"IAR" Interview: $wagatha Chri$tie

She is not the girl next door.  She is neither a princess, nor a diva.  She is a skateboarding, tattooed, swagged out, "White Girl Wasted" rapper from Portland.  She is $wagatha Chri$tie.  In a predominantly male art form, the "Wicked Witch of the West" is carving a lane for herself in hip-hop.  $C has charisma, flow, and massive commercial appeal.  She is an artist in its truest form.  Her raw lyrics and party anthems are indicative of a rock star lifestyle that is in fact reality, not fabrication, which is a rarity among female artists.  $wagatha exudes an obvious sexiness, but is by no means making it the focal point for her career or persona, like many female MC's of the past.  The music and movement is a direct representation of what and who she is.  She's raw.  She's influential.  She possesses and exerts the ability to express taboo female subject matter and make it not only intriguing, but undoubtedly permissible, as well as just plain dope!  She is the type of artist that has the innate ability to transcend the rap game and conquer other facets of the entertainment industry, while remaining faithful to her ties and passion for hip-hop.  It's A Rap had the pleasure of discovering not only why other female MC's need to beware, but also what makes the "Wicked Witch" oh so wicked. 


IAR: How did you get the name $wagatha Chri$tie?
$C: "Well, Agatha Christie is a british crime/mystery writer of novels, short stories, and plays.  Growing up my sister and her friends would always used to play on her name, like Hagatha Christie or Lagatha Christie.  When I started rappin' I repped the SWAG movement hard, so it only made sense that I would come up wit' $wagatha Chri$tie.  Ive been the #1 Swag Hag ever since."


IAR: When did you get your start in hip-hop?
$C: "I used to rap and shit when I was younger and wasted at parties or at the skate park, but never really took it seriously.  Then I kind of realized, fu*k school and fu*k a 9-5.  I love rap so I decided to take it more seriously.  I wrote my first song and stepped into a studio for the first time a little over a year and a half ago.  It's been a crazy learnin' process, but I feel like I'm finding my niche and refining my style.  I can't wait to see my haters faces when they hear my next mixtape."


IAR: How would you classify your sound?
$C: "My sound is like a dirty south style mixed with a little bit of punk rock.  In your face, abstract, crazy and raw.  Influenced by skateboarding.  I call it "Hesh Rap." It's fu*kin' party music mostly!  WESTCOAST!"


IAR: What sets you apart from other female hip-hop artists?
$C: "Well as far as I know I'm the only female who raps and skateboards and is makin' moves.  I'm a gemini, so half of me is like, "yo let's go lurk out and skate and drink beers."  The other half is like, "yooo girl let's get our nails did and read girl magazines."  I'm a crazy bitch from Idaho. Also, I don't rap about having hella dough cuz im broke.  But I can't wait to rap about money when I get rich."


IAR: Do you plan on extending your brand outside of music?
$C: "I got a lot of shit in the works right now.  A fashion collabo line wit' my roll dawg Annie Angell, ( @AnnieAngell ) and some White Girl Wasted clothing/ accessories." 


IAR: Influences?
$C: "Tupac, Storm, NWA, AC/DC, UGK, Outkast, Mac Dre,  Yelawolf, ASAP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, 50 Cent, Eminem, Merle Haggard."


IAR: Future Plans/Projects?
$C: "A mixtape of remixes/original material comin' this spring. I'm just gonna' keep pumpin' projects out.  The biggest thing stopping me from releasing sh*t is how hard it is for me to find real DOPE producers who can give me a unique sound. I'm not tryna' lease beats on Soundclick. I wana make art!"


IAR: Artists you want to work with?
$C: "ASAP Rocky, Nacho Picasso, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, and Waka Flocka."


IAR: Producers you want to work with?
$C: "Clams Casino, Beautiful Lou, ASAP Ty Beats, BSBD, Dr. Dre, GB Hitz, Lex Luger, School, Nima Fadavi, and Supahot Beats."


IAR: Where is the current state of hip-hop, in relation to female artists?
$C: "I feel like female artists are becoming accepted more recently.  You see bit*hes blowin' up all over the place and they ain't just a female who was swooped up by a dude and have their music written for 'em.  They have their own style, they know what they want.  They have more creative control.  I think a few ladies have opened the door for the rest of us and the gates gonna' be flooding soon.  Current state of rap is Bangin'!"


www.youtube.com/LMCmakesCutts
Follow on Twitter @itsLMC