She was probably your favorite piece of eye candy in past Hip Hop/R&B music videos- special thanks to Lloyd Banks, Trey Songz, Kanye West. But now she’s done with just being a pretty girl, reaching for the boxing gloves and jabbing at your favorite rapper. Yes, you read right! At just 23-years-old, the former model vixen known as Angel Lola Luv now raps as an emcee under the alias Lola Monroe. Spitting her rhymes influenced from real life events Lola’s objective is to execute her hustle and flow while putting on for the capitol city and all the “everyday I’m hustling” females. Already two mixtapes deep, Lola proves she isn’t playing when she says this is her new found career. So get used to it. They say never trust a big butt and a smile, but Lola has something to say. She’s the next contender up to the mic, let’s give her a chance. With snazzy metaphors and her “boss b**ches” by her side, there’s nothing stopping this show. Let’s get ready to rumble… its Lola Monroe ya’ll. AllHipHop.com: Whom am I speaking with today? Is it Angel Lola Luv or is it Lola Monroe? Lola Monroe: I go by Lola Monroe. That’s my artist name right now and now I’m transitioning out of a model and into an artist. That’s the name I officially go as. AllHipHop.com: Since you’ve entered the hip-hop movement as being a rapper, who has it been treating you? Lola Monroe: Well it’s definitely a grind and you know, it takes a whole lot of hustle. But so far, I’ve seen a lot of progress and I feel a lot of progress. So it’s been going pretty good right now. AllHipHop.com: Did you experience any hardships along way? Being that you’re a model turned rapper? Lola Monroe: Yes definitely. The doubt. The whole “how did she go from modeling to rapping” and “can she really rap.” The perception they have of models that already have claimed they were rapping then, all of a sudden they never went through with that certain kind of effect. AllHipHop.com: What are some things you’ve learned in the music business that were different from the modeling business? Lola Monroe: There are different things that I learned were very different. The transition was very different. It seems like you have to put in a little bit more work with music that what you would have to do with modeling. People kind of dealt with me a different type of way because I was apart of the aspect of the music industry that they were in. So, I learned the differences in people’s character, and how they changed. Work wise, you just have to put in more work. AllHipHop.com: Well as your rapping is concerned, I see that you’re creating your niche with the “boss b**ch movement”. Tell us about that. Lola Monroe: “The boss b**ch movement” is a female empowerment movement. It basically represents the female’s that are grinding right now. It represents female empowerment. It’s hard for females these days. Not only in the industry, but day-to-day life. So, it’s basically a push showing female strength and how we got this regardless of the obstacles we were faced with. Whether the female has a nine to five, doing school, in the club dancing, or whatever it might be. It’s female empowerment.

AllHipHop.com: What would you say to people who may think you’re jacking Nick Minaj and her “Barbie movement”? Lola Monroe: I don’t do the Barbie thing… that’s her thing. I really don’t agree with it, that’s basic. It doesn’t make sense to me because first off, you’re basically saying I’m jacking somebody who has never been known to have their style all throughout their career. She’s never been set to have her own style. It’s always been set to say she’s jacking Lil’ Kim to Foxy [Brown} and now Lil’ Wayne. So how can I be jacking somebody or using somebody’s style if they never been known to have their own style. That part never made sense. That’s one. Another thing, it kind of comes from Wayne is in the foundation of my music and what I’ve listened to him for years and years. So you can hear his styles in my music. And you know, that’s her mentor and that’s somebody whom she’s under and so she’s known to sound like Wayne. That’s all they say about her now. I believe the similarities may have come from that but besides that, I have my own style, I have my own lane. She does what she does, ya feel me? AllHipHop.com: Other than Lil’ Wayne what other rappers have you gained inspiration from? Lola Monroe: A lot of artist played apart of my foundation because I grew up listening to a lot of different artist. From Jay-Z to 50 [Cent], to T.I. to [Young] Jeezy, The Notorious B.I.G. There’s a lot of different artist. There’s not like one particular artist that I listen to the whole time I was growing up. AllHipHop.com: You grew up in a Trinidadian/Ethiopian home. How can you it’s different from the African-American household? How would you say the difference made you unique?Lola Monroe: I was actually more exposed to more of the Ethiopian side of my family versus the Trinidadian side. The tradition was different. In foreign countries, those families in the household are way, way more traditional. I was close to my mother. I was on my own by time I was 16, but I still had an attachment to my mother. My mother is always extra warm hearted. She’s so kind and had so much heart. I have that in me. I think a lot of Ethiopians are like that. AllHipHop.com: You wrote poetry when you were younger, so you probably already had the skill of writing since then. Was this one of the things that sparked your fuel for wanting to be a rapper? Lola Monroe: Definitely. Music was always like my get away when I was younger. Aside from writing poems, when I used to go through different family situations or things within young love, I used to write R&B songs. So it definitely plays apart in me wanting to express myself through music and rap now. AllHipHop.com: What made you finally drop everything and transition fully over to rapping? What finally gave you that push to do it? Lola Monroe: I felt like it was time for the transition. My manger Michelle Vierya played a big part in motivating me and pushing me to go ahead and do it. AllHipHop.com: Being from Washington, D.C., how do you feel about Wale finally dropping his debut album? Lola Monroe: I feel its very dope. I’m happy our time that our time is finally here and that it’s finally coming. I’m very happy about the whole movement, the DMV movement. The whole thought of artists really trying to show their talent and the industry really opening up to us right now. AllHipHop.com: Wale shows his pride for the capitol by incorporating Go-Go into his music. What are some ways you put on for D.C. in your music? Lola Monroe: You can hear it in my music a lot. I actually have a record called “Gangster” produced by Best Kept Secret, and they’re producers from D.C. That’s a sample from a Go-Go song; so you will definitely hear the Go-Go samples in my music. From my style to my swag, to what I talk about in my music, you’re going to hear D.C. AllHipHop.com: Since you’re from D.C., can you let me know where I can get the best? For instance, if I wanted the best carry out with mumbo sauce, where would you take me? Lola Monroe: Best carry out… you can go to Oohs and Aahs on U street. AllHipHop.com: If I wanted to hear the best bounce beat, what band would you take me to go see? Lola Monroe: Definitely TCB. AllHipHop.com: If I wanted to hear one of the best upcoming DMV artists, whom would you recommend for me to check out? Lola Monroe: Los, and he’s from Baltimore. AllHipHop.com: Besides rapping, you’re also pursuing an acting career right? Recently I saw you in 50 Cent’s “Before I Self Destruct” movie. How did you come across the role? Lola Monroe: 50 got in contact with my management and he had the role in mind for the up and coming movie he was producing and directing. So, we got together and did the role. AllHipHop.com: Did you have any issues playing a Lesbian role? Lola Monroe: I got into my character.

AllHipHop.com: I also heard that you’ve done some West African movies in the past. Is that true at all? Lola Monroe: Yes, it’s by a Nigerian director and it’s called “Black Diva”. It was actually named “Sexy Like A Fox”, but then they changed the title to “Black Diva”. I was starring in that film. AllHipHop.com: How did that come about being that it was an African film? Lola Monroe: They got in contact with my manager and the director had the role in mind for me. So we took a look at the script, and thought it would be cool. We just went ahead and did it. AlHipHop.com: Since so many people want to test you when it comes to rapping, freestyle the last line from the familiar half of bar that I give you. For example, the first one coming from Biggie, “It was all a dream…” Lola Monroe: “It was all a dream, now I’m on my getting’ cheddar scheme.” AllHipHop.com: “As I’m watching every n*gga watching me closely…” Lola Monroe: “As I’m watching every n*gga watching me closely, I’ma get by regardless, you ain’t never gon’ block me”. AllHipHop.com: The last one will be “D.C. chillin’, PG chillin’…” Lola Monroe: “D.C. chillin’, PG chillin, you can catch me up in G.T (Garfield Terrance) chillin’. AllHipHop.com: So what does this hold for the modeling career? Lola Monroe: I mean, when it comes to modeling wise, it really depends. If you’re talking endorsements and stuff like that then yeah. But the modeling that I was doing before hand, no. Videos, not unless it’s mine. The last time I did a video was like in 2007. Unless it’s mine or I’m doing a cameo for one of my homies or something then that’s the only way. If it’s promoting my music like features in publications then I’ll be doing it. AllHipHop.com: What’s your label situation right now? Lola Monroe: I’m actually under my label with my management Michelle Vierya called Blue Roses Entertainment. So I have offers on the table that I can’t really speak on, but as of now, I’m under my label right now.AllHipHop.com: What material are you working on now? I believe you have a mixtape with Lil’ Boosie that came out Thanksgiving Day. Lola Monroe: Yeah we have a mixtape called “Untouchables”. I actually recorded that with them a few days before he got locked up. We went in at the studio for like three days and we knocked out like 13 songs. I’m actually working on another project… I don’t want to say the name but the surprise is really going to be dope. I’m also working on material for debut album, which I’ll be dropping within next year. AllHipHop.com: Do you have any upcoming shows or appearances approaching? Lola Monroe: I’m actually on the “Capitol City Music Tour”. The tour dates can be found on Lola-Luv.net. I just performed at the Core DJ’s “Female of Hip Hop New Artist” showcase last week. AllHipHop.com: If you gave advice to a young lady about chasing dreams the proper way, what would you say to them? Lola Monroe: I would say that they really have to ask themselves how bad do they really want it and if they’re really ready for it. You really have to push hard, go in and do your studying about what you’re pursuing. You also have to really learn the game and get a team of people around you who are really going to believe in you. Just push and go hard at it. AllHipHop.com: Any last words for Hip Hop? Lola Monroe: I’m here, and I’m about to do the damn thing.

Carson, CA rapper Jerome Rockett better known as Roccett to his fans, made headlines a few years ago when it was announced that he had signed to Atlanta superstar Young Jeezy’s CTE label. After spending several years on the label and the release of about 5 official mixtapes, Roccett had announced his departure from Young Jeezy’s label via a song released this past August called “Dear Jeezy, Dear Meech.” Roccett reached out to AllHipHop.com to give us the story behind his departure from CTE and his upcoming plans including his newly released Free Agent mixtape with DJ Drama. Can this young artist bounce back from this recent set-back? Or was this his missed opportunity? Time can only answer those questions but what can’t be questioned is Roccett’s determination to succeed despite having the odds against him.

AllHipHop.com: A few years back you had signed to Young Jeezy’s CTE West label but we found out recently that you are no longer under his label as of recently. What is the story behind this?

Roccett: I really felt like he wasn’t doing everything that he could to help further my career like I thought he would. I thought that after 3 or 4 years of being signed to him, that I would have accomplished more by now. I thought things would be different. No matter what label you are at, there is a formula of success and I felt he wasn’t taking the proper steps to make those of us on his label successful. I feel he could have done a lot more. I left, straight up. I’ve never been one to wait on another person. I don’t know how he feels about it but to be honest, I don’t really care.

AllHipHop.com: You two haven’t had a conversation about this?

Roccett: Before I left we had many conversations – so many that I can’t even count. We’ve had conversations but nothing was ever done. I had to make my own moves.

AllHipHop.com: What was Young Jeezy telling you in these conversations?

Roccett: He was telling me that he got me – to sit tight and we were gonna get it in. A year passed and then another year passed, then another and another. He kept telling me the same thing. For him to be dropping albums, a mixtape by U.S.D.A and an album by Blood Raw – I felt like there were a lot more people on the label that he could have dropped albums from. I felt like I was one of them. He didn’t do it so I busted a move.

AllHipHop.com: When you left, did you call him?

Roccett: I spoke to him. We were in Miami and I told him that I was going to do my own thing. He told me to hold on and give him a chance and that we would get in the studio once he got to L.A. I said ok, and he never hit me back. We never called each other after that.

AllHipHop.com: So you just had your lawyers deal with the paperwork?

Roccett: My paperwork was actually up. We were in the process of resigning.

Roccett: “I’m Getting Money/Bang Dat”

AllHipHop.com: So you two haven’t seen each other since?

Roccett: I was in Atlanta and I saw all of the CTE dudes. They all came to me and said, “What’s up?” All of those dudes are my family – Slick Pulla, Blood Raw, 211. I saw Jeezy and he didn’t say anything and neither did I. I’m a grown man. I don’t have time to worry about how the next grown man feels. That’s a woman’s trait. Men don’t worry about what the next man is doing. You give somebody your best – the two peace fingers – and go your own way. I don’t know if he’s mad or if he isn’t mad and I don’t really care.

AllHipHop.com: These artist-led labels are really risky business because artists themselves are struggling to keep themselves on top let alone trying to help someone else get on top. Didn’t that concern you at all when you signed your deal?

Roccett: No because he put out Blood Raw. Whether the fans bought the music or loved it, that was up to them but Blood Raw came out. I didn’t need anything from Young Jeezy but just to come out. I felt like I could stand on my own two feet – I just needed to have my record come out. I just felt the formula was wrong. He dropped albums but didn’t have myself or any of the artists on them. Slick Pulla was on some but that’s it. When you sign artists, you would think that the label would plan on putting that artist out. Maybe that was his plan, maybe it wasn’t? You wake up one day and decide that you are tired of playing these games. Since I have left it looks like he might put my boy 211 out. Shout out to my boy 211 – do your thing over there.

AllHipHop.com: So what’s next for you now that you are a free agent?

Roccett: I just put out this mixtape with DJ Drama called The Free Agent. I wanted to give my fans and those that believe in me something to have. I feel it’s my best work to date. I didn’t have a lot of features on there because I just wanted to concentrate on myself.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have a lot of music that you recorded while you were signed to CTE?

Roccett: I did about 50 records over there, that’s not even counting the mixtapes that I had put out. I took everything that I did. If it’s mine – I’m taking it! Even if I had to leave it behind there are still ways to take it with you. Songs get leaked online and float everywhere (laughs). So even if you have to leave stuff behind you can leak it and nobody will know where it came from. Come on man, this is the music business. You have to have your brain and thinking cap on at all times (laughs).

AllHipHop.com: Do you try the label route again or just create your own company and do your own thing?

Roccett: I don’t know the route right now. I’m just enjoying the time being me not waiting on the next dude to see what he’s going to do. Whatever Roccett wants to now do, he can do. I am putting out the West In Full mixtape and I’ll take it from there. The one thing I do know is that I have a lot of fans and I respect them so much. We’ll see where we go though. I might go the independent route and I might sign with a label tomorrow, who knows?

AllHipHop.com: There isn’t a part of you that wonders if you should have stayed on the label and waited?

Roccett: Hell no! It looks like he’s going to put 211 out just in spite but that’s ok because 211 is my boy. I’m not a hater. I want him to sell and succeed. I even want Jeezy to sell. Like I said, I don’t have time to worry about that stuff. If you are going to be like that, you might as well stay home and watch Oprah, Ricki Lake and Soap Operas all day. I wish everybody the best. If there’s a problem, then let me know.

AllHipHop.com: You mentioned the West In Full project earlier. Tell us about that.

Roccett: It’s stupid! I’ve got Glasses Malone on there. I just spoke to Nipsey Hussle about it as well. Jay Rock, Taje’, Spider Loc and so many others are going to be on it. That tape will be out on January 10th. All of the music is being done by Dae One and The Bizness. The West Coast is going to be happy to say that they are from the West Coast when they hear it.

CTE “Respect the Shield” f/ Roccett, Slick Pulla, 211 and Young Jeezy