Skip the industry polish, hip-hop's Larok shines on her own

Letia Larok seemed on the edge of R&B/hip-hop stardom in 2002 when she was featured on B E T 's popular show ``106 & Park." She'd just won a Free4L ife Foundation competition, a talent show held in Franklin Park, and had caught the eye of a Black Entertainment Television producer. Larok competed on the show's ``Freestyle Fridays" segment four weeks in a row as the reigning champion of rhyme. And then: nothing. OK, not nothing. She appeared on ``Showtime at the Apollo" on the UPN. Opened for established singers like Keyshia Cole and Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child. Universal even dangled a record deal.

But Larok balked. Universal, she said, wanted to hook her up with a producer best known for working with Pink and Christina Aguilera , to mold her into a pop star. Larok, however, wanted to make her own lyric-driven hip-hop her way.

``I was pretty much doing the conscious thing," said Larok, 23 . ``They said it was just entertainment. I was like, `naw . . . ' I wasn't feeling it."

That was three years ago. Since then, Larok has been busy burning up local clubs, building a fanbase, and recording her debut album, ``As Is." The disc, set for independent release today , has reignited the buzz around Larok, who celebrates at 9 tonight with a show at McGann's Pub on Portland Street.

``It just feels like the closing of a chapter," she said. ``I want to move forward and celebrate with people I know, people who enjoy the music."

Larok, the only girl of six children, was born in Roxbury to a Trinidadian mother (her stepfather is Antiguan) who lived at the Academy Homes. She grew up on reggae and includes Bob Marley and Beres Hammond among her influences. Her brothers got her into hip-hop at an early age.

``I always listened to hip-hop," said Larok, whose voice is soft and soothing. She credits her mother for enrolling her in dance classes and encouraging her music . At age 10 , she was living in Chelsea and singing with a church choir.

Isaiah ``Iro Q " Mitchell, 29, of the Boston hip-hop duo Iro Q & John Doe, remembers those days well. Larok's family had moved to Broadway in Chelsea, the same block where IroQ and Doe had their home recording studio.

Mitchell remembers standing on the block handing out fliers when he noticed the 15-year-old 's voice. She was experimenting with singing, not taking it too seriously. They hit it off immediately and Larok started hanging out in the studio to make music.

Mitchell would play her recordings for other musicians and friends. ``They would say, `Who was that hot artist?' " he recalled.

But life was tough, and three years later Larok moved to Medford for a fresh start. She said she had a spiritual awakening in 2000 and went back to choir in the church. ``I was fortunate to have the opportunity to live, learn, and move on," she said of her rough beginnings and personal choices that led to ``not the greatest lifestyle."

``Around that time I started seeing that God had called me to do a bigger work," she said, ``proving that we all can be used regardless of where we stand."

Larok can fire rhymes back and forth with the guys. But at the end of the day she keeps her femininity , singing about the over-glamorization of hip - hop love and emotion, all with an angelic voice.

On June 17, she took home the silver microphone award for Female Artist of the Year at the Hip Hop Awards held by Boston's hip-hop union, the Mass Industry Committee, at the Back Bay Events Center, collecting nearly two-thirds of the vote.

``As Is " is almost autobiographical. Some songs she sings, some songs she raps, and some songs feature both styles. ``Everlasting Luv" is a powerful testimonial about love. It is one of her more potent ballads. Larok's reggae and dancehall roots shine through on the catchy crossover track ``Let It Go, " in which she splices rap verses into rapid-fire singing about letting go of a phony glam image. On ``Never Left" she flexes her hip-hop muscles , and sounds like confident rappers MC Lyte and Lil' Kim .

Other artists in the hip-hop community often call her a role model, but Larok shakes off the tag . ``My overall message is knowledge of self," Larok said. ``A role model is pretty heavy. I know for a fact that I'm not perfect but I'd like girls to learn from my mistakes and learn from me."