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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shoes and Louis Vuittons? Quoth the Raven, ‘Evermore!’


Raven-Symone
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Regina R. Robertson Associated Press

Raven-Symone doesn’t remember much about stealing scenes from her TV grandpa, Cliff Huxtable, on “The Cosby Show” – she was only 3 years old.

Now 18, she’s arguably had the most showbiz success of all the Cosby kids. Aside from starring in the Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven,” plus acting in “The Princess Diaries 2,” “The Cheetah Girls” and the “Dr. Dolittle” movie franchise, she recently released her third CD, “This is My Time.”

The genre-blending disc reflects Raven’s eclectic tastes, from Maroon 5 and Pink to Beyonce, Enya, even Metallica.

Q: Tell us about creating “This is My Time.”

A: The idea for this album was in my head for a while. Everybody said, “You can only do one genre, not all of them!” and I said, “Well, this is my time to show you.”

Q: The first single is “Backflip.” Are the boys backflipping for you?

A: No, actually. They don’t really come up to me that often.

Q: You’re not serious

A: Oh, I’m so serious. A tear is coming to my eye now; I don’t even want to talk about it.

Q: Do you crack up laughing when you hear yourself rapping on your previous albums?

A: It’s hi-LAR-ious. I don’t know what I was rapping about on the first album. Missy (Elliott) hooked a sister up, but it makes no sense. It’s like, “Hickory dickory dock, yes, yes, y’all and you don’t stop; left foot, right foot, any foot at all.”

Q: So whose music is bumping in your iPod?

A: I don’t have an iPod, but in my car I listen to an artist named K. Young, Bjork‘s new album, my album, Alanis Morissette‘s “Jagged Little Pill” and Jay Z‘s “The Blueprint.”

Q: Do you think you get your fair share of love from the media as opposed to folks like Hilary Duff and Lindsey Lohan?

A: I know every time Lindsey goes to the bathroom and I’m like, “I don’t want to know.” I’m fine with my press. I don’t want to be in the press all the time because 1) you get sick of the person faster and 2) I don’t want y’all in my business.

Q: How do you hope to stand out from the pack?

A: One of the songs on the album is called “Mystify,” which talks about how I don’t believe it’s necessary to sell your body. You will never see my butt come out of a skirt ‘cause my momma would come after me. If I wear a short skirt, I won’t wear a low-cut top.

Q: If you could look into the future like your clairvoyant alter ego on “That’s So Raven,” what would you want to know?

A: I would want to know when I’m not going to be in this world anymore so I could get everything in that I needed to.

Q: What wouldn’t you want to know?

A: I definitely would not want to know that the world wasn’t going to come together to have peace or that we’ve self-destructed because of ego. I’ve got some stuff to do and want to stay alive for a while, so I’m registered to vote – I’m excited!

Q: Is there anything that you’d stash in a time capsule for this year?

A: I’d stash all of my shoes so my mom wouldn’t know that I have so many. Oh, and all of my white Louis Vuittons, but I’d just bring them out next year ‘cause I can’t live without them!

The birthday bunch

Actress Barbara Bosson (“Murder One,” “Hill Street Blues”) is 65. Singer Lyle Lovett is 47. Singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 42. Country singer Big Kenny (Big and Rich) is 41. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 38. Actress Jenny McCarthy is 32.