Princess Nokia’s latest album Girls is aptly named — it’s a record made up of 12 songs that perfectly capture how young women in the modern age view the world. She has a distinct sound made up of dark, electric beats and stern, monotonous rapping, and this is shown off in the album. Each song is made up of stand-out lyrics, but they’re always well thought out, making the album as a whole an invitation to reflect on the female experience.
The album begins with Princess Nokia at her snappiest. In ‘Blue Velvet’, she is unapologetically mad, and her skilled lyricism shines as she explains the day-to-day violence women endure. She references Adam and Eve, and combines this allegory with images of the beautiful and grotesque (“Rotten from my inside, glitter, bones and honey”) to imply that women are often both desired and detested in society. Princes Nokia also blends these layered and developed lyrics with more simple arguments (“If I was a man, I could get away with murder / But I am girl, so I have mental disorder”), and this is welcomed. It makes the song digestible, and her argument accessible.
Throughout Girls, there are also many softer songs, and ‘Matcha Cherry’ is a stand-out. This song celebrates all the wonderful, mainstream pleasures of the modern day woman. From Gilmore Girls to lip gloss, lash lifts to Chappel Roan, Princess Nokia takes a girl’s TikTok for-you-page and transforms it into an ethereal piece of music that makes you feel content in 21st century girlhood. Nowadays, being a ‘type’ of girl is common. Are you a clean girl? A goth girl? A party girl? And whilst restricting yourself to an aesthetic is not always the healthiest, Princess Nokia finds the fun in these trends. She loves all the girls (“The girls who get it, the girls who don’t get it / The girls who rot in bed all day, the girls who get up and go to Pilates and yoga) and despite the gentleness of this song, it still rejects any belittling criticism of enjoying what’s popular.
Beyond ‘Matcha Cherry’, Girls has a collection of relaxing tunes. ‘Beach Babe’ picks up the energy, but there is no aggression here. It’s pure celebration of summer sun and spritz’s by the pool, with simple lyrics and a lofi-electronic sound. It makes you smile, and to me, is the perfect song to use when you’re posting your summer montage.
‘Pink Bronco’ (featuring Lindsey Stirling) follows, which is a combination of violin, soft vocals, and trap beats. By slightly muffling her voice, the entire song is soft on the ears, but the synthetic beats ensure the energy remains throughout. It fits with the song, which is about Princess Nokia finally choosing to live for herself (“Starting life over, it’s my second chance”). By combining soft and harsh sounds, the song reflects the gentle self-love and tough determination required to make a life entirely for yourself. Princess Nokia manages to portray her messages not only through lyrics, but through music itself.
She knows how to hype us up, too. ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ is a feel-yourself, pre-drink banger, and ‘Gossip Girl’ is one that deserves top spot at the club. You want to whip your hair, shake your hips, and dance with your girls to these tunes. And that’s what she wants you to feel.
Princess Nokia wants you to love yourself and your girls by the end of this album. She backs herself throughout, and this self-confidence is infectious, because you finish listening with a newfound appreciation for your interests, your dreams, and all the everyday crap you must go through. And despite it being called Girls, this feeling translates to anyone listening. From the lyrics to the sound, the energy that runs throughout this album is non-stop, and the variation proves Princess Nokia to be both a powerful thinker and musician.
Words by Amy Gaffney
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