LB: I have one song on the album called "You Never Get Over It" it’s about losing my parents (in 1995). They both died within a very short time period and it was very unexpected. People kept trying to tell me that time will heal, but it doesn’t - not really. Something like that - you don’t get over it. It’s not something to get over. I want to remember them and celebrate their memory.

Another one of my favorites is called “Ladybug Come Outside”—which is basically my subconscious speaking to me-- begging me to come outside, release a new album.

DM: Your parents were from Brazil right?

LB: Yes, but we were all born in the States. In Maryland, Silver Springs actually. I have an older sister and a younger brother.

DM: Your parents were musicians. How did they feel about you going into hip-hop?

LB: Well my mother was a singer; my father played a lot of instruments, organ, guitar… They played in the local circuit, around DC. As far as me going into hip-hop they were very supportive. They loved being introduced to new music and new dances. My sister, brother and I always had friends coming through the house. My mother welcomed everyone in. We’d just be hanging out in the house, listening to music and dancing, my mom would be dancing too. We’d be looking pretty funny, but we had great times. We just LAUGHED…

DM: When did you know that hip-hop was it for you?

LB: Probably when I first heard Queen Latifah and MC Lyte – Salt N Pepa. I saw that and I wanted to do it. After that it was on. I’d go on trips to NY or DC to go to music conferences. We moved around a lot when I was a kid and that taught me to love travel. I loved moving, meeting new people-- the only time I didn’t want to move was in the tenth grade. We were moving a bit further, closer to Baltimore – to Columbia. I hated it tremendously. When I graduated from high school I broke out the next day to move to NYC.