Artist Interview: imshotta
Check out the latest interview with recording artist imshotta representing East Oakland and TGWEWON's Du'Lanci Vallie below.
If you weren't in the music business or industry, what do you think you would be doing with your life instead?
I’m from Oakland CA where the Black Panthers activated, so my purpose here is to inspire ppl to be better, perfecting my character and growing my community. so it’ll be anything on the lines of helping better my community, Big entrepreneur Vibes, I inherited Property so maybe a real estate broker, closing Big deals on properties in my community, my mouth piece crazy and I’m a people’s person so anything in sales, maybe a business owner. Everyone always tells me that I have a great healing energy, so I’ll be the hood therapist, the hood healer, I go by Shotta the stiletto stoner, I’m big on herbs and plants, I like to smoke good Weed and Eat plant based, with that said, maybe a Gardner in agriculture. I love the kids, so youth advisor, life coach, motivational speaker. Honestly, a jack of all trades, I’m super complex and still growing so it’ll be never ending. One thing I can say is, I am bigger than just music. respectfully!
What is your process for critiquing your own work?
My creative process all starts with Vibes in the studio working with engineers who are patient and receptive to my work flow and recording process. My process is taking the time to listen over and over again until I ironed out the kinks in my head. Perfecting my cadence and delivery, perfecting each bar as a punch line. Saying things that are effective and catchy.
What is your creative process like?
I’m building my music career right now! Finding my musical tribe is my main focus, having the right ppl around while in the studio is a big part of my creative process. Like the beat build up finding ideas, highlighting relevant subjects that resonates to how me or others maybe feeling at the time, staying in pocket and on topic starting off with hooks and then verses & then stacking vocals baby!!
Are you able to make a living with your music? If so, how were you able to attain a career doing what you love? If not, what do you do in order to fund your music career? What advice would you give to someone who's interested in pursuing a career in music?
Hell yea!! I’m making a living, with having made some pretty good money, never thought I would be getting paid to make music, its insane to me!! I’ve been doing more features as of lately for artist in and out of state, all paid of course! Also the show and hosting money has been cool af!! opening up for major artist has helped grow my career and exposure as well. Ima a independent artist, so I do everything myself and of course, thankful for the Djs producers, promoters, radio host along with other artist who also help with promoting and pushing my name brand and music! I work with a couple of marketing and advertising agencies/companies as a Brand Ambassador/ promotional Specialist, which is perfect for my music because these are major brands I get paid to work for which helps Fund my music career. I would say to any up-and-coming independent artist always make genuine connections with folks never forget the ppl who showed love with out asking, and to always have a side hustle going on so you’re able to fund your music. Also, never forget to invite God into your plans.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
I’m in the process of learning to record myself, I recently purchased studio equipment for those reasons, I’ve been writing perfecting my Pen. Ima story teller I know how to freestyle my friends always tell me to just punch in on songs but I like to write and perfect my bars. But I’m becoming more open to others ideas. Respectfully!
Out of all the songs you've released, what do you think is your Best song and why?
Out of all the songs that I have released, I think my best song so far right now is “Bag it Up” Bag it up is for the male and females who can relate, Anyone who’s out here hustling and growing to become who they’re truly meant to be is baggin it up, rather if it’s bagging up all the dumb shit and throwing it out or it be baggin up them goals and executing them! Down to baggin up that money that all of us need to survive and do wtf we gotta do. It’s something about that song the beat them horns going crazy like wake tf up and get to that bag, it’s an alarming sound you hear. When you hear it you know you can feel the vibration in your feet that makes you wanna dance , and the delivery in the words it makes you wanna get straight to that BAG Bag it up special to me as a female artist because I didn’t mention anything about violence or my exposing of my body, I’m super proud of it, Bag it up made placement on Tyler Perry’s “All the Queens Men” Episode 4 On BET! S/o Producer Clayton William, My Cousin Bang Out John, and Walt Liquor!! They all had a major Role in It.
When faced with making a big decision, how do you decide what is the right thing to do?
I have a lot of guidance and good people around me. Fortunately, I have family who is in the entertainment business as well, so I usually go and ask questions. Roll up a blunt think it over. I don’t like to make hasty decisions. I’m a person who goes home and reflect on my whole day, I’m very selective about the words that I use when speaking and making decisions I like to take my time and really think about what it is that I want, also, I have very good lawyers as well.
What do you think makes you stand out from all the other aspiring and upcoming artists in your genre of music?
What makes me stand out is I don’t conform I don’t let people put me in a cookie cutter. I make decisions based on how I really feel and what I really want. I’m usually the influence I’m never influenced. I come from a place where lingo and swag is consistently being produced from originators as myself. I have my own personality I’m not trying to look or sound like anyone I can talk about things outside of my body. I come from the trenches, so I really have a story to tell I don’t come from a rich family I wasn’t a silver spoon baby so my story is raw. I’m not your average female rapper. Shotta the stiletto stoner. And if you don’t know what that is, it’s a female who smokes a lot of weed, but also is tidy on her shit most people think of stoners as lazy people or a hippy person. I’m clean-cut with it you would never know until I open up my mouth how rough it could get lol but for the most part I like to call myself the female version of Wiz Khalifa.
What is your latest release and where can fans find it?
My latest release is out on all platforms, Apple Music Tidal , SoundCloud, iheart Music, IG Tik Tok FaceBook, Spotify, wherever you stream music, you can find me! @imshotta, is the same as my Instagram name on all platforms, I have a new, single and visual coming out in a couple weeks, definitely going to be a Bay Area anthem the song is called “Dats Right” shouts go out to Producer Alterego and ThamindofMilla who both played a vital role in Creating this Amazing Record, We are in the process of doing proper roll out, so be expecting a Real Banger Soon I’m excited for this one!!
What is on your agenda or what can fans expect to see from you in 2023?
My agenda for 2023 is crazy insane I have a show coming up at the end of January 1st show of the Year s/o to Hitta Slim, but expect more shows more music more Content more visuals more vibes, fans need to expect to be inspired and motivated all 2023 from me!! And also, I just want to give a special shout out to everyone who’s my supporting me and watching me through this journey as an independent artist I’m very thankful for my fans and also I wanna give a special shout out to everyone at TGWeWon. Thank you For Having Me, Thank God We Won.
