Yasmin Bratz is a 27- year Transgender rapper. She is a Dominican American creative and visionary. Also known as Yazzy, Yasmin was born and raised in both Washington Heights and the Bronx, NY.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: Can you begin by telling our readers about your background and name choice and how you became interested in music and your musical influences?
YASMIN BRATZ: Of course! Hey readers, so my name is Auset Bennu but I also go by Yasmin Bratz or Yazzy for short. I am a 27 years old Afro Latin music artist based in New York City. I was born and raised in Washington Heights NYC mostly raised by my mother. My parents got a divorce in 2003 when I was 10 years old. My father remarried and had more children. I was hurt and hated the change for a while, but I got the closure I needed once I understood the underlying issues as an adult. My mom is a first-generation immigrant born and raised Jehovah's Witness in the Dominican Republic. Although my father's family comes from the same ethnic background, he was a second generation of his family born here in America. I do not completely understand how they worked, but I am happy they created the woman you see today. The separation really took a toll on my mother, I mean can you blame her? She was a single mother with countless health issues, unable to work, raising three kids with little to no help from the two different fathers of her children. I mean, both my parents had their faults when it comes to my childhood and it's wounds, but as I got older and began navigating the world I learned to appreciate having both parents who love me the best way they knew how.
So, picking an artist name was a process. I started with my actual name Auset Bennu, but I knew I needed something different to describe my persona in music, on stage and as a creator of art. In late 2019, I was ready to release new tracks on all streaming platforms for the first time. At this point I had done my EP and a couple freestyles as Auset Bennu. I decided to finalize my stage name, since music was now becoming a business in my life, I knew it was time to finally have one. During this time, I was also getting back into modeling and it was my first-time casting as a female. I saw many old faces and new ones, but I kept getting the same compliments, besides looking like Taraji P. Henson, I was getting told I reminded people of Yasmin from the Bratz Dolls. Then, the fact that my partner at the time loved calling me his Brat, everything just came full circle. Plus, I loved the Bratz dolls going up! I always wanted one as a child, drooled quietly over them during commercials and Yasmin was always my favorite.
Music runs in my blood, my grandfather drummed for famous acts like Celia Cruz and Tito Fuente. My dad and most of my uncles were part time DJs and producers. I was always around music when I was with my Dad or his side of the family. My father especially loved hip hop and R&B. Music was limited and restricted living with my mother. Along with many other rules, Jehovah's Witnesses could not support or listen to "worldly music." This rule boggled me because who knew language would make Spanish music an exception. Anyway, music was one of the few things that bonded me with my awkward dad and his machismo. Music is my escape from the world, where I create my own life fantasy. During primary and secondary school, I was good at creative writing, but never tried writing a full song just yet. When I was homeless in 2017, I was introduced to a writer’s workshop at The Door Alternatives, a drop-in center that had homeless youth services near Soho. That is where it all began. When I was given a tour, I felt like I was in queer art school heaven. It was like the high school I always wanted to enroll in. Their music, art and dance studio quickly got my love and participation. I remember... walking down the hall one day and the sounds of fun, laughter, and hip-hop instrumentals coming from a big room downstairs. I popped in but it was toward the end of the program. I pretty much walked into a full out rap cypher. There is something about cyphers and beat loops in a confined space that is so nostalgic. I guess the opportunity to write raps to an instrumental pulled on my heartstrings because it was a safe place to do so. I was way too shy to express myself freely at home. The instructor James was "maaaaaad cool" and highly encouraging, even motivated me to attend the next workshop. It was then when I wrote the first draft to my freestyle "The Jump Off XVIII." Shout to James! As far as music influences go I do have favorites but, I'd give the collective of women in R&B, Pop, Rock and Hip-Hop in the 90s and 2000s all that credit. They all played a part somehow.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: What themes inform your music. Could you talk about how you classify your music?
YASMIN BRATZ: My music themes are always multi layered, random and most times emotionally charged. My EP is a great example: notice the name Unplugged EP, the album art from the long patent leather trench coat to the red pill capsules, even the dam music production of the first track "Mortal Kombat" was inspired by the famous elevator scene from The Matrix movie. Yet the music brings it all together, because if you were to consume the music it would be like taking a "red pill." Basically, the protagonist Neo had a choice; take the blue pill to return to normal programming in the system they call the "Matrix" or take the red pill and be "set free." This EP was made to be raw and gritty, I even recorded it in some old man's apartment. Each track explicit, pro trans, but easy to digest for any ignorant listeners who fear queerness. It was also meant to empower myself and encourage anyone who feels like an outsider in society to love and own who they are unapologetically.
I would classify my music as an evolution in hip hop culture. I make hard-hitting, dance-ready, feeling-oneself-heavy hip-hop. If I had to name it a genre it would be T-HOP short for Taboo Hop or Alternative Hip Hop.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: Of the songs you have produced, which is your favorite and why?
YASMIN BRATZ: Mortal Kombat! First track to my EP. I take pride in writing all my music but technically it is the only track I have produced. I am so proud of it because I was responsible for the entire sound of that project.
My favorite is hard to pinpoint since my music is constantly evolving, but if I had to pick one from my current discography... it would be a tie between "OPTIMUS PRIME" or "Divine Order."
HISTORIANSPEAKS: How does your identity as a Black Transgender woman inform your work?
YASMIN BRATZ: I would say my identity gives me stories, experiences, themes, ideas, word play, insiders, especially pressure that helps bring out my best.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: As a Transgender rapper, how has your work been received? Has your work been influenced by the work of other Transgender rappers, for instance Quay Dash?
YASMIN BRATZ: Well personally as a rapper of trans identity my work has been received well, especially live! Of course, there has been a hater or two, but mostly love. I just need more of an audience. As far as an online presence, it is the same dilemma. People genuinely "see it for me," which is slag for them acknowledging my potential for stardom.
My work thus far has not been influenced by another rapper of trans experience. I was unaware there were any rappers of trans experience until I started rapping. Even Big Freeda was introduced to me by Drake in 2018, Sidney Starr by Love and Hip Hop. Quay Dash was the one of the first I discovered on my own whose work I highly respect and who's career motivated me to go harder.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: Do you think “all art is political.” If so, does your work have a political message?
YASMIN BRATZ: I mean technically if you live under a government you can expect any artist to create political projects. Especially now with the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement, but would I say all art is political? Nah, art is a phenomenon and can be expressed and created in countless ways about countless things. One of my new tracks "Woah" from my highly anticipated debut album (Moon Gorgeous Meditation) drops September 17th 2020 exclusively at thebratest.com . This song does touch on the issue that trans deaths are being ignored and undervalued. It also speaks on holding the people accountable for being transphobic.
HISTORIANSPEAKS: Could you talk a little about your feelings regarding the recent protests and the #AllBlackLivesMatter, which promotes the importance of Transgender Lives
YASMIN BRATZ: It feels good to see it be mobilized. It brings me hope to see people not only stand with us or claim they do but standing for us! We just wanna live our normal lives without the fear of dying every day because of who we are. It just pains me to see so much action made toward progress still be met with more trans deaths. I literally reposted another article about a trans woman who was found dead in sand on a beach in my city two days ago...
Imagine if you are green and being "green" in America was targeted, murdered, and undervalued in society. You literally can't change being green and you've learned to accept and love your greenness... should you have to live in fear everyday cause of your constantly bombarded with green people deaths twice a month minimum year after year? I'm tired, there is nothing left to be confused about anymore. It is 2020! If you can't be human anymore consider yourself a walking robot clearly programmed by the system... Because no one is born transphobic, impossible. Same applies to homophobia, racism, you name it and tell me if we were born to hate whatever it is you fear. I rest my "feelings..."
For more information on Yasmin’s work, please visit her website. To listen to her complete discography: Click Here