PASSION is the motivating factor behind this young woman’s journey into making music. Most young artists have dreams of fame and fortune; it’s rare to find someone who loves doing it so much they simply disregard the pursuit of fame all together.

Poetry turned into singing, singing turned into rapping, and her life turned into the soundtrack she is crafting for the world. Britne “Elmo” Cooper was born in and grew up “all over” Prince Georges County, MD and Washington, DC. Most artists have a specific influence that can be traced to another person, often times the legendary artists that have come before. Elmo has her own influence that is about as unique as it gets; her own life.

CN:Where are you from?  Tell about your background.

Elmo: I grew up all over Prince George’s County and Washington, DC.  I went to six elementary schools, so I never made any lifelong friends.  I stayed to myself with the exception of my older brother and my only friend became my pen.  I started writing in like the first or second grade – all senseless poetry at first.

CN: When did you get into music?

E: My poetry turned to singing in about third or fourth grade and I started rapping in high school.  I’ve always been a writer though.

CN: What are your influences?

E: I am influenced to write all of my songs by my life experiences and the experiences of those close to me.  I can also be influenced by my surroundings, weather, love, hate… anything.

CN: Isn’t it a bad thing to be influenced by “anything” even negative things?

E: Well sometimes it can be, but who doesn’t love a nice sad song. Every song can’t be happy, it’s just not realistic.

CN: What’s your favorite artist and song?

E: My favorite artist and song right now is Alicia Keys – Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart.  But that changes every week.  I love everyone and every song.

CN: How do you describe your own genre of music?

E: Well… I don’t.  Like, I just can’t limit myself.  I want to do it all.

CN: But if you had to pick a genre?

E: If I had to choose a category or genre for myself it would be Hip Hop.However I would rather let my music show you in the years to come because I fit the bill because everything I say, I see, and I do. I make music for you… all of you.

CN: What are your greatest challenges as an up and coming artist?

E: Greatest challenge would have to be getting people to actually play the music and listen to it.  You pass out like 70 CD’s and only ten of them will ever really see a CD player.

CN: Where in the DMV can someone catch you handing out your music?

E: You can catch me all over DC. Gallery Place on a Saturday, on the train on my way home from work, at my bands shows, down The Harbor, At Anacostia Station, and By the Popeye’s on Benning Road, wherever I am, my music is too.

CN: What has been your greatest success or best memory?

E: My best memory so far was when I posted my new songs on my music page.  Less than 20 minutes later, at least 60 people had added one of my songs to their MySpace page.  It was a feeling of major accomplishment to see how many people were actually listening to me and digging what I was saying.

CN: What is your own favorite song?

E: My favorite song so far is “How Would It Be”.  I told my entire life story in 50 bars with no hook and no curse words.

CN: What are your career goals?

E: To be honest with you, I don’t have any.  I just want to make music everyone can relate to and love.  I don’t even care about the fame that much. I just plan on making great music. I want to hear my songs when I turn on the radio, and see my videos on MTV jams. And I even want to be on Oprah.

CN: What would you want the world to know about yourself and your music?

E: That’s a good one.  I want the world to know as long as music exists I will continue to be a living, breathing part of it.  I spend all day every day writing and practicing.  Anything you will ever hear from me will be 100 percent original.  I am outgoing and a very lively person.  I love to have and make fun – and I just don’t know how to be serious all of the time.  I’m someone you will want to look out for in the near future… me and my band. www.myspace.com\officialelmo is my music page and www.myspace.com\sosimplicity is my band’s music page.  Check it out.  If you give me feedback I promise to thank you.  I love everyone and thanks for loving me back!

I was stunned by the response to the question about career goals, it confused me at first but then I realized the true meaning of its nature. This was more than a girl who simply dreamed of making it big, this was pure passion for the art being put into tracks. Elmo’s music is the sound track to her life, and for all those willing to listen it was the sound track to Elmo’s world.