Princess Nokia – The True Embodiment of Effortless Cool

by | indieBerlin

Make no mistake, Princess Nokia is our new pop culture queen. In a set made up of back to back bangers, interspersed with short narrative interludes – the Harlem native’s performance had the young, diverse Berlin crowd enthralled. 

Arriving on stage after a fiery opening act Tkay Maidza, Princess Nokia – real name Destiny Frasqueri, drew from her impressive catalogue of low-slung Trap-focused recordings – encouraging the crowd to love one another, “If you came alone, you have a whole family of friends to party with here!”

Breaking from her impressive, riotous performance to deliver messages of inclusion and LGBQT visibility – Frasqueri encouraged cis-men to keep their hands in their own pockets, and young WOC to move to the front of the venue and take up the best seats in the house – much to the applause of all present. The Harlem native showed her versatility as a performer, incorporating rap and singing into proceedings without taking a breath, even surfing the crowd at one point while effortlessly continuing her vocal.

If you came alone, you have a whole family of friends to party with here! 

True to the message delivered in her music, Princess Nokia felt present and genuine – offering her love to the crowd, encouraging them to feel safe and welcomed, thanking them repeatedly for their continual support. She even shared her Friday night post show plans – raving and taking acid in true Berlin style. 

Having released Everything Is Beautiful and Everything Sucks via Platoon only about a week prior to her concert, Princess Nokia gave the audience some insight into the duality of the two contrasting albums that were born out of the young artists lived experience. Growing up in an abusive home Frasqueri recalled having escaped to colourful imaginary worlds of her own and made a wish that listeners who are going through a difficult time could picture themselves a happy place in their minds as well.  

She even shared her Friday night post show plans – raving and taking acid in true Berlin style. 

Whereas many of her tracks revolve around challenging themes, Frasqueri also leaves room for celebrating life and all that comes with it.  Take Wavy from Everything Is Beautiful for example, according to Frasqueri the bubbly track is an homage to the Harlem way of life; enjoying a day with a drink in one’s hand, checking for cute passers-by. Needless to say, the new Princess Nokia tracks were heartily welcomed by the ecstatic crowd of Berliners gathered in Astra Kulturhaus to stan a true embodiment of effortless cool.  

Photos: Lou Escobar

 

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