Kash Doll is the Queen of Detroit Hip Hop

Kash Doll is the gritty and beautiful rapper hailing from Detroit, Michigan. Her sound is distinguished amongst her peers as she chooses to push “hustle culture”, female empowerment, and showcase a range of artistic emotions through her music. Releasing her latest album, “The Last Doll”, we got a chance to speak to Kash Doll for an exclusive interview as she steps into her future full steam ahead. 

Kash, you just dropped a new album called “The Last Doll”. What makes this album special for you?

Because, first off, I was pregnant with my last child, and she was a girl while I was making this album. Secondly, you know, I’ve decided to give up the legendary Kash Doll name so, you know I’m trying to be more mature and branch off. With kids comes growth, and I wanted to show a lot of my versatility and range on this project. I really wanted to give out the best product of “the doll” thus far. So it’s a really special project for me.

“I’m debating between Keisha and Kash. I don’t know who I want to be just yet, I’m trying to figure it out. When I look at all the greats, like Anita Baker it’s just her name, Aaliyah and more. So why can’t my name just be Keisha? I know where it is that I want to go in my career, so I look at the greats and try to do what they did.”

Who laid the blueprint musically for Kash Doll? Who were some rappers or MC’s you looked up to?

Missy Elliott is the G.O.A.T. She’s my number one favorite female rapper. As I’ve grown up and looked back at talent and consistency, Missy Elliott is fire. Then immediately right after her is Lil’ Kim for me and then after her I can’t not say Nicki Minaj. I mean Nicki had her own wave, and then you had others like Foxy Brown, Trina, and Eve. 

“Queen Latifah, that’s my idol. She did the rapping stuff, she was a cover girl, her hair is always laid, she’s an actress and she’s just one of them. What I love about her is her versatility within her acting career. She doesn’t get the recognition she deserves for her range and how she goes from action, to a romantic comedy, and then to shows like The Equalizer.”

When we think of Detroit we think of Motown and the birthplace of musical giants. So what does it mean for you internally when you say that you are from Detroit?

“It’s like What’Up Doe?” It means I’m that girl! We’re raw and we’re hustlers. I don’t even know how to answer that because everyone knows what time it is in Detroit. We’re known for fashion, we keep our hair laid and we’re the hair capital, and we have the most beautiful women. Being from Detroit means I’m one of a kind. 

“There is a big difference between Keisha and Kash Doll. Keisha enjoys the cleaning up, being with the kids, and wearing her natural hair. Meanwhile, Kash Doll she’s not doing all of that. Kash Doll is going to have some deep layers, her makeup is going to be beat, and she’s going to do her biggest one with the outfits.”

When it comes to the Detroit rap scene we can think of many men who have successfully dominated the industry. However, when it comes to female rappers from Detroit, you are the only female who has consistently dominated and you have created a sound of hustle music like no other. Does being the face of the female Detroit rap game cause pressure for you or does being the face make you go harder? 

It makes me go harder so people can know what Detroit women represent. Because it’s only me, I feel like I hold that weight of representing the correct way so that people can really understand what Detroit is really about. People can go to a city and sometimes have the wrong representation, but when you come to Detroit, you’re going to see a lot of women who are just like me. We’re hustlers who believe in looking good at all times, and we’re just some real beautiful women out here. So yes it’s pressure but it’s good pressure because pressure makes diamonds. 

“Everybody doesn’t want to live that hot girl life. Some of us want to be put up, be a wife and have real responsibilities. Some of us don’t want to party every night, and some of us want substance.” 

When we think of Kash Doll we think of someone that is grossly overlooked in the female rap industry but someone who continues to dominate regardless of the recognition. Your brand is based on hustle and female empowerment and you steer away from just simply selling sex. How are you able to distinguish yourself from the rest when it comes to your music and also your brand?

Just being myself. I feel like being authentic is the only way to be. Everybody else is taken, so I would be another brand if I tried to act like someone else. That’s what separates me, I’m myself and that’s all I know how to be. I don’t want to talk about sex all the time and about getting money from men. I’m going to get my own money, myself. I’m the person with money. If a man is the only way you can eat, then a man is also the same way you will starve and that’s not what I believe in. I don’t believe that sex is what gets people to listen to me. I believe that you have to be intelligent, and you have to have something else to bring to the table other than sex. I just make music for me, and I believe I am overlooked because there aren’t a lot of women out here like me speaking the things that I say. 

You are now Mommy Kash to a handsome, Kashton and your gorgeous baby girl, Klarity Doll. So far, what has motherhood been like for you?

Motherhood is ghetto and I’m going to be completely honest, but it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. When I first laid eyes on Kashton, I got a whole new set of eyes that day and I just began to see everything differently. My intentions are different and everything is intentional now and everything needs to have substance. I don’t even know what I was doing before I had my kids, because now I’m like what was life really like before? So motherhood really changed me for the better. I value and appreciate everything now, because I understand nothing is given to you. 

How has becoming a mom influenced the way you create music or the type of messaging within your music? 

It’s definitely influenced me in many ways. I actually made Kash Kommandments when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, Klarity. When I found out she was a girl, I just thought of all of the things I’m going to teach her. I wanted her to know the real ways of living. I also want to be able to be in the car with my kids and still listen to my music without it being so vulgar or too raw. I will let my kids know that mommy is from the streets but it’s a thin line, and I want that balance.

“A lot of people do look at me for inspiration or motivation or they watch my interviews. So now that I know people are picking up what I’m putting down, I want to make sure I’m putting down all the things that I’m really feeling. So now that the people are listening, I can’t play anymore and I have to be conscious of what I say.” 

We constantly see you loving on your kids, your best friend, your god children/nieces and nephews, you are jumping out into traffic acknowledging fans and you are simply just this warm, embraceable and loving spirit that is often unseen from celebs. You show authenticity and your real life in such a way where it isn’t invasive to your privacy but you show us that you are a celeb but you’re still a mom, a sister, a friend, a daughter and more who is a normal person. How are you able to balance that line of being an entertainer but still being an everyday woman for your loved ones and relatable to your fans? 

I don’t know how I balance it all, but I just know it’s God doing this. When I sit back and look at it all, I have no clue how but I can say it’s really all about being authentic to myself. This is something that you can’t teach, because I just do what feels good and what’s right at the time. It always works out for me and I’m thankful for that. I think it comes from my upbringing and me being the oldest of six. I didn’t really come from much, so you enjoy and appreciate things because you know the other side of not having it. 

You’ve now been in the game for over a decade. What has this last ten years been like for you as an artist and what has been your most cherished moment so far? 

It’s been a roller coaster. I had times where I got stuck in contracts and had to fight my way out. I had times where I was winning awards. I had times where I starred in hit TV shows. I had times where I felt like I wasn’t getting the recognition I deserved. I’ve had kids, and I’ve had moments where I didn’t know if I was going to keep going. It’s been a real roller coaster but I pushed through. 

In your career, you have expanded from just being a rapper to now being an actress on a hit show like BMF. What made you get into acting and how has the experience been for you?

I love it and it just gives you more structure. You know you will be working on a set for at least 30 to 60 days, and then you don’t have to move around like when performing on stage. I just really appreciate that part and also being able to embody someone else’s character and make it your own. Being able to sit back and watch it, that’s crazy to me. Stay tuned because I have some stuff coming up next year. 

You are embarking on a major tour called the “Last Doll Tour”. How special is this tour and what can fans expect? 

This tour is really special because this is my first headlining tour with just me, so it’s really special. I’m putting my all into this tour and I want everyone to pick up what I’m putting down. I just want to leave an impact and leave everyone with “wow that was amazing”. I’m about to go crazy, so everyone has to make sure they get their tickets.

Catch Kash Doll in a city near you by purchasing tickets to her tour! Stream her new album “The Last Doll” on all streaming platforms. Follow Kash Doll on all social platforms @kashdoll.

In Wordly Love,

Sese Wilder