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Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia - Press Photo One.png
Princess Nokia in 2021
Background information
Birth name Destiny Nicole Frasqueri
Also known as
  • Wavy Spice
  • Destiny Nicole Ortiz
  • Destiny
Born (1992-06-14) June 14, 1992 (age 33)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active 2010–present
Labels
  • Arista (current)
  • Platoon (former)

Destiny Nicole Frasqueri, born on June 14, 1992, is a talented American rapper and songwriter. She is known professionally as Princess Nokia.

She released her first studio album, Metallic Butterfly, in 2014. After that, she released the mixtape Honeysuckle in 2015. Princess Nokia became very well-known for her 2017 studio album, 1992 Deluxe. In 2018, she released another mixtape called A Girl Cried Red. Then, in 2020, she released two studio albums: Everything Sucks and Everything Is Beautiful.

Early Life and Background

Destiny Frasqueri identifies as Afro-Indigenous. Her family comes from Puerto Rico. When she was ten years old, she lost her mother. Between the ages of nine and sixteen, she lived in foster care.

After leaving foster care, she moved in with her grandmother. This is when she started writing rhymes. At that time, Frasqueri lived in areas of New York City like East Harlem and the Lower East Side.

Princess Nokia's Music Journey

Starting Her Music Career (2010–2018)

Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia performing in 2014

In 2010, Destiny Frasqueri recorded her first song, "Destiny." She released it on her SoundCloud page under the name Wavy Spice. Later, in 2012, she put the song on her YouTube channel.

Next, she released a song called "YAYA." This song talks about her Taíno ancestry, which is part of her heritage. Frasqueri then changed her stage name to Princess Nokia. She said this name was like an alter ego, a different personality she created. She introduced this new character with a song simply called "Nokia."

On May 12, 2014, Princess Nokia released her first studio album, Metallic Butterfly. It was first shared on Vice and SoundCloud. On September 8, 2017, she released her second studio album, 1992 Deluxe. This album was an expanded version of her 2016 mixtape, 1992. It reached number 25 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart. NME magazine named it the 32nd best album of 2017.

In February 2018, Princess Nokia started her own radio show on Apple's Beats 1 Radio. The show was called "The Voices in My Head with Princess Nokia." It had six episodes and helped listeners understand her thoughts and ideas. In September 2018, she became an ambassador for Maison Margiela to promote their new perfume. In December 2018, she released a new and improved version of Metallic Butterfly. This version included three new bonus songs. That same year, she also released a mixtape called A Girl Cried Red.

Recent Albums and Acting (2019-Present)

In 2019, Princess Nokia tried acting for the first time in a movie called Angelfish. In September 2019, she released a song titled "Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)." People described it as a fun, powerful song with lyrics that dismiss her critics.

In February 2020, Princess Nokia released two albums on the same day: Everything Sucks and Everything Is Beautiful. Pitchfork described Everything Sucks as full of "angst" and "frantic" energy. In contrast, they called Everything Is Beautiful "warm and expansive." In March 2021, she released a music video for her song "It's Not My Fault." This song was her first release through a major record label, Arista Records.

In 2022, she used her voice for a character named LaBrea in the show The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Princess Nokia's Unique Style

Princess Nokia's music style is often called "experimental." This means she likes to try new things and mix different sounds. Her music moves easily between genres like rap, soul, rock, and house.

She has said that other artists like MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, the group TLC, and singer Shakira have influenced her. She also gets ideas from nu metal bands like Korn and Slipknot. Princess Nokia also finds inspiration for her performances in hardcore, punk, and rave cultures.

Personal Interests and Beliefs

Destiny Frasqueri supports feminism, which is the belief that all genders should have equal rights. She even started a podcast called Smart Girl Club with Milah Libin. On this podcast, she talks about healthy living and feminism in cities.

She also practices Santería, a religion with roots in West Africa and the Caribbean. She has shared how her experiences with spirituality influence her music.

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Title Details
Metallic Butterfly
  • Released: May 12, 2014
  • Label: Vice
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
1992 Deluxe
  • Released: September 8, 2017
  • Label: Rough Trade
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl
Everything Sucks
  • Released: February 26, 2020
  • Label: Platoon
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Everything Is Beautiful
  • Released: February 26, 2020
  • Label: Platoon
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Mixtapes

  • Honeysuckle (2015, as Destiny)
  • 1992 (2016)
  • A Girl Cried Red (2018)

Extended Plays

Title Details
I Love You but This Is Goodbye
  • Released: March 14, 2023
  • Label: Arista
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Awards and Recognitions

Princess Nokia has received awards for her music.

Award Year Category Work Result
Sweden GAFFA Awards 2018 Best Foreign New Act Herself Nominated
The A2IM Libera Awards 2018 Breakthrough Artist Herself Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Princess Nokia para niños

  • Nuyorican
  • Puerto Ricans in New York City
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