Source: brochure / Lady Luck
In the beating heart of Hip-Hop, where lyricism rules and storytelling is an art form, few voices resonate with the raw, unapologetic power of Lady Luck.
A lyrical powerhouse, she traverses the music scene like a queen. From the battlefield to the underground and the mainstream. her rhymes cut through the noise with razor precision. As we sit down with this intrepid lyricist, we peel back the layers of her journey and delve into the mind of Lady Luck, where every word is a testament to her unwavering spirit and unparalleled talent.
Lady Luck's evolution in music is a testament to her resilience and growth as an artist. From the fierce and now legendary battles between her and Remy Ma, where she honed her skills and made her mark, to the more thoughtful and positive messages we hear on her latest single, 'Praise', her journey has been transformative. The tragic loss of her mother acted as a catalyst, prompting Lady Luck to channel her pain into her music, using her platform to spread messages of hope, empowerment and self-discovery. This shift in focus shows her versatility as an artist and highlights her ability to turn personal tragedy into a beacon of light for others.
Hip-Hop Wired: We know you're a vet in the game, but to kick things off, let's talk about your female Rap influences. Who are your top five influences to get on the mic?
Lady Luck: Wow, I'm a little biased because I feel like my top five should be everyone's top five [laughs]but I'd say it's Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Da Brat, beloved Da Brat and Nikki D. Of course, Nikki D, we can't forget her, but can I get some honorable mentions? Because I want to add Lady of Rage, Roxanne Shante and Antionette. I mean I have some honors for all the girls who poured into me, pause. [laughs]
I understand why when it comes to influences, it can be hard to narrow it down to just five because there are so many great artists.
Like The Sequence, for example. They were the first female rap group that my aunt Sylvia signed [Robinson]and Angie Stone is in the group, only then she was known as Angie B. She was also my godmother at the time.
As a battle rapper whose previous ongoing battle against Remy Ma is now infamous, how do you feel about the hate female rappers receive for verbally fighting like their male counterparts?
It's like this all the time, but it's rooted in gender inequality. It's no different than when a woman talks about herself, she's considered a “bitch”, but you learn that she's part of it. I personally appreciate everything girls do and shake the s–t. I look up to Nicki and Megan and Drake over everybody, I almost want to get into it. [laughs]
Being a veteran MC who has learned to navigate and flow with current music, how do you feel about the current state of culture and the wave of new artists collaborating with vets as a way to pay homage to those they were inspired by?
I think it's dope and it's the first time we've seen anything like this in the industry at this rate. Shout out to Coi Leray for working with Busta [Rhymes]; The fact that it's still burning is dope. I love it. I like that the lines are blurred with the internet because I think it's a gift and a curse. Yes, anyone can drop an album, but anyone he can drop an album so he's a force to be reckoned with. Look at Hit-Boy, his father came home from jail and started dropping that old school heat – people were enjoying it.
One thing I love about you as an artist is that you always highlight the artists you listen to and shine a light on the ones you feel need to be seen. Who are some new artists you look up to and would like to work with?
I'm really bad with names because I smoke so much weed. [laughs] So when this question comes up, I always remember someone I should have mentioned later, but definitely Lola Brooke. I listen to a lot of artists on Sirius Mixtape Radio because it's my passion. Steff-G, it's definitely on my radar. There are so many dope people out there right now, yelling at anyone who doesn't give up.
Speaking of never giving up, over the years you've made some interesting transitions as an artist. We've seen you go from gutter and raw, to sexy, to empowering and now seemingly an elevated state of consciousness. I know you put it down to the recent death of your mother – but you have a very masterful way of bringing life into your art.
I just went through hell. I don't look like what I've been through. It's funny, I used to say the same thing to my wife, that I can look strong and not fall apart, but there are times when I want it to fall apart. But know that I can't. I honestly feel like there is more to life than what “they” tell us, like we are so much more special and advanced than we are led to believe. So I was looking for the truth honestly – so I got good with Forbidden Knowlege and did projects with it because I want to know more. I don't want to just be in the matrix that promotes violence and on a lower frequency anymore. There are many more and I want to know.
I saw you recently posted your General Tso's plant based chicken'n recipe, is veganism part of the new journey?
Yes, we were trying something different with cooking mushrooms. We're actually going to start a podcast about cooking mushrooms in different ways. I'm not vegan yet, but I'm trying to get away from eating chicken and meat so much because I love mushrooms and it's so much cleaner.
With so much going on, is there anything else we should be looking out for?
I'm in New Jersey and I work on a street named after my mother. We're in the early stages, so be on the lookout for more details on Donna Lee's Way soon. Also got my shade lines, Sunday Wearand we got our new artist, DollyB, go crazy and my new album, The Human Experience. I work with a bunch of dope artists and producers so be sure to check it out.
