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Natassia Gail Zolot (born September 24, 1989), better known by her stage name Kreayshawn, is an American hip hop singer-songwriter from Oakland, California. She is the daughter of Elka Zolot, former member of the San Francisco Garage-Punk band The Trashwomen. She attended MetWest, Oakland High School, Alameda High School, and Island High School (a continuation school) but never graduated. She attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute on scholarship, left the program amid questions surrounding a missing $1,000 cable.

Career

Kreayshawn directed numerous underground music videos. Kreayshawn additionally performs as part of the White Girl Mob, consisting of herself, fellow vocalist V-Nasty, and DJ Lil' Debbie.

She became well-known after posting the video for her single, "Gucci Gucci" (song produced by DJ Two Stacks, video directed by Joseph Zentil of Strange Customs), generating nearly three million YouTube views in three weeks. In the song she proclaims her disdain for wearing designer brands such as Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, or Prada: "Basic bitches wear that shit, so I don't even bother."

In the video, Kreayshawn raps and ghostrides with her sidekick, DJ Lil' Debbie. Jasper Dolphin, and Left Brain of the hip-hop group OFWGKTA also make appearances in the video for the single, along with Stephen James Turner and Aaron Matthew Perez. On June 8, 2011 it was announced that she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.

On June 23, 2011 it was announced that Kreayshawn would direct the music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," the first single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers album, I'm with You, which is due for release on August 30, 2011. The single was released on July 15, 2011, though it is unknown when the video will be released. Kreayshawn told MTV that she was shocked when the band's label contacted her management about directing the video. She said she went to film school but never thought it would translate to something this big. In late July 2011, the Chili Peppers decided to film a second version of the music video with director, Marc Klasfeld which will be released August 17, 2011 instead of the version Kreayshawn directed. It is currently unknown why the band opted to re-shoot the video and not go with Kreayshawn's version or if her version will ever be released.

She is currently nominated for best new artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards

Criticism and Reception

Kreayshawn's video "Gucci Gucci" has accumulated over 10 million views on YouTube as of August 2011 . Zolot was quickly signed to Columbia Records after her hit was released. She performed with her group White Girl Mob at a highly anticipated event. While Ellen Lovelidge of Pulse praised their performance, she said "they’ll smooth out the kinks" in a year or so referencing V-Nasty, another member of White Girl Mob, frequent use of the word "nigga" and their on-stage inexperience .

Not all reviews have been positive however. Several critics have lambasted Kreayshawn citing cultural appropriation as an "exploitation of black culture. " Bene Viera of Clutch Mag stated, "It’s equally problematic that every female emcee post, and MC Lyte who has had massive mainstream success all had to sell sex. Kreayshawn, on the other hand, is able to avoid an over sexualized image because of her whiteness."

West Coast rapper, Game, released a diss track "Uncle Otis" where he accuses Zolot of using racial slurs. He explained, "You can't be playing with that word, some people will take it serious, especially coming from someone that's . There's a lot of tragic history behind it. "

Discography

Singles

References

1. According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905–1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
2. "Kreayshawn: 'Gucci Gucci' Video from East Oakland-Born Rapper". 19 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
3. Case, Wesley (19 May 2011). "Kreayshawns Gucci Gucci isn't what you think it is". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
4. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666327/red-hot-chili-peppers-adventures-rain-dance-maggie-video-kreayshawn.jhtml
5. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666696/kreayshawn-red-hot-chili-peppers-rhcp-rain-dance-maggie.jhtml?xrs=share_fb
6. http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/08/15/red-hot-chili-peppers-the-adventures-of-rain-dance-maggie-video-preview
7. "Kreayshawn - Gucci Gucci". Youtube. Retrieved 1 August 2011. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
8. Lovelidge, Ellen Lovelidge. "Review: Kreayshawn & the White Girl Mob". SF Station: A City Guide by Boulevards. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
9. Viera, . "Kreayshawn: Another Case of Appropriating Black Culture". Sutton New Media LLC. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
10. Langhorne, Cyrus. "Game Defends 'White B*tch' Kreayshawn Diss". 4CONTROL Media, Inc. Retrieved 1 August 2011.

External links

• Kreayshawn (No 1,030) Natassia Zolot's rap brat persona suggests a female Tyler Guardian.co.UK
• Icebreaker: Kreayshawn GQ Magazine
• Beyond Kreayshawn: The Women In Hip-Hop Who The Internet Should Freak Out About Next Village Voice

Template:Persondata

• 1989 births
• Living people
• American music video directors
• American rappers
• Female rappers
• Rappers from the San Francisco Bay Area