Kreayshawn

1989–2009: Early life and career beginningsNatassia Gail Zolot on September 24, 1989 in San Francisco, California and moved to Oakland when she was ten years old. She is of Russian descent,[3] andthe daughter of Elka Zolot, a former member of the San Francisco garage punk band The Trashwomen.[4] Zolot got her first video camera when she was ten years old, and started documenting her raps.[2]When she was seventeen, she began exploring her interest in cinematography by shooting videos of friends and later music videos for local rappers such as Lil B.[5] Her videos caught the attention of deanPatrick Kriwanekhe, and Zolot attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute with a full scholarship for two semesters.[6] She then moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music video career.[2]

[edit]2010–present: Success with "Gucci Gucci" and "Somethin' Bout Kreay"In 2010, Zolot released her first mixtape, Kittys x Choppas,[7] as well as her first music video for the song "Bumpin Bumpin". On May 16,2011, she released a music video for her single Gucci Gucci, which generated nearly three million views on YouTube in the first three weeks.[8] The popularity of her Gucci Gucci video caught theattention of several record labels, and Zolot quickly signed a contract with Columbia Records.[9] In June 2011, Zolot's management was contacted by the label representing the Red Hot Chili Peppers aboutdirecting a music video[10] for the band's single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" (from the album, I'm with You).[11] However, the band later opted to re-shoot the video and did not release theversion directed by Zolot.[12] In September 2011, Zolot was nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, but lost the category to Tyler, The Creator. She also hosted the Red Carpet eventbefore the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.[13][14]

[edit] CollaborationsZolot performed as Kreayshawn in the musical group White Girl Mob. The group initially included her friends[15] rapper...