For four years Jha Jha was the first lady of Dipset. Unable to come up with a mutual agreement with the Harlem crew, the Florida bred rapper decided it was time to part ways.
Not one to get discouraged this 'Git It Girl' is on her grind harder than ever and has a lot of things in the works. Sixshot.com sat down with Jha Jha to discuss college, female rappers, and sex appeal.
You were a good college student. What and pursue rapping as a career?
I always wanted to be in the entertainment industry. I also knew that in order to succeed in the music business, you had to have the book smarts as well as street smarts. I was presented an opportunity to get in the music industry while I was a sophomore in school and I took the opportunity.
I always encourage my fans, kids, and teens to stay in school and get an education. Granted everyone isn't meant to go to school but everyone isn't meant to be an artist either. So you must make the right choices in life.
So you just picked up and moved to New York right?
Yes, I was supposed to start school three days before I came back to New York to live.
Did you have your demo done when you got here?
I had an entire album with a marketing plan done. I knew that the music business was changing and most of the label execs were n't interested in developing an artist, so I had my whole vision mapped out for that time being.
How did you get introduced to Dipset?
This guy named Joe introduced me to Dipset. Jim [Jones] and Juelz [Santana] heard this record that I had and they let me hang around.
How did it feel being the only female in Dipset?
It was a challenge and a great learning experience. I learned the game, what to do, and what not to do, how to carry yourself, how not to carry yourself and how not to treat people. In all actuality, I was never signed to Dipset, we thought we could make something work but nothing as far as a legal binding agreement transpired out of it.
We had creative differences so I decided the best thing for my career was to part ways.
Were you upset parting ways with Dipset? Who are you looking to sign with now?
No, I wasn't upset with not signing with Dipset, I was with them for four years everything happens for a reason. I wish them the best of luck. As far as where I'm looking to sign now, which ever label that can understand my vision and wants to win with my project as much as I do.
How hard is it for a female to make it in the rap game?
Its extremely hard. Sometimes I feel like the game wants us to become extinct, which is so weird because the only person that can sell as much as the head dude in a click is the female. When women put out records they have more avenue's for making money. A lot of labels I spoke to were afraid to put out a female artist. They said because they didn't want to deal with the hassles and they're not selling records.
My response to that is I have been around guys that were bigger drama queens than women could ever be. I've seen guys run late for shows and throw tantrums. So to me that's a bunch of bull. It's all about the individual.
As far as women [not] selling records, they're right ,but there only like six females in the rap industry. Those six put there first albums out when I was in middle school. You can't keep releasing the same artist over and over and think there gonna sell boo coo records!
There fan base has grown up. The ratio of men to women is 100 to. So if you have a hundred guys put out albums and 7 of those men have successful albums and the same six females come out and none of them sell, that speaks for every female rap artist? How?
If there were more women in the industry then there would be a greater chance of women rap artist selling records. Every guy that comes with an album doesn't have a successful album. The ratio is just higher so it looks like women are falling off but that's not the case, just stop being afraid to sign new women acts.
You've written on Diplomatic Immunity 2 and Harlem: Diary of A Summer. How is it writing for other people's projects?
It feels great to have people respect my vision enough to use it as their own. I don't just write rap I can write R&B and I also produce.
Git It Girl Entertainment is your label. What are your goals for the label?
To win. Be number one on the charts, show that women can make it to the top without compromising themselves, that we can make hit records also, we can get money also, just like the next man. To be a positive influence and representation of our people especially the women. But men can be signed to the label also (laughs).
Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliot, Usher, Lil Kim, Biggie, Jay Z, Marvin Gay, Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, Brian Micheal Cox, and Rodney Jerkins
You portray a sexy image but I feel you don't put as much out there as some other female rappers. Is that intentional?
At the end of the day sex sells but I'm not going to compromise myself to where I don't want my parents to see what I have on. My whole thing is that I'm trying to become an icon. I want to be on top all around the board from swag, to looks, to lyrics to record sells. You just have to know how far you want to take it....shout out to my 'Glam Squad'...Donte, Terrance, and Itaysha.
Do you plan on doing anything outside of the rap world?
Yes, as a matter of fact I'm about to start shooting the pilot for my reality TV show
What can we expect from Jha Jha in the future?
Hits, a new evolution, innovation, I'm gonna give it my all; I want to share my story with the world.
The mixtape was hot. What were you trying to show the fans with it?
That was just an intro to what they should expect. My next mixtape Git It Girl Vol 2: The Black Barbie Edition is gonna be crazy though. Its well rounded, I try to make my mix tapes look and sound like albums, so this next one will be very lyrical and diverse. It's still gonna have the hood and the sexiness plus the party joints though.
Dipset has a huge core fan base; do they show you a lot of love?
Yes they do, but like I said I'm not apart of DipSet anymore. Shout out to all my fans though
Is there a rivalry between you and any female rappers?
No I'm about a dollar all that other stuff is irrelevant to me. Just as long as no one steps out of line. We good Money
What sets you apart from other female rappers?
My talent, my look, my swag, and my music, I'm not just a rapper I'm an entertainer. I can do it all, and I can do it by myself, meaning if you leave me in the studio for a week I'll have an entire album with the marketing plan done.
Anything you want to say to the fans?
Thanks for waiting on my project to be released, I know its been along time coming. I appreciate all of the love and I promise I won't let you down. Love Jha Jha... your number one 'Git It Girl'...R.I.P. Stack Bundles.
Look for Jha Jha‘s new mixtape Git It Girl Vol2 The Black Barbie Edition IN STORES NOW!
