Amber London is just not new to Houston’s hip-hop scene. As a teen who got here of age within the late aughts, she recorded her first demo at Elsik Excessive Faculty’s Ninth Grade Heart. From there, London continued to hone her lyrical craft whereas selling her nostalgic underground picture, and cutthroat sound all through the streets of Southwest Houston.
She went on to turn into the primary and solely official feminine rapper in Raider Klan, former hip-hop collective of unbiased artists primarily from the South, and has obtained co-signs from Three 6 Mafia’s legendary Gangsta Boo, amongst others.
London’s distinctive sound travels by hip-hop and empowers Black girls to remain true to themselves. In a metropolis the place there’s a much-needed lane for sex-positive feminine rappers, it’s refreshing to witness a girl seize the essence of Houston by edgy lyricism and uncooked visible imagery.
We caught up with the 29-year-old “Undaground Queen,” to speak about her inspirations and her journey as an unbiased Houston rap artist.
When did you begin creating music and why?
I bear in mind I began writing music round 12 years outdated. I by no means thought of rapping till I heard my finest good friend, she did a freestyle on the bus and it went exhausting! So, I ain’t by no means considered rapping till I noticed that on the bus, and noticed all people’s response. I used to be like, ‘I wanna do this shit, that was stay!’ After that, I began writing for actual. We obtained into dissing folks we didn’t like at college and began recording it on a tape recorder.
Who had been your musical inspirations rising up?
I actually listened to no matter my mama had earlier than I obtained to the age the place I may choose the music for myself. She listened to Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, and any Southern membership songs. My Uncle listened to quite a lot of S.U.C. (Screwed Up Click on). He used to make me memorize S.U.C. freestyles and so they had been like 10 minutes lengthy, one in all them was DJ Screw’s The Closing Chapter. As soon as I obtained to the age of on the lookout for music myself I gained curiosity in B Gizzle (B.G.) and New York and Philly rappers.
What are your ideas on Houston’s present hip-hop scene?
On a mainstream stage, I’m glad to see Megan (Thee Stallion) doing her factor. It offers gentle to feminine rappers, which was wanted in Texas. I’d argue that Texas has some nice feminine rappers simply on the whole. I truly like the way in which it’s going, and I feel it’s nonetheless extra to be explored. I’m ready for one thing totally different and new to emerge that’s sort of by itself total wave sooner or later.
How has the pandemic affected you musically and creatively?
In 2020, it was distracting tryna work out what the hell was occurring. I can’t write music round folks, so being remoted is after I get the very best content material out. If something, the pandemic gave me a sense of a renaissance, and a possibility to make one thing out of it and get inventive.
What’s subsequent for you?
Proper now, I’m at the moment working on my brand. As I get older I need to have my platform to not simply solely be about my music, however different issues that I’m obsessed with as effectively. I see myself as being somebody who’s bringing gentle and giving recommendation, nearly changing into a instructor to the sport, since I used to be a scholar.
I need to give folks new methods to assume and really feel about issues that they see round them, together with the music business. I need to spark and plant seeds in folks’s heads to remain unbiased, and don’t signal main labels, and belief your self, and belief the method. And, be affected person.
Stream Amber London’s Biggest Hits Vol.1 & Vol.2 on all music streaming platforms. Additionally, take a look at her website.
