Baltimore rapper and M.I.A protégé Ryeisha Berrain’s upcoming album, “Go Pop Bang” comes out on Feb. 22. The album has been named one of winter’s most anticipated albums by Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. Following the end of her tour, Rye Rye sat down with the Black & White to talk about her music career.

Black & White How did you get to meet M.I.A ?

Rye Rye: She came to Baltimore to work on her album and she had heard a song that I did that was on the internet. DJ Blaqstarr called me and was like, “I want you to come down to the studio.” I went, and M.I.A and Diplo were there.  M.I.A. was like “I’ve been looking for you.”  We talked and ended up recording together for her album, and then I opened her show with DJ Blaqstarr.

B&W: You’ve described M.I.A as a parent figure but also as a friend. Do you have a different connection as business partners and friends?

RR: No, it’s really the same. We both don’t want to take it too seriously – we really are just ourselves around each other. I feel like at times, she is a parent figure to me, she shows respect for me. But our connection is mostly the same and we just play around.

B&W: How do you portray your Baltimore roots in your music and performances?

RR: I feel like the dancing and music say it all. I do Baltimore moves, which are different from typical hip hop and R&B moves. It’s very energetic; a lot of bass and it’s very repetitive and fast. It’s really high energy and crazy loud. I want to keep my style and share it with others. That’s my overall goal.

B&W: Where would you like to see yourself in your career ten years from now?

RR: I want to be very successful. I want to continue doing what I do. For me, everything just comes without planning and I go with the flow. Amazing things have happened. I am familiar with what I am representing. I want to be on the top.