Salma Slims’ 100 Racks is for boss babes who don’t want to work 9-5
Salma Slims is a female rapper who proves that a diva is a female version of a hu$tla. She’s letting the world know that you can look the part of a goodie-goodie but still rap harder than a guy can. Her newest project, 100 Racks, just released, and Salma tells all about what her music is all about.
Where did you get your inspiration for your music?
Well for my first project, Ghetto Girl Dream, I became inspired because I went from 0 to 100 by working a 9-5 job and eventually making it to where I am now. I used to live in Atlanta but wasn’t really pursuing my dreams. I moved to LA six months later, and now I’m going on tour with crowds of thousands of people watching me perform. I wanna prove that you can do anything you want, and I’m not gonna stop until I reach my goal of people everywhere knowing my name.
What is 100 Racks about?
100 Racks is about me living paycheck to paycheck back before all of this happened. You know, people get paid every two weeks on a Friday, and there’s two types of people. Some people save their money, and other people spend all of it the next day. And repeat it all over again. I was always the type of person to wild out and spend my money and have fun. Paychecks will always be there, but life is about doing what you want and enjoying it.
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Do you feel any intimidation from the music industry for being a female rapper?
It’s a male dominated industry, so when they see a female come out and she can go hard, it’s unbelievable for them. I haven’t necessarily received any backlash, but I do get a lot of shocked reactions. They’re always like, “Salma, you look so sweet! I didn’t know you could rap like that.” You know, as a female, you shouldn’t have to look or act like a guy in order to be taken seriously as someone solid in the industry. You just gotta have your style and people will love it.
Who are your inspirations in terms of female artists?
Female empowerment is so important in hip hop. When a female is stepping onto the picture, she always blows up because she most likely has something new to bring to the scene. Think about artists like Lil Kim, Eve, Foxy. They inspire me because they always have groups of men behind them trying to steal the spotlight, but they work hard to make sure nothing gets taken from them.
Who are your biggest style inspirations?
I love TLC and Aaliyah. Oh and Da Brat. I met her a few years ago at a studio in Atlanta. She really inspired me because right after she got out of jail, she worked hard to become who she is now. She told me I was so young, so dope, so refreshing. She told me to keep going and to never stop. She said my time is gonna come and that she saw a lot of potential in me. More than just being a style icon, she is an overall inspiration for me.
What was it like growing up in your household?
Surprisingly, I wasn’t allowed to listen to a lot of music growing up. I started liking music when I was in school, and I would hope to listen to the next hot song that came out while being around other kids. My mom didn’t take my music career too seriously until she saw things happening for me in a girl group that I was in. My family eventually became more supportive of my career, and I now have lots of support from them. Now I just feel driven to keep putting out the best stuff possible.
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What do you want people to think of when they hear your name?
I want people, young girls especially, to feel inspired. I want them to be inspired to follow their dreams and to go after what they want. I want them to think that I’m dope!
Take a look at Salma’s newest project, 100 Racks, here: