Young hip and fresh to the scene, rapper Sushi Lor is making it known that not only is she is great female rapper, but she’s a great rapper---period. Milwaukee born and bread this rapper is slowly making a name for herself not only in her home town of Milwaukee, but around the United States as her fan base increases daily.

I was turned on to Sushi Lor recently. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found her Myspace page, but I was instantly impressed with her rhymes and her delivery. She is to rhymes like Michelangelo is to art, pure perfection. Another thing she does well is that she delivers her message without the use of profanity. Something that other rappers should take notice.

After checking out her Myspace and listening to her tracks I knew it was time we had to feature this upcoming artist on our page. I recently had the pleasure to speak with Sushi Lor and talk about her life and her rising as a rap artist.

Hmoodle:   I'm very pleased to be here with the very talented young rapper Sushi Lor. Sushi, thank you for taking the time out to be a part of Hmoodle.

Sushi:    No problem. I am also pleased to be here with you guys.

Hmoodle:    Now, for our readers who aren't familiar with you. Why don't you give them a little background information about yourself?

Sushi:    Well, I'm a Hmong female rap artist and the youngest in the game. I grew up in downtown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So I love the city. Probably just like any other city girl, I like shopping, partying, and having a good time. Growing up, music was gradually becoming a part of me everyday, due to the ways that we could easily listen to other artists' music. As a child, I participated in theatre arts, which was how I became involved with the stage and spotlight. So by the time I was fourteen years old I decided to take a larger step into what I really wanted, which was to take on a role in the music industry---the Hip Hop and Rap genres, to be exact. It's been quite some years now that I've been making music and I love it. I plan to continue my rapping career for as long as I stand.

Hmoodle:    Now I have to say, that I was greatly impressed with your songs. One thing I noticed is that they are pretty clean without using any swear words. Is that something you strive for?

Sushi:    I believe profanity isn't necessarily in order to pass through a message in a song. So I try to make sure my lyrics are presentable to anyone of age because you never know whose listening.

Hmoodle:    You've got several songs on your Myspace page. Which of those is your favorite and why?

Sushi:    As of right now, I favor "My Turn" the most. This song is actually one of my recent tracks that I've recorded, and if you listen to the lyrics, it pretty much explains my perspective view of the position that I'm currently in.

Hmoodle:    What inspires you when it comes to writing/producing your songs?

Sushi:    My surroundings, from partying to laughing to the hardships. Even as a lyricist, sometimes my mind goes blank, but it's all the happenings around me that magnetizes words to my mind.

Hmoodle:    Now when you first started rapping, was it hard for you to get noticed or taken seriously by others because you are a female?

Sushi:    To be honest, yes it was. People were always judging by what they saw, and at the beginning, all they were seeing was an Asian girl trying to rap. Initially, I just knew I was going to earn the respect and recognition I deserve.

Hmoodle:    How'd your family react when they first found out you could rap and that you wanted to pursue versus it just being a hobby?

Sushi:    You know, I really wish I could remember the very first scene of myself rapping, but I do remember reading my own poems in a strong rhythmic tone. So I did it more often, and of course my family also thought it was a joke, which I couldn't blame them for. Both of my parents actually prefer me singing instead of rapping, but I know I have a better chance of succeeding further as a Hmong female rap artist.

Hmoodle:    Do you remember your first rapping in front of a crowd? How'd did it go? What song did you perform?

Sushi:    My first time rapping in front of a crowd was at an Open Mic event held in Milwaukee. I performed a free verse song, which is basically just a song with a verse and the hook. I wanted to find the right place just to try out my rapping skills, and the Open Mic was a great event to start.

Hmoodle:    How do you think you've grown as an artist from your first performance to now?

Sushi:    Throughout these years, I've gained self-confidence when it comes to being involved in shows. I've done numerous live performances, and yet I still have anxiety almost every time I hop on stage, which is a good thing. It shows that every event is different, and it gives me a different vibe to look forward to every time.

Hmoodle:    If you could collarborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

Sushi:    There are just so many great underground rappers, along with the famous ones, and I would collaborate with anyone who's got it. I personally have no particular artist in mind when it comes to rap music. Every artist seems to have their own story to tell and so do I.

Hmoodle:    Do you have any albums that you've released or it that something in the works?

Sushi:    I've actually just been making song after song. I've thought about releasing an album, but I'm not too worried about that. Right now, I'm just focusing on making every track meaningful instead of just gibberish lyrics to use up beats. So releasing an official album can later be done with no doubt.

Hmoodle:    Where can our readers see you perform in the future?

Sushi:    All I'm going to say is keep your eyes and ears opened. I plan to travel and go as far as I can. You never know when I'll be in your city! So stay posted with me.

Hmoodle:    For people who would like to check out more of your music, where can they find that at?

Sushi:    Try the Google system. Otherwise, if I have any new releases, my Myspace friends will be the first ones to get notified. So be sure to add me there at www.myspace.com/sushilor

Hmoodle:    I want to thank you once again for doing this for us. Any last words for our readers?

Sushi:    Well thank you very much for having me. I'm glad we could work together. For all the readers, I just want you guys to know that I'm here to represent, and I won't bail on you.

As you can see, Sushi Lor is not a flash in the plan. She’s not afraid to work and prove herself in the game. I love the she says that she has anxiety before each performance. It shows me that she takes every performance seriously and wants it to be successful.

I think we are seeing more and more female rappers, which is a good thing. They have a message to deliver as well, so it’s always interesting to see their perspective---their twist on things. If you listen to Sushi Lor, you can tell she has a story to tell and each song is its own chapter.

I definitely recommend you check out Sushi on her Myspace page. She also has some videos on Youtube that you watch as well. We at Hmoodle want to thank Sushi for taking her time to be part of Hmoodle. We want to also wish her the best of luck with her future endeavors and know that we will be seeing big things from her in the near future.

If you have any questions or comments in regards to this article, or you want to be featured on Hmoodle, then contact me at ryanm@hmoodle.com (Ryan Madland)