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4 femcees in hip-hop who are embracing individuality to reach the top

Embracing your individuality doesn’t come easily to some.

In a world like ours it’s important to figure out who you are in order to live a happier life.

Our favorite artists are our favorite artists for a reason–because every single one of them wears their personality on their sleeve, and they don’t really care what you have to say about it.

We have idols like New York Queen Remy Ma keeping it real on Instagram live and the Kardashian sisters globalizing sociological studies, different powerful women doing different things.

There’s something a little more personal about your favorite up-and-coming artists, though. They open up in a way that’s much more authentic, raw, and available. They don’t have the 24/7 in-the-spotlight lifestyle that A-List celebrities have, so there’s more room to speak their minds.

With that said, here’s four of our favorite up-and-coming women on the mic.

Princess Nokia

Galore TV recently did a video feature on Princess Nokia, interviewed by West Coast rapper Ab-Soul. The stateside rapper had some pretty unconventional things to say, but she said them in the best way possible.

“I am always a champion of making what is ugly and what is unwanted something that is very beautiful.”

The star talks about her younger self, saying that she was always an odd ball, talking to herself and daydreaming as a child. This was off-putting, according to Nokia, but rather than feeling left out, she learned to embrace this part of herself.

Nokia said,

“As a woman who owns that… That takes a lot of balls. Not to be pretty, and forcibly be ugly first, then allow my beauty shine throughout my ugliness.”

Well, we think you are beautiful, Princess Nokia, and urge you to keep killin’ it.


Bibi Bourelly

In an interview with Noisey, Bibi Bourelly brings up a subject that’s important to her; “Realness,” a quality that she will inevitably hold onto throughout the rest of her musical career.

If you listen to Bourelly’s music at all, you’ll know how raw she can be when it comes to her lyrics, and how little she holds back.

“I just say how the fuck I feel. Turn on the microphone, give me the fucking guitar and I say it. And if it’s out there for women then that’s cool, if it’s not that’s still cool – it’s all straight. But I think it’s very important for us to be able to freely say what we feel, to be loose with our tongues.”

Bourelly has spoken openly about daily struggles and what she’s been through in the past.

And if you think she’s for one second apologetic for who she is, think again.


Tokyo Jetz

In Hip Hop Revival’s video, Jacksonville, Florida rapper Tokoyo Jetz, who got famous off recording herself rapping in her car, opened up about her come-up, and how simply being herself has been a huge part of her success.

She was discovered by T.I. after going viral a couple of times, and sent him a few recorded pieces. Her first freestyle video was soon signed to Hustle Gang Music.

Tokyo spoke about getting to where she is today,

“People are never satisfied, do what the fuck you wanna do. Make sure you’re happy at the end of the day regardless of the decisions you make, if you’re happy when you go to sleep at night, fuck what the world got to say about it; do what you wanna do.”

And anyone who’s been on her Instagram lately knows that she has no problem keeping her image light and fun.


SZA

SZA spoke to my soul the first time I heard “Warm Winds” and she continues to reign on.

Our girl recently went gold with her CTRL album and her single, “Love Galore,” and is working with rapper Travis Scott, as well as Kendrick Lamar on other projects.

When asked about her relationships in a Vulture interview regarding the emotionally charged album, SZA playfully concludes her feelings about her first breakup:

“My first relationship, fresh out of high school — I definitely thought that was my boyfriend for sure. It definitely turned out to not be my boyfriend.”

She’s been featured on ‘The Breakfast Club,’ and goes in depth about the different relationship experiences that have helped shape her music.

Keep doing what you’re doing best, beautiful!

Why you need to be listening to Bibi Bourelly, the realest artist out there

Bibi Bourelly is a fierce, outspoken, spiritually intuitive, wavy-haired musical genius- and damn, does shawty look good.

If there’s one thing you can be sure to gain from this artist, it’s authenticity.

Bibi keeps things real-as-hell. In a recent interview with Noisey, she spit some serious truth regarding the pressures of the music industry.

“Of course I feel pressures – it’s the fucking entertainment industry. And I’m a black woman, who isn’t pristine or perfect and is very open about that. But I don’t give a fuck, y’all, this is who I am – I shouldn’t have to pretend. For what? To hide who the fuck I am? We’re all imperfect, we’ve all got issues: weird psychological insecurities, problems. Why the fuck am I gonna sit here and pretend like I don’t have none of that?”

But musical pressures aren’t enough to stop her genius.

The musical icon was best known for being the writer behind Riri’s “Bitch Better Have My Money,” but has since re-emerged as an independent artist.

Since then, Bibi has been working on her own style of music.

Her recent release, “Skeletons,” an emotionally attached acoustic ballad of love, is driven with passion and longing for her ex-boo thang.

The music writer and solo artist talks about the hardships of life that she’s faced often.

Growing up, Bourelly lost her mother at the age of 6, and as a result, ended up splitting her time between her father who toured as a musician, and her aunt and uncle’s home in Maryland.

Bibi shared with Vibe how easy it was for her to learn music.

“I learned the language of music the same way a child picks up on English. Or whatever their mother’s language is. It was around me. And when a child randomly says, ‘momma or dada?’ That’s what happened to me. I just started doing it. It was just in me, and I started speaking that language.”

Other big names in the music industry have taken an interest in Bourelly since she first emerged in the spotlight, only 3 years ago. Artists Lil Wayne, Usher, Selena Gomez, Camilla Cabello, and Nick Brewer have collaborated with Bourelly on projects.

https://vimeo.com/200541418

Bourelly’s music is driven by emotional truths and hidden messages. If you’re looking for an introspective take on life, consider popping on one of her songs and losing yourself in the internal chaos of life.

Then we have singles like “Ballin'” touching on the everyday struggles of life in the chillest way possible, soothing the listener over with smooth R&B beats.

This is an opposite composition from “Sunshine,” which dropped last month, (don’t be fooled by the title).

“Sunshine” is a deep, dark, rhythm-guitar strung single written from the inner depths of her soul.

“Said I don’t take compliments well but I’m so self obsessed
That I think up a storm and I dream up a mess love
And I don’t rely on anyone else I’d rather sip ’til I die
And shut all the blinds.”

Raw as fuck.

If you’re looking for more passionate inspiration, you can always peep her @BibiBourelly Twitter page, where she drops facts like this:

https://twitter.com/BibiBourelly/status/917979754996879360

As someone going through her quarter-life crisis, I feel you, girl.

Hopefully, we’ll be seeing much more of Bibi in the upcoming year. I can’t wait to see what the independent vocalist has in store for us next.