We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nora Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nora, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

As a trans woman, a rapper, and a person with massive dreams. I really regret waiting so long to start my career. I never truly considered trying to go professional until I knew who I was on the inside and on the outside. I knew that my life would be in jeopardy every day in a rise to fame, and so far I was right, I get threats every day. but I will never give up my pursuit, that pursuit being hip-hop.

lately i have been working every waking hour on my first solo music project, I have released projects before, but they were with a group and commercial failures. I really have hope this time, the stuff I am creating is much better than anything I created before, and who knows, maybe one day a label spotter or a contractor will sign me, all I know is that I regret waiting so long to take the leap and dedicate more time to my craft.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Of course, my name is Nora Brown, but my stage name is THE VAGABOND. I am an independent rapper, singer, author, and comedian.

I first started getting into hip-hop when one of my childhood best friends played a 2pac song on the bus ride home from school, and ever since I was 13 I have been trying my best to make music that is true to myself.

the topics I rap about have always been the same, even today, I have rapped about being queer in a Midwest state, growing up poor, not having parents present all the time, and the losses I have experienced on the road to where I am today.

something that sets me apart from the others is the fact that I just like making people smile. There is nothing that brings me any more joy than seeing my friends smile at a joke, or seeing my loved ones appreciate a song i make. I want to be able to do for others, what my mentors did for me. I had a hard time growing up and I want to one day make some other lonley kid’s life easier.

as I said earlier, I plan on releasing my first solo music project sometime later this year, I am so lucky to have the support I have right now.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

As a writer, I have been significantly influenced by my favorite media, movies, books, tv, and everything in between. I make little niche references to the works I appreciate, hoping that others will pick up on said things as well.

I try my best to make my work as appealing as I can to potential supporters, I grew up the “weird and nerdy” kid, so the things I like don’t always resonate well with others.

but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter because I will gain the audience who is there for me, and loose the ones who think I’m pandering to them, I make my music for me.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

in my opinion, people need to look past prejudice, we are all human, and all humans have feelings whether we like it or not.

I have been judged for being transgender ever since my first song was released, and nowhere in the song did it mention anything about my transitioning.

People are so blinded by their hate for other people that they are unable to appreciate art for what it is, and I really think we need to unlearn hate.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/signorita_vagabond?igsh=a3hudWtvdDA0cHQ4
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@signorita_vagabond?si=W1xsh6ddrWMYXSTu
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/RskyN7DBeoEKWQiJA
• Other: business email: krplabelbusiness@gmail.com

Image Credits

Nora Brown