Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Sometimes a shrimp sandwich just inspires poetry. Singleton’s Mini Mart is a New Orleans lunch counter owned by the Nguyen family and profiled in Hyphen’s Issue 24, the Survival Issue. Their work ethic and memorable seafood po’boys inspired a New Orleans rap group called Double Trouble to film their first video in Singleton’s, aptly titled “Watch Me Work.” I was curious what compelled the MCs to disregard the typical video settings of yacht, street corner or nightclub in favor of their neighborhood Vietnamese food store.

Ruk22 (also known as Denise Lampton, 29), and Flo’rescent (Deshantrel Coleman, 18) are New Orleans natives that performed separately until they concluded that two women would have better luck in hip-hop if they joined forces. In the video, the women take orders, prepare sandwiches, and restock shelves with a rotating cast of local and unsigned artists (including Flo’s dad, their manager). Their first mixtape, D.O.P.E. (Determined, Originality, Preparedness, Eager to Do What We Need to Do) will be released later this year. I reached them at their homes in New Orleans.

Why did you film your video at Singleton’s, casting yourselves working at the cash register and in the kitchen?

Ruk22: Flo’s dad, our manager, is friends with the Nguyens. We used to live in the neighborhood. The song was inspired by working hard at whatever you do. Putting work in together, you got to go through different obstacles, different stages in life. After Katrina and the BP oil spill, so many people and so many businesses suffered. So many businesses relocated to another city where they don’t have too many hurricanes and oil spills. Singleton’s was a store that stayed back and still served the community.

Like Flo says in the song, as long as the music’s bumpin’, we gonna stay right here. For Singleton’s, as long as that building is still standing there, they’re still gonna serve the community. They’re still going to do what they need to do, through anything. They started working hard, trying to get their business back together, and not letting the BP oil spill affect what they do for their community and for their family.

That’s what we’re trying to do with our music, just trying to strive for perfection and try to get to the top. Keep working hard, don’t let anything stop you. Being two females it’s going to be pretty hard for us. We’re just trying to stick together, work hard, and reach our goals.

What are your day jobs?

Ruk22: I was laid off over the summer from my job at Radio Shack. I was the top salesperson, but I was an at-will employee and still got laid off. I put so much hard work into that job, while going to school and making music… so getting laid off like that really hurt. At the same time, I just pray and ask God to show me the way to go. I’m trying to take the closed door as a blessing and pursue the music. God sometimes closes up some doors to open up new ones. I’m working hard on the music and trying to find some new gigs.

Flo: My day job is at a hotel. I’m a PBX (switchboard) operator for hotel guests.

Food seems to be a big theme in New Orleans music. Last summer a runaway Youtube hit featured a family shopping with food stamps at a local Wal-Mart. What is it about New Orleans culture that has people always thinking about food, and incorporating it into their music?

Ruk: We grew up eating. We just love to eat down here. Flo loves to eat. Shrimp, chicken, family gatherings, cookouts -- everybody always talks first about who’s bringing what food. They just love to eat down here. But it’s hard, and groceries are getting expensive everywhere. I thought that video about the food stamps was pretty funny, because some people can’t afford to buy food, but food stamps do help with a percentage of your income every month. All I can say is, they love to eat down here. Everyone knows how to cook, even if you can just fry an egg.

Flo: I agree. I love food, I really do.

What are your favorite foods?

Ruk-22: Red beans and rice. Gumbo. Jambalaya.

Flo: Jambalaya, gumbo, crayfish, shrimp. A lot of people down here like any anything Cajun and spicy, anything seafood. Growing up, I was at Beau’s (Singleton’s) a lot, getting my po’boys, pickles and chicken plates. My grandma lived around the corner.  

Many rap videos feature artists amidst expensive cars, diamonds, and furs. Yet you’re taking orders at a corner store. Why?

Ruk-22: You have to work to get to that. I didn’t have anything growing up, so I’m not trying to pretend I have something I don't. No, I’m not going to do that. Even when I do get that, I won’t make videos like that, because when God gives you a gift, and you’re inspired to do something, it's not all about the materialistic things. It’s about what’s inside, what’s in your heart. All the rest will come, but show how you really got there, and the true meaning behind your music. What strives you to sing, what strives you to rap, what strives you to dance? What’s your inspiration? That’s what we’re trying to do. Showing that it takes hard work to do whatever you need to do in life.

Flo: I agree.   

You can see more Double Trouble on the Phreedom Records YouTube channel.