Distraction Magazine recently had the opportunity to sit down again with March 2013 cover star and University of Miami alumna Brianna Perry to discuss her rap career and new single.
Brianna began performing at a young age and has been mentored by artists such as Missy Elliot and Trina. Prior to releasing her own music she made appearances on projects with Trina, Jackie-), and Lil Steph. Currently, Perry has a new single available on iTunes titled “I’m that B.*. T. C. H.”; the acronym stands for Beautiful, Tough, Intelligent, Chicks, in Heels. A title she chose because she wanted to rebrand the word and strip away its typically negative connotation. In addition to choosing a title with a lot of shock value, Perry also opted to deviate from her normal sound and tried something new. For this single, she chose a sound that she felt was very laid back and sexy compared to her earlier work.
Perry aims to be a role model for young women and girls and use her high profile career to make a difference in the lives of her fans. “The greatest example of how I can be a role model is through my lifestyle. I want to make women feel as though they can shine, be independent, and take care of themselves. To give back, I host a youth pageant and I encourage women to acknowledge both their inner and outer beauty.” In addition to inspiring women with her lifestyle, she also seeks to do so through her art. “I really want to impact the world through art and touch the masses with my God given talent. I want to build a brand that is bigger than life and I want to use my business savvy to see how big the brand of Brianna Perry can become.”
In addition to her new single, Perry also stars in the Oxygen show Sisterhood of Hip Hop which airs on Tuesdays at 9pm. The show follows Brianna and four other female rappers as they chase their dreams. Season one just wrapped and Perry is preparing for the upcoming season two.
Perry, a Miami native, graduated class of 2014 with a Bachelors in economics and a minor in music business. Not many artists make the decision to attend or graduate from college but for Brianna, getting a college degree from UM was extremely important. “UM was my dream school since I was eight years old. I was able to attend an event on campus and I fell in love with the atmosphere. Throughout high school, it was always at the front of my mind to secure myself a spot to come here. I had a point to prove and a set goal that I wanted to accomplish.”
Her ambitious attitude carries over to her current work as a musician, “My biggest obstacle to date has been continuing to push and keep my dreams at the forefront, even when being told no, and staying focused on the things that God has directed me towards.” Despite these things, Brianna has continue moving forward to make a way for herself and those coming behind her. For those who are looking to chase their dreams, she has these words of wisdom; “Having a college degree is priceless. Nothing can replace that, keep pushing and challenging yourself. Dream big, grind hard, put God first, and anything is possible.”
To keep up with Brianna Perry’s music and career, you can follow her on social media:
Twitter (@BriannaTheYRB)
Instagram (@BriannaPerry)
Facebook.com/BriannaTheYRB
YouTube.com/BriannaTheYRB
words_Taylor Duckett. photo_ Robin V.