This brand new duet is composed of South Bronx rapper Maliibu Miitch and professional dancer Helene. Their current single “Figure 8” produced by DJ Mustard has just been released as a video, and their new EP on Island Records will be followed shortly by an album.
I caught them in between performances at the Ritz and at Feathers, and they were absolutely the cutest things ever, both with big personalities and a lot of energy.
So how did the two of you meet, and what inspired you to become a duet?
Maliibu: We actually met through management, and they put us together with the label. Helene was already in California, and they flew me out, and I met her .
So how did you know you were going to like each other and be able to work together?
Maliibu: Oh, we didn’t know. It was kind of weird. She was in a girl group before, and I was already a solo artist. At first we were both weirded out by it and didn’t want to do it. Then after we just started talking and we had studio time out there, and we were together a lot, that’s when we both figured, “Oh, I kind of like you!”
So are you two based out of LA right this minute?
Maliibu: No, I’m from New York – South Bronx.
Helene: And I’m in California. I’m originally from New Jersey, but I’ve lived in California for five years now.
How do you work long distance?
Maliibu: Actually, I just came back from LA. I left this December, and I was actually out in LA for a whole year. We shot our videos out there, and I just recently came back.
So Maliibu, what exactly do you do?
Maliibu: I rap. I’ve been rapping for four or five years.
Helene, how did you get your start?
Helene: I’m also a professional dancer. I started dancing when I was three. I did musical theatre while growing up. I was one of those audition kids that came to New York to audition for Broadway. I decided I wanted to do the whole Beyoncé thing, so I did a demo when I was 12 in California. I was assigned to a producer, and that’s what got me to move out to California. Then I was in a girl group for two years. Then the girl group got dropped. Everything happens for a reason, and that proves why I’m with Maliibu now, and I am very happy.
You’re currently working on an EP. Is that correct?
Maliibu: We’re actually finished with the EP and are halfway through the album. Within the first month of meeting each other, we finished the EP, and we’re working on the album.
Helene: Seriously, our single “Figure 8,” that was the first song we ever recorded, and our whole EP kind of followed after that. It kind of tells a story of our relationship. It gets crazy, but our EP is awesome.
Maliibu: We’re not just pop, we’re not just R & B, we’re not just urban – we don’t like to put a title on it, you know. We got our own sound. It’s Maliibu and Helene’s sound.
Is there ever a time that you don’t agree on something?
Maliibu: No, we actually haven’t had that yet.
Helene: It’s really surprising. We get along fine. I think it’s because of our work ethic, and we both have the same goal, and we love what we do. It’s not work to us; we’re just having fun. Basically we’re just going through it together.
Maliibu: We just talk about our day.
So you’ve been together a year?
Maliibu: Yes, it’s our year anniversary.
Happy anniversary! Are you touring to support the video and single?
Maliibu: We’re doing our radio promos right now, our radio run.
Helene: Our music video is on Vevo now. You hear the song and it’s a great feel, but I feel that when you watch the video you get an even better feel. We are complete opposites, and you see how it works. You wouldn’t think so, but it does; Maliibu comes through really great on it. It’s just really a fun video to shoot. We’re excited to have people see us for the real people we are.
What’s the craziest thing that has happened to you since you’ve been together as a duo?
Maliibu: We did a little high school tour, and it got completely shut down. I guess I was twerking too good at the school and the principal came and shut it down.
Helene: When we were shooting our video, we shot it in a laundromat, and it wasn’t closed down, so people could still do their laundry. We’re singing, and an old man with his cane just literally walked through. We’re trying to keep straight faces. We’re like, “Does he not see what we’re doing?”
Where do you wanna be in five years?
Maliibu: Traveling the world.
If you could perform anywhere, where would you want it to be?
Maliibu: Philippines.
Helene: Spain.
Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Helene: We just want to get awareness to our single, “Figure 8.” It was a really fun record that we did together. We want everybody to hear it.
