Sarai

Born and raised in upstate New York, Sarai Howard didn't exactly imagine herself as a rapper. While her single mother played Fleetwood Mac records, Sarai's older brother exposed his kid sister to the heavy, hard-knock world of hip-hop. Seminal albums by the likes of N.W.A., Public Enemy, and Run-D.M.C. impacted Sarai so much, she wrote her first rhyme at age 15. Two years later, she and a friend took a trip to Atlanta. It was there that Sarai would get her lucky break. She was introduced to producer L.J. Sutton (aka Chocolate Starr), leaving a quick impression as a slick Yankee girl whose rhymes were just as tight as those on the streets. In 2000, Sarai left her college jaunt behind to re-join Sutton down South. Her career was in the works in two years time and Sarai landed a deal with Epic. Her first single, "Pack Ya Bags," was hot on radio, eventually leaving critics to tag her the female Eminem. ~ MacKenzie Wilson