Kreayshawn | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Natassia Gail Zolot |
Born | September 24, 1989 San Francisco, California |
Origin | Oakland, California |
Genres | Alternative rap, Westcoast rap |
Occupations | Rapper, Music video director |
Years active | 2008–Present |
Labels | Columbia Records |
Associated acts | Lil B, White Girl Mob, OFWGKTA, Soulja Boy |
Website | http://www.kreayshawn.com |
Natassia Gail Zolot, known by her stage name Kreayshawn, (born September 24, 1989[1]) is an American rapper and music video director.
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Natassia Gail Zolot was born in San Francisco, California and moved to Oakland, California when she was ten years old. She is a third-generation Russian-American,[2] and the daughter of Elka Zolot, a former member of the San Francisco garage punk band The Trashwomen.[3] Zolot got her first video camera when she was ten years old, and started documenting her raps at a young age.[4][5]When she was seventeen years old she eventually began further exploring her interest in cinematography by shooting videos of friends and later music videos for local rappers such as Lil B.[6] Her videos caught the attention of dean Patrick Kriwanekhe, and Zolot attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute with a full scholarship for two semesters.[7] She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music video career.[4]
In 2010, Zolot released her first mixtape, Kittys x Choppas,[8] as well as her first music video for the single Bumpin Bumpin. In May 2011, she released a music video for her single Gucci Gucci, which generated nearly three million views on YouTube in the first three weeks.[9] The popularity of her Gucci Gucci video caught the attention of several record labels, and Zolot quickly signed a contract with Columbia Records.[10] In September 2011, Zolot was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, and hosted the Red Carpet event before the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[11][12]
Zolot performs as Kreayshawn in the musical group White Girl Mob. The group initially included her friends[13] rapper Vanessa "V-Nasty" Reece[14] and Jordan "Lil' Debbie" Capozzi. However, as of November 2011, Capozzi is no longer a part of the White Girl Mob.[15] In 2012 January 1st Nathan McIntosh became the first male member of the White Girl Mob.
In 2011, Zolot's management was contacted by the label representing the Red Hot Chili Peppers about directing a music video[16] for the band's single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" (from the album, I'm with You).[17] However, the band later opted to re-shoot the video and did not release the version directed by Zolot.[18]
Critics of Zolot's music cite cultural appropriation and "exploitation of black culture".[19] West coast rapper Game released a diss track entitled, "Uncle Otis", containing lyrics criticizing Zolot for her alleged use of the word 'nigga' when paraphrasing a DMX quote.[20] Zolot sparked more controversy during a televised freestyle, wherein she insulted rapper Rick Ross by calling him "fake". She later retracted her statements and described it as a misunderstanding;[21] however, a few days following her statement, Zolot continued making negative remarks about Ross' body weight, once again calling him "fake" and stating that "he can't rap."[22] These remarks eventually led to an altercation[23] between Zolot's manager and Rick Ross' entourage during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. The same night, while Zolot was attending the awards ceremony, her Twitter account was compromised by an anonymous hacktivist group[24] who posted nude photos of Zolot.[25] She claimed the photos were taken when she was underage,[26] and they were removed from most websites.[27]
Year | Song | Chart positions | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | US R&B |
US Rap |
UK | UK R&B |
|||
2010 | "Bumpin Bumpin" | — | — | — | — | — | Kittys x Choppas |
2011 | "Gucci Gucci" | 57 | 62 | 18 | 77 | 22 | Life With Loopy |
"Keep It Craccin'" (featuring V-Nasty & Snoop Dogg)[28] |
TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR |
Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"Murder" | 2011 | T.R.U. REALigion | 2 Chainz |
"Firetruck" | Before Volume One | The Madden Brothers, Hollywood Holt | |
"U Trippy Mane" | Blue Dream & Lean | Juicy J |