Hailed as this generation's most revered sex icons, former adult star Heather Hunter has tried to prove for over a decade that she is more than a pretty face with skills in the erotic. 

At 18, the young aspiring actress auditioned for a spot as a burlesque dancer that eventually led to a featured spot in the X-rated film "Heather." Soon after, Heather became one of the hottest commodities in adult film and the first and only African-American woman to be inducted into the Adult Film Hall Of Fame.

Today- retired from her adult film career - Heather has returned to her musical roots with the album, Double H: The Unexpected. Featuring the production wizardry of DJ Premier, Scott Storch and Phantom of the Beats, Heather has much to prove.

Chronicmagazine.com:  You have an album coming out this summer.  Are you excited?

Heather Hunter:  Yes.  I’m losing my mind.  I’m excited.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Is there any nervousness around how it may be received?

Heather Hunter:  No. I like to rub things in people’s faces.  I like to see people’s reactions to anything I do.  I’m not nervous, just anxious.  I’m ready for it to come out so I can move to the next level. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  I’ve got to say I was surprised.  It was good – better than certain artists who look at rap as their primary profession.

Heather Hunter:  (laughs) Everyone says that.  You know what it is, I try to be a perfectionist.  With any type of creative endeavor, I try to master the craft as much as possible.  If I can’t master it, I’m not going to do it. 

“So Serious,” the first cut, is so important.  I want people to take me serious for other creative talents I’m throwing their way.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Are people taking you serious?

Heather Hunter:  Yeah.  They’re taking me serious.  I realize in life, you have to be consistent.  There’s always doubt.  People are shocked that I’m going into the rap business.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Yeah, but most people don’t know that you started out in music before the porn.

Heather Hunter:  Before, I got into the [adult] business, I was actually going to pursue modeling and acting.  But, at 18 I had to struggle to survive and that’s how I found myself stripping and getting into the adult business.  I just made the best of it. 

I think I’ve been in hip-hop since its birth with Furious Five, the Sugar Hill Gang and the whole nine.  I used to work at this famous club called Latin Quarters.  A lot of my friends are hip-hop icons now. I happen to go down the erotic path.  So, now I’m back home.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Are you writing all of your material?

Heather Hunter:  No.  Actually I’m not.  I wrote two songs on my album.  I did a song about girl-on-girl – lesbianism.  I don’t think anyone else could write that but me. (laughs)

Chronicmagazine.com:  What other topics will people hear?

Heather Hunter:  I have some club bangers, sex of course – I know it so well and it sells.  I also show a different side on a song called “In Love.”  There’s so much misconception about someone with my lifestyle and past.  I don’t think they realize that I can actually be in love – instead of in lust.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Is it hard for you to find love?

Heather Hunter:  Yeah.  It’s kind of hard, but I don’t go and search for it.  It just falls in my lap instead of being another notch on my belt. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  I know you worked with Scott Storch on the album.  Who else did you work with?

Heather Hunter:  Scott is family.  That’s my heart.  Most of the help I got on the album came from family and friends.  I really love that they supported me on this because it showed that they don’t want me swinging on a pole for the next twenty years.  I’m blessed and I appreciate all of it.  I also worked with Phantom of the Beat - they did “Magic Stick” for 50 Cent – and DJ Premiere.  I’ve known DJ Premiere since I was 14 years old.  I worked with Aaron Lyles.  Aaron Lyles did majority of the songs on the album.  He’s an incredible producer.  He’s done stuff for Angie Stone and D’Angelo – a lot of R&B.  So, he’s coming back to his roots too which is hip-hop.  Akinyele is on the album.  In the “So Serious” video, Wyclef [Jean] is my leading guy.

This has really been a family affair.  I’m happy at the end of the day.  I’m proud of myself. I hope people receive it and embrace it.  I can wake up in the morning feeling proud of myself.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Is Blo Records your company?

Heather Hunter:  Yeah.  That’s me.  I’m really trying to build an empire.  I decided to go independent this time around.  I was with Island Records in 1993.  I did house music then. I realized that the music game is different now so I decided to build my own label.  I didn’t want to change my image for anyone.  Along with Blo Records, I have a book coming out in the fall.  Over the next couple of years, I’ll have a few books coming out.   I write a lot of erotic fiction tales.  I also have an art gallery opening. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  How close to reality is the first book you’re releasing?

Heather Hunter:  It’s semi-autobiographical.  I took a lot of my experiences and put them into the book but it’s not a tell-all.  It’s a guess who book.  I have a code of silence with people in the industry.  I think that’s why I’m highly respected.

Chronicmagazine.com:  There are several women coming out with kiss-and-tells over the next couple of months.  What do you think about that?

Heather Hunter:  I call it suck-and-tell. (laughs)  I don’t judge anyone for what they do, but I wouldn’t do it.  There’s no career in it. I’m all about [longevity].  I want to live life without looking over my shoulder. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  You mentioned painting earlier...I know Ananda Lewis and Malcolm Jamal-Warner have pieces. 

Heather Hunter:  Yeah.  Wyclef also has a piece.  Art is my first love.  I’ve been painting since I was 10.  I used to do graffiti.  Now I have an art gallery that I’m opening in Brooklyn called Artcore – like softcore. (laughs)  Everything relates back to sex.  I’m the queen of hip-hop sex.  I believe everything has to collaborate in my life.  If it doesn’t, it makes no sense.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Where do you get your inspiration from?

Heather Hunter:  Life.  People.  Emotion. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  Do you ever miss the porn industry?

Heather Hunter:  I only miss my friends.  Janet Jackme is my best friend in the world.  I’m always with her so I don’t miss it that much. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  Why did you leave the biz?

Heather Hunter:  I’ve done it since I was 18 years old.  It was time for me to change my life.  At the same time, I was more cautious of my health.  Right around that time, the HIV scare became big.  Why risk my life?  I was just tired and I really wanted to go on to something else.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Is it still lucrative for you now that you’re out?

Heather Hunter: Yeah.  It’s still lucrative because I’ve made my name.  I’ve noticed that my name is more lucrative than who I am.  (laughs)  If you’re able to brand your name, it doesn’t matter if you’re taking your clothes off or not.  I’m trying to teach the new generation who’s asking for advice there’s only so many things you can do in the erotic forum without taking your clothes off and still make that money.  Now, it’s my mission to show these girls that way.

Chronicmagazine.com:  Out of all your endeavors, which is the most difficult?

Heather Hunter:  Probably rapping.  People have this misconception that anyone can rap.  That’s not true.  I’ve kinda dabbled in every music genre – from house music to R&B to pop.  I’ve been doing this rap thing for 7 or 8 years now trying to perfect it.  The difference between rap and any other type of music is that it’s all about respect.  If you don’t have respect in the streets, they really let you know.  That was really the challenge and I love a good mental challenge.  I’m not saying I perfected it, but I came close to it.  That was the most difficult task because everything else has come naturally. 

Chronicmagazine.com:  You mentioned the biggest misconception about music.  What’s the biggest misconception about you?

Heather Hunter:  That I’m a freak.  (laughs) I used to be a freak.  I’m a reformed freak now.  (laughs)  I create fantasy. I create illusions.  I don’t really live them.  My purpose on this earth was to give fantasies and that’s a beautiful thing…I know now, this generation is comfortable with their sexuality, but I just hope and pray that people are practicing safe sex. 

For more on Heather, go to www.heatherhunter.com.