TINK

I've never worked hands-on with a producer. I've been on my own writing, just taking beats and doing what I have to do. I've been on my own. To have Timbaland invite me in and say that 'I want to work with you' is amazing. He's a legend.

I think, being a woman, we got to prove ourselves twice.

I would rather impress you with my storytelling than with the size of my waist and my hips.

Coming up as a female rapper - well, a female artist in general - everything is just so black and white.

I think monogamy exists when you're of age. I'm not saying that's good, but in today's time, a female won't honestly get a full commitment until they're at least 25 or 26. That's not good, but that's how it is.

I have to break down the barriers as a female. I have to work 30 times harder just for respect.

I don't ever want to lose my rawness or whatever. That makes a person special.

When I was 16, I was doing what was popular. If I could go back, I would tell myself to not be afraid to be alone and not to follow others so much.

Country singers put a lot of soul into their songs, and I enjoy that.

When I'm rapping, like, a turn up song, I'm thinking about what the people want to hear; this is what they're going to like. When I'm singing, I'm, like, telling my story. I'm not worried if people like it; I'm just trying to be truthful, you know what I'm saying? I'm just talking about something that happened to me.

I'm not going to be the artist that talks about a million dollar whip and 'I just bought some red bottoms.' That's cool, but that's not all there is to it. I'd rather talk about something everyone can relate to and feel.

When you listen to my songs, you hear messages and real stories. That's what's setting me apart.

A lot of times, I have personal things, things I go through that I may exaggerate or make a story around, but it always has a meaning related to something I've been through for real.

It's easy for guys to listen to another guy for support, but if it's a female, they seem to shy away from it, like they don't want to be a sucker, you know what I'm saying? So we kind of got to go harder.

I like country music. Sometimes I'll just type in 'country' on Pandora and listen. I really like the passion in the lyrics.

Right now, black female artists are the most interesting people to think about. People are ready to hear whatever we're gonna say, and I'm not scared to say anything.

When Nicki was putting out mixtapes, she was the only female rapper that had any kind of buzz. And not to mention that she was on the track with the guys, you know? So you had the girls playing it, and you had the hood guys playing it, too, so you couldn't run away from Nicki.

As a female, we always have to be labeled this new female rapper. It's never like, 'I heard this rapper Tink.' It's always, 'I heard a female rapper.'

I'm in my own little lane, doing just me. I don't have to fit in.

Working with Timbaland, he gives me insight; he throws me different ways to approach the beat, and those extra tips go a long way. I know that he's worked with some of the greats, so it's just motivation. I feel inspired when we're in the booth together.

Working with Timbaland, you know it's not gonna sound like anything else out there today. The sound is very next-level.

Females - we go just as hard as the guys, if not harder.

The key to artistry is being able to say stuff the way other people can't.

To stand out, I just use my talents. I rap, and I sing as well. With that being said, people kind of know me for bringing that emotion in music.

It's so irritating, because male rappers don't have to have a look. A guy can look like a bum on the street, but as a male, people will accept him because he's a rapper. But females, they expect you to have a big booty. They expect you to walk in six-inch heels.