In 2016, Princess Nokia was a baggy jumper wearing Gemini on the cusp of releasing her breakout album 1992. Four years on, she has signed a major label deal with Arista Records and earned her first RIAA Gold-Certified single for smash hit, ‘I Like Him.’ Her new release ‘Boys Are From Mars,’ sees the singer round off her explosive trajectory in style.
Before Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion shocked the mainstream music industry with their female empowerment anthem, ‘WAP’, Princess Nokia was a veteran in loving herself. From chanting about her “little titties and phat belly” on ‘Tomboy’, to being proud of her gothic background on ‘Goth Kid’.
Now she is joined by American rapper Yung Baby Tate. The chemistry between the duo is electric and the pair trade verses like an older sister advising her younger sibling to break up with her toxic boyfriend and move into a single bed apartment with a record player and a cat.
Nokia sings, “He cute but he dumb, so play dumb and teach him a lesson // First cut off access, can’t have this, because you’re a present // Just ’cause his dick good, don’t mean good, he will have you stressin’, ooh.”
Much akin to the message, Nokia and Baby Tate don’t need a male feature to lift the song. The second verse is a powerful moment on the track with the pair swinging seamlessly from rapping to singing, their vocals layered atop one another, in a kaleidoscope of colour.
The plucked synths and video game-like embellishments paint a picture of Nokia and Tate as characters in a world rid of reliant and manipulative men. However, by Nokia’s standards, the instrumental does play on the safe side, with no real development or risks taken. Nokia’s vocal performance similarly leaves more to be desired.
Since her breakout album, 1992, Nokia has matured into a self-assured artist with a bold message. The pop sensibilities of ‘I Like Him’ and now, ‘Boys Are From Mars’ see her with one foot in the mainstream.
But with great popularity comes great responsibility. Nokia must stay true to her message of self-love and continue to let her flag fly.
She is currently on her first US headline tour; tickets are still available here.
Words by W. P Millar