Still adjusting to New York after another trans-Atlantic flight, Lady Sovereign isn't looking forward to racking up any more frequent-flyer miles. "I hate traveling," gripes the 20-year-old British MC. "If America was just an hour away, I would love it so much more." Jet lag, however, isn't stopping her from performing her catchy grime/hip hop hits, "Random" and "Hoodie," at New York's Webster Hall nightclub. She's determined to win over an audience rumored to include Jay-Z and Missy Elliott. "I've got to get on with it," she says. "If I don't, that's one crowd less that ain't going to know what I'm about."

Born Louise Harman, Lady sovereign began rapping at 14, just a year before she left school. During her free time, Sov recorded 30-second verses on her computer-that's all it could store-and posted them in chat rooms. Her page on face-pic.com (the UK version of indy music haven myspace.com) eventually received more than 500,000 hits, despite some not-so-constructive criticism from the online community. "As soon as my picture went up," she says, aware that as a 5'1" white female she's more Olsen twin than Ying Yang Twin, "I got so much hatred."

But the pint-sized lyricist is now an unlikely star in England. And with her outgoing personality and pop appeal, Sovereign might avoid the critically praised but commercially sluggish fates suffered Stateside by fellow Brits Dizzee Rascal and the Streets. "In the UK, she's a lot more appealing to the younger market," says Nick Davis, an entertainment presenter on 1Xtra, which is the BBC's black music station. "Record companies are always trying to appeal to the younger market. Maybe they will be like, 'Look at this street smart, wee, small, young lass who is doing real well and talking about the UK.' It is a different look."

Back at Webster Hall, Sovereign relaxes after her quick set by making fun of the high-heeled hipsters in VIP. She then pauses to acknowledge how strange it is that she's here sipping cocktails beside them. "Everything is surreal," she says. "But I love it, man." Everything that is, except for the globetrotting.