Nikki Lynette is a singer, rapper, producer, and a songwriter. She never sleeps. She describes her work as being “half effort and half organic.” You may have heard her work played on MTV reality shows “The City” and “Jersey Shore.” Or, you might recognize her from numerous television commercials including McDonalds, Secret Deodorant and Nationwide Insurance. If Nikki Lynette’s name or voice does not seem to ring a bell in your head, make it your business to find out who Nikki Lynette is.

Although she has fun memories growing up, Nikki does share with us that she moved around a lot as a child including living in two battered women’s shelters. She remembers her family being allowed to stay in one side of the room and not being able to play. When she and her family moved to Englewood, Illinois, it was their first nice place to call home where she was allowed to play and run around. Still, Englewood was not a safe environment where needles were often found on the ground.  She says, “You go through stuff in life that makes you stronger.”

If you’ve ever listened to Nikki’s work, you’ve noticed that you cannot place her in just one genre. To squeeze Nikki into one category is ridiculous; it just doesn’t work. She’s a pop artist, a rapper, a R&B singer, and a rockstar all in one.

PLUSHNYLON Magazine: Who is your music for?

Nikki Lynette: My music is for people who are smart! Educated women who don’t have a voice in pop culture. Slutty girls are awesome too. We need the sluts so we don’t have to be sluts! I don’t judge anybody! If you listen to it, you can be gamed.

PNM: Your views on today’s popular Hip Hop artists?

NL: Ain’t nobody trying to listen to some rapper talking bout his chain and his bitches. I don’t really listen to hip hop. I listen to No doubt, NERD, Lenny Kravitz.

PNM: On the lack of creativity in music industry.

NL: Everybody wants to play it safe and safe is boring x2. Nobody wants to go out and date a safe guy. It’s boring! I don’t need it. I’m straight. Thank you but no thank you.

PNM: What is Team bad ass?

NL: Team diddy, team drake….it started as a twitter thing but then fan pages came along and now they just rep for me. They help me promote my projects. It’s kinda cool. If someone is talking shit about one member we got each other’s back!

PNM: How do you respond to critics who say you are not “Black Enough”; Whatever that means!

NL: Allright. I’m bad ass. Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion. Art is projective. I can take constructive criticism. I love it but I am the person who determines if it’s constructive. If I can’t relate to it then I won’t take it as constructive and won’t give a damn about what you’re talking about.  If it is constructive, I will internalize it and see how I can improve it. I’ve heard that I need a perm but I love my hair. I stopped reading comments on reading boards. When people hate on you, more people check you out to see if they can hate on you too!

PNM: On selling out.

NL: I can’t sell out when I never bought in to begin with.  It is not me. I can get weirder. That’s the worst that can happen at this point.

PNM: What do you try to deliver through your music?

I talk about real stuff that’s relatable and senseable. I never talk about sex. I’m just not that girl. I can’t imagine what’d bring me to do songs about my pussy, my pussy. If that’s what people want, then people will have to look elsewhere.

PNM: Who are your influences?

NL: Rappers and singers. Old sound and music. I love the energy, the image and that they have talent. I listen to the Mamas & the Papas, NERD, old Prince records, Nas, Jay-Z, Common, No Doubt, and Kanye.

Kris Kross inspired the rapper in Nikki Lynette. “They were dope and I wanted to be like that.” Nikki Lynette identified with Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill because just like her, they are rappers and singers.

PNM: In an industry where it seems like a lot of artists seem to lose themselves, how do you stay true to Nikki Lynette?

NL: Because I sticked to my guns!

PNM: On female artists, role models, and raunchy sex music.

NL: Kids identify with image. I will not contribute to anybody’s daughter’s role models being a whore. Not talking about anybody in particular but I have younger cousins and nieces. My role models weren’t whores. Back in the day, Janet Jackson was considered raunchy and now she’s tame. To say that that kind of music shouldn’t exist is wrong because there are adult consumers who are looking for that but there needs to be a balance.

PNM: There aren’t a lot of female artists in Hip Hop right now. What do you think about that?

NL: I would love to see more female artists in Hip Hop. I’m just an artist. I’m not just a rapper. Nothing is handed to anybody. At all.  People think a woman can go and suck a guy off and that will make them stars but that’s not true. If it was, girls would just line up.

PNM: On Janelle Monae & Jasmine Sullivan.

NL: Janelle is starting to make a name for herself. She might not be getting the same ad placements as some artists here in the U.S  does but overseas, she’s making a strong impact and with the Internet, she’s killing the game. Jasmine is beautifully and elegantly paving a way for artists like me. For the level of talent these women have- we should hear about them everyday.

There are different outlets for exposure nowadays. Everybody can’t be the ’106 & Park’ artist that gets invited back all the time.

PNM: On artists who are not known worldwide

NL: I’m into Indie Rock stuff. It’s perfectly normal for people to have a huge following and be in a room full of people and nobody know who they are.

PNM: How was it when MTV came knocking on your door?

NL: Cool! I didn’t see that coming. It was awesome for that opportunity to pop up. I am fortunate. It shows me a lot of support.

PNM: What’s next for Nikki Lynette?

NL: A record deal and my next mixtape Roses N’ Guns 2: The Badder Assed Mixtape that rocks! I want a team; my hands are in every aspect of my career. I am an artist but I am also a brand and I need people to help me push forward.

Nikki Lynette, an art geek, loves cartoons and cereal. She represents for the smart college educated girls who are cool but is about their business. Nikki makes fun of herself. She says, “I don’t have a crazy image to uphold. I’m Bad Ass…within what is appropriate to me.”

To learn more about the fabulous Miss Nikki Lynette, visit her site Nikki Lynette, follow her on twitter- @NikkiLynette, on Facebook. Her work can be found on DJBooth and here. Click on the links, and go listen to some beautiful great music. Be Inspired!