Keisha, also known as Kseense, is an 18-year-old rapper from Erdington in Birmingham. She is a very talented rapper and musician and has been spreading her positive lyrics across the Midlands.

Interview by  Zainab Elharith

When and how did you start getting involved with rap, and music in general?
I was always a performer since I was little singing, dancing, and acting, but as I grew up my character changed.  The music I listen to changed. I was always interested in poetry and descriptive writing and stories and I used to write them all the time but then I started listening to more rap music, hip hop, and R&B secular music basically. At about the age of ten I started to get instrumental and download them. At first it was silly rhymes for school and then it got more serious it was something I enjoyed and helped express myself.

What type of music do you listen to?
I like jazz, lounge, hip hop defiantly, soul, neo soul, gangster rap, pop, indie, R&B and everything basically.  I’m a mellower person; I like to listen to my slow jamz and my old school now and then. When I go out I listen to house but it’s not what I really have on my iPod.

What is it like doing rap?
I feel free.  I feel like I can be me and do what I like and can say what I feel.

How would you rate yourself?                                      
Ill let you answer that.  It’s a bit biased me rating myself.  

What is the writing and practise process like?
I’m not going to lie sometime I may be there for days trying to work out a hook for a song and then days I can write a song in 10 minutes. The catchiest are the ones that don’t take that long which is ironic.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I love sports, watching films, going shopping, sleeping, listening to music, and chilling with friends. I also love debating; writing and keeping my mind stimulated learning new things.  

Do you have any role models?
Yes, my mom and dad.  I think we should start looking at people around us that support us as role models rather than superficial people that we will never meet.  Even if they helped you or inspired you in someway there’s always that person closest to you that has been there with the right encouragement.

Would you like to become a professional musician then?
Everybody asks me this one; are you going to be a rapper, and carry on with music?  I always say music is my love and passion also my hobby.  I will always have music but I want a stable career. I can still do both. I want to become a teacher to be honest, and build my way to be a professor.  Music will always be here for me

Would you recommend doing rap to other young people?
I recommend doing anything that’s best for you. Rap may not be the best thing for you.  You just have to find that thing that just makes you float, you could be a painter, interpreter, footballer, actor, dancer the only person that will know is yourself.

So for the people that do want to become rappers, where do they start?
Start within yourself first, if you want to do it be committed and do it. It can’t be just here one day and gone the next. It all starts from self discipline and dedication. That’s what I learnt… promote promote, and promote yourself that’s what I did.  I performed everywhere I could.  I made as much songs, went on face book, myspace, and youtube promoting myself and finding people I can work with. Also auditioning for different things, even if I didn’t want to do it, I did it. Even if I didn’t get through ill keep on pushing my self and I saw progression. I’m not famous. I’m just doing what I love. You have to have a purpose; if you don’t then you’ll be stuck.

I’m not saying its not nice to be famous but you always got to start from somewhere so take my advice and just try as much support funding as possible every piece of music I’ve made has been in a bedroom not an million pound studio its what you create, not where your creating.  Remember music, rap, hip hop is an art.