Heard of rapper Ziggy? Neither had I. But you know her people. Ziggy, named Zaneta Bailey, is the 21-year-old sister and stylist of STL rap-star Chingy (aka Howard Bailey).
Straight up: she’s on the Hip-Hop Grapevine because of her bro. I haven’t even heard much of her music yet, except for a breakdown she performed on Chingy’s single “Make That A$$ Pop” on his Powerballin’ CD. The voice quality and attitude is there.
So is a radiant, ‘round the way girl beauty as captivating as the solid, slim figure her tight blues jeans revealed when she rolled up in the American last Friday afternoon. Girl’s got “the look.”
If her rap flow and stage show is half as tight, she’ll be a baller, baby n ain’t no maybe, baby.
This game ain’t no thang for the fashion-conscious lilttle sister. She’s been watching her brother rap her entire life.
“I used to memorize his raps,” she said, “and in high school I started writing my own raps and started liking it more and more. He realized I had a talent and he started taking me to the studio with him.”
Ziggy kept her eye on her brother all the way to international rap stardom, learning the ways and means of the industry.
“I know a lot of different things n like it ain’t easy n and the steps it takes to prepare to become an artist, because I got first-hand experience from a major rap artist, who happens to be one of my siblings,” she said in her medium-soft, confident tone.
And Ziggy knows the rap game isn’t all-good. She’s up on her brother’s alleged beefs with homie Nelly and rapper Ludacris, head of Chingy’s former label home, Disturbing Tha Peace.
“With Luda, I probably would’ve done the same thing Chingy did, because the trust was gone,” she said, “but, with Nelly, I think they need to sit down and talk without the Get It Boyz and Derrty ENT, because there’s a lot of miscommunication going on.”
Ziggy is quick to admit being a fan of Nelly.
“I still buy his music, listen and dance to it n and my brother does, too. We don’t hate at all.”
Ziggy said she would even consider riding with Nelly’s label home, Universal, whom she said is looking for a female rapper.
“I don’t even like the beef that they got going on,” she said. “I’m just thinking about me and what I gotta do.”
The just-grown rapper said Chingy’s major label home, Capitol Records, is also peeping out her image and style.
Ziggy admits that she wouldn’t have it so easy if she wasn’t Chingy’s lil sister, but she cherishes the strong support system.
“He’s all for me rapping and willing to support me,” she said. “I’m going to be the first lady on his label (Slot-A-Lot Records).”
She doesn’t know if she’s going to hit the rap scene solo or on a joint with her brother. But she knows how she wants to roll.
“I want to be the Beyonce of rap,” she said. “I’ll be a fashionable diva, rapping about partying and independence instead of killing people. A lot of rappers try to act really hard, but I’m a girly girl. I like to dress up, be sexy and keep it real.”
Ziggy also likes to dress other people up. She’s been designing and making clothes since she was in the 7th grade. Besides being Chingy’s personal stylist, she made it into the local daily paper for her stylishly unique, “deformalized” prom-dress creations, and she and her brother are planning Get It Boy and Get It Girl clothing lines.
Until then, Ziggy will be in out of the studio rapping over beats from the TrackStarz (who have a deal with Universal), XL of LA, STL rapper J-Kwon, Lil B from the Lou’s Young Boyz, Beatsters and Hollyhood Beats.
But, when she wants to let her hair down, get her fashion on and hang out, don’t be surprised if you run into the light-brown bombshell at The Spot, Seven, Isis or AJs, her favorite spots.
You might not know who she is, but a lot of people do. And more will, soon.
“I like that everybody knows who I am, because I’m the flashy, popular type,” Ziggy says, “but I think it can be dangerous sometimes.”
Ya heard.