Mia Young, known by her stage name Mia X, was the first female rapper to sign to No Limit Records. From 1995 to 1998, Mia X released three albums for No Limit: Good Girl Gone Bad, Unlady Like and Mama Drama. Unlady Like was certified gold by the RIAA for sales exceeding 500,000 copies.

Although born in New Orleans, Mia began her rapping career in Queens, New York as part of New York Incorporated, which disbanded after only four years. She then returned to New Orleans and met with Master P, an aspiring rapper and producer who signed her to his record label, No Limit.

Mia X reappeared on the rap scene in late 2006 with a track called “Verbal Assault” Produced by Donald XL Robertson on the Southern Smoke mixtape series. The song included a refrain with the words “Guess Who’s Back?”, leading to some speculation that she might be working on a new album.

We recently tackled down the female verbal assassin to see what’s on her plate for 2010

Hey, Mia, how have you been?

I’m good. All is well in family and music, baby!

You have a new project coming out titled Betty Rocka-Locksmith…Can you touch on it?

Betty Rocka-Locksmith is the album! It has a gangsta, ’80’s, 808 feel. I ain’t sleeping on the new skool vibe. I’m all over that, too!

Who’s all getting down on it? Producers? Artists? Etc.?

On Betty Rocka-Locksmith, I worked with some of my brothers from No Limit of course, Gucci Mane, Juvie, BG, Monica, Betty Wright, Ray J, Gangsta Boo, Yung Joc, Drumma Boy, Zaytoven, S8ighty, KLC. I’ve been working with many artists I admire.

The new joint “Get Da Paper” is a heater! Is the whole album gonna have that ’80’s vibe?

You will hear a lot of 1980’s influences. I started rapping when I was a young girl in the ’80’s.

You got a new label — Tell us about it?

MusicLife is my label. I hope it will become another platform for great music.

Let’s go back to the No Limit era…Any memories stick out for you?

We cracked a-lotta jokes at No Limit. We are brothers and sisters forever! Many of us keep in touch and hang out as often as we can.

You were all a pretty tight family, right?

The men at the label were southern gentlemen, for the most part, and we got along well. I am honored to have been a part of a southern Hip-Hop label that started a movement of independence. We are the blueprint.

Is it true you never had a contact with No Limit?

True, I never signed a contract with No Limit.

Once you were off No limit, what did you do in your down-time? Rumor has it that you wrote for a lot of high profile artists — Can you mention any names if there is any truth to that?

I can’t say who I write for because they spit the rymes like they wrote them. I can say, I write for both male and female artists that many people love though.

What’s your take on Hip-Hop these days? Do you think it’s lost its raw feel? What would you like to see change in the game?

I love Hip-Hop! It’s supposed to be a gumbo pot of various artists with many vibes. I don’t hate on artists. If we all did the same music it would be blah. There is enough room for every emcee to do “Their” thing.

What female emcees do you think are on track to be future greats?

Jean Grae, Ebony Eyez,and Ester Dean are the shit! I really like their music.

What else can we expect from you in the coming New Year?

I’m dropping new music, running my Supper Club in New Orleans…We host celebrity cook-off night, where we trade recipes and cook, as well as perform. I’m writing a cook book; Things My Grandma Told Me, Things My Grandma Showed Me. I’m going to remain as pro-active in my city and community as possible, and I’m going to try to continue to be the best “me,” artist, family member, and friend, that I can be.