Music
Nadia Nakai bares her soul on Nadia Naked
Nadia Naked perfectly balances flexing and vulnerability
“It’s not about restricting a woman, it’s about liberating her and letting her know she can be who she wants,” says Nadia Nakai of her debut album Nadia Naked.
Nadia Nakai
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This sentiment equally applies to her fashion choices - with her provocative outfits gaining her both praise and notoriety. On the idea of people discussing her nakedness, she says “I’m a performer, I’m very used to it. I want you to talk about it and I love that people can see what I’m trying to do. People who’ve been in the industry for so long stand up to defend me”. For all the controversy her stage outfits attract, Nadia Naked speaks for itself - and loudly. The offering is at once musical but maintains a core hip hop sound. “It’s a proper rap album,” she says. “Rap albums are the ones that transcend time. I want it to be my legacy like Lauryn Hill changed the impact of women in hip hop [with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill]”.
Released after 2016’s Bragga EP, Nadia Naked is the culmination of nearly 9 years of growth - in both a personal and artistic sense. “I had to grow so much as an artist,” Nadia reveals, “I was working on tone, cadence and experimenting with new flows. I took time to practice and I had to invest in myself”. Nadia Naked is proof of an artist stepping into her own, and finding her voice with palpable confidence. The concept of being naked - and bearing it all - comes through on vulnerable cuts like the Tshego - featuring “More Drugs” an ode to trying to numb the crippling effects of heartbreak. It’s on her features where Nadia Nakai proves her worth, holding her own hanging alongside Khuli Chana “On The Block” and on “Kreatures” with Kwesta respectively.
Nadia Nakai
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Her collaborations were as thought out as the album concept with organic chemistry at the forefront of Nadia’s mind. “Because it’s such a personal album it had to be people I have a relationship with. I chose them for songs I knew they would enhance”. One such feature is Nigerian Ycee’s appearance on “Calling,” a certified bop with effortless flows and plenty of flavour for radio playlists. “Ycee is so good at what he does - with the flows and cadence,” she says of his contribution to the song. The continental feel of the project is palpable with “Africa” - a track with tribal percussion and hints of Nadia’s mother tongue, Shona, on the hook.
“I’ve always wanted to be Pan-African. When I first came out ‘The African Rap Queen’ was my name. Every time I go to Zimbabwe I get so much love so I wanted to include Shona and - also with a song like “Amai” - bring it back home.” Dedicated to her mother and addressing her absent father, “Amai” embodies the best qualities of Nadia Naked - it’s easy listenability and function as a window into the soul of the artist behind the imagery. “I wanted the album to resonate with people so I’m telling stories; there’s a concept and I could add all these elements but still have that golden thread of musicality to it,” Nadia shares. Nadia Naked does exactly that - it endears us to Nadia Nakai while letting her while flex her pen, push her sonic limits and drop club bangers like “Naa Mean,” “Chankura” and “Yaas Bitch”. As the album title suggests, we’re seeing Nadia Nakai’s talent in all its splendour and simultaneously getting a glimpse into her soul.
Nadia Nakai
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