Some people are bestowed royalty — others take it. The next generation of women eyeing rap’s throne is growing and Queen Key is a name you should know. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, 22-year-old Ke’Asha McClure is equal parts sugar and spice. Her raps have a dogged ferocity, along with winking playfulness and humor. She began rapping under her current moniker in 2015 and — like many of her contemporaries — relied on social media as her promo machine. “This is probably my fourth or fifth time in New York,” she says, peering down from the 31st floor of the Billboard offices in Times Square.
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“Two years ago, I just came to see what’s up. I didn’t have a team or nothing. I was just finding shit. Whatever was there,” she says, lauging and exposing a deep dimple in her cheek. Times have changed. She’s dropped several indie projects, notably, 2018’s breakout, Eat My Pussy, which features the standout “My Way.” “I left my pizza in the oven/ That bitch burnt as fuck/ A lot a cheese to go around/ Bitch I could turn you up,” she raps.
She’s received hometown love from G Herbo, Chief Keef and Chance the Rapper — the latter appears in the video to her “Slide (remix)”. With Eat My Pussy Again slated for an April release, Queen Key is ready to go big.
Chicago is a hotbed of talent in hip-hop. What was it like growing up there?
I’m a middle child. My mama has five kids. I moved from the city when I was five and I went to high school in the suburbs. I probably lived in 12 to 15 houses. My mama moved around a lot when we were young. She was a teacher and changed jobs a lot.
Was it hard having a nomadic childhood?
I wasn’t really thinking about that. I kind of liked the fact that I was moving around a lot; I like being the new girl. I don’t really wanna ever stay too comfortable with something. Sometimes, people point to the suburbs like it’s boring and the suburbs will look down at the city. But me, it was the best of both worlds. It opened up my mind. Maybe that’s why I don’t get attached because I moved around so much.
When did you get interested in music?
I would do it naturally as a kid, just playing around because I was in the house and bored. I took myself seriously when I introduced myself to the world as “Queen Key.” That was in the summer of 2015. I was, like, 18.
What were you doing back then?
I graduated high school. I thought I was gonna go to Miles College, a university in Alabama. A week before, something had happened and my mama was like, I can’t go. I’m guessing something with expenses. My cousin convinced me to go to community college in Illinois. I did it for a week-and-a-half and walked out. I felt like I was wasting my time. I walked out of the school and went job-hunting. I found three jobs: American Girl Store, Buffalo Wild Wings and a daycare. I got fired from the first two. The daycare, I stayed until there until I quit to rap.
When did you get interested in hip-hop?
I’ve been writing raps since I was like seven. So, I used to write raps while I was sitting there at the daycare, cleaning. I was plotting it back then. I used to tell people, “Y’all, I’m gonna be famous.” I spoke it before it happened. It was just some blind faith. I would see people from my city doing good with it. If they can do it, I know I can do it. Chief Keef, especially. He’s so uncensored and was able to [make it]. That let me know, okay, I can be myself and make it. Perfect.
When was your first time actually recording?
It was one of my birthdays. I went to the studio for the first time during the summer of 2015. I recorded a song and I loved how I sounded. I put a clip of me rapping on social media and it started going viral. I knew I needed to shoot a music video then. After that video, I dropped two more. I was going crazy. Everything started moving kinda fast. Even though I was 18, I was performing in clubs until 2, 3 o’clock in the morning. So, when stuff started picking up, [my boss] at the daycare took me aside. She was real nice but noticed that I was tired. She said, “If you wanna leave, that’s fine.”
When things click so quickly, did you have any idea what was happening or were you just caught up by it?
I knew what to do. Everything just fell into place. I don’t know. It definitely moved fast. It probably still ain’t hit me
What was the moment when you realized you were a rapper?
This girl had a sweet 16 at the end of 2015. I was doing my own bookings through my DMs and she had booked me. All of her friends knew every fucking word [of my music]. I was like, “What the hell?”
There’s a convention that women need the male cosign to be ushered into hip-hop. You were doing things very much on your own. Did you face any difficulties?
You know what’s crazy? What I was doing was dangerous as hell [for my safety]. But I don’t really be worried about nobody. I got so much faith that I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I was completely covered. God had me because that’s what I was supposed to be doing.
How was the reaction from the Chicago hip-hop community?
Everybody was pretty welcoming. There was probably unknown haters but for the most part, anybody who I wanted to acknowledge me or build a relationship with, I did that. Period. It’s good to get love from my city. That’s a good sign. One of the first artists [to reach out] was Dreezy. She invited me to her listening party. I didn’t know how other female rappers were going to be accepting of me. When she was welcoming I was like, “Oh. She’s cool.”
There are more women in hip-hop now than in recent memory. Is it encouraging or do you feel the paradigm of pitting women against each other?
I think it’s good. I think it’s great. The more the merrier. Anybody who’s doing what they wanna do — and it’s working — that’s great. I like when people believe in themselves and do what they want to do.
Your style on Eat My Pussy is very different than you in person. You’re laid-back and unassuming.
I am low-key! At the end of the day, my art is my art. I do have “regular” people skills. I know “how to act,” like somebody’s mama would say. [Laughs.] A lot of people do say that though. Do people expect me to be loud?
More so, animated.
Yeah. I’m chillin. If a microphone is front of me, I might say some shit. It really just depends on my mode and my mood.
Creatively, what’s inspiring you on Eat My Pussy Again?
I just was recording off experience, like how I always do. Experience and different relationships.
Romantic?
Some. Any relationships. Some people think a song is about that but I’m literally talking about six different people. I pick certain shit and make it one.
Was there a significant relationship or life event driving the album?
Sometimes I feel like I’m supposed to do shit. I don’t know if it’s some universe shit, but I just know that I was supposed to do Eat My Pussy. That was legendary. It was putting a stamp on women in hip-hop: No more Mr. Nice Guy. It’s a statement.
Is it fair to say, you are more unapologetic than being sexual?
Yeah. I turn down head every day so…
Congratulations. Must be nice.
[Laughs.] Nah, though. I’m just saying.
Did you play it for your mom?
Yeah, she fucks with it. I never wanted to play my music for her but that shit just go so big, she started hearing about it. She said, “Everybody is talking about you on Facebook!” She wanted to hear the songs. I played it and she loved it. She said it reminded her of Lil Kim and all the female rappers she loved. She’s cool.
What do you want fans to take away from your new project?
I just want to show people my artistry and creativity. Eat My Pussy made its mark. With this new project, I have different types of songs. Different vibes. I want to show diversity…and I’m literally the best.