Female Rap rebel TE (Pronounced Tay) is taking the independent music world by storm. The dynamic MC is the first lady of Blue Heart Entertainment. Blue Heart Entertainment is grinding it’s way to the top led by CEO Neil Thomas. The Rapstress Te has been featured on Shade 45, YoRaps.com, VladTV, Thisis50.com, XXL and more. With an impeccable delivery and unmatched cadence, Te storms the Hip hop scene with unique passion and creativity for her own raw yet polished style of rapping. Equally important, Te’s highly anticipated Mixtape entitled “BlackSheep” is currently a featured release on Coast2Coast Mixtapes and Datpiff.
AllHipHop.com: What’s Good TE? What is the significance of your name?
TE: My stage name TE is an abbreviation for my real name Shante. When I was growing up nicknames and abbreviations were like mandatory, so it’s just something everybody start calling me. To me it stands for “Take Everything” because that’s what I do with everything I do. I want it all! I’m not stingy but I’ve never been the type to sit around just so you can eat. I’m trying to get what I can while I’m here.
AllHipHop.com: Who is your target market?
TE: I make music primarily for the average person growing up in poverty. My music is even for those who never even witnessed this type of lifestyle and just want to tap into the lives of people like myself to try to get an understanding of why I am who I am. Through my music I try to show the rituals I grew up on and my trials and tribulations as well as my successes. I want to make people feel like it’s ok to have gone through struggles and make mistakes and know it’s not the end of the world. Like look at me. I was once that kid they made out to believe there was nothing out here for me but the streets. Everywhere I turned they told me I would never be anything useful. Anything is possible. Live beyond the limits they set for you.
AllHipHop.com: What is your USP? (Unique Selling Proposition) and what sets you apart from other Hip Hop artists?
TE: I’m comfortable being me. I’m my own biggest fan. Females sharing a similar lifestyle as mine never had anybody to look up to. Of course the world knows there are some in entertainment but the industry hides it as if something is wrong with it. You can’t imagine how many females out here are ashamed of something they have no control over. I am that role model. What sets me apart is that I am a female who can actually stand up with these men bar for bar and I’m talking the best of them!
AllHipHop.com: What single or project are you currently pushing?
TE: The project I’m currently pushing is my Mixtape entitled Blacksheep! It’s story of my life. The lead single is called “Last Hope.” I feel like I gave the listeners “All Of Me” with this project. I didn’t hold back anything.. This mixtape will be a featured mixtape on Datpiff.com and Coast2Coast Mixtapes. It will be dropping in a couple of days. On this Blacksheep project we got beats by General Beats, Anno Domini Beats, Kyze Beats with mixes by 15 Mofe, Boogie Bangers, And Moses Jones. RIP to my man Kyze who was the perfect fit for me. It’s going to be hard trying to replace that. But basically, you will feel my pain, my joy, my highs and my lows. And most importantly the “BlackSheep” mixtape is very entertaining.
AllHipHop.com: Which artists have inspired you?
TE: I’ve been inspired by many great artists like Biggie, Jayz, Tupac, Nas, Jadakiss, Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Beanie Segal, Lloyd Banks, Scarface, Big L, Big Pun, Bone Thugs, Lauren Hill, Nore, Dmx, 50 Cent, Eminem. They have all influenced me in one way or another. I will tell you that the 90’s era itself played the biggest in influencing me.
AllHipHop.com: What is your favorite part of your live show? How has it evolved?
TE: My favorite part is interacting with the crowd and actually watching people recite these things that I wrote as if it were their own lyrics. That is an emotional high.. Even first time fans show their appreciation not only with bouncing along but just staring in amazement. I’m more open and direct with my fans today than I was yesterday so that results into a better presentation.
AllHipHop.com: What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?
TE: The industry is cool right now. I think it’s trying to get back to its original state. I’m more than happy at the fact that these labels are starting to sign real talent instead of those “here today and gone tomorrow image acts.” Ringtone rap is dying out if it’s not already dead and those raw emotions and lyrics are starting to find their way back.
AllHipHop.com: Any final words for the people?
TE: Shout out to AllHipHop.com for the opportunity. Please check me out on Youtube.com/1amte and Twitter.com/crownme_te. Shout out to Blue Heart Entertainment. And Finally I ain’t a Big Poppa or a Tupac, I ain’t a Jayz or a Nas, I ain’t a Lil Wayne because I don’t do Rock, but I’ll tell you what I am…. I am Te and I’m ON THE RIISSSEEE!!!! Blacksheep!