Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like Miss JoJo Bie!

“Diamonds are a girls best friends”, Marilyn Monroe sang. With Brittany Carpenter better known as rapper Diamond of former rap group Crime Mob her passion is hair. In the summer of 2004, Atlanta rap group Crime Mob dropped their self titled album “Crime Mob”. Their first single “Knuck If You Buck” featuring Lil Scrappy was certified with a platinum status. It was without a doubt, that Crime Mob was here to stay. The second album “Hated On Mostly”, which was released late 2006, contains the heavy rotated single “Rock Yo Hips” featuring Lil Scrappy. Diamond was one of the five members of the group who became very popular outside of the group, because of her lyrics and presence. Unfortunately the group split up in November 2007 after Diamond left the rap group to pursue her own solo career. The 21-year old rapper released a set of mixtapes, with her last mixtape “Bith Muisk: Part 3”. The young lady who is representing her Boss Bitch movement, had some time for Miss JoJo Bie to talk about the real reason why Crime Mob split up, her debut album and her collaboration with Ludacris, Trina and Eve on the remix ”My Chick Bad”. If you want to know why Diamond doesn’t have to compete with Nicki Minaj and what her love life with her husband Darryl Richards Jr. better known as rapper Lil Scrappy is like, this is a must read!

Can you introduce yourself to the audience in Europe?

Hello Europe! My name is Diamond a.k.a. Ms. 32 Flavaz. I’m 21, a rapper based out of Atlanta GA and I represent hip-hop and crunk.

When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?

I fell in love with hip-hop from the beginning of my generation. The early movement of female rap has always grabbed my attention. Hip-hop has always been part of me.

How did Crime Mob come together as a group?

We were a group of teenagers with a dream and hope. All childhood friends wanting to pass time, who knew where it would lead to.

In 2004 Crime Mob gained national attention with the single “Knuck If You Buck” featuring Lil Scrappy, which eventually went platinum. What was you’re first impression of the music industry? And now?

When Crime Mob first came out, the music industry was all family and love. Now everybody battling against each other and it confuses me at times. In the beginning hip-hop artists all were fighting to get the same respect as an artist, now it just seems as if everybody turns their back on each other. That’s not cool, but I still respect everybody’s grind.

The group debuted in 2004 with the album “Crime Mob” and 2006 the second album “Hated on Mostly” with the hitsingle “Rock Yo Hips” featuring Lil Scarppy came out. Why did you decided to leave Crime Mob? 

I just felt like we had out grown each other. Sometimes I just look at us as brothers and sisters that moved away from home and lost contact even though coming up we all had a dream together. A lot of times when I think back on it I miss the family, but we just grew apart on so many levels. I just felt like it was time for a change.

Will Crime Mob ever come back together or perhaps collaborate?

Actually I’ve tried to bring everybody back together, but it just didn’t come together. I wanted to give the fans what they were inquiring about, because we were a powerful group on the stage. But hey, you never know what the future holds.

“In the beginning hip-hop artists all were fighting to get the same respect as an artist, now it just seems as if everybody turns their back on each other!”

After three years being part of a group, how did it feel to go solo?

Very scary! It was like a entire different world, it was hard in the beginning then I realized it was time for my shine.

What was the concept about the “Bitch Muzik” mixtape series?

My concept was to make music totally for all females, because we all need something to ride and relate to. One minute we want to talk about love and cruise then the next minute we may want to be cleaning up representing where we are from. I keep it universal for us!

Your new mixtape is called “Bitch Musik 3”. What can we expect?

“Bitch Musik 3” is quality music and a new mature side of Diamond.

When I look at your appearance and listen to your music, you don’t expect the energy that comes out of you. Do you ever feel that people misunderstood you when they first meet you?

No, because on stage and the booth I am Diamond walking the streets and chilling with family and friends I am Brittany. I’m only Diamond in the streets when I have to be. A lot of people think they know me, but they really have no idea the type of person I am, I’m very shy.

When can we expect your debut album?

This spring/summer.

And which artists and producers will be working on your album?

Justice League, LT Moe, Kane Beats are a few producers and artists are R&B group Cherish, Lloyd and Keri Hilson to name a few.

Will “Superbad” with Cee-Lo be on the album? What was the concept of the single and video?

Yes, it will be on my album. The concept of the single was a feel good mood for the club, and the video concept was from the movie ‘Belly’ with DMX, Nas and TLC member T-Boz.

“I’m only Diamond in the streets when I have to be!” 

Your debut album is called “The Black Barbie”. Why is that?

My album is actually untitled, “The Black Barbie” was supposed to be named of a mixtape but I release “P.M.S. (Pardon My Swag)” instead.

Do you think that the title of your album will conflict with Young Money rapper Nicki Minaj who calls herself ‘Black Barbie’?

I respect Nicki, it’s all a female movement.

So there is only one Barbie and one Ken. So who is your Ken?

Hahaha!

How would you like people to remember you as an artist and a person?

As an artist and not as a rapper. And as a person, I would like to be remembered as a female that represent for the ladies faithfully.

Besides making music, are there any other goals you would like to achieve?

There are so many, I want to open my own hair salon, because hair is my first passion.

Can you explain what the Boss Bitch movement it’s all about?

Because men have made their movement for so many years, I finally believe it’s our time to take over.

How do you feel about the opportunities that Internet provides?

Right now the internet is our main marketing instrument. We have to edge and take it as it is.

“I want to be remembered as an artist and not as a rapper!” 

With success there come haters. How do you deal with negativity or pressure in the music business?

I love the hate because it makes you stronger. You know what to improve on and what to keep doing, having a name is always going to bring some type of negativity. We just have to take it as it is.

You just participated on the remix of Ludacris his single “My Chick Bad” with Eve and Trina. How was that like in the studio? And on the video set?

We all recorded in different studios. I recorded in Atlanta, on the set we shot it in Miami, the set was all love. I was overly excited because I’m a true fan of Eve, and we clicked and that meant so much to me.

Based on your lyrics, where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from my day to day life, and all my past situations.

How do you feel about the hip-hop game changed in the past decades? And the way hip-hop and rap from the south of America changed the game?

With the south growing I’m so proud, because my city (Atlanta) is a main crunch of the bite. I just wish the game will become whole again.

Do you think that the participation of female rappers has improved?

Honestly, I think it has gotten weak because female came on so strong back in the day and they all stuck together. I feel now in 2010 with the females will bring that back, and I feel what Ludacris has done with his new album “Battle Of The Sexes” is just the beginning.

What will set the difference between the Diamond that we’ve heard at Crime Mob and as a solo artist?

I’m still going to be the same, but the only thing that changed is that I’m an adult now.

What’s a ritual that you have every single day?

My prayers.

“It’s my time, so the future is looking very bright!”

Which artists inspire you?

Da Brat, Eve, Remy Ma and Lil Kim.

How do you combine your work with being a mother?

Wow, when God feel that it’s time I will develop that and work it out to the best of my ability.

What separates you from other rappers, especially female rappers?

I came into the game at the age of 14. I grew up in this and being, I still haven’t had my solo shine yet so that’s what seperates me. Now it’s my time, so the future is looking very bright.

What’s going to be your contribution to the music industry?

I’m going to represent the music industry to the best that I can and prove to those that doubt me that I have earned my position and that I am here to stay.

You’ve worked with a lot of great rappers like Ludacris, Eve, Trina and Pimp C who unfortunately past away. Are there other artists that you want to work with in the near future?

I want to do a collaboration with Da Brat, Lil Kim and Eve. Those are the top collaborations I want to make happen.

What is your opinion about the influence the recession has on hip-hop?

I feel it’s just a pot hole that will be filled very soon. Hip-hop is a very powerful movement and will be around till the end of time.

And the recession in general?

It’s a very hard time for everybody and I just wish I could help solve it, but I’m only one person. I do what I can when I see people in need.

“Hip-hop is a very powerful movement and will be around till the end of time!”

What can fans or the people in Europe expect from you?

The real Diamond and I hope to see them very soon. Be on the look out!