MAIN MISCONCEPTION: BONNIE STONE
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS | BONNIE STONE
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTO Kwame Gibbs
“Hip hop means being original and not following trends.”
VALIDATED: What’s your earliest memory of hip hop culture?
BONNIE STONE: I can remember coming home from school and my babysitter would have Rap City playing on the tv. I remember falling in love with the music videos, the sound and the culture of hip hop. The dancing, the fashion, the beats, the rhymes... I was engulfed by it all.
VALIDATED: You began exploring the music scenes of Boston during your college years. What was it that sparked your interest initially?
BONNIE STONE: I was always inspired to rap. I would write rhymes here and there prior too. I think when I got a little older I decided to explore it more. People started taking an interest in what I was doing lyrically. I had no idea it would have gone this far.
VALIDATED: This led to you stepping on stage for the first time at the legendary Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts, what do you remember most about the experience?
BONNIE STONE: I met this guy and he liked how I rapped so he invited me to perform at this underground event the Middle East had every year at the time. That was actually my first time performing my music in front of an audience aside from my friends. I can remember this guy in the front row heckling me and I forgot my verse. Let's just say, that was the first time and last time I forgot my rhymes.
VALIDATED: From there you continued to plan rap battles and throw hip hop events around the city while still performing. This led to you opening for hip hop and r&b artists including Method Man, 112 and Cormega. What pointers or advice did you pick up from sharing the stage with these artists?
BONNIE STONE: I definitely learned the importance of stage presence. I thought it was so dope how Method Man interacted with the crowd and the fans went crazy. I always make sure to connect with the audience.
VALIDATED: Your buzz eventually led to a meeting at Def Jam with the legendary Clark Kent. How did the opportunity come about?
BONNIE STONE: That opportunity came about through a friend who had a connection to Clark. I visited the office with a few people from my team at the time. The moment was incredible. Clark and his counterpart played the demo and he took the time out to really listen to each song. We vibed out for about an hour or so. Unfortunately things didn't manifest due to some issues with my team. I speak a little on the topic on my song "Talk" of the Explicit Truths album.
VALIDATED: Your album “More Than A Lady” was never released due to a fallout with your manager at the time. Any regrets there?
BONNIE STONE: I never have any regrets. I am actually glad things worked out the way they did because it just meant it wasn't my time for release.
VALIDATED: After a hiatus you resurfaced in 2020, dropping the hit single “Creamy”, what was the motive behind the record?
BONNIE STONE: I'm a big Wu-Tang fan so I felt like returning back to hip hop, I wanted to bring something that people could resonate with. It was created for those who enjoy old school hip hop but infused with a newer feel minus the mumble rap sound.
VALIDATED: You followed up with three albums, “Silence”, “Stone By the Way” and your latest project “Explicit Truths” produced by Danny Caiazzo. Three albums in one year, do you feel like you have anything to prove?
BONNIE STONE: I totally feel like I have something to prove. I think females are put into a box of "sell sex". I just wanted to prove I can create great content lyrically and be consistent doing it. I think we are in a day and age when people want instant gratification. So I think it is extremely important to keep creating and distributing new content for the listeners.
VALIDATED: Your latest single “Digital Underground”, what’s been the response to the record?
BONNIE STONE: “Digital Underground” is actually doing way better than I thought. I think it is so different from "Creamy", I really didn't know what to expect. I think people enjoy that this is something a little different from the norm of content that mainstream female rappers are putting out right now.
VALIDATED: In a male dominated industry, what do you feel the main misconception is about female emcees?
BONNIE STONE: The main misconception is that female emcees don't write their own rhymes.
VALIDATED: What’s hip hop mean to you?
BONNIE STONE: Hip hop means being original and not following trends.
VALIDATED: What does 2021 look like for Bonnie Stone?
BONNIE STONE: 2021 looks like gaining more exposure to a wider audience of people all over the world. Staying consistent with material and staying authentic to myself musically.
VALIDATED: What’s your social media contacts and website?
BONNIE STONE: You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @springfieldbestone. Also you can check out my website at www.springfieldbestone.com.