Let’s meet a multi-talented artist Toots’

Today on our Hot Seat we have Katoria ‘Toots’ Mitchell aka The Godmother of Hip Hop. Writer, producer, director, and performance artist. Let’s have a chat with her.

Twist Online : First of all tell us about the start of your professional career?
Toots : I began writing poetry at age 8, then by the time I was 14 I transitioned my poetry into raps. I guess you can say I was influenced from Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill and 2Pac

Twist Online : Who or what inspired you to get into music industry?
Toots : Camoflauge, may he rest in peace was the first person I personally knew who went from the streets to the music business. He was my biggest influence.

Twist Online : Tell us about your recent release ‘Broke’?
Toots : Broke is a song about splintered thinking as Gary Zuckav would put it. It’s about separating oneself from people who have poverty thoughts, or broken concepts. Broke isn’t about money it’s about mindset.

Twist Online : What kind of response you have received from the release?
Toots : So far Broke has garnered over 4800 radio spins and charted on the National Indie Airplay top 150 charts. So I’m happy with it.

Twist Online : “Move ft Khyrie” the track you released few months back has got good response. You must be happy with it?
Toots : Yes, Khyrie is the other half of our group KVII (K7) I love all of the songs we have together, we always exceed my expectations. He’s a dope artist.

Twist Online : What attracts you more, performing on stage or working in studios?
Toots: The studio is more like work for me, so I choose performing on stage. The stage is liberating and free and there are no do overs. The studio is the prerequisite to the stage.

Twist Online : Our readers would like to know about your pro-literacy non profit organization Toots for Books?
Toots : Toots for Books mission is to decrease crime and poverty by increasing literacy and education. It’s all in the title man, it just means that I (Toots) am advocating for self education and literacy. Especially among people of color.

Twist Online : Have you set some target to achieve as a music artist?
Toots : Yes my next milestone is to have a platinum single with a Grammy nod and billboard charting.

Twist Online : Are you currently working on any other project?
Toots : Well yes my new EP entitled PTSD will be released this Spring and Broke will be on it.