in the house.
4. Who inspired you to start rappin?
A: Ice T truly was the first person to inspire me because I used to sing everyone's songs word for word and he thought I should give a try, and I wrote my first rhyme for him, and he took me under his wing, and let me open up for his big shows, like Run DMC, Whodini, all the big dogs back then. I was and amazing time for me.
5. How did you come up with your name Nikki D & where stands the D for?
A: LOL, Nikki is my nick name my mom gave me and the D, well it means nothing. LOL, I did it because everyone else had a D, Chuck D, Heavy D, so why not NIkki D? I know, that's not very creative but that's it..
6. Before you was signed to DefJam you was rappin in L.A with Ice T how did you meet Ice T?
A: I met Ice T at a mall with my sister and some friends, back then in LA the popular mall was Fox Hills Mall. That's where I met him because one of his friends was trying to date me and that's how we kept in touch.
7. In 1989 you was signed on Defjam & you was the first Female Mc on Defjam how was that for you?
A: Being the first female rapper signed to Def Jam was truly and literally my dream come true at the time. I hooked up with LA Posse, who produced LL Cool J's Bigger and Deffer album and they hooked up my demo for me during some downtime at a LL session. We got the music to Russell and he loved it, signed me right away, we were all just tripping on how fast it happen. It was meant to be.
8. After you signed on Defjam it took 3 years before your debut album"Daddy's Little Girl" came out why took it so long?
A: When I signed Russell thought I was the hardest female rapper he had heard. He thought I could jump in any battle and take any rapper, but he didn't think I was ready for commercial radio. So he sent me on tour with LL, Rakim, PE, just to get a idea of what the big dogs do to make big records. Finally he and I came up with Daddy's Little Girl on the plane back from London, and it was on from there. He felt like I had developed as an artist an I was ready for prime time. But keep in mind I had write it twice, that's why I love my era, it was about the real work back then.
9. The single "Daddy's little girl went to number 1 in the billboard rap single charts what was you reaction when you heard that it went number 1?
A: When Daddy's Little Girl went #1, I was over excited, I felt like I had made it at that point. It's beyond what words can describe just awesome!!
10. On the single "Lettin off steam you work with Flavor Flav how was it to work with him?
A: I knew Flavor way before the single, he is just the nicest and coolest guy. What I loved about him most is what people didn't see on the Flavor of Love is that he was a solid family man, always had his kids with him. He just a good guy!! He was professional and gave his all, I love him!!
11. What is your favorite song from the album?
A: My favorite song was Daddy's Little Girl, because it had so much meaning to it, but the runner up was Another man is beating my time, because no girls were thinking that crazy back then. However today, there's so much of that life style going on today.. Crazy I was way ahead of my time.
12. You only record one album why was that?
A: Sadly enough I asked for a release after my second album was recorded because I didn't think Def Jam knew what to do with me, and I just switched lanes and went executive. I had a lot of press so people think I was larger than life, but it was press than marketing, and the label lost my number 1 single at radio, and that totally disappointed me.
13. What do you think about female Rappers/Mc's in Hip Hop today?
A: Well funny you ask, I have a mixtape called Female Kings that I put together with my partner Shaun Pynne of Team Strong my group. There's not many in the main stream except for Nicki Minaj, and initially I didn't care for her, but once I started hearing her earlier music I thought she was hot rapper, but that's not what she does on album. I love LIl Kim, wish Foxy Brown still was making records even though I can't stand her as a person she's a hot rapper, I mean I love Lady Luck she hotter all these chicks to me, but the industry is still funny about female rappers so she suffers the industry standard blues. That's where Female Kings come in at. I found so many hot female rappers across the country that it's crazy it's releasing next week.!!
14. Who is your favorite Female & Male Mc's & why?
A: My favorite male rapper is Jay Z by far. I admire him all the way around, but I also love Jada Kiss, Kanye, Fabalous, I wish 50 had never stopped, I mean I still listen to Krs, Rakim all the old school stuff too. For whatever it's worth I'm never inspired by the women even though I respect them, Lady Luck is the only one who sounds like a true rapper, and she writes all her own songs.
15. Are you still working in the music industry?
A: No I'm not working in the music biz as of now, but all my connects are still there, I'm working on my son, and new female rappers, so I'll e back soon.
16. Do you have any advice for the lady's who wants to start rappin?
A: My advice to the ladies who want to do it, is be yourself. Don't allow the men of your crew or team or label to convince you to not do you. The true fans respect passion so love what you do, and be about your business because as much as you may love your voice and your songs and as hot as they may be that's only 5% of the game the rest is all business so don't play yourself short, you're a major corporation once you get out there, so you must perform and produce as if you want your brand (company) to grow. It's all on you.
17. Can people follow Nikki D?
A: Follow me @ognikkid and on FB I'm Nikki Strong
18. Did you liked this Q & A?
A: Paul I loved the Q& A, you asked all the important things and I thank you for thinking of me.. I didn't spell check anything so there may be some typos.. lol... Hope to hear from you soon.
Paul - Nikki D thank you so very much for your time it was truly an Honor to do this with you thank you.
