Nakkia Gold decodes 'Trap Santa', names fire LA grub spots, teases '22 rollout + more (Exclusive)
West Coast rap crooner Nakkia Gold is on a whole ‘nother level for what’s going down in the rap and R&B game right now. From putting out thought-provoking and message-driven anthems like ‘Justice’ with Wiz Khalifa and the iconic late Bob Marley to turning temperatures up on sultry visuals like ‘3 Rounds’ to getting into the holiday spirit with her newly released ‘Trap Santa’ - there’s truly nothing the South Central native can’t do.
Fortunately for us at ATC, we managed to secure some time with the hip-hop artist as she gears up for the holidays for a conversation packed with decoding the process behind making ‘Trap Santa,’ what spots she finds herself grubbing at in Los Angeles, what drives her music-making and why the studio has remained her quarantine solution well before COVID-19 became a thing.
It’s out pleasure to dish out this entire conversation - at the very bottom - plus 7 things we learned from the amazing Nakkia Gold.
1. ‘3 Rounds’ was intentionally shortened + the video was as good as you think
It was just a teaser just to give a preview for what’s about to come. I didn’t want to give it all, just a small taste. [The music video] was amazing. Just the experience alone was amazing. Being around beautiful women, that’s like the land of awe for me. I wanted to center in on the three different rounds being three different experiences. It might not be visually that same person but it’s just different things happening, taking you out of that box.
2. Nakkia’s sexuality is out here and she’s proud-proud
I grew up watching and very heavily influenced in Missy Elliott, DaBrat and being and watching them and seeing them not to be able to be their full selves in then later on be able to come out, I’m able. We’re in a new day and age now and a different time. I’m able to live my true self and not hide and I didn’t want to hide who I am or cover for someone else’s pleasure. I wanted to be myself and be able to experience myself for me and not cover up or give some facade for what I think people want to see.
3. There are a couple of baddies on Nakkia’s ‘3 Rounds’ radar
Definitely an Amber Rose or Beyoncé. The Sasha Fierce side. She always had that spicy side and then you see her nice, elegant side.
4. ‘Trap Santa’ is way deeper than you think
When I made ‘Trap Santa,’ I wanted to go even deeper - for me, the holidays look like ‘Next Friday,’ ‘Friday After Next’ - you know? It wasn’t always peaches and cream, my mom borrowing and working extra jobs to make sure every single last one of us had something. And sometimes, you know, we’d go without. But we’d always find a way to be happy and have that holiday spirit in each other so ‘Trap Santa’ is really about what Christmas is like for the hood. You got all these trappers in the hood, all these different big people in the hood that are able to help out the different people that are in that area so that the families don’t suffer. They might trap throughout the year but there are ways and there are times that these people do give back to their community and it’s not highlighted.
5. Nakkia’s look is very, very, very intentional
It’s very intentional because people are always judged and perceived off of looks even before they open their mouths. People are always judged. I wanted to be prejudged. I wanted people to be like, ‘Oh yeah, she’s about to come off hard.’ … We’re putting out music all day and everyday but sometimes artists get lost because people have already heard something like this. I wanted to be myself. I wanted to create a new sound and allow people to have a new vibe to ride on instead of what they’ve already been on. As a creator, I write as well and because I write my music, I am literally creating these worlds that I’m in.
6. Soul food is a go-to but don’t offer Gold any hot dogs
I am actually very big on consciously eating. So I don't really indulge in eating for pleasure if that makes sense. But if I had to go somewhere to eat, a Roscoe’s - at specific times, if I want to eat something, I want to eat that. It’s a lot of soul food spots and food trucks out here. Cali has transitioned into this big vegan thing so there’s a lot of vegan options out here.
7. The ‘Justice’ music video HAD to happen
I felt like it was important to not just say but to show people. Some people get things visually and some things click for people when they see it. I also wanted to highlight it’s not just going on where we are in America. It’s going on in the entire world. It’s something we all need to fight for. ‘Justice’ is a very, very, very vague word. It’s universal. It’s not just about justice for what we’re going through with Trayvon Martin. People are hitting me from places all over the world saying they need justice for this person and that person. Hitting me up like I need to hit the news up and tell the news this is happening to this person and we need help in all these other countries.
Check out the full Nakkia Gold conversation to hear her thoughts on securing millions of Spotify streams, spending endless hours in the recording studio and much more!
