TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Granny Bridging Generation Gap By Using Rap

The Associated Press

Granny Rapper, a k a Angela Pusateri, performs in Hallandale. Dressed in her bling of gold chains, hockey jersey and baggy pants, Granny Rapper has been hitting the condo party circuit with her semi-raunchy rap act for the past few years.

ADVERTISEMENT

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Published: September 21, 2008

HALLANDALE BEACH - Baking cookies and sending out birthday cards is so old school.

Much better to spit new school stuff like this: "I can bring the noise better than P-Diddy/I am older and wiser, I ain't a disguiser/I am condo commando in a high-riser. Who's your granny?"

Angela Pusateri, 79, still does the traditional things for granddaughter Jenna Hager, 13. But for four years, the retired actress and belly dancer from Hallandale Beach has been riding the South Florida talent show and open-mike circuit as Granny Rapper. Her CD is titled, "Who's Your Granny?"

Sporting gold bling around her neck, dark shades, a fitted baseball cap and a hockey jersey, Granny Rapper is a septuagenarian hip-hopper who knocks out rhymes with the energy of Lil' Kim and the wisdom of Grandma Moses.

Like most rappers who spit about their exploits, Granny Rapper brags in her 2004 album about palming jelly packets from the deli counters, wearing her hair in a beehive and wanting to kick other rappers in their "fannies" for failing to clean up their acts.

"Move over, Trick-Daddy, 'cause this is my town; I gotta shuffleboard posse and we're known to get down," reads one of her menacing lyrics.

Pusateri was recently featured in a news segment by the Retirement Living Television network, which profiles active senior citizens. She has also been a frequent guest on a local music radio station, and, of course, has her own MySpace and Facebook pages.

"Sometimes it's embarrassing," said Jenna, who lives in New York. "But she really is a cool grandmother."

Jenna is a central figure in her grandmother's foray into the hip-hop scene.

The idea of a rapping grandma was born several years ago as the two watched music videos. Soon, Jenna was picking out the rap threads and helping with the lyrics.

On the surface, Pusateri, a breast cancer survivor, tells everyone it's all about having fun with a second chance at life, feeling young again and playfully chronicling her generation's lifestyle through the medium of a much younger one.

The true motivation, she said, is the close bond she's developed with Jenna.

"The whole idea is to form a bridge between the generational gap," Pusateri said. "I would love to see more kids playing bingo and more grannies into rap."

Pusateri doesn't plan to cash in on her repertoire.

Proceeds from sales of the $5 CDs go to the Tourette Syndrome Association.

Jenna was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 7.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT