Brianna Perry isn’t your cookie cutter “rapstress” looking to gain recognition by means of her good looks and charms, despite being easy on the eyes. The Miami native first stepped inside a booth at seven-years old and has since been trying to forge her legacy in the ever-evolving world of Hip-Hop, an industry still dominated by men today.
The University of Miami graduate practically grew up inside the studio, having caught the attention of Trina, Missy Elliott and Rick Ross in the process. The MMG head honcho inevitably became Perry’s mentor, helping to put together her first-ever mixtape and molding her into the artist she is today.
Now, the Poe Boy Princess and “Marilyn Monroe” rapper has taken on a new role in Oxygen’s latest reality series, Sisterhood of Hip Hop. The 22-year-old rap phenomena, alongside Diamond, Siya, Bia and Nyemiah Supreme, is captured on camera chasing her dreams of being a top MC, all while navigating the ins and outs of the music industry.
Catch the up-and-coming rookie on Oxygen every Tuesday night at 9/8c on Sisterhood of Hip Hop. Cop her newest single “I’m That B.I.T.C.H” on iTunes.
Get acquainted.
Hip-Hop Wired: What’s the greatest piece of advice Missy Elliott has given to you as a fellow female rapper?
Brianna Perry: I can’t say it was any spoken statement. It was just more of me watching her lifestyle and watching her be managed by her mom like me. I was blessed to see how she operated in the studio, how hard she went with her show sets, overall work ethic and video concepts, how she handled business and her fans—me just being so young and being able to soak all that in.
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Photo: Atlantic Records/Instagram
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Hip-Hop Wired: What’s your relationship like with Rick Ross, who fills the role of a mentor?
Brianna Perry: I have the utmost respect for Rick Ross as an artist. He’s one of the people in the game who watched me grow from a young girl. He knew me before I even got in the booth for the first time when I was seven-years old and helped put together my first mixtape. I have an incredible amount of respect for him and admiration. I think he’s one of the dopest MCs that’s doing it right now. Not to mention, we’re both from Carol City. So coming from where I’m from to going around the world and doing what he does, that’s big inspiration for me.
Hip-Hop Wired: How did your involvement with the show come about?
Brianna Perry: The production team and Oxygen reached out to me. I had already been putting out mixtapes , visuals and was nominated for a BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist without releasing my debut album. So, I guess they really just put their ears to the street before they contacted me. After that, we of course went through the whole negotiating process. It’s truly a blessing for me to be one of the five girls. It really is.
Hip-Hop Wired: You have a degree from UM. What was it like going to school as a full-time rapper?
Brianna Perry: Yes, I graduated in May. Being a full time rapper and a full-time student was definitely a hustle as you can imagine. They’re both extremely demanding, time consuming and require a certain amount of dedication. So to be able to finish that goal meant a lot to me.
Hip-Hop Wired: Congrats.
Brianna Perry: Thank you!
Hip-Hop Wired: What’s the most difficult thing about being managed by your own mother?
Brianna Perry: It’s crazy. It really is. But we have a very tight bond. She’s more than just my mom, she’s more than just my manager, she’s really close to me. She’s my best friend. She wears so many different hats. And I know that she wants to see me win and loves me unconditionally. So, to have her on my team with the role of being a manager, I don’t take it for granted.
Hip-Hop Wired: You’re known as the Poe Boy Princess. Do you think that a female rapper needs to be affiliated with a male group or label to gain recognition?
Brianna Perry: If you look back at Hip-Hop history, female MCs, for the most part, have been cosigned by the dudes running the rap game at the time. I definitely think it helped every woman in the game who had that. And I don’t necessarily have that male cosign. I’m signed to Atlantic Records through Poe Boy, but I’m not under one male figure who’s running the game right now, who has me on tour with him or on his records. It’s definitely more of a grind to break through without that [male cosign], if every successful woman before me had that.
Hip-Hop Wired: So you’re not trying to be anyone’s “First Lady,” you’re trying to do this on your own?
Brianna Perry: If it was positioned to me and it made sense, why not? I don’t knock the women who are the first ladies of her camp.
Hip-Hop Wired: How do you see your life/career changing once the show airs? What do you hope to see happen?
Brianna Perry: I am thrilled. I’m super excited, because for the people who are fans of Brianna Perry, what those people are going to get from the show, they can’t get from the music. You can hear my records and relate to them, but you may not get me as a person. [Fans] get to see me being a daughter, being a student, being a person who’s out here dream-chasing and trying to get it. So, I think that I am able to give the people so much more of me versus them just hearing one song and trying to identify with me. People will really get to tap in and meet Brianna Perry and see what she’s all about.
Hip-Hop Wired: What was the toughest part about filming the show? Did you run into any troubles with the girls?
Brianna Perry: [Laughs] I think you just have to watch and keep watching. It was a very special experience for me, I will say that much. I think it’s a blessing for me to be a part of this entire project. I had never done this before. I don’t have any sisters either, I just have one younger brother. To be part of this “sisterhood,” of the women who are in my profession—it was interesting and definitely a first.
Hip-Hop Wired: When can fans expect a debut album?
Brianna Perry: I won’t give a date on it now. But fans can certainly follow me on Twitter, Instagram or BriannaPerry.com to know what’s going on with updates and new music.
