NISHA may be a unique mix of her experiences as a brown, queer, feminist rapper born in Lagos, Nigeria and has lived in Florida, New York, and now Los Angeles. But she has a singular goal of empowering those who have been overlooked.
On her song "Figures," she strikes back at the comparisons many get caught up in within certain friend groups (salaries, body images, classism) over a trapped out Alex & Alex beat that samples Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms. In an email, NISHA explained, "I make hip-hop for the people I love the most. I want to keep them safe, but I want them to rage. I want them to experience their anger so they understand their power without being afraid of it and what people have told them would happen if they rebelled. I want them to use it to set themselves free."
The "Figures" video features 30 Indian actors including Nik Dodani (Atypical) and Ritesh Rajan (Russian Doll).
Photo: Emi Morell