Before she was Lipstick Killer, she was just a girl spitting bars in schoolyard cyphers—one against twenty—and holding her own like it was nothing. Today, she’s a firestarter in hip-hop, torching expectations and flipping pain into pure energy. With her new single “Delaware Ave,” the first drop from her upcoming project Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1, she takes heartbreak, betrayal, and rage and turns them into a sonic weapon.
We sat down with Lipstick Killer to talk about breaking through the noise, challenging misconceptions about women in rap, and why Cigarettes & Heartbreak isn’t just an album but a survival set to a beat.
Hip Hop Magz: You’re carving your lane as a female rapper in a space that can still feel male-dominated. What has your experience been like navigating the industry?
Lipstick Killer: Ever since I was little, I never cared about gender roles. I was an athlete, I played street football with the boys and basketball with the boys. I was rough. The only time I really remembered I was a girl was when I had to throw on a sports bra—otherwise I was out there running around like one of the boys, lol.
I’ve always just done what I wanted to do because I could. Rap was no different. Back in school, we used to skip lunch for cyphers—twenty dudes and then me—and I always felt comfortable in that space.
The industry loves to slap labels on you, but I don’t look at it like that. I’m a rapper; I’m an artist. Adding ‘female’ in front of that—what does it do? It doesn’t make me lesser. I can go bar for bar with anyone. Because of that, I’ve always made sure my focus was on the lyrics, the metaphors, and the wordplay—the kind of stuff that even the guys had to respect and remember.
HHM: What misconceptions do people still have about women in hip-hop, and how do you challenge those through your music?
Lipstick Killer: I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that all women in hip-hop can offer is sexy lyrics and a few twerks. Lol. Don’t get me wrong—I respect everyone having their own lane and style, and if that works for them, salute. But grouping every female rapper into that same category is crazy.
The truth is, in any industry, looks are going to matter and you’re going to be sexualized no matter what—but that doesn’t mean women don’t have substance. I actually find it hypocritical, because by that same logic you could say all men rap about is money, cars, and women… and that’s just as much of a generalization.
Another misconception is that women in rap are automatically anti each other. Sure, there’s history and beefs, but that’s not the full picture. For me, it’s not about tearing anyone down—it’s about telling my story and speaking my truth. The bars and the skills are important, but what really matters is sharing what’s inside of me in a way people can feel and connect with.
HHM: Who are some women in hip-hop (past or present) you feel have paved the way for you – and who inspires you today?
Lipstick Killer: Man, I love this question. There are so many women who really set the tone for me. Queen Latifah brought that strength and attitude—she went up against the guys without fear. Mia X did the same, rolling with the boys and holding her own. Lil’ Kim was powerful and fearless too, but she also owned her sexuality and expressed herself exactly how she wanted.
Left Eye embodied creativity and spirit—she was comfortable in her own skin, and it showed.
Missy Elliott pushed creativity to another level and proved you could be different and still captivate people. Lauryn Hill spoke straight from the soul—her music carried real-life pain, joy, and encouragement that inspired people. Then you’ve got Remy with the bars, and Nicki, who brought the full package—bars, creativity, versatility, and the ability to move into other genres while still dominating rap.
Today, I love what’s happening with women in hip-hop. They’ve brought the fun back—making music that makes you want to dance, enjoy life, and that feels super relatable. I pull inspiration from all of that: being comfortable in my skin, making music that’s creative and real, and moving with power.
HHM: What headspace were you in when you wrote “Delaware Ave.,” and what do you want listeners to take away from it?
Lipstick Killer: When I wrote “Delaware Ave.,” my head was full of rage, anger, and pain. Writing has always been my outlet, so the easiest and most natural thing for me to do was to get it all out on paper.
The takeaway I want listeners to have is the same one I had while writing it: stop letting people disrespect you, respect yourself, and love yourself. Those lyrics lifted me out of a dark place—they motivated me and reminded me of who I am. That’s a recurring theme you’ll see throughout my upcoming EP, Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1—using the music as motivation, not just for myself, but for anyone who needs that reminder.
HHM: Your project Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1 is on the way this December. What story are you telling with this body of work?
Lipstick Killer: The whole LP is called Cigarettes & Heartbreak, and it’s split into two volumes that represent love and pain—which, to me, can be one and the same. Normally, you’d expect the story to start with love, but when I began working on this project, the pain and betrayal hit me hard. So I decided to lead with that—Volume 1 is raw and fresh, straight from that hurt.
Volume 2 will bring listeners into the love side of Killer, but it’s not simple—you’ll still hear the confusion and struggle of navigating love. It’s all a true story—the highs, the lows, the obsession, the hate. I bare it all in this project.
HHM: The title alone is intriguing — it suggests love, loss, and vice. How did you land on that name, and how does it set the tone for the project?
Lipstick Killer: Thank you—I like that you said ‘intriguing’ because that’s exactly how I wanted it to feel! The title Cigarettes & Heartbreak came straight from real life. After I found out my ex was cheating—like cheating cheating—my nerves were shot. I’d smoke an American Spirit every now and then, but in that moment, it became every night. I’d be out on the patio, looking up at the sky, smoking, crying, and trying to process what just happened—five years gone, and I felt like I’d lost my best friend.
One night I looked down and saw my ashtray overflowing, and it hit me—Cigarettes & Heartbreak. That’s the space I was in. From there, I knew I was going to tell the world exactly how I was feeling, and I knew it was going to be powerful.
HHM: When you’re in the studio, what does your process look like — is it late-night writing sessions, freestyling off vibes, or meticulous pen-and-pad work?
Lipstick Killer: By the time I hit the studio, I don’t waste any time. As an independent artist, every dollar I put into my projects counts, so I go in fully prepared—I know what I want to do and how I want it to sound.
The great thing is, I’ve been working with my engineer, Jaz Brewer, owner of 64111 Studio here in KC, for about 10 years. Having someone who knows my style, my voice, and my work ethic makes the process smooth, and we lock in quick.
Don’t get me wrong, we still have our little studio ritual—hookah and Hennessy—but I always come ready with my lyrics. And sometimes once I’m in the booth, the music will take me in a different direction and I’ll follow that feeling. But overall, I’m no joke—I’ve knocked out full verses and even a feature in under an hour.
