Sarahenity

Tri-City rapper to release album
By Bethany Lee, Herald staff writer.

This sassy rapper has the chops to play with the big boys and will be releasing her debut album Bitter Sweet late this summer.

Born in Tennessee, Sarah Watson moved to the Tri-Cities when she was 13 and graduated from Kamiakin High School in Kennewick in 2001.

"I started writing poetry in Tennessee when I was about 10," she said. "When I was 14, I read one of my poems with such emotion that it flowed, and I was like, 'Did I just rap? I think I'm a rapper!' "

Now 26, Watson, known as Sarahenity, is teaming up with Real Estate Records to release and album in August. The album's concept marks Sarah's evolution to Sarahenity.

"I wanted the album to show the struggle in that, but through the creation of it, I've turned into Sarahenity, so the album reflects that," she said.

Fans can hear songs from album at her next show -- 9:30 p.m. July 24 at the Towne Crier, 1319 George Washington Way, Richland. The free show is for those 21 and older.

At first Watson was intimidated about pursuing a career in a predominantly male scene but she said she's received a lot of support from the community and fellow artists.

Highlights of her career include opening for B Real of Cyprus Hill; Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony; and DJ Mr. Mixx from the original 2 Live Crew, all of whom have been influences.

"There's so many different characteristics in my album, so whatever mood that you're in, I just hope you can feel it," she said. "For people that might not like certain styles of music, there's certain other styles on there, so hopefully everybody will at least be able to feel one song on the album with the diversity that we put into it."

While music is her life, Watson revealed her backup plan is to go back to school to learn how to provide physical therapy for children. She briefly attended Columbia Basin College but felt that music was her ultimate career.

"Sarah's had some struggles with Sarahenity and vice versa," she said. "There's always going to be that inner battle or trying to find that balance. It's my dream, it's what I want to do. Doing this more and more, that's what I'm here for, that's what I wanted to do and it's slowly coming true."

On her climb to fame, Watson holds down a nine-to-five as a debt collector. In addition to being in the studio, Sarah and Sarahenity work between 60 to 80 hours a week, which she directly attributes to her being single at the moment.

Even then, Watson said she's still trying to launch Sarahenity Entertainment, a business she recently started. Services include voice-overs, ghost writing, modeling, public speaking and performing. In the future she'd like to set up an organization to help victims of sex trafficking internationally, but admits that is more of a five- to 10-year goal.

For someone who has been in the music industry for so long, Watson admits to being a little apprehensive about moving forward.

"Even when we have all the support in the world, you go through phases where you're like, 'Is this what I want to do?' Because really you're chasing your dream by a thread; there's no guarantee, there's no nothing," she said. "I struggle with 'When is that limit?' and I'm sick of struggling with that. It's what you feel is right for you; if that's what you want to do, do what makes you happy, and if music makes you happy, then do music."

For information, go to www.myspace.com/sarahenity.

- Tri-City Herald