Under the Influence: Katy B

1. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Obviously this is one of the best albums ever created in the world. I remember when I was trying to write my first album, wondering to myself ‘what kind of environment can I write this in?’ I had to find out where she wrote it; how she wrote it, how long it took – I really wanted to learn her process because it feels so natural. It’s kind of magic, almost. Almost every girl I know, and some guys, have told me they can relate to these lyrics, it’s uplifting but at the same time there’s sorrow in it. It’s the joy of finding strength. That’s what I get from it. It’s empowering.

2. Bahamadia – Kollage (1996)

I love this woman – she’s the most chilled out person but she’s still got so much attitude. Her voice sounds like velvet over the beats here throughout. On this album she had production from DJ Premier, The Roots and Guru – loads of producers I really love and admire, which is the icing on the cake. I just think she’s wicked.

3. Ms. Dynamite – A Little Deeper (2002)

She was 19 when she won the Mercury for this album, and to me that’s one of the biggest achievements in urban music. The things she talks about on this, they’re very deep and personal. I can cry listening to this album. After buying it I remember being on the bus home, reading the lyrics and they got to me before I’d even played a note of it. She was already so mature and had something to say. She’s been a big influence on me and has always been really supportive ever since I started out in music. Even when I see her now I’ll have a big smile on my face.

4. Missy Elliott – This Is Not A Test! (2003)

I remember waiting for this album to come out. This is the soundtrack to my teenage years, like 14-15. This was just a year after Under Construction, so she was moving quickly and working really hard. I remember being at Brit School and all the break dancers would be making up routines to these songs and doing backflips in the canteen. It’s such energetic music, but at the same time it had depth. Then there was that sense of humour in her lyrics – her talking about sex toys and her weave. I’d have to turn it down in my room, like ‘oh god, I don’t want my dad to hear this!’

5. Salt-n-Pepa – Very Necessary (1993)

I couldn’t do a female rap list without putting them in there. They’ve done so much for the movement throughout all their records and they’re still performing now. They were at Bloc Weekend a few years ago but I couldn’t stay to watch, which I was really upset about. My friends did and said they were amazing. They’re a lot of fun but they had something to say. And of course, this record has Whatta Man on it with En Vogue. You can't mess with that.

6. Queen Latifah – All Hail The Queen (1989)

I remember watching this documentary on her, an MTV thing called When I Was 17. It told the whole story about how she got signed and how her friends were her dance crew back then – somebody spotted her talent after she made them a mixtape. She was really young at this point and had so much to say. Her lyrical message was pretty clear, you know: 'I’m going to stand up for myself and no-one, no-one, is going to bring me down, or make me feel I need to give in.’ She’s basically saying ‘respect me, because I deserve to be respected.’ So I bought this album and I remember maybe a week later some guy touched my bum in a club and I got really rowdy back at him. My friends had to get me to calm down, and I thought ‘errr... Katy, you’ve been listening to too much Queen Latifah.’ But it felt good!

7. Lady of Rage – Necessary Roughness (1997)

I used to be in this hip-hop band when I was 18. We were called the Illersapiens. I didn’t rap but I was the singer. I was listening to a lot of hip-hop around this time. I used to run this night in Brixton, a lot of musicians would come down, we’d have a guest and our band would always play. We made a lot of music together – everybody on the bill – bassists, drummers, turntablists and rappers. One of the guest DJs broke out this tune when we were playing once and I had to ask ‘what is this?’ He was playing a Lady of Rage track called Rough Rugged and Raw. She just sounds so tough.

8. Foxy Brown – Ill Na Na (1996)

Foxy Brown, to me, is just New York. When I hear her I think of a New York girl personified. Hearing all the rappers now, like Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks and all these others coming up in the last few years – I can definitely hear a Foxy influence and think she might be the one they look to. I like her club records and the stuff she’s done with Jay-Z. She’s quite sexy but still classy and cool.

9. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday (2010)

I was pretty excited about this coming out. She’d featured on so many other people’s records beforehand; I couldn’t get enough. Her wordplay is everything, she’s a really intelligent girl. When I heard this I thought ‘wow, I probably need to think about my lyrics more.’ Even though this album’s more poppier than her others, I’d still say she started the whole resurgence of girl rappers in recent years. Big props to her.

10. Lil Kim – Hard Core (1996)

This was in 1996, I wasn’t listening to it then, but I’d start to hear her over the years and think ‘she’s so raw.’ She doesn’t care. She’d talk about the things guys more often tend to talk about. She’d talk about enjoying sex the way men talk about that sometimes. And why can’t she speak like that if everyone else can? I’ve got respect for Lil Kim, she’s not scared. 

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