What links bounce music icon Big Freedia, dancers Javier Ninja, Archie Burnett and Dejiavu Ferguson, and artists Charli XCX and Princess Nokia? Probably their audacity. As an aside to the Martell Home Live event in New York, we had the opportunity to ask a few questions to the New York rapper. Interview.

Photos: @antoine_sarl

On April 11th 2019, Maison Martell premiered the first episode of Martell Home Live, hosted by the legendary Killer Mike at The Greystone Court, NY. The digital platform highlighted creatives in music, arts and entertainment and was livestreamed on Maison Martell’s Facebook and YouTube page. Martell Home Live Episode 01 was the first in a series of cultural talk shows, which will take place in unconventional locations, in different cities around the world. Each episode of Martell Home Live will feature visionaries and creatives across multiple fields and categories who inspire others to push the culture forward.

The first episode of the show was focused on music, dance & entertainment, with special performances by Princess Nokia, Big Freedia with dancers Javier Ninja, Archie Burnett, Dejiavu Ferguson and Charli XCX – all artists who have made a statement in their creative fields, while unapologetically pushing the culture forward. In addition to the dance performances of vogue dance scene legends and the exclusive showcase of pop culture and new underground rap scene artists, the host of the night, Killer Mike, spoke with each performer as they shared stories about their humble beginnings, and how they’ve stayed true to themselves and their beliefs while on the path of leaving a lasting legacy.

After the show, we had the chance to sit down with Destiny Frasqueri, aka Princess Nokia, to talk with her about feminism, audacity, and her willingness to keep pushing the movement forward.

I met you in Paris a bit more than 2 years ago, when you did a soulful concert in front of a sold-out crowd of women who cried after your speeches. Do you recall this moment? What has changed for you since then?

I do recall this moment. I think it was a very specific sentimental moment. It was the very first year or so of my tour, and I think that the reactions I was getting was something that I had been used to since we had been doing workshops and gatherings, yet never with such intensity. When I went on tour for 1992, when I saw the reactions women were having, I would be deeply crying myself and find myself.

What has changed for you since then? 

No, I think every intention has been the same. My intention was to create a free space in hip-hop for people such as myself who do not always conform to stereotypical hip-hop personas. My goal, and my intentions, is to make hip-hop safe for women. And I think that it is not fully there, but it did happen in a lot of places, women had a free space to attempt and not feel any type of torment or any type of aggression or sexual violence or anything of that nature. My intentions was always to turn people on, to bring love, happiness, joy and expression to lots of young people. I have always wanted to allow women to be proud of being feminist. My career grew, but I have not changed: my intention was always the same.

You told the crowd in Paris you realized rap was « a very dangerous place for women ». Do you still feel the same way?

Yes I do. But I think that every place is a dangerous place for women. However, within the confines of rap I think that, as the world is progressing, we are finding better progressions within the context of this community, but I am not here to speak badly on it at the same time.

You also talked about starting « your own black feminism within hip-hop »: do you still feel like the « big sister » of those women who look up to you? What kind of inspiration do you want to give them?

I did not start black feminism within hip-hop, I’m a woman who has invested my research and I value black feminism but I did not start it. I am a black feminist however, but I did not start that. That started way over four hundred years ago. But yes, I do feel like the big sister. I had a big sister, she taught me everything I need to know in life, and she was that figure that allowed me to feel comfortable, less awkward, more cool… I feel like I am very young, but I have taken on a role that is much older than I am. It allows me to coexist with this world of love, friendship and womanhood instead of the typical rap things where women are not empowering of each other, are not exactly the most peaceful with each others, are not exactly embraceful. The idea of women being together in a very friendly and loving way is sometimes considered fake. So yes, I love being a big sister.

You just performed and talk for the Martell Home Live experience. You met and exchanged with great people: how is it important for different artists of the same culture to share more with each other? How does it help artists to keep growing?

Yes, I do. I think that readings of the mind create future ideas, they create present and they create the future. And I think it is really important for people of the same culture to have unity within each other, but I really think it is important for people from other cultures to create community within each other. Because that’s how you’re truly learning about walks of life and that’s something that a book, or a school could never teach you.

During this particular show in Paris, you talked about your ex and the fact that he advised you not to change your artist name to Princess Nokia. Do you think that changing your name to Princess Nokia was the most audacious move that you ever did?

He did not specifically told me not to change my name to Princess Nokia. But I do think it was the most audacious thing that I did. I think that people really were counting on Wavy Spice [her former name, ED], and I felt that for a lot of industry people, that was like an investment. And I ruined an investment. In fact, I ruined an investment and got a better one. So yes, it was the greatest thing I ever did, the most courageous thing I ever did and also the dumbest thing I ever did. Cause I am tired of the name already.

« Changing my name to Princess Nokia was the most audacious thing I ever did »

Do you want to change again?

I do!

Do you have any ideas?

I don’t know, we’ll see.

Why do you feel the need to change?

I think it represented who I was five years ago, and I feel like I am always growing so… I love the name but my friends don’t call me that. I always introduce myself as Destiny, even with other famous people, so I find myself unattached to the name. Maybe it is because I have an unattachment to everything. But who knows.

You have an unattachment to anything in life?

That’s the principles of buddhism and hinduism, to be unattached. Attachment is the root of all suffering. Being unattached is a way you can have peacefulness and nirvana, because you are not attached, you are not suffering.

Are you not attached to the people you love?

I am, but I understand that if they were to pass onto the spirit world, that is a blessing, they are transcended and I am ok with that. But you are getting to many answers from me now.