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Give us a bit of background - you were born in Nigeria but are Lebanese, what's the story? I was born in Nigeria, I lived there for 7 years, I had grandparents that were born there and when my dad was alive he owned a business there. And then we came to Eng- land for a fresh new start because things out there weren't good and the currency was going corrupt and there was a bit of violence, so we literally came to England with nothing. So when did you get into music? When I got to England, I was liv- ing in a bed and breakfast, I was getting moved around, it wasn't really easy. Then I got placed in a council estate when I was 9 years old, and it was a big culture there, where people were really into grime. So from a young age, I was around people that would just sit around and make bars. Like we were on the block and everyone would just drop lines and we would bang on the door to cre- ate a beat, I wasn't really spitting then but I was listening, and then I started to take it a lot more seri- ously when my dad passed away. Tell us about your latest single 'Pree My Ting'? Yeah 'Pree My Ting' is out right now, the video is out on YouTube, it's out on Spotify, iTunes and the song itself is produced by Jam- mer, who you know is a grime veteran, who's been about for days and is an original, and who is famously known for being in Boy Better Know. Working with Jammer, how was that for you? Honestly, like words can't even explain it because I feel like he gave me a massive opportunity, he put a lot of time and effort into me, and we just did a whole single. So it was just such a nice experi- ence, a nice working environment, we literally just got on with it, no qualms, we just got on with it. What is the message you would like to get across in your music? It's not like I have a specific mes- sage, but I guess my morals and values, I like to empower females and I don't see as many girls out there. Well now it is becoming more common, but not really in grime, you don't really see girls at the forefront spitting bars so I am out there just showing that what- ever guys can do girls can do to. And it's good not to say girls are better, we are all on a equal level, you can do anything you want if you dedicate and put your time into it. You know I couldn't even speak a word of English now I am spitting bars, I have got metaphors, I have got similes, I have got everything in there, so anything is possible. Have you had to fight your way to where you are now? Did you get there with your good looks? You know it's mad, it's like I don't think my good looks are helping me, I guess they attract some good attention, however, for you to be taken seriously I believe personally in grime, you also have to look the part. So if I am looking too cute it is actually quite hard. But this is who I am, I am not try- ing to fake anything, we ain't got no extra money coming to us, we are doing this independently, this is real for me, it's not fake, this is what I do. But I am just starting to do it now on a professional level if you know what I mean, so I have experienced hardship, I have had so many no's. What is the worst trouble you ever been in? I have not been arrested if that's what you are asking, I haven't got a criminal record. But I have been in a lot of trouble but I can't think of the worst, I have been in trouble in terms of where I have... I mean I can't really reveal that, can I? Yeah, you can, this is a no judg- ment space. Honestly, I can't really remem- ber, I was a bit naughty when I was younger, I would say I have gotten in trouble, but I have never had a criminal record. Where I grew up on the estate we used to get, stopped by the police for no reason, that's like me not doing anything, but you get stopped and they put your name down, it feels like you are getting in trouble but you have actually done noth- ing wrong so that's probably the worst. I am actually a goody two shoes. So what is your view on police nowadays and how they are treating the youth in London? For me because I've been around it a lot, nothing has changed, I don't think it's got worse, I think it's becoming more apparent in people eyes because the media has obviously started to talk about it. And you've got Twitter, Insta- gram so a lot of videos of police brutality, for the minority of the police who do behave like that, cause you don't want to blame all the police, to generalise. But it is being circulated around, and it is creating an image for every single police officer but from my experience, some people are unfairly targeted and I have got firsthand experience of that. Growing up on a council estate, so I don't think anything has changed, I just think it is becom- ing more widespread, through our social media and the technology we have got these days. You released your EP My Terms & Conditions earlier this year, and already have a new single out, so what else have you got in the works? The thing is I have recorded so many singles, I think it looks like I am going to do another EP by the end of the year, so I have got a lot of singles there, I might just com- pile it and make it into an EP. INTERVIEW LAUGHTA 2017 / ISSUE 102 37 HIP HOP & RNB "YOU KNOW I COULDN'T EVEN SPEAK A WORD OF ENGLISH NOW I AM SPITTING BARS, I HAVE GOT METAPHORS, I HAVE GOT SIMILES, I HAVE GOT EVERYTHING IN THERE SO ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE." With an air of mystery surrounding her next EP Laughta has mastered the art of keeping us hooked. From her latest single 'Pree My Ting' produced by "grime veteran" Jammer to her upcoming projects, Laughta is a female emcee with a difference. Speaking proudly on her belief in female unity in the grime scene, Laughta lets us know why empowering women in music is important, future events & we touch on how police brutality in London hasn't changed much since her childhood. Patience Takyuka | Guestlist follow @laughta1