S. Samuel
West Coast rap newcomer Kreayshawn recently opened up on her rags to riches rise in hip-hop and how she nearly ended up having a career doing blue collar work.
Admitting she survived a difficult childhood, Kreay credited a stint with free education and training program Job Corps for getting the wheels rolling.
“I went through so many hard, crazy, random things, even in my childhood,” says the 22-year-old Natassia Zolot (Kreayshawn), “that for a second I thought ‘What is my life going to be?’ It was insane — I could’ve wound up dead.” She says she turned her life around through Job Corps. “I really think it’s a good place to go,” Kreayshawn says of the free education/training program that helps low-income youth earn a diploma or GED, then learn career-defining work skills. “Right before I went, I was living at (Mob partner) V. Nasty‘s house, and I just didn’t really see myself doing much of anything. Then I heard of Job Corps, I went, and it helped me get my life on track. And if you graduate, they even help you get an apartment.” (SF Examiner)
She also said Job Corps landed her a j-o-b followed by a one-time purchase which sparked a rap career.
Zolot lived in Job Corps’ dorms on Treasure Island, regularly rode the 108 bus and studied facility maintenance. “So I learned how to power-wash cement, which was actually kind of scary — the water is so hot, we’d have to wear these big overall outfits,” she says. “I also know how to paint curbs and fire hydrants — it was actually some pretty interesting stuff.” Soon, she had her own apartment, a job at IKEA, and enough money for a MacBook, on which she made her first music and videos. (SF Examiner)
Following the recent passing of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Kreay said his MacBook laptop line is responsible for helping fuel a viral hip-hop takeover.
“RIP Steve Jobs,” said Kreayshawn. “If it wasn’t for him me and alot of artists wouldn’t have the digital proficiency that we do today. Buying my first MacBook was a huge change in my life for me and it also helped me make sense of all the arts that I can accomplish on one piece of technology created a man named Steve Jobs.” (Hip Hop DX)
In September, Kreay revealed she has other career backup plans if hip-hop does not pan out to her liking.
“I’m a rapper, I’m a graphic designer director, model, deejay and a professional b*tch snatcher,” Kreayshawn said. “There’s a lot of people that want to push you down. One, for being a female and one for being white. It’s hard but I don’t see it like that. In Oakland, that’s how you grew up…The best about everything that’s going on is I have my head on my shoulders, I know what I want, I know my vision and it’s not like I signed this record deal blindly — whatever happens, happens. I know that I’m a good person and that I’m smart and funny. If the music thing doesn’t work out, I’m talented at a million other things.” (“Carson Daly”)
Check out a recent Kreayshawn interview below:
