Tami Chynn Talks Akon Collabos & Jamaican Tabloids

Complex: Like you’re in a music video.

Tami Chynn: I could not believe how many horns honked that day. Whenever I walk to the supermarket, I’m unnoticeable, nobody gives a shit. The one day that I was enjoying the music, the moment, the life, and a response from the universe'cars honking their horns, winding down their windows, ‘hey blah blah blah’. So everybody’s energy changed towards me.

Complex: They were like, “Hey light-skinned…”

Tami Chynn: No man, “Hey I wanna be your Atlanta friend.” Or [in a country accent] “Can I be you’re Atlanta friend?”

Complex: But they didn’t know where you’re from.

Tami Chynn: People in Altanta say that, that’s their thing. Leave it alone, that’s what I say.

Complex: But it all goes back to wearing heels when you go grocery shopping, right?

Tami Chynn: No, I was looking like a ripe fucking frump. I had on sweats, crocs'those ugly clogs (the rubber ones), sweater, hoody, I had a vibe.

Complex: What’s the biggest obstacle with doing pop music in Jamaica?

Tami Chynn: It doesn’t exist first of all. If you’re a Jamaican, you’re expected to do dancehall or reggae, period. Now there’s a problem, because I'm Jamaican, I look how I look, and I’m not allowed to do dancehall or reggae.

Complex: Isn’t that a contradiction because if you’re light-skinned you’re more likely to get more radio play, like Sean Paul.

Tami Chynn: Now you’re seeing my problem because it’s a double-edged sword. Luckily I started to do my own version of dancehall and reggae'it’s very pop-infused, and people kind of liked it. I’ve grown to become a name in Jamaica and people know what to expect from me.

Hit “NEXT” to find about what the Jamaican tabloids are saying about Tami.