Singer and songwriter Nikki Jean has had quite the rollercoaster of a career from a major record label mix-up to facing dark times as part of an experimental group. Since bursting onto the music scene in 2007 on Lupe Fiasco’s hit song, “Hip-Hop Saved My Life”, Jean went on to record alongside everyone from Lil Wayne to Oddisee. From YouTube vlogging to co-writing music with legendary acts such as Carole King, Bob Dylan, and Burt Bacharach.
Jean’s new EP Beautiful Prison (via Rhymesayers Entertainment) proves that this ‘mixed kid from Minnesota’ has cemented herself as a well-rounded solo musician. The 7-track project featuring hit singles “Pink Lemonade”, “People & Planes”, “Mr. Clean” featuring Lupe Fiasco, and “Driver” is a testament of the St. Paul native’s ability to turn her life’s lemons into pink lemonade. I had the chance to talk with Nikki Jean about her new EP Beautiful Prison, short film Get Free, women in music and much more. Read the full interview below!
Freedom is a recurring theme in your career even dating back to your earlier vlogs on YouTube. Can you speak to that?
“Yeah, I’ve always thought about what freedom means to me even as early as high school. I was frustrated with why things were the way they are. Why does it matter what I wear? Why does it so important that I’m liked?”
In your directorial debut, Be Free: The Short Film, again this theme appear which makes it seem to be full circle. Returning to your alma mater to film. The film spotlights some amazing women who share their worldly curiosities. What was the thought process going into the film?
“The idea for the film came together during my time in DC. While I was recording the project I met up with [my fellow Howard University alum] Goldie Patrick who’s also featured in the film and told her how I wasn’t feeling like myself. She shook me right out of it! I’m aware that I have a large fan base of men but I spend all this time working on the music but [as a fan they] don’t care unless I’m pretty. It’s been an internal struggle for me and something I feel strongly about. I wanted a visual I could feel good about without pandering so the video for ‘Driver’ was born out of that intention.”
“Initially, the film was just the music video for ‘Driver’ and it wasn’t until after that called [Rhymesayers] and say ‘thank you for the budget you sent me for the video but I really don’t have much but I made something else. Not on purpose!’ But [Rhymesayers] were really supportive. We were originally going to name it ‘Driver The Documentary’ but changed it to the last line of the video for the song, ‘Get Free’ which encapsulates everything.”
You’ve made quite an impact as an independent artist without a label. How is it now being at Rhymesayers Entertainment?
“I told myself that I’m not interested in having another record deal if it wasn’t with Rhymesayers. I’ve known the team since I was in my early teens. I’m friends with [Brother] Ali, Sa-Roc and all the amazing people that work in the office. So, when I approached [Atmosphere] about signing they agreed and since then they’ve been very supportive. To be a woman in a still male-dominated industry on a male-run label it means a lot.”
So is it a good time to be a woman in Hip-Hop music?
“Now is a gorgeous time! We have Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, City Girls but we also have Sa-Roc, Rapsody, and Noname. We have so many women in Hip-Hop making music from all different viewpoints…it shows that Black women are not a monolith.”
In the past, you’ve declared your love for songwriting. What’s your songwriting process?
“I’ve been fortunate to pick up a few tips from my peers so my song process is quite a while been the same. I only write songs when I’m happy but it wasn’t always this way. When I was with the group Nouveau Riche I wrote from a really dark and angry place. By way of shows, I got to know a few super fans that were really big supporters that told me how much the songs meant to them but I later got the news that one of the fans had committed suicide. I started to think about if she had been listening to our music while she was attempting to take her life. As a songwriter, you are responsible for how your songs make others feel. I never want my songs to fuel any negativity, someone, listening to my has festered. I’ve made that my artistic responsibility. I now only write songs when I am happy and that are happy.”
Let’s talk about your Rhymersayers debut EP Beautiful Prison. But first, why the title, “Beautiful Prisons”?
“Actually, the title was probably the last thing. It came way after all the songs were done. So when I was able to take a step back from [the project] I realized this project was kind of me working through and out a lot of situations I’d put myself in. Working my way out of a prison. I felt the title truly summed up my experience at the time.”
What was the songwriting process for this project? Why these tracks?
“The writing was pieces of inspiration that would come to me by way of quotes, lines, phrases, and concepts. I built the songs around that. I recorded a bunch of songs so we started to eliminate some. Of those picked, we sequenced the most cohesive tracks because I really wanted the project to easily flow from one song to another. ”
You will be hitting the road with Atmosphere at the top of the year for an intense 30+ city tour. What can fans expect on the road?
“I love being on the road! There’s nothing like performing in a new city to a room full of people that love you. If it was up to me I’d be on the road 200 days out of the year but there’s no one to love my plants the way I do *laughs*. [As far as the tour goes] I’m still working on my setlist but fans can expect to see me on stage playing the piano live along with some surprises. I am working on bringing my cookies on the road as part of merch if the venues will allow it.”
What’s next for Nikki Jean?
“I have a bunch of new music to release. That’s next.”
Nikki Jean’s new EP, Beautiful Prison, is available everywhere music is streamed and purchased.
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