Trina

Trina first gained notoriety in 1998 with her appearance on Trick Daddy's www.thug.com album, most notably on the song "Nann". Her own debut album, Da Baddest Bitch, featured a cameo by Trick Daddy and was released in 2000 on Atlantic Records through the Slip-N-Slide imprint. Trina, who was a real estate agent before she began her career in music, spent the next two years honing her raw, raunchy style, following in the vein of fellow female MCs Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown. She paired up with Missy Elliott for the recording of her second effort, 2002's Diamond Princess and is currently putting together her new album under the working title of Rock Starr.

After not being able to get through to her manager it was “Bernie the Attorney” who helped me out so shouts to him and Trina for getting it together.

How is the new album going? Have you decided on the name “Rock Starr” yet?

We’ve been getting tracks and producers together in the studio and recorded three tracks already. I have a few people I’d like to work with but I don’t know for sure yet. I have a track with Fergie at the moment on her album. Rock Starr has been the title so far but anything’s subject to change. It will definitely be hip hop but I want it to be international and crazy.

Do you hope to sell more records and gain a higher chart position with this album?

I really hope so with the position of the label and the marketing and promotion that will be going into it. My last album was a big record and the label kind of messed it up with the promotion side of things.

What do you think of comparisons to Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown even though you’re friends?

It’s cool, I think it’s just the ambience that there is with women in the industry. There aren’t enough trying to collaborate and stick together. We haven’t chosen a song yet but I plan to work with Kim in the near future.

Who are the “baddest bitches” in your eyes?

Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Lil’ Kim, Gabrielle Union…there are so many. It’s about strong women that go hard. People are going to have different opinions but music is what you bring to it. Whether it’s raunchy, sexy or slow music it’s all about expression and I look at that as a great thing.

What kind of examples of sexism have you come across in this industry?

It’s a very sexist and male dominated industry so you have to stay strong and learn to make yourself believable. You’re always going to get guys that are all over you just because you’re a hot commodity or a sex symbol in the business but to be sexy is useful. Every woman is sexy within herself at some point it’s just about how you bring it out.

We all know you’ve got a body, but how do you stay in shape?

I work out with a trainer three to four times a week and I eat healthy food like chicken and salad and drink a lot of water.

No Mariah Carey style diets then?

Ha ha no! Sometimes when you’re doing a video, concert or photo shoot and you want to be extra flawless and in shape you go a little harder and sacrifice a lot more than a normal diet or routine to be able to show off.

To most people you appear tough but a lot of people don’t see the other side of you. For example tell me about your foundation?

It’s called the Diamond Dolls Foundation and it’s for underprivileged girls and women who have self esteem issues. It could be breast cancer, rape, teenage pregnancy, anything that a woman goes through in life that’s hard to deal with. These issues are not addressed enough and for me it’s about getting them more motivated and let them know that people care.

I interviewed Khia a few weeks ago and she said this about yourself and Jackie-O, “I don’t really respect them as artists or feel that they have talent. They deal with a lot of ghostwriters and men who write for them, so it’s really just ear pleasing for the men...they are not staying true to themselves.” What would be your response to that?

First of all I would say that she don’t know me and second of all I rap about things that are believable and happen everyday in everybody’s life it’s just that so many people are in denial about their lives whether they are hustling money from a dude, dancing or on the street, that’s all reality to me. I’m fly, I’ve always been fly, I like nice things like money, diamonds and cars. I take care of myself and get it on my own and these are the things I aim for and I’m true to myself. For somebody like her that is a nobody, how can she say I don’t respect myself when her first song is about licking her neck and back and crack? Excuse me if I’m wrong but I don’t see any Christian song come out of her so how dare she contradict herself and say anything about me. She’s not at the level she wants to be at in her career and talking about me was a publicity stunt because she supposedly had an album that came out. My records have gone way past gold so I’ve had no reason to disrespect another female artist to get myself known; I’ve worked hard for it. Until she does some of the things I’ve done and can show something she’s done in this game, nobody cares what she has to say.

I don’t even want to give you all this attention because this is the most press you’ve ever had but since you wanna keep talking about me I need to say something to let you know that I’m a landslide ahead of you. You ain’t done nothing that the world should be aware of – shut up.

How have you been able to stay positive with so much negativity around you?

I surround myself with positive people and I know that to be in this game or just to be somebody that people idolise there’s always going to be negativity and there will always be haters. They have something to say because they’re jealous. They don’t have the self esteem and strength to stand on their own and make it happen for them. Don’t envy another woman, just do you. I grew up to know that if you want what someone else has you have to work for it.

Let’s slow it down a bit and talk about love. How did you hook up with Lil’ Wayne? Are you two getting married or have you already?

We were friends for a while, he’s a great guy. I knew him for years and we always saw each other and started hanging out. It was love after! I would just say I love him to death. Maybe one day I’ll say if we’re getting or have been married. You never know what will happen in the future there’s always that element of surprise.

What’s next for Trina?

I’m working on my perfume and clothing label Diamond Princess. We’ve got some new designers which I’m excited about. I’m trying to get together a sneak peek of the designs at a fashion show in a few months in Miami. I will walk through every door that’s open for me. I’m excited about the new album and life in general. God is great, life is good.

www.trina-online.com 

By Rashmi Shastri - Aug 2006