Emerging Artist Interview ‣ Baby Osama AKA "Tank Girl"
Step Into the World of Tank Girl: An Interview with Baby Osama
Half Moon talks to the Girl Inside the Tank
Dana Aufiero
Writer
Updated
With the sky ablaze in the East and artificial intelligence transforming the future as we know it, the world we live in can often feel like a dystopian warzone. Despite this unpredictable environment, your typical teenager is still facing the trials and tribulations in coming of age: heartbreak, identity, and growing up.
In the dismal streets of New York City’s uptown, the 19-year-old Tank Girl is equipped and ready to take on the challenge this world brings to the average teenager. Through music, art, and fashion, Baby Osama expresses her identity and makes sense of this chaotic dystopia.
“Tank Girl,” Osama’s first mixtape, takes you on a winding journey through adolescence's everyday struggles while catapulting you into Osama’s dystopian, futuristic dream world inspired by the works of the ‘95 Sci-Fi flick. The leading single, “Osama 4 President,” introduces Tank Girl over a synthetically-infused instrumental, presenting colorful, vibrant energy throughout the project. While offering a more vulnerable side on “AI” and “Build a Boy,” Osama showcases her emotionally-driven melodies and introspection despite the intrepidness of a “Tank Girl” persona.
At 368 Studio in the heart of SoHo, Half Moon sits with Baby Osama to discuss the latest project, fashion, and growing up.
All photos by Dana Aufiero @daynuuhhh
How old are you? When’s your birthday?
Dana of Half Moon
I’m 19 but I’m turning 20 in July, so that makes me a Leo.
Baby Osama, AKA "Tank Girl"
When did you start making music?
I started making music about four years ago when I was 15, just experimenting.
What made you start?
When I went to high school that’s when I really started rapping. During lunchtime, the way people would get together was through rapping - we were always making music in the cafeteria. I was the type of person that always wanted to be in the spotlight. It was my first time in high school and I needed some friends, so we just started battle rapping. From there, I definitely started taking it more seriously.
What was the start of your career like?
I never really was the one paying for studio sessions, people from school believed in me. I started skipping school and going to the block, people on the block wanted to invest in kids like me, who made music and stuff. From there, someone started paying for my studio sessions, I locked in with my engineer and kept recording.
How did the environment you grew up in help you bring you to where you are now?
The people around me saw something in me, which helped me get the resources that I needed. Especially in my environment, it’s hard for people to believe in you without hating you- that’s when I realized I gotta take this seriously, even if it just started in the cafeteria…
Those people who believed in me helped me really take it seriously.
What keeps you motivated?
Time is ticking and there’s no time to waste. I also wanna give back to the people who helped me, it makes me wanna go harder. I have a mission to accomplish.
I know you’re also in school right now. How do you find that balance with making music and going to school at the same time?
It’s definitely a tricky balance, but it’s worth it. I go to school four times a week and I usually stay out all night making music- I really get no sleep. When it comes to the lifestyle, I save that for the nighttime or after I finish everything I have to do. As long as I’m setting my priorities straight, it’s really not too hard of a balance.
You mentioned that you were taking sewing classes and that you make your own clothes. When did you start making clothes and what made you want to get into fashion?
I started making clothes when I was going into high school, before I started making music. I couldn’t keep up with all the new drip, like all the new Jordans that were coming out every Saturday, so I started making my own drip. And then people started recognizing me for my clothes. It opened doors for people to realize who I really was.
My dad was always putting that shit on too- he’ll buy pants that are bigger than him, like the baggy trousers and jeans. He would always pair it with some Nike ACGs and it would always look fire. While everyone was buying Jordans, I was inspired by the old school style, especially seeing how my dad dressed.
What type of music does your dad listen to?
He listens to Dr. Dre, Nas, Jimmy Jones- all that ‘90s-2000s gold school kinda era.
What are you listening to day to day?
I don’t even listen to people that you think I would be listening to, I like vintage music, music from the 1920s. My grandfather raised me too- he would always be listening to jazz music and Jimmy Smith. I listen to a lot of David Ruffin and the Temptations. With older music there was a different approach, it wasn’t only about getting views or making a viral hit.
How does that music influence the music that you make?
I like picking beats that’s not your typical mainstream shit- I like pluggnb beats. When it comes to singing, I like sounding like an instrument to help me find the same melody and my flows.
What’s your favorite instrument?
The violin. I fuck with the violin heavy.
In our newer generation of younger artists, especially within the Soundcloud community, how do you want to stand out?
The songs that I put out, what I rap about, is actually how I move in real life. I want people to really know me, besides Baby Osama. I like being genuine, and I feel like a lot of artists next to me aren’t always genuine- I’m genuine about what I do.
Who are you working with now? Has your team changed since high school?
It’s definitely changed and I’m more open to working with more people now. I’m heavy on in-house, the same way that I have talent, I also come from a small place. I work with Cavity, DJ Rennessy, and everybody that’s more in the scene.
Is there a specific artist you would want to work with?
I like Teezo Touchdown, he’s hard. I would love to work with him.
Where did you get the name Tank Girl?
My dad actually played the movie for me when I was little. It’ll always be on the tv and I would just keep watching it. As I continued watching it, I was like hold on… that girl actually reminds me of myself. Where I’m from, the way she moves- she’s mad animated and still gets the job done. Tank Girl is always trying to make the best out of her situation, no matter good or bad, she’s still trying to have fun. I like to think of myself as Tank Girl.
How does the Tank Girl narrative play out in the tape?
Tank Girl is hard to read, you don’t know her next moves. Throughout the tape, every song is different. It’s different phases of my life right now, it’s different characteristics of Baby Osama. With this being my first tape, I feel like people can really get a taste for who I am.
What’s your favorite track on Tank Girl?
Broke Again. That’s my favorite song. AI is also my favorite, but that’s already out.
Does the Tank Girl aesthetic play into the type of clothes you like to make?
Yeah, it definitely does. I like the colors, especially those dingey, ashy colors. I also like Japanese fashion too: the quality, style of layering - it gives an army vibe too. I definitely want to make stuff like that, drip that could help people with their everyday lives- daily essentials.
Is there a specific brand or designer that’s your favorite right now?
I don’t really know that many Japanese designers, but I like that OG shit. You see the Rick Owens shorts, they have that little slouch part- yeah, stuff like that. I like Ghetto Friends and Loso too, that shit’s tough.
Tell me more about the merch that you're making. What makes your merch different than your personal brand?
My personal brand is more one-of-one pieces, I don’t have a logo or a name. Everything that I’m making is from scratch, essentials focused on good quality. I want to keep my personal brand fun and silly, my merch is more of a statement and focused on creating a community. I’m big on community.
What pieces are you working on right now?
I’m focusing more on music right now, but this winter is gonna go crazy. I have a ton of ideas in mind.
Where do you find inspiration?
I’ll usually find my inspiration throughout the city streets. If I see a stop sign or something on the street that looks fire, I’ll stop and take a picture of it and make something out of it. I never want to put a logo on it though, it'll take away from the true organic meaning.
How is your process in making clothes similar in your approach to music?
In making clothes, it’s really all about discipline. I need discipline to make music, it’s all about finding that balance. When working with Cavity, I get that discipline, but it’s a friendly discipline. In making music,I need those people that will push me as much as I push myself.
I know you had a performance at Pianos recently. With summer approaching and the new album dropping, do you plan on doing more live performances?
I definitely want to do more live performances and host my own events. I want to support my fans and supporters and I really want to be the one to help my supporters- hear them out and give them that platform.
What kind of shows do you want to host?
I want to do that weird shit- like in a U-Haul truck or in a parking lot. It wouldn’t be at bars or anything like that because a lot of my supporters are young, so it’ll definitely be on some outside shit.
With Tank Girl being your first mixtape, can you reflect on the overall creative process?
Most of the stories in this tape, I was actually going through at the time. That’s where discipline comes in, I have to remind myself that I’m Baby Osama. I went through a lot when creating the tape, but I still was able to get the tape done in such a short time. We’re young - we make art and music to deal with these problems. There were a lot of ups and downs during the tape, but it was really fun to create.
Are you thinking of doing another project soon?
It’ll probably be when I’m turning 21 because that’s a big phase of my life. I want to create something that’s a memory capsule, really just for myself.
What takeaway do you want your audience to have after listening to Tank Girl?
Remember who you are and don’t get lost in the sauce. Always be genuine and stick to the mission. We’re still young, so don’t let your everyday tasks mess up your fun and creativity.
A dollar will come to you, don’t rush for that. Follow your dreams.
If there’s one person in the whole world you could meet, who would it be?
Dr. Sebi.