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This time on FM Hip-Hop, we present Xani, a femcee that leaves you hanging on to every gem she drops on the beat. It’s safe to say that her sound is akin to rapstress megastars like Rapsody, Queen Latifah, and Sa-Roc. Likewise, Xani’s words fill all rooms with topics of discussion. Her musical styling is a mesh of both the old and new school, yet her messages are timeless. If you are looking for versatility, a unique sound, a bar specialist, or someone to relate to, Xani is the person who ends your search real quick!
From a lyrical standpoint, Xani encourages listeners to reach for the sky (although it’s not the limit), to always take precautions in everything they do, love themselves, and work hard.
“I look to tell people to beware of those surrounding you. Not everyone is happy for you, but don’t allow that to stop your progress,” she adds. “Also, I speak for the ladies and talk about self-independence, so they’re not relying on anyone to do things for them. I also aim to satisfy my dancing audience as far as beat selection goes. I understand that the dynamics of dancing come from the inspiration of how a beat is constructed. It conducts certain emotions from dancers and how they express themselves.”
Xani has been rapping since she was young, but she didn’t take it seriously until last year because school was always her priority,” I enjoyed freestyling with my friends during our free periods,” she adds. “I always knew I wanted to be serious about music someday after school. It was a matter of when.” The rap goddess says she started music because she wanted expressions from other artists of what she was going through. “Within my life but there weren’t many I resonated with. I figured someone else was going through what I experienced, and instead of waiting for someone to relate to me, I wanted to be the one to relate to those who are maybe experiencing what I have been experiencing”, she says.
Xani wants the next generation to take what she’s started, build upon her music style, and make it better.
“I love growth, and I have a passion for uplifting the youth. I want kids to have a touch of the era of music. Growing up, I had a combination of what they are currently hearing. And with my sound I take both aspects to the next level,” she continues. “I realized with music too, that people don’t live forever, but their songs do. I want to be remembered when I am no longer here and have someone still keep my name relevant, like Michael Jackson. It will be as if I’m alive without being life, and that, to me, is the most beautiful thing in the world.”
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She finds inspiration in being solo in the booth and artists like Missy Elliot, Mc Lyte, Bahmadia, and Queen Latifah because they’re raw, hardcore, and have a message. “I am a firm believer in what you put into this world; you get back. I like using my voice to send a message because being Black in America makes using your voice a crime.”
Her newest 8-track album, The Interview, centers on the injustices against Blacks and other things like situationships, self-sufficiency, remaining focused, and self-love.
“The Interview is an introductory album. I’ve never officially put out an album, and just like an interview, first impressions are important. I want people to develop their connections with this album and connect with whatever song catches their attention,” Xani continues.
To prep for the album’s debut, she met up with her team, Interstate Runnaz, and business partners to find resolutions for what they needed. It also consisted of endless phone calls with her features, scheduling studio time, and continuously being proactive with her engineers about the mixing and mastering updates.
Although things went smoothly in the end for The Interview’s creation, it almost seemed chaotic in the beginning. “When I first started, all of my music files were destroyed in a hard drive that made accessing them impossible. I was very frustrated when that happened, but God doesn’t do things for no reason,” she says. “It was moreso a blessing that I lost those songs because that happening motivated me to create the songs I currently have on the album.”
Standout tracks include “Salutations,” “Fame,” “Hell In Amerikkka,” and “Summa Remix-Remix.” But you should bump all the songs! Xani suggests you bump other songs, “Who Raised You,” “No More,” and “Same Dude” in the car.
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Song Breakdown:
The first track, “Salutations,” begins with a powerful spoken word poem backed up by warm piano loops and a trumpet. Afterward, the beat takes on a different tempo, meshing sporadic hi-hats, and booming baseline with the same wind instrument. Lyrically, Xani encourages self-love and for others to stay determined when it comes to reaching their dreams. Instead of fixating on someone who isn’t worth the time of day, Xani advises them to put that energy into themselves.
“You’re better off growing, creating, your own ground. Keep building on your craft. You’re the goat,” she raps. “You gotta stay loyal to you. Cause you are should be enough just to impress you/No matter where you go, just know you belong.”
As the song continues, Xani lets out a whisper-like chant, saying, “keep pushing.” Then, she passes along some more gems like, “Don’t look back, ain’t Nothing there. Control the temper.” Before “Salutation” ends, Xani speaks into existence that she’s going to do it big. And I couldn’t agree more. This song, in the words of Xani, will fit as her theme song.
“Fame” carries a soundscape that’s akin to a golden-era beat from back in the day. Over a muffled, booming bass and piano arpeggio, Erica, the Artist, lays down a sweet vocality to speak about her money-oriented mentality, staying focused and not giving her time to those who don’t deserve it. In like manner, Xani speaks about also devoting her 24 hours to herself and craft.
“I thought you’d have my back. Now we dropping like the economy,” she raps. “While you busy loading bullets, I’ll be prepping up my missile.”
Elsewhere, she speaks about getting to the bag and hustling to obtain her dreams. At the almost-two minute mark, she recites a line from Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s song “Get Money,” before daydreaming about what stardom will bring. “Started from the bottom, I can’t wait to reminisce/Caught up in the fame, know my name I’m legit/Promise when I make it, you gon’ be wishing you did.” she spits in a singsong flow. Cadence wise, Xani also oscillates between a bouncy and swift one.
“Hell In Amerikka” serves as a wake-up call to the world, in terms of police brutality and anti-black racism. Over a church choir, booming bassline, and claps, one of the members from Interstate Runnerz demands to know when the hate crimes will end. Contrary to belief, life wasn’t peachy even when Barack Obama was in office! African American’s have been peaceful, but with the crime rate against our people rising, it’s time to take a stand! In turn, this member says that their next moves are bound to shake the globe up.
“We got mouths to feed and babies to raise/Nothing left to say but knuckle up. No threat,” he raps.
Next, Xani reveals what ill-willed Caucasians have done to Blacks. “You beat us and yet you torture/Beat our brothers, rape our daughters/Yet you calling us the thugs, while you’re planting all the drugs. I’m tired. We deserve better,” she raps with a fast, bouncy cadence. She then goes to say that if they try fighting, she will fight back. Xani also concludes wrongdoing Caucasians are envious of how smart Blacks are and of their authentic culture.
Following her verse, Nova Soprano tells America to take responsibility for the crimes committed against Blacks. He also reinstates the terrible crime done against George Floyd and asks why Blacks are still racially profiled, poorly portrayed in the media, and wrongfully treated. He also brings up other societal issues like the school system and unemployment. In summary, Nova claps back at those who think tear gas will stop Blacks from being heard. At the end of “Hell In Amerikkka,” the 8-4-8 emcee whispers, “Black Lives Matter.”
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“Summa Remix – Remix” carries an Afrobeat soundscape that’s guaranteed to get you showing off your best moves on the dance floor. Yet the beat draws from video game arrangements, which makes the track much more enticing. The first feature, ArtikyouI8, lays out some exquisite Patois about living it up in the summer. Shortly after, Xani’s other feature from the Insterstate Runnaz uses a bouncy cadence to boast about his ways with women, ascending career, and exclusive drip.
Deeper into the verse, he forewarns the haters out there as well. Xani, then, unveils how a special someone has got her in a trance, but not enough for her to lose sight of what’s important. “Double up, run the bag. Show you how I flip the cash,” she raps with a swift cadence. Following this, Xani urges the apple of her eyes to take a chance on her. But even if they don’t, she’s not worried about it. There are more critical things that she’s trying to achieve.
Moving forward, Xani will release singles that’ll see her tapping into her singing range. “My next project/new songs will take listeners for a twist because I’m outside my comfort zone, but it is a zone where I belong,” she adds. Her advice to other artists who are crafting their first album is to have a team around, and that perseverance is key.
She also says to find people who are motivated like yourself!
