FIFI Cooper has been making waves in the Motswako rap industry with her unapologetic attitude and hunger to live up to her title as the first lady of motswako.

Fifi, who is based in Mahikeng, plans to move to Johannesburg in January and release her debut album titled First Lady of Motswako.

The 23-year-old, whose real name is Refiloe Mooketsi, has made it clear that she is here to stay. She last released a single in 2010 called Chechela Morago (Move Back).

"People weren't taking me seriously because I am a woman trying to make it in the music industry as a rapper. So I am trying to tell them to move back and let me shine," she says.

And now she is determined to return and claim her rightful place in the male-dominated genre.

Tomorrow revellers will get to and see and hear what she has in store when she performs alongside Khuli Chana at the Maftown Heights festival. She plans to make a big impression as she launches her big comeback.

She got her foot in the industry in 2008 when she was approached by Motswako star Mo Molemi to feature in his album Rebel with a Pause.

"When he approached me I was overwhelmed and felt blessed because I was just starting out at the time and the idea took a while to sink in," she remembers.

The "first lady" aims to use her rapping career to represent women and hopes to inspire underground female rappers to take her lead.

"I represent women and believe that if there was no stigma attached to women in the industry, more women would rap and be respected for their talents," she says.

Mooketsi has also recently released her music video.

The confident and ambitious young star has been mentored by Motswako giants such as HHP and Khuli Chana.

She believes she has a chance in the industry because of her authentic and original MC skills.

"People like Trompies and HHP believe in me and have given me valuable advice on how to make it in the industry. I grew up listening to them. They inspired me to become the rapper I am," she says.

Mooketsi says she chose to rap in Tswana, her mother tongue, because she believes people are afraid of showing their roots and being who they are.

"I am comfortable rapping in my tongue because it adds meaning to my rap. It appeals to my people.

"They will love me for being myself and not being afraid to show who I really am and where I come from," she says.

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