- 22 hours ago
Four-year-old rap sensation Van-Van brings her charismatic presence and impressive lyrical skills to ESSENCE Fest with a performance you won't forget.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Y'all ready for some performances?
00:03Ooh, I got a treat for y'all.
00:05OK, in essence, we are all about encouraging new young artists.
00:09Now we're about to take that to a whole nother level, y'all.
00:13The next guest is only five years old.
00:20And she is so precious.
00:21Oh my gosh, I just want to squeeze her cheeks.
00:24She is taking over the rap game with the help of her mentor.
00:28Y'all ready for this?
00:29MC Lyte, the icon, the legend.
00:34Please welcome to the stage Van Van and MC Lyte.
00:43Hey, get it, mama.
00:46Get it, mama.
00:46Yeah, get it, mama.
00:48Go, go.
00:54Thank you to the beautiful Latoya.
00:57We appreciate you.
00:58Good afternoon.
01:02Good to see you all.
01:03Where you want to sit, Van Van?
01:08Well, it's a pleasure to be here with y'all.
01:10Y'all having a good time?
01:11Yeah.
01:12That is what it's all about.
01:13We're nice and cool here at Essence.
01:16You want to say hi to the people?
01:17Hey, y'all.
01:18Hey.
01:20Can we turn Van Van's mic up just a little bit?
01:23So we're going to take a time.
01:24We're going to do a little Q&A with Van Van today.
01:30And you are taking the world by storm.
01:31Did anybody see the BET performance?
01:34Yeah.
01:35Yeah.
01:36That was it right there.
01:37We're going to get into how she prepared for that.
01:40But I just wanted to ask you, Van Van, how are you today?
01:43I'm good.
01:44I'm good.
01:45I'm good.
01:46She's good.
01:47Okay.
01:48So tell the people how old you are.
01:49I am five years old.
01:51She's five.
01:52And when did you start rapping?
01:55I started when I was like two years old.
02:00Two years old.
02:01Do you?
02:02Two.
02:03Do you remember your first rap?
02:06My first rap or my first song?
02:09Both.
02:10Okay.
02:11Playing outside every day.
02:12And I do not remember my first rap.
02:14Oh, you don't remember your first rap?
02:16Yes.
02:17Yes.
02:18Wow.
02:19I think we're okay with that.
02:21You remember all of your rhymes now.
02:23You've got quite a few hits that have happened on the internet.
02:29Maybe.
02:30Do you all know play outside?
02:32Yes.
02:33Okay.
02:34What's another one?
02:35Pull out the keys?
02:36Please.
02:37Okay.
02:38Uh-oh.
02:39Be you.
02:40Be you.
02:41Yes.
02:42Be you with Eris.
02:47That was a great song.
02:50They're still out performing it today.
02:52How was it to do the video for that song?
02:54It was good.
02:55I had so much fun.
02:57Like a billion fun.
03:01Okay.
03:02I love it.
03:03Are you the youngest rapper alive, you think?
03:05Uh, you can say that.
03:07You can say that.
03:08I can say that.
03:09Wow.
03:10Okay.
03:11So, um, I see you're excited to be here at Essence.
03:15I saw you backstage rehearsing, getting ready for what will be a performance.
03:21Uh, why are you so excited to be here at Essence?
03:24And is this your first Essence?
03:25This is not my first Essence.
03:28And I'm excited to be here because I get to perform with you.
03:33I get to perform with this whole entire, this, this crowd, and yeah.
03:39So, um, so this is not your first Essence.
03:46When did you come when you were like one?
03:49I didn't come when I was one.
03:52I think I was three or four.
03:56And yeah.
03:58Yes.
03:59Do you like the food here in New Orleans?
04:01Yes.
04:02Yes.
04:03Yes.
04:06Yes.
04:07Yes.
04:09Okay.
04:10So congratulations on your nomination.
04:13With, uh, BET rising, uh, star nomination.
04:18Um, do you know that you were the youngest one in the category?
04:26Yes.
04:27No.
04:28Yes.
04:29No.
04:30Well, I'm telling you now you were the youngest one in the category.
04:33Which is great.
04:34Like what, what do you think it means for you to be this young rapping?
04:39Like how well will that go over when you get older?
04:42It will go.
04:44I, I think it will go like amazing.
04:47Like it will go the best.
04:50Okay.
04:51It's going to go the best.
04:53I'm, I'm with you on that.
04:54You rocked the house at the BET Awards.
04:57Yes.
04:59She said.
05:02You did.
05:03What did you do to prepare for that?
05:05Okay.
05:06I just real and I just, yeah.
05:10Yeah.
05:11Yeah.
05:12Yeah.
05:13Okay.
05:14How, how, let me ask you this because you were in the studio with Eris.
05:18Why did you want to do that song with Eris?
05:21Cause you chose her, right?
05:22Yes.
05:23My dad chose her.
05:24My dad.
05:25I didn't know her on Instagram until my dad, we did a, we did a like FaceTime with Eris.
05:32Yes.
05:33And then you knew right from then that she was the one to do the song, huh?
05:36Yes.
05:37Yes.
05:38Okay.
05:39Well, all right.
05:40I'm, I'm glad that Eris did the song.
05:42And, uh, how about, uh, you said that it was fun to do the video, which was great.
05:47How do you prepare for a show?
05:49Okay.
05:50I said, I wriggle then, um, I just get ready.
05:57Do you rehearse your lyrics?
05:59Well, I guess.
06:02Okay.
06:03I'm, I stay ready.
06:05You always have to practice.
06:09She stays ready, but y'all missed the second part.
06:12I always have to practice is what, is what she said.
06:16Um, you're not supposed to tell everybody that.
06:19Thanks though.
06:20I appreciate you.
06:21Uh, who helps you with your music?
06:24My dad.
06:25My dad.
06:26What does your dad mean to you?
06:28It means, he means a lot to me, a lot.
06:33That's great.
06:34You have a younger sister.
06:36Yes.
06:37And what do you do for her?
06:39I play my, I, I sing my song or I ask my dad to play BU, then she dances to it.
06:49So you make music for your sister.
06:51Yes.
06:52That's beautiful.
06:53Um, so your first release was play outside every day.
06:58Your second was pull out the keys.
07:00You just released BU with heiress not too long ago.
07:04What is your favorite song?
07:06Okay.
07:07My favorite song is Party.
07:09Oh, it's Party.
07:10Yes.
07:11Why?
07:12Cause it reminds me of, it's a party, it's a party.
07:17It reminds me of that song.
07:19Okay.
07:20Okay.
07:21So what are some of your favorite songs from other people that inspire you?
07:27Okay.
07:28Um.
07:29Okay.
07:30Okay.
07:31Okay.
07:32Usher.
07:33Usher.
07:34Usher.
07:35Sorry.
07:36Usher.
07:37Usher.
07:38Usher.
07:39Usher.
07:40Usher.
07:41Usher.
07:42Which one?
07:43Um.
07:44Just anything that, when he dances?
07:46Yes.
07:47Yes.
07:48Yes.
07:49Okay.
07:50Well, she said Usher twice.
07:51Usher.
07:52Usher.
07:53So we're not going to run that into the ground.
07:55Okay.
07:56So how was it introducing, last year you went to the Kennedy Center for Kennedy Center Honors
08:07and you introduced Queen Latifah's segment.
08:10How was that for you?
08:12It was good.
08:14And I had fun.
08:16Yeah.
08:17Yes.
08:18Who, who, who all, who all did you meet while you were there?
08:22I met Carrie Washerton.
08:24Okay.
08:25Um, who else?
08:30You met the sisters in hip hop.
08:32Yes.
08:33You met Moni Love.
08:34Moni Love.
08:35And you met Yo-Yo.
08:37Yo-Yo.
08:38And Rhapsody you already knew cause you're from North Carolina, right?
08:42Yes.
08:43Anybody here from North Carolina?
08:44Yes.
08:45Okay.
08:46Uh, and then you met Whoopi Goldberg, didn't you?
08:50Yes.
08:51I met Whoopi Goldberg.
08:52Yeah.
08:53Um, Halle Bailey.
08:54Okay.
08:55Okay.
09:00Okay.
09:01Uh, what message, you actually have a book, right?
09:04Yes.
09:05And the book is called Rhyme Time Adventures with Van Van and MC Light.
09:12And what do you think the message that you're trying to put out within the book?
09:18Yeah.
09:19Just be yourself and have fun.
09:21Be yourself and have fun.
09:24Wow.
09:25That's easy, huh?
09:27We love that.
09:28So you have your first self titled EP that just released this weekend.
09:32It's called Van Van.
09:33It's streaming on all platforms where you can hear Van Van's work.
09:38She's probably the youngest rapper alive at five to release an album, which we're excited about.
09:45And now you're about to perform some of those songs from that record.
09:50You itching to give it to them, huh?
09:52Yeah.
09:53Yeah.
09:54Yeah.
09:55Yeah.
09:56Okay.
09:57Well then, without further ado, I guess I will get myself out of the way so that our little
10:05Van Van can take the stage.
10:07We're going to need you to pump her up.
10:09As a matter of fact, if you all can stand and give her some energy, that would be great.
10:16And, uh, let's see.
10:21Everybody put your hands up in the air.
10:23Take a deep breath.
10:24Blow it out.
10:26Somebody say ho.
10:28Ho.
10:29Say ho.
10:30Ho.
10:31Say Van Van.
10:33Van Van.
10:34Come on.
10:35Van Van.
10:36Van Van.
10:37All right.
10:38Here comes Papa.
10:39Check your mic.
10:40Let's go.
10:41Let's go.
10:42Check your mic.
10:43Check one.
10:44Check two.
10:45Essence.
10:46Let's go.
10:47Essence.
10:48Let's get hype.
10:49Essence.
10:50Let's get ready.
10:51Rock it.
10:52How many come to see Van Van?
10:53Get right.
10:54Let's go.
10:55Go ahead, DJ.
10:56Kick it real quick.
10:57We ain't going to waste y'all time.
10:58Go ahead.
10:59Go ahead, DJ.
11:04Let's go.
11:05So, excited.
11:06Be in.
11:07Go ahead.
11:08Come inside.
11:09Go ahead, DJ.
11:10Come inside.
11:11come inside.
11:13Come inside.
11:14Come inside.
11:17Looks.
11:18Come inside.
11:20Come on.
11:21Let's get ready.
11:22DJ, DJ.
11:24Let's clap for Essence.
11:41Okay, this is what happens in hip-hop when you gotta improvise.
12:00I guess the sound check might have, oh, there we go.
12:05Yo, I'm ready to take off the world.
12:08My name is VanVen, I come play, playin' outside every day.
12:16My name is VanVen, I come play, playin' outside every day.
12:33Bambi, I don't play, playing outside everyday
12:36Playing outside everyday, playing outside everyday
12:40First I wake up, then I brush my teeth
12:45I put on my clothes, then I put on my sneakers
12:49Mom and dad, please take me to the park
12:53You know we have to get home before it is dark
12:57Playing hot, stock, and doing drum rope
13:01Married those rounds, feels like I'm on a boat
13:05Alright Vanna, you know it's time to come inside
13:08No mama, no mama, don't you see we're playing outside
13:12My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:16Yeah, okay, okay
13:20My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:24Yeah, yeah, yeah
13:28My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:33Yeah, come on baby, let's go
13:35My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:40Playing outside everyday, playing outside everyday
13:44I ain't gonna play, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:48Yeah, yeah, yeah
13:50My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
13:51Yeah, yeah, yeah
14:02Yeah, yeah, yeah
14:04My name is Van Van, I ain't gonna play, playing outside everyday
14:05Okay, okay.
14:07My name is Bam Bam.
14:09I come to play.
14:10Playing outside every day.
14:12Yeah.
14:13Yeah.
14:14Yeah.
14:15My name is Bam Bam.
14:17I come to play.
14:18Playing outside every day.
14:20Yeah.
14:21Come on, baby. Let's go.
14:23My name is Bam Bam.
14:25I come to play.
14:26Playing outside every day.
14:28Playing outside every day.
14:30Playing outside every day.
14:32What up, SS?
14:35Turn me up a little bit. Turn me up. What up SS as y'all know, she just dropped her first EP yesterday
14:43Make sure y'all go stream that
14:46But we ain't gonna talk too much. I want y'all to know who she is drop the music DJ
15:05Turn up baby
15:35Yeah
16:05Every day I wake up, God say I'm heaven sick
16:08They said I need to bring it back then like an encore
16:12Y'all will listen day and night, I'll be sure
16:16I stay dripping water, boy, Adam Santa
16:20These bitches like, never mind, that's my manager
16:24I'ma stay and rise, this Carolina bread
16:27Monster in the class, except your nose egg
16:31Little kid bar, something that you gotta deal with
16:35Look in the mirror, I'm legend Will Smith
16:39Bam, bam, smart black and intelligent
16:43Every day I wake up, God say I'm heaven sick
16:47Bam, bam, smart black and intelligent
16:51Every day I wake up, God say I'm heaven sick
16:55Bam, bam
16:56Ayy
16:59Be you, be you
17:00What's the hottest of them got ever?
17:02I hear heiress, be you
17:04Say less
17:05Ayy
17:06They say I'm hot, and I'm hot, and it's lit
17:08Okay
17:09Just be you, playin' tag, cause I'm it
17:12Okay
17:13They say I'm hot, and I'm hot, and it's lit
17:15Okay
17:16Just be you, playin' tag, cause I'm it
17:19Okay
17:20I wake up, in the morning, know I'm winnin'
17:23Yeah
17:24Look in the mirror, I'm proud like Pennin'
17:26Okay
17:27I stay picture perfect, that's how
17:29Okay
17:30Damn, bam, frame ready, rock your rabbit
17:33I see you, I see you
17:34I see you
17:35Jump forth, then pop it, set the stage, I'm showstopped
17:38Jump forth, then pop it, set the stage, I'm showstopped
17:41Okay
17:42Stay lit, keep it cute
17:43Yeah
17:44Yeah
17:45Yeah
17:46They say I'm hot, and I'm hot, and it's lit
17:51Just be you, playin' tag, cause I'm it
17:55Ayy
17:56They say I'm hot, and I'm hot, and it's lit
17:58Yeah
17:59Just be you, playin' tag, cause I'm it
18:02Ayy
18:03Just be you
18:04Okay, girl
18:09Alright, real quick answers
18:11We know everybody came a long way
18:13So when you get in the car, you gotta pull out your what?
18:15Keys, right?
18:16Yeah
18:17You gotta pull out your keys, right?
18:18If you got some keys, shake it for me real quick
18:20Go ahead, DJ, talk to me
18:27Ayy
18:28Yeah
18:29Yeah
18:30Yeah
18:31Yeah
18:32Okay
18:33Yeah
18:34Ayy
18:35Yeah
18:36Ayy
18:37Yeah
18:38Yeah
18:39Pull out the keys
18:40Oh
18:41Drive the car
18:42Pull out the keys
18:44Aye
18:45Drive the car
18:46Pull out the keys
18:471
18:48Aye
18:50Draw the car
18:50Pull out the keys
18:51Ayy
18:52Draw the car
18:53Pull out the keys
18:55What you say to her family
18:57Come on down, you know we have to go
18:59Let it go
19:00It's the weekend and we gotta hit the stove
19:04That's right
19:04You promised me we can go to the mall
19:08That's right
19:08I got a little money so you know I got a ball
19:12Ayy
19:13Before that I've been good
19:15And I did my homework
19:17Clothes off, shoes picked
19:19Mama, that's my favorite dress
19:21So fresh, so clean
19:23I'm outcast, my floating
19:25So fresh, so clean
19:27I'm outcast, my floating
19:29Just say, try the car
19:30Pull out the keys
19:32Ayy, try the car
19:34Pull out the keys
19:36Ayy, try the car
19:38Pull out the keys
19:40Ayy, try the car
19:42Pull out the keys
19:43What you say to them, Vanna?
19:45I'm a new girl on the block
19:47Been rapping for a minute
19:50But now I'm all pop
19:51This a new era
19:53Then ain't happy
19:55Like two fingers
19:57Cause you know I be snapping
19:59Ayy
20:01Too hot, too legit
20:02And you know I won't quit
20:04Too hot, too legit
20:06And you know I won't quit
20:08Bam, bam, in the fast way
20:10Caroline is the waterclay
20:12Come on daddy, come on daddy
20:14Come on daddy
20:15You know you're a monster
20:16Drive the car
20:17Pull out the keys
20:19Ayy, drive the car
20:21Pull out the keys
20:23Ayy, drive the car
20:25Pull out the keys
20:27Ayy, drive the car
20:29Pull out the keys
20:31Ayy, drive the car
20:33Pull out the keys
20:35Ayy, drive the car
20:37Pull out the keys
20:39Ayy, drive the car
20:41Pull out the keys
20:43Ayy, drive the car
20:45Pull out the keys
20:47Ayy, drive the car
20:47Pull out the keys
20:48All right, Essence, real quick, we got a special for y'all.
20:57Her EP just dropped.
20:59Her EP just dropped.
21:01This next song is with Hip Hop Royalty.
21:04We got MC Lyte.
21:07We got The Brat.
21:09And we got Rhapsody.
21:12So, DJ, go ahead and drop that real quick.
21:16Ay!
21:16Ay!
21:18Yeah!
21:19Yeah!
21:20Yeah!
21:21Yeah!
21:22Yeah!
21:23Yeah!
21:24They don't wanna see me tryna get too bold.
21:27Can't help it, I was born to be bold.
21:30All up in the place, cause I'm just too bold.
21:33Too bold.
21:34Too bold.
21:35Hey, hey, let me move with it.
21:37Rock with it, move with it, rock with it.
21:39Move so smooth, TikTok, pop-lock.
21:41And it hot since for years to hip hop or block.
21:44Just in a career at the top, they can't stop me.
21:47Hot from the kid, he came with the hit Prada.
21:49Hood to the Hamptons, I've got one in this lobster.
21:52Work hard, play hard, now I get the beast.
21:54Hip hop slip me out from the belly of the beast.
21:57Some jelly when I eat, cause they smellin' all the Z.
21:59Goin' up, up, up like smoke in these streets.
22:02I be smokin' these streets.
22:03I be smokin' these streets.
22:04I'm a goat amongst chiefs.
22:05Better pray a soul to be.
22:06Tryin' keepin' up with me.
22:07They be tryin' to catch a wave in a swamp like a gator.
22:10My wife make you look at yours and see just what you're made of.
22:13Don't compete.
22:14Rather you should see defeat in your future if you ever think to interact with me.
22:18Tryin' to get too cold.
22:20Can't help that I was born to be cold.
22:23Open my face cause I'm just too cold.
22:26Too cold.
22:27Too cold.
22:28I'm a bust a rhyme.
22:30I'm the leader of the new school.
22:32I like to build on the beat.
22:34Pro Tools.
22:35Too bold, too hot.
22:36The handle.
22:37I ain't know I carry rock stick scandal.
22:40I say yes to my vision.
22:42No maybe.
22:43I make the dream work.
22:44I'm a boss baby.
22:45And the game take the place.
22:47Let's pay a pay.
22:48And I can see them future guys show.
22:50So raving.
22:51And they better drop in line like a net four.
22:5350 years I will be on rock brush floor.
22:56In the bar.
22:57You know I got it handled.
22:59And you better take notes.
23:01Randall.
23:02Recess.
23:03Vivian.
23:04Go play smart.
23:05They gave me two of me.
23:06Noah's arm.
23:07Rollercoaster.
23:08The way I keep the hands up.
23:10No guessing.
23:11You know that I'm messed up.
23:12You don't wanna see me get the kid too far.
23:17Too bold.
23:18Yes.
23:19That's dope.
23:20That's dope.
23:21But Essence we got one more we gonna sing y'all off with.
23:24Yes.
23:25Now I need the crowd participation on this one.
23:27Yes.
23:28This is the last one.
23:29This is a party.
23:30This is a party right?
23:31Ain't this a party Essence?
23:32It's a party.
23:33I want you to say.
23:34I want everybody to say what's up.
23:36What's up.
23:37What it do.
23:38What it do.
23:39What it do.
23:40What it do.
23:41We going to the party.
23:43So what about you.
23:44We going to the party.
23:46So what about you.
23:47Go ahead DJ.
23:48Uh oh.
23:49You want to see your hands up.
23:50Let's go.
23:51We going to the party.
23:52Come on kids.
23:53You know what party I'm talking about.
23:54Come on.
23:55Let me get this.
23:56All over the house.
23:57All over the house.
23:58Come on.
23:59Let me get this.
24:00Come on.
24:01Come on.
24:02Let me get this.
24:03All over the house.
24:04All over the house.
24:05What's up.
24:06What's up.
24:07What do you do.
24:08What do you do.
24:09What's up? What do you do? We goin' to the party, so what about you? We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party What's up? What do you do? We goin' to the party, so what about you? We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party
24:35New fit, get clean, say movie fresh, new scene, a look to the left and the right at my friend, it's a fun day and I hope it never ends, said we turn fuck and we ain't coming down, said we turn fuck and we ain't coming down, tell the DJ to turn on the hit, cover fuck loose and brand new kick,
25:01now we son, what's up, what's up, what do you, we going to the party so what about you, we about to turn it up turn it up it's a party we about to turn it up turn it up it's a party, okay okay okay.
25:15What's up, what's up what do you, we going to the party so what about you, we一個 to turn it up, turn it up it's a party, we work fight Benimpe, give me a word to the party, up your girly we both out of the saw, some music for us, throw a переход.
25:23It's a party, we bout to turn it up
25:25Turn it up, it's a party
25:27Walked in, walked in, party jump
25:30Ain't it super loud, super loud
25:32Need to thump in, hit the dance floor
25:35And get your body moving
25:37Earth, wind and fire, you know we safe
25:40Groove in on the dance floor
25:42Go ahead and do your dance
25:44You on the dance floor, go ahead and do your dance
25:47If you in the back, go move to the front
25:50Move to the feet, we bout to turn this party up
25:54What's up, what's up, what do you do?
25:57We going to the party, so what about you?
26:00We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party
26:03We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party
26:07What's up, what do you do?
26:10We going to the party, so what about you?
26:13We bout to turn it up, turn it up, it's a party
26:17We about to turn it up, turn it up, it's the party
26:47We about to turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
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