Artist Spotlight: @JosieStingray, She's Got It

JCrillz over at hiphopiscoolagain.com put me on to the Oakland female emcee Josie Stingray a few weeks back. He said about her: "one of my favorite emcees (male or female from California's Bay Area has dropped a new video." Josie Stingray, a self proclaimed sneakerhead, delivers the heat on the mic. I dig the sound and her energy. Another example of a dope female emcee doing her thing musically. Check out "Got To Get It" and get to know Josie a little bit after the jump.


Name: Josie Stingray
Location: Oakland,Ca
twitter: @josiestingray
website: josiestingray.com

Discography: "Doing My Thing" Feat Jack Davey, Von Pea " New Pair' Feat Josie Stingray & Rapsody,  Josie Stingray- The Preview Ep , HINT " Give It Up feat 1.O.A.K "

Your music described in one word: Progressive.

Musical Influences: Nas, Jay Z, Kanye,

What's On Your iPod: Spank Pops, Trackademicks, 1-O.A.K., Mike Baker The Bike Maker, Action Bronson, G-Side, Kendrick Lamar, JCole, Wale, Rick Ross, Anita Baker, Asher Roth, Big Pun,The Roots Dom Kennedy,Georgia Anne Muldrow, J-Electronica, Jodeci, Steely Dan, The Verve Lupe, Kings of Leon, Goodie Mob, OutKast, Frank Ocean, Cocain 80s, The Foreign Exchange, Black Hippy Ahmad Jamal ... just a few.

If you were stranded on an island, which ONE record would you bring with you and why?): Anita Baker " Giving You the Best that I Got", because all of her songs are about love. That album has some of the best soothing melodies ever. Its great, I am never tired of it.


The track that best showcases who you are as an emcee: I don't think I have made that record quite yet. But I am close to it. And that song is on my new mixtape with DJ Willie Maze ... it's in the works.

Biggest Moment So Far For You With Your Music: Getting Best Female Rapper of 2011 by SF WEEKLY (a very popular publication in the bay area) was #noice son! (laughs). I love performing with live bands. That is what I love, that is the biggest moments for me ... is having a band and performing this music to people with the proper setting. I like my stuff to sound big live.

Impact You Want to Have on Your Audience: That it is okay to be yourself and make a living while your at it. Doing whatever the hell you want to do, just by being yourself.



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