Prior to what we’ve witnessed in recent years, a “former exotic dancer” would rarely (if ever) acknowledge herself as such — especially if she found herself in the public eye. But as witnessed by the “coming out” of hip-hop artists such as Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, being a “stripper” can actually give you … street cred? Or, at the very least, if you were a stripper, you damn sure aren’t hiding that fact anymore if you’re an aspiring rapper.
Such is the case for “femcee” Kash Doll, who has taken her experiences as an exotic dancer and poured it into some of the lyrics on her new album, “Stacked.” Her latest track from “Stacked,” “Doin’ Too Much,” is available for free download on the latest installment of StripJointsMusic.com, courtesy of Concrete Marketing.
After high school, Kash reportedly got tired of tossing pizza dough around at Little Caesars, so she began working in Detroit strip clubs to support herself and her family. Since she’d always had a love for rap culture and freestyling, Kash soon found herself rapping for patrons in the clubs where she danced. Her ascent to fame began to skyrocket after putting her music on social media platforms (a story similar to that of Cardi B).
Soon after her social media recognition, Kash was asked to open for Drake during his Summer 2016 tour, where she took the embodiment of a femcee to an entirely new level. She’s since recorded with huge names in the hip-hop community, such as Lil Wayne, Iggy Azalea, and Big Sean. With so many artists in the industry now, it’s hard to stand out and avoid drama (for anyone still wondering, Kash and Cardi are friends). But Kash thrives off of these challenges, and uses them to consistently feed her ambitions.
“I always look to uncomfortable situations to bring me motivation and show me that there is more to life, don’t stop here,” says Kash. “I’m grateful that I have those things around that can make me uncomfortable. I don’t ever want to be too comfortable to where I make so much money and I have everything in the world, and I don’t feel like doing anything.”
In this interview with ExoticDancer.com, Kash reveals what influenced her style, how she feels about the industry she chose, and what she’s got in store for 2020.
ED: How do you feel like you’re carrying the mantle for Detroit rappers?
KASH DOLL: I feel like it’s all authentic. Detroit rappers are authentic and raw. I feel like I have that part of it. But, the thing is, I’m one of the few female rappers coming out of Detroit, so it’s kind of fresh because I’m bringing something new. You haven’t really heard of too many female rappers coming out of Detroit. So I feel like I’m giving them a new female perspective from the Midwest. As far as what the guys have already done, they’re all raw, lyrical, and super talented and dope, so I feel like I’m carrying on both parts, but since I’m a girl, I have some different stuff going on here.
ED: As someone who’s carved their name out with social media, do you think it’s easier or harder now to get your music out? There are so many different platforms to work with and so many competitors out there as well, so does that aspect help or hinder you?
KASH DOLL: I don’t really think about competitors. I believe that whatever is meant for you, is for you. I do agree that social media gives you a platform to do that. You have to be talented enough, you know, or have something catchy in order for it to spread. But as far as competition goes, I don’t pay attention to that because a lot of that stuff doesn’t last anyway.
Kash Doll on “Doin’ Too Much”: “It’s a female anthem. I feel like every girl, especially in the club, they’re doing too much. The way they dress, how they’re fucking it up on the stage, how they’re getting their money, they’re doing too much. If anybody feels like they’re doin’ too much, somebody tells you you’re doin’ too much, forget it — you’re not doin’ enough. So I feel like it’s an anthem for all the women all the time, all over the world.”
ED: We know how important opening for Drake on his Summer 2016 tour was for you. Would you say that was your first big break? How was that experience?
KASH DOLL: It was amazing, and a little scary! That was my first big experience and being on that big stage—that was my first time doing something like that. It just opened my eyes to a whole different life, like I just saw so many different things, you know? It was an amazing experience.
ED: You had a slew of jobs growing up to make money. How grateful are you to have this job making music now, vs. working at Ethan Allen or Little Caesars?
KASH DOLL: It’s so different because I’m getting paid to do something I love. I believe that in life, you ask God for something—for instance, you ask God for a cake. And what does God do? He’s not going to hand you the cake, but he will give you the ingredients you need to make the cake. He’ll give you the eggs and the batter and everything to make it come together. I feel like Little Caesars and Best Buy and all of those other jobs were some of the ingredients I needed. They helped me get to this platform. You gotta work hard, you gotta put in the work. You can’t just get something. I appreciate the come-up, but I really appreciate and I really am grateful for where I am at now.
ED: How do you motivate yourself to keep going into the recording studio when you’ve already reached success?
KASH DOLL: You know what’s crazy? I have to put myself into uncomfortable situations to stay motivated. Recently, I was feeling like I wasn’t inspired by anything. I went to the studio and I tried to record something but I just wasn’t inspired, I just didn’t care. But now, I just bought a house Wednesday, and now I’m back! I got a whole new battery off of that and I feel like I’m in a little bit of an uncomfortable situation and I like that. I always look to uncomfortable situations to bring me motivation and show me that there is more to life, don’t stop here. I’m grateful that I have those things around that can make me uncomfortable. I don’t ever want to be too comfortable to where I make so much money and I have everything in the world, and I don’t feel like doing anything. I bought a big home and my mom is on the other side of me, so I’m motivated and grateful.
ED: What do you have planned in 2020 regarding tour dates and performances?
KASH DOLL: I’m going on tour twice. I’m going to Europe and then I’m doing a U.S. tour, so I’m going to kick 2020 off with those and then the rest is history! I might drop another project, and all that good stuff.
ED: Who are some of the female rappers that you look up to? Do you try to emulate any of them?
KASH DOLL: I never try to emulate anyone. I look up to and like Lauren Hill. I like Lauren Hill a lot, actually. Her music has real meaning and it can either take you out of or put you in a mood. She’s my favorite. I also like Trina and Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah just takes things to a whole other level, and I would like to do stuff like that. So yeah, those are my favorites.
ED: Why would your new song, “Doin Too Much,” be a great choice to play in a gentlemen’s club?
KASH DOLL: It’s a female anthem. I feel like every girl, especially in the club, they’re doing too much. The way they dress, how they’re fucking it up on the stage, how they’re getting their money, they’re doing too much. If anybody feels like they’re doin’ too much, somebody tells you you’re doin’ too much, forget it — you’re not doin’ enough. So I feel like it’s an anthem for all the women all the time, all over the world.
