Women in hip-hop have always been a staple since the birth of the culture and over the years, we have been gifted with the talents of luminaries such as MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Lady Of Rage to Bahamadia, Rapsody, Che Noir, Samara Cyn to name a few. With women leading rap in 2024, there are no doubts about their skill and the rising crop of emcees of the female ilk are creating bigger waves than their male counterparts. Now comes, Brooklyn-based Oakland-raised rapper Nappy Nina who has been featured on our site a couple of times before but now unveils her new album Nothing Is My Favorite Thing. The 16-track project is a testament to her versatility, love for the culture and undeniable skill as an adept lyricist.

The project is ripe with well-crafted soulful hard-hitting beats that form the perfect canvas for Nappy Nina’s confident and expressive flow, and lucid songwriting. The first “Out The Park” sets the tone with a warm and woozy boombap soundscape provided by Swarvy underpinned by Nappy Nina’s fiery bars with engaging rhyme schemes like “I swear to open doors/let my folks follow me/The notebook pass no looks don’t bother me/Leave my notebook pass no looks don’t bother me” and a memorable hook to complete the job. On the solemn “Pocket Promises”, Nappy Nina delivers a heartfelt tale of growth, loss and making the best out of life while “TSA” comprises a sublime guitar lick, mellow groove and  double-time flow and a glimpse into her life.

Watch the video for “Out The Park”  below

“Sprouts” employs a moody and ethereal vibe and sees Nappy Nina in her element. The feel-good track explores her dreams of success and hardwork that comes with achieving it. “Crash Early” gives summery vibes while “Bread” touches on  the need to have priorities and integrity. Other notable tracks include “Local Stop,” a scenic track that draws audiences into the centre of the city that never sleeps. She uses the busy trains as a metaphor for the never-ending grind that consumes us all. “Arm In The Rim” has a dreamy and soulful soundscape and is filled with stream-of-consciousness lines that look deep into life and her finding a way to escape the white noise. The production of “Lift Off” adds urgency to Nappy Nina’s lucid storytelling and the insightful “Hi Key” that explores existential themes in this social media-raised generation.

The project closes out with “Omakase” and the previously released single “Groundhog Day.” The former uses a lofi/alternative sound and a fusion of rap styles that range from mellow to energetic. The insightful “Groundhog Day,” is built on jazzy samples, and warm tones underpinned by Nappy Nina’s poignant lyrics that dive into the never-ending search for one’s true purpose as the world revolves. The accompanying visual uses several over-the-top animations and effects as a motif which underscores the song’s theme.

Overall Nothing Is My Favorite Thing serves as a superb introduction to who Nappy Nina is and a great body of work that showcases what is to come.

Watch “Groundhog Day” below.

Stream Nothing Is My Favorite Thing. on all DSPs here.

Keep up with Nappy Nina | Linktree: Spotify: Twitter/X: Instagram