This is an interview we've been trying to get for a long time with Bay Area R&B songress Netta Brielle. She combines a progressive hip-hop sound with high energy vocals, that makes you just fall in love with her lyrics.

Netta has been doing her thing in the Bay Area for years making real noise over there. Opening for HUGE acts like J. Holiday & Trey Songz. She is also the winner of the 2008 Def Jam Mega Star Search, the brain child of ultra record executive Shakir Steward.

She was very open with me in talking about her childhood, her views on the industry, and the passing of her sister last year. Netta is amazingly down to earth with all the success she's had in a very short amount of time....So listen to a brief of the interview or read the full interview below

- Mr. Sykes

Mr. Sykes: In what some would say is a male dominated industry, what are some of the struggles you face being a female artist?

Netta B: I think it’s being taken seriously, you have a lot of women and guys try to get over. “Sell you dreams” Make you feel like they can do a lot of things for you but and the end of the day that’s really not the case, it’s a whole ‘nother story.

Mr. Sykes: What is easiest for you singing, dancing or acting?

Netta B: I love to do all of them equally. But my favorite thing about being an artist is performing. There’s nothing like being on the stage and making people feel good. With the music your providing, it’s a whole different feeling I feel like a whole different person on stage. So I think for me right now it’s really just performing. Having the people step away from a show with a piece of you

Mr. Sykes: You’re the winner of the 2008 def Jam Mega Star search what does that mean for you?

Netta B: I don’t know I’m still so Excited about it. I’ve been doing this for years and to finally have somebody like a Shakir Steward who’s like amazing in the industry have the slightest interest in me. It’s amazing and unbelievable so I’m still trying to take it all in. because that’s a really good position to be in.

Mr. Sykes: What was it like opening for J. Holiday

Netta B: It was really fun and he is so down to earth. He even came to me after the show and said he really liked what I was doing and to keep it up, and he gave me a lot of positive words. And it was really fun, and I just took in the experience and hopefully I can continue to open for big names.

Mr. Sykes: Last year (correct me if I am mistaken) but you lost your sister a few months before the release of “Meet Me On The Stage” how did that affect or inspire you.

Netta B: it was back a year ago in July we were getting ready to release the Mixtape, we were getting ready to have a Mixtape party. My whole family was going to be there. Unfortunately due to gun violence and all the things going on in the bay area she was a victim of gun violence. I t really did something to me and inspired me to be a role-model to young women and to show them, whatever you put your mind to and whatever you wanna do in life it’s possible. And really wish she was here with me for all the wonderful things that are happening. But at the same time I know she’s looking down and I’m bless to have her daughter with me and my family. It definitely tore me down but it gave me another outlook as an artist it opened up a whole new door for me. Now as an artist and me being successful in the industry cuz now I feel like I have to be an inspiration to younger kids and younger girls.

Mr. Sykes: When is the next time we will see Netta Brielle the actress on stage?

Netta B: I don’t know I just graduated from San Jose State University I Majored in theater arts so I really did a lot of the acting there. So right now since I’m out of school I’m really dedicate all my time to music right now. But hopefully very soon I can get in from of the camera on stage, commercials anything I just love being involved with the artists.

Mr Sykes: What inspired the title for the Mixtape?

Netta B: I really like music, music is my everyday its like air to me and a friend of mine got together and up the song together. And we were like why not talk about feeling a guy or liking a guy and maybe using music as metaphor.

Mr. Sykes: Why does music matter to you?

Netta B: Growing up it wasn’t easy for me, my mother was a single parent we definitely struggled. And had a lot of ups and downs and music was what definitely kept me going. And is what kept me inspired to be a better person, and to stay out of the street and not hang out with my friends who weren’t doing the things that they really need to do, in life growing up. So music is everything to me and because I’ve always known what I wanted to do at the age of five ‘til now and it’s everything to me it’s life.

For More From Netta B. Please Visit: http://www.myspace.com/nettabmusic

To Post a Myspace Bulletin Or a Facebook note To this post CLICK HERE

The First Lady of the Bay Jimmie Reign called in to talk this ours truly. I love this girl, she has a great personality, friendly and warm, and one of the best interviews I've had in a long time. She is a very busy woman so I'm glad she had the time to call in and talk with me. She had just flown in from Miami, working on Pleasure's (formerly of Pretty Ricky) debut album. This Girl is gonna be huge in a minute so keep an eye out, but this is what she had to say:

Mr. Sykes: When did you start singing?

Jimmie: I started singing professionally when I was about 14. My God-brothers had a rap group and they asked me to sing on a hook. And that was the first time I got in a booth and from there it's been non-stopped. Something I really like to do

Mr. Sykes: Could you tell us some recent work you've done?

Jimmie: Well I actually just came came back from working on Pleasure's album. I don't know if people know Pretty Ricky, He's a singer from Pretty Ricky They basically split so he's working on his album. I did some song writing and some vocal production on there. I worked with J-Valentine on his album he's on J-Records, I've also worked with Clyde Carson who's on Capital Records. I do a lot of songwriting and a lot of vocal production, and vocal arranging. But those are the most recent things that I've been working on.

Mr. Sykes: Are there any records that we would know? or instantly recognize... "Oh that's a Jimmie Reign record!"

Jimmie: Mmm I think the biggest thing I've done was actually something in Japan so I don't know if anyone in the United States would know it. But In Japan I had a single off a really well known artist over there. It did really well a couple of years ago. Right now we're just trying to see if I made that next big hit and hopefully I'll have that with Pleasure's album or J-valentine's album.

Mr. Sykes: So what your favorite color?

Jimmie: It's Purple

e.g. The color of this article....

Mr. Sykes: Handbags or shoes what do you have more of?

Jimmie: Shoes!

Mr.Sykes: So when did things start to pick up for you, I mean your notoriety. 'Cause I know your really huge in the Bay Area (and other places)...So when did things become big for Jimmie Reign?

Jimmie: I think probably about 3 years ago my songs started playing on the radio, and I don't know...I started having way more shows. My buzz has gotten a lot bigger 'cause from the shows came magazine interviews and internet interviews. So I guess more people know who I am now.

Mr. Sykes: "Make You Wait" I really like that song. How Important is waiting in a relationship [to you] and is this song a womens anthem....?

Jimmie: Wow I don't know if I would say that it's an anthem, it's something that a lot of women relate with. It's something That I think women should do; "Make You Wait" is from a personal experience I think it's important in a relationship. If a person doesn't know who you are going into it. And they're not willing to find out who you are before taking that next step...Then they probably aren't the best person to be with. Everybody's different but for me it's important to wait...At lest a little while.

Mr. Sykes: What artist have inspired you most in your music?

Jimmie: Definitely Amel Larrieux, she's a very big inspiration to me and her voice is amazing. El debarge, is also someone who influenced my sound. There are the great people like, Stevie Wonder, I always listen to Minnie Ripperton. I love Mariah Carey, Beyonce is a very big inspiration to a lot of up and coming R&B singers who are female right now.

Mr. Sykes: What are you doing to change the game?

Jimmie: I think that I bring a different kind of "swag," and I hate saying that word 'cause it's a little bit played out right now. I bring a different swagger to R&B I definitely, I think I'm "The Pretty Girl" but I have an edge to me. And I think that's what's missing in R&B. You get "The Pretty Girl" and you get this really gritty "hardcore urban girl" there's really no mix. So I'm kinda trying to bring both to the table. And I think that's a little bit different I that's a change.

Get more from Jimmie Reigh @: http://www.jimmiereignworld.com & http://myspace.com/JimmieReign1