THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994 TAG: 9406210192
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940623 LENGTH: Medium
Now, this female dynamic duo of rap is ready to hit the big time. Under the direction of a professional manager, the two graduating Norview seniors are taking their act on the road this summer to outdoor concerts, record labels and radio stations in hopes of gaining exposure and securing a distribution deal. The independent record label Fifth Degree Entertainment has also included them on a compilation disc of its up-and-coming artists.
{REST} Collins and Wood have high hopes for success. Last summer, in their first public appearance, they entered a talent show sponsored by nationally known record producer Teddy Riley (he works with singer Bobby Brown). The duo snared the first-place trophy, won $1,000 in prize money and the possibility of a recording contract.
That contract didn't work out, but other entertainment industry executives began to show interest. After several offers, the teens decided to work with manager Kensey White.
``At first, we thought it was all a lie,'' said Wood, 18. ``But now . . . I think we've got a shot. We've had a lot of support.''
``We're different,'' added Collins, 17. ``You don't see many girls rapping. People don't expect it. It's an advantage.''
The duo is called ``CBP.'' They got the name by putting the first letters of their names (``Capp'' for Latanya and ``Big Capp'' for Shelia) together with the first letter of the word ``posse.'' When performing, they dress in mix-matched plaids, jeans and combat shoes or sometimes in what they call ``grandaddy style,'' with ``an old man polyester jacket, bell bottoms and other crazy stuff,'' Wood said.
The girls write their own raps; sometimes together, but more often they write their own parts separately and then combine them. It's not much of a stretch to knock out a few raps in a couple of hours, the two said. Rap has become ``a natural way of expression,'' Collins explained.
Most of their raps center on the typical problems and concerns faced in teenage romance. But their style varies.
``We're not limited in what we do,'' said Wood. ``We sing, rap and chant. When I rap, sometimes I do reggae chants and a lot of girls can't do that.''
Added Collins: ``Our styles are different but when you put them together they blend real well. Sheila has a more hard-core style, while mine is more laid-back. Together, it sounds real nice.''
Although the two outgoing teens have confidence they'll succeed as recording artists, they are trying to remain level-headed about their futures.
Collins, who attended the Governor's Magnet School for the Arts, plans to attend Old Dominion University this fall. A resident of Titustown, she wants to major in psychology.
Wood intends to take a summer off before starting classes at Norfolk State University. The mother of a 4-year-old son, she plans to study accounting. by CNB