Why We All Should Be Listening to Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia’s music was introduced to me about 2 years ago now. The first thing I was shown was the music video to her song Tomboy. And if you haven’t seen it, check it out right now. We should all be listening to Princess Nokia because she is a really good artist. Her songs touch on many social issues such as feminism and racism. Beyond her music, Princess Nokia is someone who stands for a cause and always stands up to bullshit. We should all be listening to her as she uses her celebrity and influential platform to establish positive change. She also promotes body positivity through her unique style and practices self-appreciation.
Who is she?
Her real name is Destiny Frasqueri and she is a rapper from New York City. Her album 1992 Deluxe is my favorite of her albums. In November 2016 I actually got to see her in concert for myself which was fucking awesome. Especially when she moonied the crowd and shouted at a security guard for forcing a fan she was dancing with off-stage. “Don’t fuck with my energy” is one line she uses a lot. She has so much good energy and it’s special to behold.
Feminist AF
We should all be listening to Princess Nokia because she is feminist AF. She focuses a lot on portraying positive body images. This isn’t being the fittest either, it’s loving the skin you’re in. My all-time favorite lyric by Princess Nokia is “my little titties and my fat belly” – Tomboy. Currently, I think “body positivity” has gotten very confused in the media and online. Princess Nokia promotes feminism, girl power, and body positivity in the best way possible. By just being happy with herself and projecting this acceptance and love for all bodies around her.
As a self-proclaimed comic nerd, Princess Nokia often references female characters. She embodies and projects strong female energy and representations of femininity. Rather than, accepting the dehumanizing sexualization of female characters. For example, with this line, “I really like Marvel ’cause characters look just like me. And women don’t have roles that make them look too sexually” – Bart Simpson.
Princess Nokia also calls out white supremacy, classism, and sexism on her Instagram (@princessnokia) without shame. And encourages you to not be afraid to stand up to or tolerate hate. She is upfront about these issues. We should be listening to Princess Nokia because she stands up to bullshit and advocates for people who might not have a platform to have their voice heard. Or those who might be made to feel unworthy by the media and society. Check out this video from her Instagram where she directly addresses cat-calling.
Demonstrates community
Princess Nokia demonstrates commitments to multiple communities. We should all be listening to Princess Nokia because she encourages togetherness and strength in community, especially over social issues. Her song Mine discusses the topical conversation and issues women of color and black women have to face regarding their hair. Other artists like Solange have too made references to the same issue. Princess Nokia sings:
“I like the Dominicans who rock they weaves innocent
Shout out the Boricua girls who rock yaki ponytails
Big up to my Africans who braid, many hours spent
They own they own businesses and work while they care for kids
You know I love auntie girls with Sunday best bonnet curls
And love to my Asian chicks who make hair go straight as shit
I love how West Indies do, it’s gossip with hair and food” – Mine
In these lyrics, she includes a range of ethnicities and celebrates them individually but at the same time together. Enabling a community that celebrates the hair of black women and women of color.
In another demonstration of community, Princess Nokia is really involved with the Puerto Rico Relief Effort through an organization called Hood 2 la Gente. It’s a hurricane relief initiative, please see the image below if you want to donate. It is nice to see an artist who uses their platform for a genuine cause. We should be listening to Princess Nokia because she is someone who demonstrates care and passion for community. As well as being proactive about it.
Fashion forward
If I haven’t convinced you to listen to her so far, at least check her out for her fashion. She mixes it up often, baggy sweaters one day and cute sundresses the next. She also takes the opportunity to style her hair in many different ways. She appears to dress in what she feels good in. You can often see influences of comicon/anime and such in her style. She also makes a big deal of herself if she thinks she is looking fire and I love that self-love and appreciation.
Self-love club
Princess Nokia isn’t afraid to demonstrate self-love. We should all be listening to someone who promotes self-love. Recently she posted a series of Instagram stories where she humbly celebrated her own success. And I just thought fuck I really respect that. She was proud of herself and her achievements and not afraid to show it. So she should! Done in the right way, self-praise is an essential part of the model of success.
We should all be listening to Princess Nokia because she promotes positive change. I like her because she’s inclusive. I love her because she’s unapologetic. Check her out for yourself.
