TRACK REVIEW: Princess Nokia - Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)

TRACK REVIEW:

Princess Nokia

Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)

9.5/10

The track, Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.), is available via:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o8EGUTqwI

GENRES:

Hip-Hop

ORIGIN:

New York, U.S.A.

RELEASE DATE:

16th September, 2019

LABEL:

Princess Nokia Inc.

__________

MY review today…

PHOTO CREDIT: Alberto Vargas

is pretty different to the one I published yesterday. From the North of England, it is over to New York to feature the incredible Princess Nokia. This artist has been on the scene for a while but, in terms of studio albums, 2017’s 1992 Deluxe is the sole offering. Princess Nokia has released some mixtapes and been pretty busy over the past few years; developing as an artist and really growing in confidence. I loved 1992 Deluxe and found myself struck by her skills and charisma. ABCs of New York ranks as one of the best songs from 2017 and I think there are few artists out there now who can weave such a compelling narrative. Now, with a new song out, it gives me the opportunity to explore different sides of Princess Nokia. Before I get to the new track, I want to explore a few things. I want to discuss artists who go beyond music and are inspiring; role models that are going to compel and drive the young generation. I also want to talk about modern Hip-Hop and why artists like Princess Nokia are going to endure; Princess Nokia bringing women to the front and how artists like her are starting to affect change; New York and how it must have opened Princess Nokia’s eyes; a little about her future and where we might see Princess Nokia step next. I wanted to talk about artists who do more than music itself. I think the industry is so packed and competitive, even if you get someone who is terrific and has an original sound, it can be hard to stand out and endure. In terms of creating a name and legacy, through the ages, so many musicians have involved themselves in other lines of business. I am always amazed artists have the time and energy to develop their own fashion lines or lend their voices to other quarters. Not only is Princess involved with Platoon – who have been bought by Apple – but she is someone who has so much energy and inspiration.

PHOTO CREDIT: NME

I think music is one of those industries that give artists a sense of release and purpose; maybe it is a platform to other things and a bit of a gateway. Before I go on, I want to bring in an interview that Princess Nokia conducted where she talked about Platoon and her other work:

“Her aspirations expand beyond music. Now partnered with Platoon, the company helping independent talent like Nokia distribute their art to a wider audience, the star is making the content she wants to make, how she wants to make it. "Platoon’s mission is to work with the most fearless creatives and to build the best distribution and services company for artists," Platoon CEO Denzyl Feigelson tells Billboard in a statement. "Working with Princess Nokia brings the best of our world together”

Princess Nokia has just wrapped her first full-length feature film, is working on a YouTube series, has a number of books in the arsenal and is one of the faces of MAC Cosmetics' annual "Viva Glam" campaign. The star is also set to headline PrideFest, NYC Pride's annual street fair to celebrate Pride Month, on June 30 as a part of the first WorldPride event to take place on U.S. soil. “I literally have my hand in every aspect of the art world that you could imagine,” she says. “That's what I've always done. That's what I will always continue to do because I really love my work. It makes me happy. I don't have much in life but my work is what makes me alive.”

You're now working with Platoon — what has your experience with the company been like?

I've been working on this wonderful new chapter where I found this great new distribution deal with Platoon while continuing to own all of my music, own all of my publishing, working with a really innovative and creative team of really quirky, open-minded, devoted and dedicated people on a team that really believes in me and loves what I do and supports it so much. I'm really proud to carry that motif in my life, being so independent.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Dots

I'm going to empower myself as an independent artist that has such a mainstream following and continue to challenge stereotypes. I love breaking down those idiosyncrasies about music and business. I love holding the strength and the power. I'm very conscientious of who I do business with, with the kinds of decisions that I make. I think that it's just a great example in this new renaissance of music that this is what women can do now. This is what people can do now. I've always been adamant that I don't want anyone to control my music, but I think that with Platoon, they know who's boss and I know who's boss. We work together and we make things happen”.

I like the fact Princess Nokia wants her music kept pure and she needs to have a say regarding what happens to it and how it is distributed. I would expect Princess Nokia to go on and appear in more T.V. and film. In the U.K., artists like Dave and Little Simz are appearing on screen (in Top Boy) and I think Princess Nokia has real star quality. I feel there is something to be said for musicians appearing on screen. People will be watching them and, knowing them from their music, it will impact them. I think acting and music are interlinked and the experience Princess Nokia has will feed right back into her music. I can envisage her performing in a lot of other films and shows; maybe starting her own fashion line or forming her own business. Princess Nokia is this strong figure who puts her all into music and wants to make sure that she is not sold short. You see so many artists today under the thumb or labels and lacking any of their own ideas and control. Maybe that is a problem we have with music: so many of the bigger stars are not able to have their say or step in when it comes to their direction and how their music is released.

I will bring in another section from this interview from The Guardian, but it is interesting to read where Princess Nokia came from and what she has had to deal with:

“She says she was always a misfit – “not a typical clean-cut young lady, always a bit rough around the edges, always a bit messy” – even before her life was turned upside down by the deaths of her grandmother and mother, the latter from Aids. She was farmed out to a foster mother she has described as “a succubus”, who beat her so severely that she had to wear makeup to cover a black eye in a school photo. The obsession with 90s culture that runs through the lyrics of 1992 is clearly bound up in her troubled childhood.

A lot of artists have had pretty tough lives and need to adapt but, in the case of Princess Nokia, she has been dealt some real blows. It is harrowing to realise what Princess Nokia endured as a child and what she has had to shoulder. It is all very well detaching yourself and thinking that people go through worse; if you actually digest the reality and picture the scenes, it is amazing Princess Nokia stands so strong now. I guess she was driven to succeed and one can hear her stories and emotions exploding in the music. Princess Nokia will add as an idol and inspiration to anyone who has come from a hard background and faced violence. It is possible to find light and improvement, even if you are in a really dark and bleak situation. I shall not dwell too much on the problems Princess Nokia faced; rather, I want to talk about her music and the fact she is such an original voice. I like the fact she is so inspired by 1990s culture, and one can hear that in her music. So many of the old-school rappers are motivated by the 1980s and earlier sounds; many of the current crop are pretty modern.

In many ways, Princess Nokia is a sort of bridge between the previous generation and the new stars. I loved her debut album and, although the music she is making right now suggests a slightly new direction, she is still more compelling and accessible than many Hip-Hop/Rap artists. I think we are living through times when music has a new importance. We are facing emergencies and crisis around the world; divided as people and not sure how to transcend from where we are now to where we want to be. Music should provide guidance and reality but there also has to be an aspect that allows for some comfort, lift and positivity. I feel Princess Nokia’s music does that. I can listen to a song like Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) and feel improved and happier. Of course, there is a serious side to the song but I have always found the music of Princess Nokia illuminating and incredibly powerful. Maybe it is the way she mixed different time periods and influences that lends her music such nuance and appeal. If you have not discovered the music of Princess Nokia, make sure you investigate her work and get involved. Her mixtapes are quite different to her debut album but, in every case, you get this incredibly deep, brilliant and accomplished sound. I think a lot of Hip-Hop artists follow others and can come off as pretty routine. Conversely, Princess Nokia is someone who sounds completely fresh and in her own league. I do think she is resonating and affecting upcoming artists. Hip-Hop is in a great state right now and, unlike years ago, I think women are much more visible and heard. Maybe we have a long way to go until there is equality but the scene has improved and is starting to open up more.

I do feel like there are gigs where you get men at the front and there is this sense of aggression. Maybe women are side-lined and they feel intimidated by the men. Again, change is happening and a lot of women are pushing other women to the front. Maybe it is down to Princess Nokia being a bit of an outsider or having to face adversity through her life. She is someone who wants women to feel involved and not isolated. This feature from 2017 explores this in more depth:

“She says she was always a misfit – “not a typical clean-cut young lady, always a bit rough around the edges, always a bit messy” – even before her life was turned upside down by the deaths of her grandmother and mother, the latter from Aids. She was farmed out to a foster mother she has described as “a succubus”, who beat her so severely that she had to wear makeup to cover a black eye in a school photo. The obsession with 90s culture that runs through the lyrics of 1992 is clearly bound up in her troubled childhood.

“Men standing in the back – it’s what’s right. All the shows that you go to, men would just be in the front in droves, moshing and they have such a brotherhood – which is beautiful and very commendable and I respect it very much. But it’s like a thousand men with their sausages out and it’s a real testosterone fest. Girls are, like, quivering in the corners, holding on to their purses, and they deserve to hold so much more space than that. A Princess Nokia show is this place where girls can do that and take the space in the way that men and the brotherhood do.”

The one place she hasn’t been lauded, she says, is in the world of hip-hop. “When I’m featured in serious hip-hop blogs, the commentary is really negative. It’s not over-sexualisation – it’s just: ‘Who the fuck is she? This bitch is whack and corny.’ Because I speak highly of myself, people think I’m pompous, or that I’m really narcissistic. But I’m only speaking on myself and what I’ve done and accomplished, and I only speak like that because no one else is doing it”.

A couple of years back, there was still this attitude that women were being sexualised and written off. Whilst there is still some of that happening, I do think artists like Princess Nokia have helped change the conversation. That also said, I think there is a very long to go. Hip-Hop is a genre that has always had an issue with sexism and not allowing women the same respect as the men. I do think things need to improve because, if you look around, women are striking hard and have a huge voice. Princess Nokia is hugely inspiring and she wants to see things get better. From her incredible music and original voice through to her continued success, we cannot ignore artists such as Princess Nokia. Princess Nokia is a very honest and personable voice who genuinely wants the dialogue to change; to ensure Hip-Hop puts women on the same level as men and (making sure) attitudes change. This will happen one day but, without too much support from men inside Hip-Hop, it is not fair artists have to shoulder the responsibility. Every genre is at its strongest when there is equality and open-mindedness. Hip-Hop’s roots might have been planted by men, but women have made such an enormous contributed; it is wrong to have these dismissive and insulting attitudes. Maybe we will see things get better and evolve in years to come – who is to say? What I know for certain is that Princess Nokia has a very bright future. She has been making music for quite a time and I do not think her debut album was given the full credit it deserves. 1992 Deluxe is a stunning, varied album that highlights a unique voice. I am not sure whether a new album is brewing – I shall nod to that in the conclusion -, but I do think Princess Nokia is one of the most extraordinary voices in Hip-Hop right now.

PHOTO CREDIT: Roger Kisby

I should move on and talk about New York. I have never been to the city but one cannot talk about Hip-Hop’s present and past without talking about New York – maybe talking about New York State because there are a few boroughs that have had a role to play in the growth of the genre. I find London inspiring when it comes to the mix of people and scenes but New York takes some beating! It has always lured artists in and provided strength. I know New York is not perfect but there are few places on Earth where one can experience…something wonderful. Princess Nokia’s start in New York might have been hard but, soon, she was growing and leaving her mark. In this interview with The New York Times, Princess Nokia talked about her start in New York.

“But she endeared herself to groups all over the city — women, queer kids, drag queens, ravers, punks — who saw themselves reflected in her music, and over time, she developed rhyming skills that she channeled into energetic, moving anthems. She changed her name to Princess Nokia and released a series of albums, including one of earnest emo anthems, that secured her reputation as a tireless cheerleader for outcasts.

What was your first experience going to clubs in the city?

When I was a little girl, I used to read The Village Voice a lot, and I became obsessed with New York night-life culture. I was really attracted to the flamboyant aspects of gay life, so going downtown, I’d see all the club kids that I read about. The first gay club I ever went to, I was 12. It was a club called Crash in Queens, and my foster mother had family that worked there, and we got to go there before somebody’s birthday party”.

I shall move on now because it is time I got down to assessing Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.). It is a song that has been turning heads and people are asking whether Princess Nokia has an album coming this way – only time will tell!

The chorus for Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) starts things off and gives the song an instant rush and confidence. It seems the heroine is coming up against resistance and hate – “These bitches don’t like me/These bitches wanna fight me” – and she has is having to battle her corner. Right away, one can hear a sense of defiance in the vocal; a sort of nonchalance that means she is not being weighed down by these treats: instead, Princess Nokia is striding forward and will not be beaten. There are some great backing vocal rushes that give the track some extra weight and oomph. A lot of songs go in rather soft or build up but, right from the off, Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) gets marching and swinging! Those who are fans of songs like ABCs of New York might need to adapt to a sharper, more explicit Princess Nokia. There has always been confidence and swagger in Princess Nokia’s music but one can hear a more charged and rude beast. It is great to hear because it is the heroine at her most confident and empowered. I am not sure whether Princess Nokia is referring to her peers or those in her neighbourhood; it seems she has faced her fair share of haters and aggression. Rather than take pops at her on the Internet and try and take her down, they could have been doing something productive and made something of themselves. Princess Nokia barely misses a beat as explains how, if people want to follow her lead and get to where she is, they need to work harder and have goals. Rather than attack her detractors and rivals, she is laying down some hard truths for them. It is interesting guessing whether there is a particular person she is referring to or whether the song is a shot against all that are trying to knock Princess Nokia. By the time the chorus swings back in, you are still taking in the first verse; images are rushing to the mind and one is still moved by the flow and confidence of the heroine.

The second verse refers to a real event where Princess Nokia threw soup at a racist on a train. She makes mention of it in Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) and talks about the hatred she has of bigots. Rather than advocating attack and violence, she was appalled by the racist situation and did not want it to escalate further. I think some corners did judge her and ask whether the response she provided was the best but, in a situation where a friend is being attacked, how would one react? Princess Nokia has come from a past of domestic abuse and she is someone who hates all of that. If there are some Hip-Hop glorifying guns and violence, Princess Nokia is the opposite of all of that. It is refreshing to hear this because, for decades now, Hip-Hop has always had a tough time disassociating itself from these images of violence. I think things are starting to improve but Princess Nokia is more about sending out positive messages and putting down those who instigate discrimination and bigotry. It is obvious the heroine has had to face jealousy and pettiness for a lot of her life. Now that she has made it and is in the public eye, there are going to be those riling her on social media and calling her credentials into question. Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) gives some advice and wisdom to those who want to malign Princess Nokia; it is also defiant statement that suggests she has better things to do then listen to such crap. Once heard, Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) will get into the head and you will spin the song time and time again. It has a strut and confidence that is hard to ignore. There have been some great Hip-Hop cuts in 2019 but I think Princess Nokia’s latest is among the very best. Make sure you listen right now and hear one of the finest artists in Hip-Hop stand out proud and walk though those who slag her off and get in her way!

Princess Nokia has just released an amazing song and I know she will be looking ahead. I cannot wait to see what is coming up for her. I loved 1992 Deluxe and am curious to see whether a future album sounds the same or moves in a different direction. I want to bring in a final interview, where Princess Nokia was asked about being a role model and, indeed, whether more music was coming:

“Is that your advice to other people who look to you as a role model?

I wouldn’t want to impose anything on anyone, because my doctrine may not be the same doctrine of others. Some people may think that’s a bit too positive. I believe that if you truly blockade negativity – which is not an easy feat, of course – it erases itself from your subconscious and your memory. The more you go out of your way purposefully to not entertain negativity it really does not bother you, but you have to really fight for it. Mentally, it’s not something that’s easy and it’s not something that will just go away at the drop of a hat. Positivity is a ritual that has to be enforced!

Do you think that’s partly what’s made you so successful?

Yeah, I think I’m just a big optimistic person and have just always fought for myself and fought for my place in a world that doesn’t really understand me.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a new record, I’ll say that. I’m working on a new album that’s very empowering and very human. I’m looking forward to making really great, stimulating, thought-provoking music and I’ve been in the studio with a lot of different musicians – not like rappers or features, just musicians – saxophonists and guitarists and drummers and my friends, you know, people that I love a lot. We’ve just been jamming and it’s been great. I got my start with jamming with jazz bands and being in the underground, so I still keep that element around and I keep a creative family around me. We just have fun, smoke weed and we make music all day. And as a person, I’m digging deeper lyrically and spiritually, always”.

It is exciting to think that, at some point, we will see more Princess Nokia material out in the world. Right now, Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.) is gathering some great reviews and I really love the song. As I said before, Princess Nokia is a big voice in Hip-Hop and one of those artists who does not follow the crowd. I love what she does and will continue to follow her progress. Make sure you check out this incredible artist and follow her on social media. Princess Nokia is a terrific artist who creates music that is…