Through My Lens - Asha Maria Pinder : March 2013

I forgot to upload my interview that I had with BaddaBoomTee but here it is. Grimey caught up with MOBO nominee and best female lyricists and MC in the South London streets. We saw her on our TV Screens featuring in the hit Grime Series ‘Stars in the Hood’. She goes by the name of BaddaBoom Tee! But some like to call her Tiana. She sets Asha Maria straight about when her mixtape is coming and what she has been up to. We find out who inspires her and her life growing up. You enjoying this fine day? “Not really; it’s bloody freezing! Take me back to Malia” Malia, where was our invite, what did you get up to there because I heard you were playing in some clubs? “Just came back last week, it was beautiful, banging and beyond crazy! Yeah, I played in a club called ‘The Underdog’ and ‘Club 789’ the crowds were amazing, I loved it. Oh sorry, I will pack you and the whole of the Grimey crew in my backpack next time I go” Oh, I see, I see your doing your thing girl. We are all dying to know why BaddaBoom Tee and not Tiana? “Tiana is too basic; it’s not a very memorable name. There are probably a billion people named Tiana. BaddaBoom Tee… Let’s break it down *starts to beat box* ‘Bad’ because my music is beyond bad, I’m not that cocky but I produce sick music. ‘Boom’ because Grime beats have a lot of boom and bang sounds and beats to it (this is not no classical business). Tee is my childhood nickname. People remember a stage name like BaddaBoom Tee, its original but the name Tiana would just get lost in the crowd. Look at Jay Z for example his mother didn’t call him Jay Z she called him Shawn Corey Carter but he is not going to use that name, it’s not cook plus it don’t click with his genre”. Have you always wanted to be a musician? Is it in the blood? “I have always dreamed of being a musician. I would sing in the mirror and pretend to be Beyoncé in Destiny’s Child with my cousins and primary school friends. I was never one of those girls who dreamed and had aspirations to be a princess or the Queen of England. I wanted to be the ‘Quing’ of Grime. Yeah music is in my blood, veins, chromosomes, liver… I could go on! My mum was a singer of a UK reggae band called ‘Lioness’ and my dad started up the first Reggae record label with his childhood friend Mark Wallis. ‘Quing’ please explain Tiana, what on earth does that mean? “Lol, Quing is a word I invented, so when you see it in the New English Oxford Dictionary 2015 edition, remember me yeah? It means queen and king as I am not your typical girly girl nor am I am man, clearly!” We know you can be quite a diva at times as we saw on our TV screens as you featured on Channel AKA’s reality series called ‘The Stars In The Streets’. “Well that TV programme just really showed the people, the fans and the haters that I’m real! I’m like marmite, you either love me or you hate me! And if you do love me, I appreciate it. The stars in the streets was so fun and I’m sad it’s over. I loved constantly being around people like Chipmunk, Skepta. These MC’s have so much passion. Who inspired you; your parents or you cat Pickatchoo? “Ah you can’t be exposing to the readers about my love for cats. Grimey respect my gangster. I’m meant to be this tough and hard character and you got me look might soft. My parents showed me to follow my dreams as you only get one shot at this life, so make it worth it. Tupac was not a Grime artist but he was the greatest rapper ever born! He was not only a rapper but he was poet. The fact that he went to university encouraged me to get my degrees and carry on with my dreams”. Oh we’re sorry and yeah Tupac was big in his day and still is. Your song ‘Don’t Go There’ has been popping off in the Underground scene. For those readers who don’t know the song, what is it about? “Yeah it took off like a jet ski. All thanks to my very dedicated and supportive fans. What would I do without them?” “‘Don’t Go There’ is about the place I call home alongside with the other 64,656 people who love there. People always say “Don’t go Brixton”! “Oh don’t go there, it’s not safe” and that is what inspired my song because Brixton is a beautiful place, full of a lot of diverse people, from all sorts of background. A lot of Grime artists want people to be afraid of them and their hometown but that’s just not me. I am not one to lie about who I really am or lie about what the place I call home is like. I love my hood, man” Yeah, I hear you. Loving your attitude. Who are you feeling in the music industry right about now? “Etta Bond! She is amazing, check her out” We have. She is good. Nice new fresh talent just like yourself. Who would you love to do a collab with? “If Tupac was alive, God rest his soul, I would 100 per cent do a track with him right now! He is the King of Hip Hop no questions about it. But RoxXxan, ah if me and her did a track together it would be pure fire. So fingers crossed for my next mixtape – you never know”! Any idea when that mixtape will be coming out? “My aim is for summer 2013, so plenty of hard work is going to be happening”. Final question, where does BaddaBoom Tee see herself in 10 years time? “I see myself bigger and better that I was 10 years ago. But for now I just need everyone to support me so hit me up and follow me on twitter @BaddaBoomTee”