The birth place of hip continues to act as fertile ground for female rap artist, including 24-year old Connie Diiamond. Rapping from the age of 14, Diiamond is of a new generation of women disinterested in using sex to sell. Earlier this month, she released the visual for “Fire Place,” featuring Brooklyn female rapper Billy B. The song is the first single from her upcoming mixtape, which will be marked by all-female features.
Check out our exchange with Diiamond below:
Snobette: Hi Connie, where are you from?
Connie Diiamond: “I was born in the Bronx but I was raised in Queens.”
Snobette: Which borough do you claim?
Connie Diiamond: “The Bronx.”
Snobette: What block do you claim?
Connie Diiamond: “182nd Street in the Bronx.”
Snobette: What were some valuable lessons you learned growing up in the Bronx?
Connie Diiamond: “The most important thing I represent is a unique flow and look.”
Snobette: What do you feel like you’re bringing to the game that sets you apart?
Connie Diiamond: “I feel like a lot of other female rappers coming up talk about the same stuff, having sex and being a sex symbol, and I talk about who I am. I’m never going to sell sex to get fans or get attention.”
Snobette: What topics do you tackle in your rhymes?
Connie Diiamond: “I’m a Taurus and it’s makes me a very aggressive person. I will bully my way into anything I’m doing to come out on top.”
Snobette: What is the first rap music you remembering connecting with?
Connie Diiamond: “A Ghostface Killah song called “Cherchez LaGhost. I was 10 or 11 years old.”
Snobette: Where do you weigh in on the debate over writing your own lyrics?
Connie Diiamond : “Well, I write all of my own songs, never had any help. It’s not 100 percent bad, but hip hop was started by people writing their own lyrics and it’s about it bringing your passion for something you absolutely love. Ghostwriters are corny, you don’t really want to be a rapper. I don’t agree with it, but in the industry it’s accepted.”
Snobette: What’s the plan with the all-female mixtape?
Connie Diiamond : “Everyone is completely different, but none are about selling sex, it’s about being unique.”
Snobette: How many songs?
Connie Diiamond : “I’m still debating the track list, but about nine, and every song has a female feature.”
Snobette: Can you say who’s going to be featured?
Connie Diiamond : B. Simone and Bali Baby are two, they’re a mix of U.S. and U.K. rappers.
Snobette: When are you releasing it?
Connie Diiamond: “No exact date yet. It’s pretty much done. I’m playing around with a few last songs.”
Snobette: Where did you record?
Connie Diiamond : “I record at the Mes Hall in Mt. Vernon.”
Snobette: What’s the next thing you’re doing, Connie?
Connie Diiamond : I have a show coming up on April 18th at S.O.B.s and a college event with Princess Nokia. I’m really looking forward to that.
Check out Diiamond’s “Fire Place” video below.
