Princess Nokia- 1992 Deluxe
By: Jessica Cardona
In 2016, the rapper Princess Nokia (née Destiny Brasqueri) released her mixtape 1992. The mixtape was met with critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone deservedly naming it one of the most underrated albums of the year. In September of 2017, the mixtape was reissued as 1992 Deluxe. Seven new tracks were added to the original nine, adding a sense of completeness to a previously lacking album.
Princess Nokia is a native New Yorker, and you can infer that the city is central to her identity while listening to the album. In Green Line, Nokia drops references to her favorite restaurants and hotspots in Harlem. In ABCs of New York, she shines a spotlight on underrepresented minorities, from the LGBTQ to Puerto Rican communities. Nokia also utilizes Boom Bap instrumentals on some of her tracks, taking the listener back to 90’s New York. All of these elements allow the listener to experience a New York that only the locals know about.
Feminism, an ideology that is important to Princess Nokia, is promoted in tracks like “Receipts” and “Tomboy”.The trials and rewards of being Afro-Latina are also illustrated in the album. The female followers of Santeria, a religion associated with Yoruban culture, are given a shout-out in the song “Brujas”. In “Mine”, she celebrates the importance of hair in Black and Latinx culture, and lists her frustrations with individuals who are ignorant about items like weave. Princess Nokia’s unapologetic and empowering personality is illustrated by these songs, and they allow the listener to understand Princess Nokia as an individual.
1992 Deluxe is a fun, upbeat album that exalts womanhood, Black and Hispanic heritage, and New York culture. If you enjoy learning about the diverse perspectives of different people, or if the Big Apple is a subject of fascination to you, then listen to this album.
VIDEO BELOW IS EXPLICIT
By: Jessica Cardona
In 2016, the rapper Princess Nokia (née Destiny Brasqueri) released her mixtape 1992. The mixtape was met with critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone deservedly naming it one of the most underrated albums of the year. In September of 2017, the mixtape was reissued as 1992 Deluxe. Seven new tracks were added to the original nine, adding a sense of completeness to a previously lacking album.
Princess Nokia is a native New Yorker, and you can infer that the city is central to her identity while listening to the album. In Green Line, Nokia drops references to her favorite restaurants and hotspots in Harlem. In ABCs of New York, she shines a spotlight on underrepresented minorities, from the LGBTQ to Puerto Rican communities. Nokia also utilizes Boom Bap instrumentals on some of her tracks, taking the listener back to 90’s New York. All of these elements allow the listener to experience a New York that only the locals know about.
Feminism, an ideology that is important to Princess Nokia, is promoted in tracks like “Receipts” and “Tomboy”.The trials and rewards of being Afro-Latina are also illustrated in the album. The female followers of Santeria, a religion associated with Yoruban culture, are given a shout-out in the song “Brujas”. In “Mine”, she celebrates the importance of hair in Black and Latinx culture, and lists her frustrations with individuals who are ignorant about items like weave. Princess Nokia’s unapologetic and empowering personality is illustrated by these songs, and they allow the listener to understand Princess Nokia as an individual.
1992 Deluxe is a fun, upbeat album that exalts womanhood, Black and Hispanic heritage, and New York culture. If you enjoy learning about the diverse perspectives of different people, or if the Big Apple is a subject of fascination to you, then listen to this album.
VIDEO BELOW IS EXPLICIT