We had a moment to chat with Lima Roe. The upcoming artist from St. Croix. Check out her full interview below and let us know what you think on our Instagram.
Where are you from? I am from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. An island rich in cultural diversity, St. Croix has a fascinating history much like myself.
What was life like growing up? Like many people who derive from small towns, life had its ups and downs. I like to reminisce on the fun times though. Growing up with my cousins and siblings made everyday on the island one to remember. I grew up in a small three bedroom, one bathroom house with my mom, my four siblings, my aunt and her children as well as my grandparents. Needless to say, we believed in the power of a village and I am thankful for the lessons we learned along the way. Growing up without an actively involved father was difficult for me but I had everything I needed within our four walls.
What inspired you to start your career? Oddly enough, I’ve always been on the stage. Around eight years old, I began competing in beauty pageants. I’ve competed in nine pageants total; winning four and placing runner up in the remaining five. Later in life, I became interested in music after being inspired by my cousins who started a rap group. I would sit in the studio with them and spit bar after bar; they were always so shocked that I could keep up with the boys. We practically lived in the studio and after working on my craft, I became confident enough to begin recording and later performing in various cities across the US.
What was the first event or experience that really boosted your career? There aren’t many recording artists in St. Croix, let alone artists who have been fortunate enough to cross over as a mainstream artist. Being able to travel to Atlanta and build industry relationships allowed me to expand my network and meet some amazing artists and industry execs along the way. While being in Atlanta, I was also able to connect with talented producers and engineers that took my music and sound to new heights. I look forward to maintaining those relationships and building new ones. In the entertainment industry it is less about what you know, but rather who you know that can help to open new doors and get me one step closer to my goal of becoming the first mainstream artist to come out of St. Croix.
How did you get your name? My birth name is Halima Roebuck. Growing up my peers began calling me Lima but it wasn’t until my close friend from St. Thomas started to call me Lima Roe that I adopted it as my name. I come from a very prominent, well known family in the Virgin Islands and being able to keep a part of my last allows me to stay connected to the legacy that I am adding to.
Who is your biggest inspiration? Inspiration is all around me! I would have to say that the person who has greatly inspired me throughout life has been my mother. I never saw that woman give up. With the little that she did have, she always made sure that her kids and everyone around her was straight. And what she didn’t have didnt matter because she never allowed us to feel like we wanted for anything. Her resilience and perseverance is what I aspire to embody, and it is all I’ll ever need to push myself closer to reaching my goals.
Most expensive piece of jewelry? I wouldn’t be a true fashionista or BOSS without my bust down rolex! It is a staple piece that I am happy to have within my collection.
What is your favorite accessory when styling a look? I know everyone says “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” but we cannot forget about shoes! A good shoe can help a woman express her taste and artistic sense. A good pair of shoes can also communicate status or worth. In other words, I let my shoes do the talking for me!
What do you add to the current culture of Hip Hop (what sets Lima apart)? I am certain that what I add to the current state of hip hop culture is individuality and empowerment. The music that I make will influence the decisions that young people make about their lives & lifestyles. I bring more a new meaning to the understanding of the word boss. I chose to speak to women where they are now and inspire them to become heightened versions of themselves. I’m not into rapping about my private parts or taking a man’s money; instead I talk about making it on my own without needing a man for anything. Being that I’m from the Virgin islands, I bring a different sound to the music scene. A new sound that we have been needing for a while now.
What has been the most difficult part of developing your career? The most difficult part of developing my music career has been that I am from the Virgin Islands and rapping the way that I do. Because I am from a small town, people had a hard time seeing my vision. They didn’t think that I would make it very far pursuing music full time. I can’t even count the number of times that I reached out for help from people that I believed would look out for me; but instead, I was rejected because they felt I wasn’t good enough. Another difficult part of developing my career is finding balance in being a mom to my 2 children and pursuing my music career at the same time.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years, I see myself performing in front of thousands of people all over the world! I enjoy the flexibility and sense of ownership that being an independent artist provides, but I look forward to building a team and signing to a record label that can help catapult my career to the next level.
If you could collaborate with a celebrity, who would it be? My top three wish collaborations would have to be with Big Latto, Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim. Three bosses in their own rights who add so much value to the industry as female rappers.
What advice would you give to young artists that want to have a career in music? My advice to any young artist that is contemplating giving up is to have tunnel vision. Don’t compare yourself to the next person but instead work hard to beat your only competition daily Y-O-U! Never give up,keep going and don’t let anyone tell you what you should or should not be doing. Create the destiny you desire and do what works for you!
Follow Lima Roe on Instagram
