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GRAMMYs

Princess Nokia 

Photo: Burak Cingi/Redferns

News
Princess Nokia Is Making Space For The Voiceless princess-nokia-making-space-people-who-dont-have-voice-yet-music

Princess Nokia Is Making Space For People Who "Don't Have A Voice Yet" In Music

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Meet Princess Nokia, an Afro-Latina rapper making space in music for women with intersecting identities
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Sep 19, 2018 - 3:59 pm

More than a rapper and singer, Destiny Frasqueri aka Princess Nokia is a fighter. The story behind her journey into music says it all. Her re-birth as a music artist transpired thanks to the moments after she left her abusive foster mother. She was in her mid-teens and had just three dollars in her pocket – "That was really the start of Princess Nokia," she says in Destiny, a documentary about her by The Fader.  

Roses r Red Violets r Blue
Everything sucks but Blink-182 pic.twitter.com/xNjgpLt8IY

— Princess Nokia (@princessnokia) September 4, 2018

Musically, Princess Nokia embodies energy that derives from her Nuyorican, Bruja—or witch in Spanish—and her queer identity with beats that will make you move. Her "all the girls to front attitude" at her shows is just an ounce of the kind of artist and performer she is. Flowing from rapping to singing, Princess Nokia's music is about taking up space as a woman with intersecting identities and reflects her musical adaptability. "I'm that Black a-Rican bruja straight out from the Yoruba/ And my people come from Africa diaspora, Cuba," she raps in her song "Bruja."

Through three albums – she has also released music under a former moniker, Wavy Spice – she has continued to carve out a space for herself. Her album 1992 Deluxe peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, which tracks up-and-coming artists, and she has played major festivals including Coachella and Afropunk.

"I felt it was time to speak my truth and represent an identity and an intersection that many people like myself don't have a voice yet in hip-hop," she told Noisey.

Her latest album is a dive into emo music and just goes to show how there really are no boxes for Princess Nokia's sound. Learn more about her music with the videos below.

"YAYA"

Under a different moniker, Wavy Spice, Princess Nokia paid tribute to her Taino, a group of Indigenous people that inhabited the Caribbean, roots with "YAYA." She mixes a rap beat with a Native sound and features lyrics both in English and Taino. "In my heart I feel something/ No one can deny it/ History can tell you something/ But they‘re always lying/ You must know I came with something/ So don’t even try it/ Warrior blood, got warrior blood/Hear my people crying," she sings.

"Brujas"

As Princess Nokia, Frasqueri continues to make music that reflects who she is. In "Brujas," she honors her Yoruba, a faith and a people descending from West Africa, roots and family tree, which includes grandmothers who were witches. She paired the song with a video she co-directed with Asli Baykal, in which she lets her curly fro shine and begins with an indigenous song.

"Tomboy"

Princess Nokia continues to rap about what makes her her in "Tomboy," her self-love anthem. With a bouncy beat, Princess Nokia embraces her breast-size and unapologetic, non-conforming style that sometimes includes her hoops, baggy pants and Timberland boots. In the video she wears oversized sweaters and a gold plated chain with "Destiny" it. 

"Your Eyes Are Bleeding"

It may not be obvious, but Princess Nokia is a huge alt-rock fan. As Remezcla points out, those who follow Princess Nokia on social media, may know how much she loves the likes of Blink-182 and Paramore. "Your Eyes Are Bleeding" is one single out of A Girl Cried Red, her latest album in which she goes all out emo. "I wanted to write a mixtape that was about falling apart and being a fucking mess," she said about the album in a live Instagram chat. 

Hispanic Heritage Month 2018
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GRAMMYs
Amara La Negra 
Photo: Mike Pont/Getty Images

Amara La Negra On Her Afro-Latina Identity

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Photo: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

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Photo: J. Grassi/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

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Photo: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns

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Photo: Burak Cingi/Redferns

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Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

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GRAMMYs

Maluca Mala

Photo: J. Grassi/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

News
Inside Maluca Mala's Daring Sound how-maluca-mala-flipping-script-her-daring-sound

How Maluca Mala Is Flipping The Script With Her Daring Sound

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Meet the Bronx-born, Dominican singer who has been mixing Latin genres like merengue with dance beats and female-empowering lyrics
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Sep 21, 2018 - 6:31 pm

Maluca Mala's stage name carries weight. Meaning "bad woman" in Spanish, Maluca took a name that has a derogatory history and turned it into a powerful statement.



View this post on Instagram


SURPRISE NEW TRACK!! Tmrw I’ll be dropping a new track I did with my Dominican brother @djhappycolors called “BODGEGA” can’t wait for you guys to Jam to this new banger! Many more to come : @lourdesukari

A post shared by Maluca (@malucamala) on Aug 16, 2018 at 6:35pm PDT

"I grew up being called Maluca. It was a very endearing name," she said in an interview with Latina. "But one time I searched its meaning, and I learned that it’s used in Latin American countries to describe a Black woman, or really like a woman in blackface, which is obviously bad and has a negative connotation. But, for me, it’s always been positive, never a way to put me down."

The singer, who is Bronx-born with Dominican roots, paired "maluca" with "mala" or "bad" in English—inspired by urban culture's use of bad as being powerful or "daring" as she told Latina—and became Maluca Mala.

Her sound is daring too. Throughout her career, Maluca has meshed genres like hip-hop, merengue – a musical genre deriving from the Dominican Republic – with electronic dance music and has been at the forefront of other genres like "tropical punk" and "ghetto techno." With lyrics in simultaneous English and Spanish, or Spanglish, she denounces European beauty standards, empowers Afro-Latinas to be confident with who they are, reclaims gender stereotypes or just sings about love with a fun and innovative beat.  

While being in the underground scene for years, Maluca has collaborated with big names in pop culture. She has been associated with Mad Decent, a L.A.based Record Label headed by GRAMMY winner Diplo, and been featured on tracks by GRAMMY-nominated singer Robyn and electro-music project Mexican Institute Of Sound.

Listen to the music below to learn more about Maluca Mala's sound:

"El Tigeraso"

The story goes that "El Tigeraso" was made after Maluca met Diplo at a karaoke bar. The song has a merengue influence that comes together with electro and lyrics boasts to men about "having it all."

"Mala"

Maluca embraces her blackness and her bold personality in "Mala." "I wrote the record as a way to highlight all the negative things people told me about myself," she told V Magazine. "You have bad hair, you're crazy, you're too tough...and embrace them. Yes, my hair is nappy and I look like a witch and I'm crazy, but you love it! I've had self-esteem issues for many years and now that I'm in my 30s I'm just really f***ing feeling myself."

"Trigger"

In "Trigger," Maluca sings about love over a raggeton beat: " Don't care what they all gonna say/ I just want a magnum love everyday/ Coming like a bang and you know I'm not afraid/ To pull that trigger, gonna pull that trigger."                                                        

Hispanic Heritage Month 2018
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GRAMMYs
Amara La Negra 
Photo: Mike Pont/Getty Images

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Photo: M. Caulfield/WireImage

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Photo: J. Grassi/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

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Ibeyi
Photo: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns

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Princess Nokia 
Photo: Burak Cingi/Redferns

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Karol G
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images

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Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones 

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/FilmMagic

News
Quincy Jones Honored By The AAFCA quincy-jones-receive-special-achievement-honor-african-american-film-critics

Quincy Jones To Receive Special Achievement Honor From The African-American Film Critics Association

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Music’s beloved Renaissance man and film producer Jason Blum are the latest additions to the AAFCA's 2019 honorees
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 14, 2019 - 12:24 pm

GRAMMY-winning music legend Quincy Jones will receive a Special Achievement honor from the African-American Film Critics Association, the largest group of black film critics.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Jones and film producer Jason Blum are the latest additions to the AAFCA's 2019 honorees and will be honored on Feb. 6 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.

"Quincy Jones is a cultural icon," AAFCA co-founder Shawn Edwards said in a statement. "For nearly 70 years, he has helped shape pop culture as a music composer and producer as well as a film/TV composer and producer. His creative influence is unparalleled. He has molded the arts, film and music with a force that we may never witness again in our lifetime and given back all along the way."

The two will be celebrated along with the AAFCA's best picture winner Black Panther.

Netflix executive Tengo Nagenda, early jazz cornetist Buddy Bolden, searching director Aneesh Chaganty and HBO's Kelly Edwards are among other recipients who will have their own ceremony on Feb. 2.

Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee: Angela Aguilar On Her Culture And Family Legacy

Music Festival AUS

Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

News
Australia's Pill Testing Debate Heats Up australias-pill-testing-debate-heats-following-music-festival-deaths

Australia's Pill Testing Debate Heats Up Following Music Festival Deaths

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Authorities have threatened to cancel future music fests in order to decrease accidental on-site deaths, but others say pill testing could do more
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Jan 2, 2019 - 1:19 pm

The conversation over whether pills should be tested at Australian music festivals is intensifying after two recent deaths.

A man died on Dec. 30 of a suspected overdose at the Lost Paradise music festival in New South Wales, and another man died on Jan 1. of a suspected drug overdose after attending the Beyond The Valley festival in Victoria.

Pill testing is one possible solution to the overdose deaths continuing to happen at music festivals in Australia, according to medical experts. But the option has been met with resistance.

Although the Australian Bureau Of Statistics can provide date on the number of people who have died from drug-related cases, the data does not show how many occurred "at large scale public events," according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

In 2016, there were 1,808 drug induced deaths in the country, according to the Australian Bureau Of Statistics. Illicit drugs increased that year, with the death rate from Psychostimulants quadrupling since 1999.

Authorities have threatened to cancel music festival events; the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would do "everything we can" to shut down the Defqon.1 festival after two people died in Sept.

READ: Music Fans Traveled The World For Live Events In 2018

But some say shutting down festivals is not a realistic way of keeping people from taking illicit drugs and welcome pill testing as a way to decrease deaths.

In the past, Berejikian has had a zero tolerance stance on pill testing, stating: "Anyone who advocates pill testing is giving the green light to drugs. That is absolutely unacceptable."

But as other leaders in parts of Australia rule out pill testing at music festivals, following the recent deaths, the Premier is warming to the idea.

"If there was a way in which we could ensure that lives were saved through pill testing, we would consider it—but there is no evidence provided to the government on that," Berejiklian said, according to the Guardian.

READ: Hearing Clinics Help Make Summer Festivals Rock

The country held its first pill test trial at the Groovin the Moo festival in Canberra in April. Participants were able to provide a small sample of their pill(s) or powder to volunteers, who then analyzed the m in a mobile laboratory.

Former Australian Federal Police commissioner has said that the governments have to consider all available evidence to save people's lives, including pill testing.

"Pill testing is not a silver bullet, but it's a proven and positive way to help prevent this kind of tragedy, has majority support from Australians and must be at least trialed on a pilot basis —if it doesn't work, then stop it," Palmer told the Australian.

After the death of the man in New South Wales, Brisbane Water Police district commander Acting Superintendent Rod Peet said, "the best safety message is don't take drugs."

ABC Triple J conducted a survey of 11,000 young people that showed 55% have brought drugs to a festival and 83% would use pill testing, if available.

2019 Music Festival Preview: Noise Pop, Ultra & More

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Photo: JUSSI NUKARI/AFP/Getty Images

News
Obama Shares 2018 Music Picks barack-obama-shares-2018-music-picks-bj-chicago-kid-courtney-barnett-and-more

Barack Obama Shares 2018 Music Picks: BJ The Chicago Kid, Courtney Barnett And More

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Obama's music picks reveal his truly wide-ranging taste
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Dec 28, 2018 - 12:08 pm

Former President Barack Obama isn’t letting go of the year-end roundup tradition he began while in office. Two years after his last term ended, No. 44 has released his pop culture picks of 2018, including his top songs of the year.

From The Carters' "Apes**t" to Tonina's "Historia De Un Amor" (feat. Javier Limón and Tali Rubinstein,) Obama's music picks reveal his truly wide-ranging taste. Other songs include Cardi B's "I Like It" (feat. Bad Bunny and J Balvin,) Lord Huron's "Wait By The River," Brandi Carlile's "Every Time I Hear That Song," Anderson East's "King For A Day," and H.E.R's "Could've Been" (feat. Bryson Tiller.)



View this post on Instagram


As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Swipe through to see my best of 2018 list – I hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening.

A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama) on Dec 28, 2018 at 6:31am PST

"It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books, movies, and music that I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved," Obama wrote on Facebook about continuing his roundups. "It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors, artists, and storytellers – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018 list - I hope you enjoy reading, watching, and listening."

Obama also remembered to include artists from his hometown of Chicago: BJ The Chicago Kid and Chance The Rapper made his list with their songs "Turnin' Me Up" and "My Own Thing" (feat. Joey Purp), respectively.

International picks include music from Mali's Fatoumata Diawara, Australia's Courtney Barnett and the U.K.'s Tom Misch.

The former President also gave a special shout-out to GRAMMY-winning jazz legend Nancy Wilson, who died in early December at the age of 81.

READ: Nancy Wilson, Legendary Vocalist And Jazz Icon, Dies At 81

Outside of music, Obama also revealed his favorite movies and books, naming wife Michelle Obama's Becoming as his favorite read of the year.

Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey & More Broke Big Music Records In 2018

Tags: 2018, Latest News, Jennifer Velez, Barack Obama, music, Cardi B, The Carters, Courtney Bartnett, H.E.R, Chance The Rapper, BJ Chicago The Kid, Nancy Wilson, Anderson East, Tonina, Lord Huron, Barndi Carlile, Fatoumata Diawara, Tom Misch, 

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.