PLB: Pretty Little Bitches by Da'Kota Gene on #HipHopEverything

Everyone needs to know about Da’Kota Gene. A dope artist with a killer take on artistry. She’s different yet Catchy, smooth, relaxed and groovy. Those are some of the words used to describe her sound. We actually reached out to her after randomly listening to one of her songs on Soundcloud and knew she was up to something ill! That said, we bring you her latest single “Pretty Lil Bitches” and a quick Q&A to find out more about Da'Kota Gene.

A lot of music today lack content. What kind of message you tend to send through your music?

[Da’Kota]

Even though a ton of music out today lacks lyrical content, I understand what is popular about that type of music as opposed to more conscious music, it’s all about the vibe. I tend to make music that focuses on the vibe, I want to take music lovers to a place outside of their reality, I mean that’s why I make music, to escape. I focus heavily on the words within the verses and hooks naturally because I’m a poet before anything else, but if something catches me and it doesn’t necessarily have a deep meaning, I still give it room to manifest. All in all, I want to provide people with an exit door from their reality, and create a sound they can hide their emotions within and just pretend they are everything they fear dreaming to be.

You currently working on any projects? If so, when can the fans expect that to hit the waves?

[Da’Kota]

Currently, I’m wrapping up my first EP entitled THE 20 SUMnS, dropping July 21, 2015. Before the release I’m dropping singles on Fridays through my soundcloud (soundcloud.com/dakotagene1939) and google play (Da’Kota Gene) that listeners can look out for each week or so. The EP is dedicated to the 20 something age bracket and pretty much an ode to being young and wild spirited, yet conscious. The name itself is sort of a disclaimer as well, for the “stuck in their ways” listeners that will undoubtedly judge my sound for the heavy auto-tune, drug and sex laden lyrics and androgynous vibe I give off through my music. The EP is my way of embracing this era we live in and reminding people of all ages that this is our time, whether they let us reign or not we still rule the night.

How did this journey into Hip Hop start? Who’s your major influencer? Let us know how, what and where did it all start for you as an independent Hip Hop artist.

[Da’Kota]

My journey into Hip Hop began when I was around 7 and I began writing poetry. A great deal of my music starts out as a poem that is diluted and manipulated into a song. I recently took a trip to Fayetteville, NC to gather up some childhood memory boxes and literally found 13 notebooks filled with songs, poems, and thoughts that were abandoned and I’m going to work all of that into this project and future projects. My major influence in music is Michael Jackson hands down, he’s the reason I dance, he’s the reason I sing, he’s the reason I write basically so listeners can expect to hear a very drugged out version of him within my music.

Also I listen to a ton of 2Pac, Lauryn Hill, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West and Chance the Rapper. As an independent artist my journey began late last year when I quit my job as a high school teacher to pursue music full time. I felt as if I was preaching bull to my students when I was telling them to follow their dreams while knowing I wasn’t following mine. I mean I was an odd teacher, I taught Biology and Environmental Science at age 22 to kids around my age. Most of the class I spent at my desk writing to instrumentals or listening to new music with my students. They put me on to a lot of dope music I still rock with on a daily and inspired me more than I could ever inspire them as a teacher.

What separates you (or your single/ or mixtape) from the rest of the competition?

[Da’Kota]

No one has my sound…point blank. A lot of people I’ve worked with attempt to get me to feminize my sound and that I just won’t do. I’m androgynous in style, in life and in my music. Androgyny implies that I’m a fluid individual, yet it’s the only thing in my life that has structure, I’m a walking contradiction and my music will always portray that because at age 20 somethin’ what else would I want to be other than a hot ass mess of glory and ganja. You won’t find many women out here willing to admit they aren’t straight, they aren’t a lesbian and they aren’t bi…here I am though making music that embraces that love is love and I give no fuhks about who it happens with as long as it happens and its amazing. So when people hear my music I want them to question it, I want them to judge it, and then I want them to say fuhk all that and rock with it, because at the beginning, middle and end of the day I music that attempts to be universal and just about the sound, the vibe.

What’s your music-making-process? You like writing solo? A little drink in hand? Pen & pad or iPhone notes? Tell us how you come up with your dopest hits?

[Da’Kota]

When it comes to the writing process I like to write alone with ample room to dance and play my music as loud as I want. I don’t come to the instrumental with anything in mind, I let it find the words for me basically by recording melodies and half way words while I dance. After I settle down a bit I go through and listen to the recordings and figure out what the music is saying, my best music is made in the moment and then crafted over a few days after doing demos and writing sessions. The main part of the process though is the dancing and the ganja influence, I don’t write without Mary.

Soundcloud/Dakotagene1939

Instagram/Dakota_Gene