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Rapper Lee Mazin on joining 'Sisterhood of Hip Hop' and why she may need to leave Philly to be a success

Lee Mazin never thought she'd be on a reality show, but on Tuesday night, she's going prime time. The South Philadelphia native and 2015 Daily News Sexy Single will join the cast of Oxygen's Sisterhood of Hip Hop, a show that follows five women making their mark on the male-dominant rap game. Each of the women has her own distinct musical style, but they work together to get past personal and professional obstacles.

Lee Mazin, a South Philadelphia rap artist discovered by Meek Mill, is joining the cast of Oxygen's 'Sisterhood of Hip Hop.'
Lee Mazin, a South Philadelphia rap artist discovered by Meek Mill, is joining the cast of Oxygen's 'Sisterhood of Hip Hop.'Read moreJESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

Lee Mazin never thought she'd be on a reality show, but on Tuesday night, she's going prime time.

The South Philadelphia native (and 2015 Daily News Sexy Single) will join the cast of Oxygen's Sisterhood of Hip Hop, a show that follows five women making their mark on the male-dominant rap game. Each of the women has her own distinct musical style, but they work together to get past personal and professional obstacles.

The ladies also receive guidance from renowned mentors like MC Lyte, Irv Gotti, and Trina.

Mazin says the show's focus on the journey rather than the drama is one reason she decided to join the cast.

Mazin has some experience with the come-up. She started rapping for fun with friends, but soon enough, her battle-rapper cadence landed her a spot on North Philly powerhouse Meek Mill's Dreamchasers record. In 2012, he dubbed her Dreamchasers' "first lady."

Five years into the game, she's an independent artist with endorsements from such famed femcees as Remy Ma and Trina, and has performed alongside Meek Mill, MC Lyte, T.I., and Jeezy. On Monday, she released her sixth mix tape, VIBEs, meaning Vocally I Body Everything.

I sat down with Mazin as part of the FreeThinkers interview series, a collaboration between Philly.com and RECphilly.

Check out the full interview:

What was it like filming "Sisterhood of Hip Hop"?

I got to work with so many different people, including the other four cast members [Siya, Brianna Perry, Audra the Rapper, and Diamond]. That was a dope experience because I got to be around different females chasing the same dream as me. And [to] see where they come from and the struggles that they went through to get where they are, some of the things they were doing now, and what they wanted to change. I can honestly say, all four of the other girls, they grind hard also.

Is there a sisterhood of hip-hop? And do we talk about it enough?

The majority of it is with the legends, like the MC Lytes, the Queen Latifahs, and the Lauryn Hills. In this newer generation of hip-hop, there isn't enough of a sisterhood, but there is a possibility for everyone to be creative. There's so much talent. It's coming soon, but it's going to take the right person to bring everybody together.

Remy Ma and Trina are praised in the show. What does that mean to you?

It's just crazy because when I started off, even in the city, a lot of people were like, "You know, girls don't get no [love] in the game. When I met Trina, I was like, "Yeah, Trina, you know who I [am]? I'm this artist . . .," and she was like, "Girl, I know who you [are]" and gave me a hug. Same thing with Remy. Remy came on, and in her very first interview [after her arrest], she shouted me out.

It was like, "Wow, this is dope," and we linked up. To this day, we got music together, I got music with Trina. I did things with Lyte, she's on the show. I met Queen Latifah. She was in there with open arms: "Save me eight bars on your hottest record." So I look up to all of them in different [ways]. I'm just waiting to meet Missy [Elliott] now.

You have a major decision to make in the show: Whether to leave Philly to go to L.A. Why was that decision so hard for you?

I'm very family-oriented. I had recently gotten into a situation where I was robbed, so they were like, "Well, what if something happened to you?" This is home. This is the place [that] birthed me as an artist, accepted me, loved me, and hated me at the same time.

What do you say to people who say they can't be successful if they stay in Philadelphia?

I honestly agree. We don't have a major market like we want to have . . . with anything you should want to conquer the world. I'm poppin' here, but let me get to Jersey, let me go to Atlanta, let me get the whole East Coast. How about we go to the West Coast? Because you want to be a worldwide name. Let's go overseas and make some money. You know, I want to be successful. I want the whole world to know who Lee Mazin is, not just Philly. So I don't think it's that you can't be successful in Philly, but I do think you should never want to just get stuck in your hometown, period.

Have things changed for you since joining the show?

Yes, definitely. But I already was prepared for it once I signed up. Then I got advice from other girls on the show, like, "Everything's going to change. This person's going to hold the door for you, everybody's going to want favors." You know the good comes with the bad, the bad comes with ugly, just be prepared for it. All of it, just be ready for it.

sballin@phillynews.com

215-854-5054@sofiyaballin

TELEVISION

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Sisterhood of Hip Hop

9 p.m. Tuesday on Oxygen.EndText