Get Familiar: SALIMATA
Interview by Passion Dzenga | Photography by Maurice van der Meijs
Hailing from Brooklyn, SALIMATA has recently been making noise in the New York Hip-Hop scene and abroad. Her colorful world, confident personality and poetry infused raps catch the attention of anyone present in the room. After her debut album “OUCH” on the 10k label in late 2022, Brooklyn native SALIMATA returned with her latest project titled ‘Wooden Floors’ this year on Fada Records. Delivering an array of multiple flows and emotions on groovy beats; she stands out from other mcs with her sweet voice tone, raw style and poignant lyrics. we took some time to catch up with her and get familiar with her art during the shoot for her latest music video in Amsterdam.
How did growing up in Brooklyn shape your musical style and influences?
Brooklyn has so many characters to offer a young mind; it's overwhelming almost. I never had rap music playing in my house because it was an African household, but I was fortunate enough to befriend walking radios. These were dedicated individuals who had a plethora of discographies glued to the back of their eyes and, on top of that, just wanted to share it with me. I thank them for being eager and consistent. This was around 2011 when I was using Tumblr, going to the city, and meeting random like-minded humans.
What initially drew you to hip-hop, and when did you decide to pursue it seriously?
I was just putting freestyles on Facebook. My FB fam was fuckin' with it, so I kept it up. It wasn’t until 2019, when I got close to 10k, that's when I saw a studio for the first time. Mike, Niontay, and Hailee pushed me so hard to drop "OUCH," and I never had a physical push like that before. People on FB would say this and that, but to have someone in your face believing and listening to yo' shit, hits different.
Can you tell us more about how the 80's movie "Risky Business" inspired you and influenced your music?
Word to my motha, it’s just a screencap from one famous scene. I didn't even see the movie until I finished the album, LMAO. I just liked the idea of someone being happy because they’re home alone and feeling good scrubbing and cleaning their Wooden Floors, then starting to dance when they start shining! We all know that feeling, and I had to make an album you could clean to.
Your debut album "OUCH" made quite an impact. Can you share some behind-the-scenes stories from the making of that album?
SHEESH. In short, I had a fallout with an ex (who did nothing to me, by the way), and it crushed my soul. For four years, I blamed myself for what happened, even though I didn’t do anything. After that, I lacerated my Achilles tendon and was on bed rest for six months. Then COVID hit all of us. During that time, I made friends with a demon in human skin, a beautiful girl who violated my pockets and heart. When the rain cleared out, I was finally alone for the first time in a while and was with my family at a BBQ. On the way home, my mom's husband, and I were arguing, and they kicked me out of the car in Harlem when I lived past Jamaica, Queens! Mind you, I was off bed rest but still messed up. So I went to my homeboy Devante's house. I love him. He had work and just let me chill at the crib. I recorded all the songs I had in my notes over the past two years in two days while he was working. I pulled up GarageBand and did what you see today as "OUCH." I'm only sharing a few things, but "OUCH" is called that because ya girl was in constant mental and physical pain.
How does your latest project "Wooden Floors" differ from your debut album, both musically and thematically?
A nigga not depressed no more! Haha, that's really it. The energy reflects that, in my opinion. I also have more respect now, so quality beats are more accessible. This album is strictly about love, dreams, flows, goals, ambitions, and so on. I didn't have any of that when I wrote "OUCH." I just wanted to hurt someone. I also released "OUCH" a year after it was recorded, so the energy was totally out of sync, you know? It's a ball-rolling thing, and "Wooden Floors" was smooth, all within the same momentum.
"Wooden Floors" features an impressive lineup of artists. How did these collaborations come about, and what was it like working with them?
Them my niggas, for real. It's just a matter of me hearing them on a track before they know I'm thinking of them. When I'm confident in that feeling, I slide it to them, and they lay their magic down.
Your latest single "TAKE U DEA" marks a new direction in your sound. What inspired this shift, and how do you see your sound evolving in the future?
I'm always making mad music in general, any genre. I choose to release a handpicked sound that I find appropriate to showcase or represent myself. But for real, I can’t even look the same every day! Sometimes I change my outfit twice a day! So why would I want to sound the same always, yanno? LOL, I started rapping on grime beats and house beats, to be honest. It's just a matter of what I show. I see it getting very firm, controlled, and consistent, and being known for its versatility. I think my sound is present, but more so the feeling you get from me, because different sounds will be put out, but you're always gonna feel me. And I think that’s what’s most important.
You treat each song as a journal entry. Can you walk us through your songwriting process?
There is none! I let it do its own thing. The process is its processing. And when it's finished, I just know. No math. If I add a structure, I feel like it would take away from the authenticity.
Your music features an array of flows and emotions. How do you approach creating such dynamic and varied tracks?
I started rapping in a staircase in Flatbush, maybe around 2015. It's all acapella in there. Your flow has to be yours. So I guess I created it with that. And I'm mad honest with my emotions, so that's just gonna happen. Whatever the beat makes a nigga do, I'ma do it!
How do you balance raw, poignant lyrics with groovy beats to create your signature sound?
It's just the kind of person I am. I know socially I'm animated, but a big part of my intimate personality is being brutally vulnerable. So being shamed for it all my life, I suppose the only space left to release it was the beat.
How do your passions for skateboarding and fine arts influence your music and overall creativity?
When I used to skate every day, I called my skater self Baked Bonnie. I don't know why, but the traits that skating brought out of me molded this character, Bonnie. When I decided I wanted to rap, I thought maybe I'd be Bonnie, and I made my email for beats and music-related stuff, bonniebitch. So, going into rap with the understanding of Bonnie as an aggressive ass-thrashing bitch kind of developed who I am now. The wildest thing to me is how fine arts and music have always clashed for me. Music gets all the pull, but it's cool. The two of them will fuse somehow. I am a very patient person.
What are some personal and professional goals you hope to achieve in the near future?
Definitely build my house with my own hands! Own land, buy my mommy a crib in her hometown Abidjan. Own a business related to hair. I can’t get into details because people will steal my ideas! I'd love to teach children about their emotions. Like, for real, I actually want to create an adolescent program because even as adults we don’t always know why we feel a certain way. I think it's one of the most important steps in child development, and I'd like to aid in that.
What’s your perspective on the current New York hip-hop scene, and how do you see your place within it?
Currently, it feels like a big BBQ. The whole fam is there, and everyone’s here to present their best. It could be their new sneakers, her new 36” bussdown, or something they're good at. Maybe Cheyanne is good with the fried chicken, and Brianna is really nice with the drinks, yanno? It’s a hip-hop scene or whatever, but these are really skaters, dancers, FedEx workers, family men, breadwinners, struggling painters, and cooks who are working towards the same thing. This is a crazy question because I never looked at myself in it. I'm just there. My place is pretty communal. I’m born and raised here. I’ve been in this scene for over 12 years because of the activities I found myself in growing up. So, literally just being around and enjoying each other's company and skill, even before some of us had it, is how I find myself in the scene. People like my music, I like theirs. They’re my friends, I’m their homegirl, a member, I suppose. I think mostly my presence is simply an indicator that if I can do it, so can you.
Your music is making waves abroad. How do you connect with international audiences, and what has been the most surprising feedback you've received from fans worldwide?
Waves for real. My personality is a majority of my act, so how am I going to give the people that? I try to talk to the audience, which is difficult with people who don’t speak English. I also try to be around them, in the crowd, at the merch booth, whatever. Just feel me! LOL. Because then when I'm on stage, they’re like, “I was talking to her for 15 minutes, but I didn’t know she was hard like that!” And it’s just cool. The most surprising thing has to be the girls. Girls tell me that I make them feel good, and because it was all men (which they also enjoyed), when they saw me, they felt more connected. It's the energy they have talking to me that is so shocking to me. And people who already knew me! That blew my mind, for real. So much love!
Your music video for "TAKE U DEA" was in partnership with Patta and Nike. How important is fashion in your personal brand and music?
It's funny to think of myself as a brand... NGL, after the beat and bars, it's the fit, LMFAO. I'm not always fitted up when making the song, so for the video or whatever, it's important. For the stage, when I'm shooting a video, whatever. I didn't even know I liked fashion until about two years ago. I called it dressing up simply because I'm not educated in fashion, like brands and stuff. But once I stopped bullshitting myself, I just realized it's another tool to make me feel good, and it's supa fun. So, if I look good, I feel good, and the music is gonna slap! I'm not even saying like be all suited up or have super clean sneakers or anything. Whatever I'm feeling has to be present in the fit. I just gotta feel myself. Imagine I get caught lackin on the ave or the train or something. That would be crazy. I COULD NEVER. That’s some real New York shit for you. So, that’s why the "TAKE U DEA" video was SO INCREDIBLE to me. Did you see how good I looked?!? It's gotten to the point where people are excited to see my outfit before I perform or what kind of wig or hairstyle I'm gonna pop out with next. Gotta impress myself and the people, y’all!
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your music career?
THESE NIGGAS JUST WANNA FUCKKKKK. Omg, do not think these niggas like your music. Seriously! But for real, a lesson for me would be to do it your way. Learn how you learn. Listen to everything and have fun.
What advice would you give to young, aspiring hip-hop artists looking to make their mark?
Enhance what makes you, you. If an artist doesn’t have a personal trait to cling to, I feel like it's a little harder. Just find out what belongs to you and enhance it. MILK THAT SHIT!
When people look back on SALIMATA’s career, what do you hope they remember most about you and your music?
How good I make you feel, how fun it can be. That it's a sonic map to my life. I really wanna get my bars up, but I want them to remember my lyrics.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
ERYKAH BABY WHATTT. I'm not really musically equipped for real, and I don’t have the mightiest library, but for my queen, I do, I does. I just always gravitated towards her, and we got the same birthday. Now that I make music, it's hers THAT I WOULD LOVE. My voice next to her voice, come on! She says things that are simply piercing. Not too many words. You could spell all of them, but that one sentence can mean something different for ten years. The music grows with you and changes as you do, but it's the same song. I would love that for my music. I have a rare few moments in my discography where I feel like I was able to do it in a bar. When I can make it the whole song, then we can start talking.
Do you have a favorite track from your discography that holds special meaning to you?
I have this one track called "Tasty Tunes." I made it while working in a Dominican hair salon in the summer. I was so shocked at it. I couldn’t believe I had the ability, and I think it opened a whole new wave for me, which ended up being "Wooden Floors."
Is there a talent or hobby you have that your fans might be surprised to learn about?
If you follow me, you know everything. LOL, my IG was like my family at one point. But, I do these mini scenes. I sketch, comic, paint, digitalize, and sculpt these miniature Gumball Ppl. They don’t have a language or facial expressions. Context clues and small keyboard symbols (#%*!) are how you can determine what’s happening. That’s the hobby I cherish the most.
