At the beginning of 2011, Kreayshawn was uploading homemade YouTube videos, wondering where her rent money was coming from. Now she’s a pop culture lightning rod before she’s even released an album. How will one of the buzz cycle’s wildest creations handle the spotlight?
This feature appears in Complex's October/November 2011 issue.
"Why do I keep getting dissed and gotta ignore it like nothing is going on?”
It’s late July and Kreayshawn is on set at a photo shoot in New York’s Flatiron District. This year’s female white rap phenom has just been told she’s on the receiving end of a verbal attack from Game on his shots-at-everyone diss record “Uncle Otis.” He threatens to shove an assault rifle in her face if she uses the N-word again. “I’ve never said it one time in my motherfucking life,” she insists. She says it’s V-Nasty, her “sister” and partner in White Girl Mob—their brash, perversely fabulous rap trio also consisting of DJ Lil Debbie—who uses the word.
“Everyone thinks I’m Vanessa [V-Nasty] and I have to answer [for her actions] every day in every fucking interview,” vents the frustrated 22-year-old. Apparently Kreayshawn has tried to intervene, to no avail. “I’ve sat down and had talks with her, like, ‘Please, if you took this word out of your vocabulary, it would help your career. It would really help mine.’ She’s just been like, ‘This is who I am. This is how I was raised. I’m not gonna change for anybody,’ and I respect that. She doesn’t have to listen to me. It’s just hard if we’re all mobbing together and everyone thinks I use it, too. That’s when you have to step away or find a way to work around it.”
Kreayshawn, born Natassia Zolot, would like to deal with Game more directly. “I wanna slap a grown-ass man in the face,” she says, defiantly. She then lightens the mood, joking about calling 50 Cent, but gets aggravated when her manager, Chioke “Stretch” McCoy, advises her not to respond.
Am I just supposed to get dissed every day and be a weak ass little white b*tch? I’m tired of people disrespecting me.
She counters with another plan of action. “I’m going to say, ‘Game’s a weak ass Blood, he ain’t about to do shit.’” That also doesn’t go over well with Stretch, a charismatic, hulking black guy whose pedigree includes Mac Dre and Mistah F.A.B. She pushes back. “Am I just supposed to get dissed every day and be a weak ass little white bitch? Fuck that shit. I’m tired of people disrespecting me.”
Cooler—and more media-savvy—heads prevail, and Kreayshawn never responds publicly. She’s still learning that scrutiny and unpredictability are part of the overnight sensation package. It’s been a whirlwind year for Kreayshawn. In January, she recorded “Gucci Gucci,” an insanely catchy ode to independence from designer labels. In May, she uploaded its hipper-than-thou video to YouTube, and it became an Internet sensation, picking up 11 million page views by August. Along the way, Kreay pocketed a seven-figure record deal from Sony, leaving fans and hecklers alike wondering how it all happened.
Kreayshawn is surprised herself. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” she says. “I thought I was going to still struggle to pay rent.” One song—admittedly, one damn good song—and a zeitgeist-capturing video, and the tattooed girl from East Oakland’s star was born.
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Gary September 20th, 2011 at 12:35 PM
kreayshawn is all about look and no talent. Her out of tune live performances are making my ears bleed! She does blame her sister for the N word but associate with her and support her! What a contradiction. Apparently before she had that Youtube hit she used the N word but denies it now! She is lying. The other contradiction is that she puts down "basic bitches" (African American women who like designer wears but herself is all about fashion as shown by the pictures above. I guess if you are a white woman and have style it is fine but if you are black you are being mocked! So arrogant!
Serena September 20th, 2011 at 09:21 PM
Ahaha! You are so right. She does sing out of tune which makes Justin Bieber look talented LOL! She is a Youtube one hit wonders. She released other songs hopping to go viral like Gucci Gucci but failed. Her performances are in small venues. Every time she posts a new venue it takes several weeks or months to sell out those tickets. How can she sell out a stadium? Come on, we are not stupid, in our times the money is from live concerts.
One Hit Wonders September 20th, 2011 at 09:29 PM
ONLY HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS LIKE HER OUT OF TUNE SINGING AND RAPPING! THERE'RE A LOT OF TROLLS IN HERE. I BET IT'S HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS! NAY, SHE SUCKS THO!
Rebecca Black September 20th, 2011 at 10:16 PM
What happen to her music video debut? Aahah! The Red Hot Chili Peppers withdrew the video. I wonder why? I am wondering if Snoop Dog is going to cancel his collaboration with her? I wouldn't be surprised. I heard a little sample of the song. IT"SO BAD! EMBARRASING FOR SOMEIONE LIKE SNOOP DOG! I GUESS THE ONLY THING SHE HAS LEFT IT'S A LITTLE CONTROVERSY BUT IT'S not GOING TO LAST. PEOPLE ARE GETTING BORED!
shuttyy September 21st, 2011 at 04:55 PM
FUCK OUT OF HERE!!! SHE ON A MAGAZINE COVER. R U???!!!!
Tee October 7th, 2011 at 01:52 PM
Kreayshawn says that she grew up in the hood of Oakland. I found this picture of her in Facebook. Her mother's page Elka Zolot. They look like middle class Californian surfers. She is a fake. It's wrong to try to cash in on poor African Americans. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=297691763579332&set=pt.297410090274166&type=1&theater
Paula October 11th, 2011 at 12:13 PM
im guessing the people who are writing this bullshit have to be white them selves ??? well i think shes a good rapper she says whats on her mind and she pretty as well . so what if she backs up her sister blood is thicker than water !... and you guys just haiting on her is only making her BETTER!!. Go a talk shit bout yourself before you talk about someone who has money in da bank and all you got it bills in hand !!! DUECES
@missdallasrain October 27th, 2011 at 03:08 PM
As a women in the music business that has been through it all. I didn't like her at first but she works hard for her work and love it and loves her fans. I think she is talented. She directs her own films!!! Your a bad bitch! And for all the people out there that knock people who say bitch and the N word "are you serious"
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Sara September 20th, 2011 at 12:38 PM
She is a Youtube sensation. Youtube views don't translate into actual sales. She has barely made the Billboard 100 charts. We'll see how her record company is going to handle it. It will teach them a lesson to invest in such talentless artist!
no one September 20th, 2011 at 04:51 PM
actually youtube veiws DO calculate into sales....its just as if it were radio play..so what she lacks in sales-money wise, she will re coop in views. either way she gets paid
Ray September 20th, 2011 at 09:10 PM
You are very right Youtube views do not translate into sales. I checked the Billboard 100 and she is nowhere to be found. After all that publicity and MTV coverage she should be in the Billboard 100 and she is not. She is a fake. Pimping and a drug dealer? Another way to exploit a very small segment of the African American population. It's so racist and a stereotype of black culture. She is lying. She can't become famous because she has no talent but she uses controversy to make people talk. At least Justin Bieber can sing! DISGUSTING! Can't find any white artists who are associating with her. Just a few African American males (who naively believe that they may connect with her white fans, I suppose). I also believe that her family is posting here. LOL!!
razorsheldon September 21st, 2011 at 04:15 PM
She's been on the Billboard 100 for 7 weeks, peaking at 57 and currently at 63. It took all of 15 seconds to figure this out, so I'm not sure where you were looking. Here's the link: http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100#/charts/hot-100?begin=61&order=position
rachel September 21st, 2011 at 09:02 PM
This is exactly what we are talking about! Terrible numbers! Right now she is not in the Billboard 100! 7 weeks it's bad!
DJ Cos The Kid September 20th, 2011 at 01:17 PM
whoever wrote this article... its "busting KNOCKS" not KNOTS.. f*ckn SQUARES lol and Gary... just stop it lol you have no idea what your even talkin about.. your ASSUMING a lot of shit that you have no actual clue about since when did basic bitches only translate into african american women? where did Kreayshawn used the N-word?? What does her associating her self with someone that uses the N-word have to do with ANYTHING? You obviously missed the WHOLE point of the "Gucci Gucci" track.. it was her way of telling ladies they dont gotta rock designers to be pretty/cute/etc.. n to be themselves n not follow trends n buy shit cuz other people are... You sound like the dude that wrote this article.. someone from the Burbs that knows nothing about the life in the hood.
Kid Genius September 20th, 2011 at 11:45 PM
your an idiot
London Calling September 22nd, 2011 at 09:57 AM
Agree. I fail to see what 'Gucci Gucci' had to say about African-American women only?! I'm not a super fan of Kreayshawn's but there's no need to make baseless assumptions.
Sorry But She sucks September 20th, 2011 at 01:36 PM
She is a fake! She is not from Oakland but from Alameda (which is a white middle class neighborhood). Check the Alameda county and you will find out that her family owns property! Another Vanilla Ice! How can people believe that she was a drug dealer and all that crap! Make us believe that she survived all those gangs and drug dealers! I am tired of racist posers like her! PS: One hit wonders!
patrick mcintosh October 11th, 2011 at 12:54 PM
Your trippin fool, shes from the bay area and even if there are upper class areas in it, the thing about the bay is that the grimey ghetto can be 100 feet from a nice rich neighborhood, you don't know anything about her life, so your argument is false, she moved to oakland dumbass btw
Letícia September 20th, 2011 at 01:45 PM
I loved *----------------* she's so amazing, Brazil loves her so much.. come soon to Brazil (L)
Rachel September 20th, 2011 at 01:49 PM
Complex Magazine! Most people don't even know that Complex magazine exists. It's not mainstream!. Ahahahah! kreayshawn is wack! She thinks that she is big! She is not! One hit wonders. Especially when she barely made the Billboard 100 charts! Some reality check?
ATIMITA September 20th, 2011 at 02:32 PM
Wow, you must be a blast at parties. Do you get ANY enjoyment in life? Kreayshawn has been in the top 100 of ALL iTunes songs for the last 3 months now... without an album to her name! Lil Wayne covered her song, she has 500,000 Twitter followers, she has been all over MTV lately and you're going around saying she's not big enough. I think we all know who the wack person is around here...
Rachel September 20th, 2011 at 02:47 PM
You are talking like you were her family or PR person! We are not stupid!Ahahahah! Everybody knowns that she had one song Gucci Gucci on Youtube and she barely made the top 50 on Itune (maybe the hip hop category top 10 (never made to the top 5). What really matter is the Billboard 100 and she is not even in the top 50. Her camp desperately tried to release songs like Rich Whores etc.. as a free download and NEVER made any charts. The Red Hot Chili peppers canceled the video. One hit wonders! Vanilla Ice!
ATIMITA September 20th, 2011 at 03:18 PM
I think you are stupid. Her video for 'Bumpin' Bumpin' has 4.7 million hits on YouTube, and how would a free download of 'Rich Whores' ever make any sales charts? That doesn't even make sense. She only has 1 song for sale and it has been in the top 100 since it was released. That is a 100% success rate and pretty impressive considering she hasn't even released an album. Last I checked, there weren't too many people signing deals over $1 million these days either, so I'd consider that a pretty big success as well. You must have higher standard though, but here you are spending all your time commenting on a website you claim isn't mainstream enough, about an artist you don't like. And you claim you aren't stupid?
GodBlessTheRZA October 7th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
^this.
cakez September 21st, 2011 at 12:18 PM
wow. she's been in the top 100 of Itunes with one fucking song and no album. How impressive. By the way, where IS her album? hm, does sound like a one hit wonder to me...and I didn't know that having so many twitter followers gave you "talent". Twitter is nothing to brag about neither is MTV. Kreay has no talent. Until I hear a full length album from her she's still wack as hell cos she aint gonna get by with one cheesy ass song.
ATIMITA September 20th, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Nothing but love for Kreayshawn! She has defied tremendous odds to be where she is today, and has kept the swag and magnetic personality that propelled her along the way. We are in a funny world where people hate what they don't understand, but she won't be swayed by the ghouls trying to pull her down. Keep doing what you do and keep enjoying the ride!
Robert September 20th, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Ahahaha! Seriously, are you her family, PR person or friend? They are the only one who believe that she is a "Superstar" Ahahahah!!!! Hilarious! One hit wonder who NENER made the top 50 of the Billboard chart! Youtube views DON'T TRANSLATE INTO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS!
ATIMITA September 20th, 2011 at 03:25 PM
Nope, I am simply a fan. I think it's pretty obvious the editors at Complex Magazine think she's a star, hence why she's on the cover of their magazine. As for your comment about YouTube views not translating into commercial success, I think Justin Bieber might screw up that little theory of yours up. Keep trying though, you're bound to get something right.
Reality Check September 21st, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Ahahaha! Atimita! Are you her manager? Ahahahahahahaha! She was a pimp and a drug dealer????? Do you really believe that people are stupid! This is so wack! Who are the idiots who are going to believe her crap? PEOPLE DON'T LIKE ARTISTS WHO LIE. JUST BE TRUE AND BE YOURSELF!
ATIMITA September 21st, 2011 at 04:32 PM
No, her manager Stretch is a big ass black dude that wouldn't spend his time typing comments in a blog. I'm just a fan from the Bay Area that knows a fair amount about her background. She definitely dropped out of 4 high schools, lived on her own for a while beginning at the age of 15 (including with her grandfather at one point until he went to the hospital) and ended up getting her GED while in Job Corps. I'll agree that classifying her as a pimp or drug dealer is a stretch, but all she really says is that she posted some Craigslist links for 2 girls and drove them to their meetups. Also, I don't doubt she slung some sacks at one point, but probably to preppy white dudes in a club rather than crackheads or bangers on the corner of International Blvd. As a person though, she is about as legit as they come. I respect those that dislike her music, or are angry at her success relative to others they like better. But she has worked hard to get to where she is right now, and has done so without selling out or claiming to be somebody she is not. To say otherwise isn't accurate or fair.
Columbia September 21st, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Atimita, don't you have a life beside posting those long, boring posts about Kreayshawn Ahahah! You are her family? Ahahah! She sucuuuuuucks! Out of tune One hit wonders!
ATIMITA September 21st, 2011 at 11:21 PM
Ahahaha! You realize that you say that exact phrase in all of your other posts here under different names. I've counted at least 7 of them so far. You also say 'Vanilla Ice', 'One Hit Wonder' or some form of her family/friends/managers posting for her. Don't worry, you aren't fooling anybody and you have more comments here than I do. At least I'm not repeating myself over and over again. I'm just a fan though, what's your excuse?
902 September 23rd, 2011 at 06:15 PM
i love kreashawn, i think that she's great for being so carefree, and having a mom who loves her. being underage and taking the lives of others into your consideration is a big and daunting task, i feel that if that's pimping, so be it.. u haters need to get some perspective into your life. she is amazing, and creative. her talent and understanding that shitty people like "game" who's "from compton" but living with the spanish ppl in koreatown are THE REAL FAKES. and that they will demoralize anyone who they feel may become richer than they, i mean, look at him. he sucks. he wanted the attention so he made a big deal to her, because he figured he would hear from her, since she's not work-hardened yet. watch her. she is amazing. and all of her "little white girl friends" are little on purpose. she is the star, they'll go away soon, they are mini-goons pretending to be tough. don't let her shitty choice of friends make up your personality judgement of her. and btw, she is not her parents. so, if she got kicked out, there is no way she'll inherit the house. not everyone is so stupid they just get cheap shots in life ok.... i hate complex mag, it really is a magazine run by slimy wannabes, and no it isn't mainstream, but she's from california, and complex has a HUGE bronx and brooklyn fan base. so. it was very practical for her to be in it. SMH!
ElSidny September 20th, 2011 at 02:36 PM
At the end of the day, Kreayshawn is doing her thing and making some waves in pop culture. Whether she has a lasting career as an artist or not is still to be determined. What is clear to me, for all of you that don't know about Complex, is that SHE is what people are talking about right now regardless of her performance on the charts. It's DOPE that Complex understands that and chose to give her the stage to tell her story... Not to mention the FIERCE photo spread! Great Job! Mad love for you Kreayshawn and for you Complex!