Dez: Da Glamorous Street Vixen

24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are.

My name is Dez Da Glamorous Street Vixen or DezVixen for short.  I’m a rap artist and aspiring model/actress who’s trying to build my brand worldwide.

24: Can you briefly describe your history and what the Hip-Hop scene like growing up in Philly?

I started rapping in high school. I was inspired by the ciphers, people rapping in the lunchrooms and on the streets.  I wanted to be able to keep up and be better than the guys. The Hip-Hop scene in Philly was crazy phenomenal, weekly concerts, & showcases and crazy block & house parties.  Hip Hop heads battling on corners back in the Cipher days, we use to get it in! This was when Philly was a prominent market and there was a couple of major labels here and mainstream artists had to come to Philly.

24: Have you had a good experience building with other Philly-bred artists?

Yes I have worked with several local hood stars and upcoming artists & I plan on collaborating with a few of them on this project.  Philly shows me lots of love.

24: What makes Dez unique as an artist and different from other rappers?

I’m not afraid to go left when everyone is going right.  I like to step outside the box.  I don’t want to be bracketed into one style. For instance, party music is dominant right now.  My life is not always a party, I want to show the world the true essence of being a woman; meaning sometimes I’m happy sometimes I’m sad, sometimes I’m mad as hell!  There are times when I feel vulnerable and times when I’m feeling like being sexy. I’m a Gemini so my mood switches.  I’m not afraid to capture that in a song to show the world my reality. There are times when I was living check to check, broke as hell.  Life is not always peaches and cream, glamour & glitz or I’m da shit music.  That’s where my name comes into play when I’m being Glamorous that exudes my softer side, the natural beauty in me.  The street is when I’m being hood and revealing my flagrant, no nonsense attitude. Then you have the Vixen who is the ultimate seductress that’s the “OH NO” she didn’t say that side!!

24: Have you ever felt like too much time passes in the game where you have to make it and that window is closing?

There have been times when I contemplated throwing in the towel due to discouragement from lost opportunities and going through predicaments that only a woman would go through trying to get in this male dominated industry.  Times when I’ve reached out to a males who had connections who appeared like they wanted to help but wanted me to compromise myself to get there.  Which is not something I’m willing to do but I keep it moving because I don’t feel like the window is closing when one window closes two more open up!!

24: Who in the industry would you say you would like to work with in the near future?

Without even thinking I would have to say Jay Z. that’s my idol.  I love the fact that he’s always reinventing himself.  I can listen to him over and over without getting tired. He’s a musical and lyrical genius.  It would be a dream come true to work with him.   I also love Kayne his for his lyrics and extraordinary production and the fact that he always steps outside the box I would like to work with him, Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Manaj, Fabolous & Young Jeezy.

24: In the beginning stages of your upcoming album, what producers have you worked with or would like to work with on this upcoming project?

I’m working with Mr. Goodpen, PortLife Music who’s recorded songs with Beyonce, Akon, Players Circle, J Holiday and more.  I just did a collab track with an artist named Ray Wellz produced by Jahlil Beats but I would like to work with Jahlil on some solo songs.   I’m working with Stash House Records, Zim Productions and I would like to work with Simon Illa, who has previously produced a few songs for me.  I would also like to work with D-Moet & Carvin Haggins (Karma Productions) & Destro who are major producers in the industry that I’ve worked with in the past. I’m pushing for a release date of August 31.

24: Are you happy with the feedback you’ve been getting from the songs you’ve released so far?

Yes I’m very happy my peers and fans are showing me lot’s of love everywhere.  I’ve been on worldstarhip.com & allflamers.com & a few blog sites so I have them talking hate it or love it I’m on the radar.

24: What do you think of how so many things are digital with labels today, from iTunes to digital-only releases?

There are pros and cons I think it give an upcoming independent artist an opportunity to build a fan base without having a major distribution.  The downside is that labels are not developing artists anymore they want you to have a big fan base from the door which means you need to have the finances it takes to promote & push your product properly.

24: When you put your up for free download, does it bother you at all that you’re giving out the music for free or do you look at that as something that you have to do at this point in your career?

No it doesn’t bother me it’s all about marketing and promoting so you can sell your music online & in the streets and give some away for promo.

24: Do you enjoy the social networking aspect of the game or do you look at it like it’s something you have to do?

 Yes I enjoy it even though sometimes it’s challenging to manage all the websites, and be on there as much as I would like to.  I love socializing with my peers and fans it helps me keep up with what’s going on with mainstream artists that I’m a fan of real time and keep my fans close.

24: In today’s free download age, what do you need that you don’t have to make Dez a household name?

Even though it’s a free download age I still believe you still need a big sponsor or collaboration with a major artist would help as well the cosigning aspect.

24: How do you feel about the current state of music in general?

I feel that music is always evolving so it’s on to what’s next can’t stay stuck.  What goes around always comes back anyway.  Real Hip-Hop is on its way back in.

24: What are you currently working on and where do you see yourself going in 2010? 

I’m going to Mars I see my career taking off like a Rocket!! I’m working on freestyles for my mixtape, original songs, video clips as well as a few collaborations.

24: How would the fans go about contacting you?

www.myspace.com/dezevil www.facebook.com/dezvixen miller www.twitter.com/dezvixen www.youtube.com/streetvixendez & my website dezvixen.com is coming soon!!

24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Yes to my present fans, I love y’all. Thanks for all the love and support & to my future fans I’m going to make you love me!! Muah, Diva Kiss!!