She made the male dominated Southern Hip Hop heads Say Uhhhhhh! No
Limits 1st lady Mia X aka Betty Rocka Locksmith is cooking up that dirty
south twang again for 2010.  After being
the Unlady Like Diva of No Limit and collaborating on some of their biggest
records, the loss of her Parents and other family and friends in 2005’s
hurricane Katrina the Biggest Mama when on musical hiatus. She’s back with her
newest LP Betty Rocka-Locksmith set to release in February 2010 and vows to
tribute Hip-Hop at its rawest. With special guest appearances with the likes of
Gucci Mane, Yung Joc, and more Yoraps got a chance to speak with the diva about
her time off and the new project

 

24: I’m
ecstatic to holler at you! How have you been first of all?

I’ve been good.

 

24: You were No Limit’s 1st Lady,
how did it feel to be a part of such an imprint in the Hip Hop Culture?

I am honored
to have been a part of a Southern Hip Hop label that started a movement of
independence. We are the blueprint.

 

24: How did
you end up signing with No Limit?

I never signed with No Limit. We just made great music together.

 

24: Wow, ok! To be the 1st Lady
of such a powerhouse of notarized men meant a lot back in the early nineties.
Was it hard to run with the fellas and still maintain your femininity?

It was never
hard because the men at the label were southern gentlemen for the most part,
and we got along well.

 

24: Your second LP, Unlady Like,
went certified gold in a time when gold was platinum. How did you celebrate
that achievement?

Master P gave me a party on a yacht in the Bahamas. 

 

24: That album has one of my
favorite joints on it, “Party Don’t Stop,” featuring Master P and
Foxy Brown. How do you feel when you hear your music from 1997 being played
today, almost 13 years later?

Thank you!
Foxy was great to work with, and it’s an honor to still hear the music and to
also see the next generation feeling it.

 

24: The re-cover of “I’ll
Take Ya Man ’97,” featuring Salt-N-Pepa was bananas. I have to know how
you put that joint together!

Salt-N-Pepa
is my favorite female group of all time. I do a tribute to my favorite artist
on every CD. “I’ll Take Your Man” is a classic! I just told KLC I’m
(gonna) remake that as mama’s tribute, and he was like, “As long as you do
it your way, Raw!” *Mia laughs* and, so I did it.

 

24: Ok! Mama Drama dropped in
1998 with the smash”What’cha Wanna Do,” featuring Charlie Wilson, and
after that album you disappeared. What happened?

My parents
died shortly after the release of Mama Drama, followed by fourteen other family
members. I was shook! My children were still young, and my sister was in
college. I decided that it was necessary to dedicate my time to them.

 

24: On your musical hiatus you
suffered several personal setbacks, including the loss of your mother and
father. You’re also a Louisiana native who experienced first hand the
devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Tell us a little about those experiences and
their effects on you?

My mom kept
the kids while I worked, (so) I had to step up and really be mama Mia. The kids
are grown. They are both working and in school. They are great young people,
very focused and productive. And my sister, Dr Ashley M.D.M.S, is a doctor of
internal medicine and molecular genetics. She practices in DC. Most of my
family lost everything they had in Katrina. Some died during the storm, others
died shortly after to what I call “Katrina related issues;” Stress,
heart attacks, cancer came back on some, brain tumors, high blood pressure,
strokes — It was, and still is, very hard.

 

24: In 2006, you appeared on a
Southern Smoke mix tape with “Verbal Assault,” a track produced by
Donald “XL” Robertson. Was that a warning for what’s to come?

Shout out to
XL! “Verbal Assualt” was a little reminder that I really
“Do” this music, and very well might I add.

 

24: Well you’re back with your
highly anticipated fourth LP, Betty Rocka-Locksmith. How did you come up with
the name for this one?

I’m Betty
Rocka the cook, in the kitchen and on the beat. I whip up the dope-ness in both
places! I am also the Locksmith. The supplier of lyrical keys.

 

24: With the track “Get The
Paper,” an ode to the ’80’s, and the title Betty Rocka-Locksmith sounding
like a fresh ’80’s rap name — Is that a hint at what this album will have to
offer?

Yes, Betty
Rocka-Locksmith is a tribute to Hip-Hop at its rawest. You will hear a lot of
1980’s influences. I started rapping when I was a young girl in the ’80’s.

 

24: I can’t wait! Betty
Rocka-Locksmith is currently scheduled to be released in February 2010. Any
special features or guest appearances that we should look out for?

I’m working
with a few of my brothers, like, Fiend, KLC, XL and Snoop, from No Limit. I
worked with Gucci Mane, Yung Joc, Juvie, Monica, Betty Wright, Gangsta Boo. I
know you’re going to like the CD — It’s dat work!

 

24: Thanks for talking with me and
the 24hourhiphop family! Lets us know where we can find more info about the
album and you!

Thank you
Lucky, and yoraps.com, for taking the time to chat with me. I also wanna shout
out the fans, because after being off the scene for so long I realize that
y’all could be checking for many other people who are currently making their
marks. So, to include me in the mix is an honor. I am forever grateful. And,
I’m working hard to keep the “Heat” coming!