As the final three girls entered the homestretch of the competition, the air was a little bit lighter. With Chiba gone and no one left to hate in the house, the girls enjoyed their last few days together while gearing up for the final two rounds. The first challenge to determine the two finalists would be was a gritty no-holds-barred freestyle battle. Legendary battle emcee Roxanne Shante stopped by to school the girls on technique. As the girls spit venom back and forth, the crowd filled with “ooooh!” at each punch line. But in the end there could only be two finalists. While all three girls managed to hold their own, it was Ms. Cherry who didn’t take it to that next level and was eliminated.

After receiving well-noted tips from super-producer and artist Will.I.Am, the girls started the final challenge for the $100,000: a live performance in front of a crowd and guest judges Missy Elliott and President of Violator Management, Mona Scott. Both women gave their best performances of the competition and it wouldn’t be an easy decision: Byata had more crowd interaction while Reece’s hook was catchier. However, it was the secnd generation femcee, Reece Steele, who would come out on top.

HipHopDX finally caught up with the three finalists to reminisce about the lat days of the show, Byata’s version of her epic beef with Chiba, regretful moments, and turning a reality show into a realization of dreams.

HipHopDX: What made you wanna pick up a mic?
Reece Steele: The first time I ever spit around anybody I was in high school. The response from people made me realize I wanted to do this.
Byata: When I heard Lauryn Hill. My friend was like, “You need to listen to this chick,” when I was 15 or 16…and I listened and was like, “Oh shit!”…she opened up my ears.
Miss Cherry: Actually I started out singing. I had never had any lessons or anything. But people around me really thought I was good. Plus, I wrote poetry. And the poems I wrote were about real stuff and people would say, “That sounds just like a rap!” so then I just started rapping. When I would talk to record labels I would tell them I was a rapper and they would tell me to only sing; don’t try to be a rapper. But one day I slid in a rap in one of my songs…then they were like, “You should rap, don’t sing!” [Laughs]

DX: Do you think having a background in poetry hurt you in the Miss Rap Supreme competition? Because one of the criticisms Serch and Yo Yo had was that your rhymes sounded too much like spoken word at times.
MC: I think it’s a difference of opinion. They don’t know where I’m from, so they don’t understand the music. But I think in the end they respected me and my style more.

DX: What sounds inspired you growing up?
RS: MC Lyte [click to read], Queen Latifah, my mother [L.A. Star] , Jay-Z [click to read], Biggie, [Lil] Kim, Foxy [Brown]…R&B singers too like R. Kelly and Mary J Blige.
B: When I had just started out it was Janis Joplin, The Doors, The Beatles…then once I got more exposed to Hip Hop, it was Biggie and Lauryn Hill.
MC: Yea, Lauryn, she was such an inspiration. She held such a big spot in the game; there was nobody doin’ what she did. I think a lot of girls look up to her. Also, I liked Left Eye; she sang and rapped too—plus she was from Atlanta. Andre 3000 [click to read] has always been a favorite, T.I. [click to read], and Goodie Mob.

DX: Reece, Your mom-- who was also an emcee--had mixed feelings about you entering this competition. Why is she so weary of the industry?
RS: She loved Hip Hop as much as I do right now and it didn’t work out for her. She just doesn’t want me to be disappointed like she was. But you can’t just sit and be scared; you gotta take that chance. I love Hip Hop so I’ma take that chance.

DX: Now that you’ve won has her view changed at all?
RS: Yeah, she’s a little more excited now. She’s still a lil' scary about the business aspect. She tells me not to sign papers right away and all that…

DX: Would you ever consider doing a track with your mom? Y'all could be like Nas and his dad! [Laughs]
RS: [Laughs] I wouldn’t mind; I doubt she would do it though. Its weird, Hip Hop isn’t a part of her life at all anymore. She doesn’t even listen to it. She separated herself from L.A Star.

DX: Be honest Reece, within the competition who did you think was your biggest threat?
RS: I always thought it was Ms. Cherry. I thought Byata was a dope artist, but I thought Cherry was more lyrical—plus she sings. Continued on page 2 »