The Royal Magazine/Japan talks to Mari Koda from the RockSteady Crew.

Q: Who & Why?

I'M JUST A GIRL WHO LOVES MUSIC, VERY SIMPLE THAT'S HOW I AM.WHY? THAT'S HOW I WAS BORN, MUSIC HELPS ME WHAT I DO RIGHT NOW.I DANCE AND EVERYTHING GOOD THAT HAPPENED TO ME IS BECAUSE I LOVE MUSIC.I APPRECIATE THE MUSIC, EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE MOMENT THAT'S HOW THE MUSIC GIVES ME BACK THAT LOVE.MUSIC MAKE ME HAPPY, LAUGH, APPRECIATE LIFE , LOVE, EVERYTHING.

Q: VITALS:WHAT'S YOURE NAME AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

MARI KODA REMEMBER SPANISH PEOPLE IT'S NOT *#@* IT'S M-A-R-I- K-O-D-A I'M FROM SHIBUYA, TOKYO:THE BIG CITY

Q: HOW DOES DANCING TRANSCEND YOUR OTHER TALENTS?

Hmmmm... That's a crazy question. I started dancing because I love music. I would go to a club and see the DJ and appreciate their talent.So, I thought "What could I do for them to show them I appreciate what they do?" Because they pick the music, play the right music and that keeps me going and makes me happy. So I wanted to thank them, so and bring them somewhere within the music. The same for people like me who love music and dance I want to make them feel the same way I feel when they dance or go to a club. Like that DJ rocked the party, or when they see me dance they're happy, They remember the moment.

Q: You've joined the legendary ROCK STEADY CREW.How long have you been a member?

I joined the crew 1994 while in Japan.

Q: How did that come about?

I joined Rock Steady Crew Japan, I was a little girl. But there is no more Rock Steady Crew in Japan. But I moved to New York City so I met up with Crazey Leggs, Mr.Wiggle. They all knew me since 1994.But when I saw them again about 2years ago Crazey Leggs had some big event.He asked me "Yo, are you still RockSteady?" "Do you still have RockSteady in you?" So I told him Hell yeah! So he said "Ok, show me what you got". So there was a big cipher going on and Crazey Leggs told me "If you smoke everybody tommorow we'll have a meeting. So, I went into the cipher and smoked everybody, nobody else came up to dance after I did my thing and the next day I joined RockSteady NYC.

Q: You've done commercials for The Gap, MTV, videos for Missy Elliott. What has given you the most satisfaction?

3 things has given me the most satisfaction.1)Working with Jamie Foxx.he was hosting the MTV Video Music Awards.@Lincoln Centre so I was excited about performing a Hip-Hop Opera.I went through all the auditions but didn't know we would be working with Jamie Foxx.Everyday of rehearsal he would say hello to everyone personally.Most big name artist don't give a fuck about the people they work with.So he personally chose me to do a freestyle with and when we shot it for cameras before the show the producers cut out all the dancers.all you could see was Jamie Foxx.Jamie goes into the producers booth and yells at everyone because we worked so hard and told them to put all the dancers in.Again most bigname artist don't give a fuck about the people they work with.When he came back to us we all had tears in our eyes because he cared and he stood up for us dancers, he was cool.#2 Patti LaBelle, I was on tour with her and I choreographed a couple of pieces for her.I was just happy because I could work with her every night, because she has lot's of slow songs and gospel songs.she did'nt really need (us) dancers because she's a diva and she can shine with her amazing voice.One nigtht, I forgot the city but we came out on stage and the audience looked at us like ... What? Why the Asian-girls on the stage with her? They don't belong here, so we felt the bad energy as soon as we hit the stage.after the set we were back stage watching her sing and she stopped the show and told the audience "These are my dancers! They are the ones I picked for my tour! If you have something to say tell me!"She basically told them to don't act like they don't like us and enjoy the show.It was so amazing that she stood up for us.Again most big artists' don't give a f*ck about the people they work with, but she did.Even after the show she took time to ask me about myself and gave me her info and let me know if it's hard getting work just call her and she'll take care of it.Because if we were good enough to work with Patti LaBelle we can work with any artist.she's an amazing person because she didn't have to do that.But she did.#3Timberland & Missy Elliot video, the way it happened was interesting.there was a dance contest at a club and I smoked everybody Mariah Careys' dancers, Mary J.Blige dancers and dancers from the dancers from "Honey" the movie.so I won the contest but I remember someone watching me.So the casting director called me for an ausition and said someone was looking for me.It turned out to be Little X the director.It all happened so fast, I got the BOOM Addidas suit, Kangol and I'm on the set dancing all in one day, usually it takes forever to set up and shoot a music videos.So they start the music I freestyle over and over again.So Little X asks me "Mari, do you like the music?" I told him yeah and that's when I saw Timberland.The look on his face was like She doesn't know the music? But Little X knew about me and that's why he was looking for me at the dance contest in the first place.That's one of my best talents, I can freestyle and catch the music without even knowing the music.The whole time I thought we were doing a rehearsal, but that was it we had just shot the video.Done.

Q: Love or Money?

It's Love and Money!

Q: Book or Movie?

Wow! Book

Q: When was the last time you cried?

Just this morning! Hahaha just kidding, shit.Not too long ago.December 29th

Q: Why?

The relationship I was in, The balance wasn't even.

Q: Rock, Paper, Scissor?

Scissor

Q: Mac or PC

Mac & PC... ... Both

Q: What's your worst industry experience/moment?

There was a job in Jersey and they finished the show without me.I wasn't late but I was driving to the job and the artist called me and said "Mari, you don't have to come, I just finished the show.I couldn't wait".I wasn't even late! I decided right then, I would never dance for her again.

Q: What's on your I-Pod playlist now?

R&B and Classics.I'm shuffling the S.O.S. Band

Q: What's your top 3 Clothing lines right now?

SPONSORS!

Q: What interests you most about Hip-Hop ?

For me it's the culture.Culture, culture, culture.It keeps moving, keeps changing.It only has 30 years of history.But the music changes, the fashion changes.It's ok to be old school, But don't hate the change of the culture even if you're in it.The culture changes Down South, NY, West Coast it's all one big culture.You can't hate that.

Q: Is Hip-Hop dead?

No, Hell No.Let me tell you something about Nas.He's Hollywood now.He don't live in Queens no more.The album title was just to make people interested that's all.It's just a title to make people buy his album

Q: How do you relax?

Going to a club to dance.I go to a club to listen to music and dance.Let me tell you something I don't want to be rude, but I don't go to a club to meet people.Just dance and appreciate the DJ.Don't get mad because I don't have time to talk, I'm just here to dance.I get that a lot, people think I'm mean.

Q: Bape..Yes or no?

Who? Oh..No No

Q: Nike Or Addidas?

Both

Q: Japan or NY?

Both, Both

Q: What's your upcoming project's?

I'm going to Japan with Beatminerz & Craig G in late March.I'm going to London with Marley Marl and RockSteady Crew 30th Anniversary in June In Japan /July in NYC.Also I'm going to Austria doing a summer workshop teaching Hip-Hop.

Q: What's your ultimate goal?

Keep doing my thing.

Q: NewYork Knicks or New Jersey Net's?

Knicks!

Q: Have you ever faced discrimination because your Japanese?

Hell yeah, I was on 125th street in Harlem.I was trying to use the payphone and this Old man screams at me in my face "YOU CANNOT USE THIS PAYPHONE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT BLACK!" I was shocked, I didn't know if he was sick or Whatever because if you know me I would've screamed on him, but I just left.

Q: What's your favorite Jeff staple moment?

I remember seeing him at the RockSteady Crew Anniversary in early 2000.Just Comparing the life that we have now, that's the very best moment.We both remember That and now it's like "We did it.Our dreams came true!"

Q: Jeff Staple... .Genius or Madman?

He's a genius!

INTERVIEW BY: QUE / PEACEDENIMCO