While I was trudging through my daily routine of checking and responding to numerous e-mails, I heard in the far distance a deep persistant thudding. It was vague at first but after a few seconds it got louder...and louder. Until the sound of bass so low it was almost deafening was right outside my front door.
"ALL MY WOMEN IN THE HOUSE IF YOU CHASING CASH, AND YOU GOT SOME BIG TITTIES WITH A MATCHING ASS..."
AAAh, yes. My interview with Italee.
The cherry red Rav with opaque black tint and double sunroof pulls up. I open the grill. The first question I ask as she's coming through the door followed by a strong scent of Jean Paul Gautier...What DOES Italee mean?
"The Arrival of the Black Princess"
she responded with a sexy, throaty innocence. Go figure. If you've ever met Italee or by chance seen her at one of the many uptown sessions this past Christmas (NB. "Klimaxx..." she devulged, "...at Crowne Plaza, everytime I went, was hype! hype! hype! The ambiance was wicked!"), you'll know what I'm talking about when I say she has a very becoming air about her. She's tall (5'9"), curvaceous, and beautiful in a manner that's almost intimidating to both men and women.
But what alot of people don't know, is that she is the "Grace Jones-esque" voice behind track number 11 on Shaggy's Hot Shots album, "Not Fair". "Boy, what have you done for me? I keep going down on you, but you're not going down on me."
I'm not quite sure if alot of people have even given the rest of the song a chance! I myself have witnessed a young man playing and rewinding only the first 16 bars of that track. It was quite amazing.

MiC: How did you get hooked up with Shaggy for the album track?
ITA: Dave Kelly [best known for 'The Bug' riddim and Babycham's producer] does production work for Robert Livingston - Shaggy's manager. He produced a couple of tracks on 'Hot Shots' and as one of his budding artists, he gave me that chance.

MiC: What's going on with you and Dave Kelly exactly, hmmmm? He's HOT!
ITA: [laughing] Dave Kelly and me is strictly business - Artist/Producer relationship and serious brotherly support from him every now and then.

MiC: So, you're his new secret weapon?
ITA: I hope he considers me to be just that. He has alot of faith in me, that's for sure. We have alot of things planned for the world that we hope will put Jamaica one step ahead of the game, as Shaggy has done.

MiC: Why the name change for that track? Is "RUDE" going to be your stage name from now on?
ITA: RUDE is actually my alias, and it's RUDE!!! with three exclamation points! And yes, on an international level, we wanted something fresh and exciting. "Rude!!!" is a girl that don't take crap...that stands up for her rights, and don't allow anyone to step on her. She is here to defend women against the abusive husbands, the 'baby fadda drama', the broken heart drama...I'm hoping to be the voice that will put every woman back in contact with themselves and the gift of life and womanhood.

Very well said.