The DMV Daily Exclusive Interviews: Love & Hip Hop Miami Star Nikki Natural

The DMV Daily had the pleasure of catching up with Love & Hip Hop Miami’s very own Nikki Natural. The Florida native was born in Miami-Dade County and raised in Broward County. The name “Nikki Natural” was given to her by close friends and relatives as she is known for having an innate gift or talent that all just comes to her “Naturally.”  Nikki gravitated to music all of her life, that is where her passion for music came from but it took a while for her to really make her career.

Q: What motivated you to start rapping?

Nikki Natural: I have always been into music; my family has a background in music. My father was signed to Sony Records back in the day, and my sister had signed to Universal Records, my little brother is also a popping artist. So I mean it’s in the blood, its always been a dream of mine but life put me through different courses where I found success. I have my Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and I am a medical massage therapist, so I grew a passion for the massage business, but for some reason, the music keeps on calling me. I decided to follow my real passion, which is music.

Q: Who is your significant influence, and how did they influence you?

Nikki Natural: I would say, my children, I have three sons. That’s all the influence that I need, just looking at their faces every day and waking them up in the morning, getting them ready for school. Those are my biggest inspirations, everything that I do is for them so I can leave a legacy behind for them.

Q: What would say makes you different from other females rappers in the game right now?

Nikki Natural: Honestly, when I hear a lot of females rap, it’s a lot of “prostitution music” as I called it. When I say “prostitution music,” it likes they are more so pushing the youth or whoever is listening to their music to sell yourself for money. I understand women don’t want to be with a ‘broke guy,’ but you don’t have to emphasize to a girl that you have to money. I just feel like it is a lot of “prostitution music,” and my music is different. For instance, my first single is an afrobeat type of song. The first verse of that song, I did say, “You have to pay a fee for this P, I’m talking about a fee you can’t reach.” People took that as though you have to have a lot of money to get that c**chie, but it is a fee you can’t reach, it’s priceless.

I am at that point with my music, where guys can listen to my music and be comfortable. That is a tough thing to do when a guy can put on a female record and be like “damn she’s snapping,” you know it is tough, they feel like its a men’s game. I rap about everything, and that’s why it is so passionate, my rap gives me goosebumps because what I rap about is so real.

Q:  What would you consider your style of rap?

Nikki Natural: I compare my music with a Nicki Minaj type of vibe. If you listen to Nicki Minaj and I would like an older Nicki Minaj vibe, it was to the point where guys were quoting her lyrics, and that is the same type of style I have. Then she crossed over more into pop music, and I love pop music I love Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, I listen to that type of music. I like house music and techno music, I kind of want to ease my way into pop music I just like I have to start with hip-hop because I relate more with the hip-hop. Still, I’m just waiting for that right beat, and I’m going to cross over into that pop because I love pop music, and I’m going to change the game with my styles that I’m going to put on it.

Q:  About a month ago you release, your single “That’s Me,” how did that song come about?

Nikki Natural: A lot of people don’t even know, but that is the first song I ever recorded, and I recorded it last year in May when I first decided that I wanted to start rapping. With that being my first song, you would think you would need a little practice or tweaking before releasing your first single as your first song. That just shows how I get the name “Nikki Natural” because I’m only a natural at what I do, it didn’t take me three or four records to know what I wanted to put out. That was the very first song I recorded because I’m just a natural, anything that you give me I just have that innate gift.

Q:  How did you earn your opportunity to star on Love & Hip Hop Miami?

Nikki Natural: It all started with Khaotic he is a good friend of mine, he heard my song “That’s me,” and he said the song was dope and asked me if I would like to open up for him for a couple of shows. It was a show in Georgia he had with Trick Daddy, and Trick ended up seeing me in the lobby and was admiring me from a far distance. Khaotic told Trick he should bring me on Love & Hip Hop with him, and Trick said if she acts right, and I guessed I acted right. We started talking and became really good friends then they started filming the show about three weeks later after met and that how it came about.

Q:  Being that you are an artist, do you feel like being a star on Love & Hip Hop Miami is taking away the spotlight of you as an artist?

Nikki Natural: Nope! At first, I thought it would, but I didn’t want to be known as a reality star. I think a lot of people go on the show as their regular self, then they turn into an artist, but I felt like with my storyline, they tried to set it up as to where I am the underdog of the show. Everybody was just like, “you’re not going to make it,” “you don’t listen,” “you’re this, you’re that,” and tried to downplay who I am. I think everything is starting to be revealed as to where who they are versus who I am. The world didn’t get to know me; every time I was on the show, I was popping off on somebody that’s all the world got to see. As far as the music, it makes people pay attention; for instance, people would say “she think she’s going to make it, well let hear her songs” or “let me see why she has all this mouth,” which helped me. That’s the type of energy the show brought, and I’m showing everyone that I am comfortable. You like it; you love it if you hate now; you’re going to hate me later.

Q:  Who are some of the rap legends from Miami you listened to?

Nikki Natural: She doesn’t rap more, but Jacki-O, she was a significant influence on me. My sister had signed under a label called Poe Boy Entertainment, and Jacki-O just so happens to be signed under the same label. That’s when I first found the love of rap when I was in the studio my sister used to write hooks for Jackie-O, and they used to write a lot together since then I loved the energy.

The City Girls are also a big inspiration to me, too, because they set the bar for fresh new rappers that like the change. I think they have been rapping for six or seven months before they signed with their deal QC, so it was like “WOW!” I’m a natural at what I do, so if that can happen for them, then it is going to happen for me. Seeing the City Girls becoming successful overnight was an inspiration.

Q:  Where do you see yourself in the music industry within the next five years?

Nikki Natural: Within that next five years, I’m going to have that pop record. It’s going to be on the charts and most likely number one. By then, hopefully, I have crossed to International/Pop Culture. I love afrobeat music. I plan on taking over the international music scene, within the next five years, I’m going to be a prominent Pop artist.

Q:  Who are some artists and media personalities you will like to work with more?

Nikki Natural: I would love to work with Rihanna. My family is from Barbados, which is a plus for me. I already know the culture, I know we’re going to vibe. I just would like to see the magic we are going to make together; she’s going to be on my pop record, I could see that vibe. I have to work with Drake; I want to work him so bad he’s so dope. As well as, Lil Baby, he’s a really dope artist.

Q:  How well do you take criticism?

Nikki Natural: I take criticism, probably the absolute best in the world. Back in the day, I didn’t, but now I know my worth has a woman, and I went through so many different life lessons where I know life is all about experiences, and if somebody is criticizing me, I just learned how to take it all in. It doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, but I don’t that “no, that’s not true,” now, I just see how people feel. Even with me being on TV, I’m being criticized every day I’m waking up to comments, I just respond like “okay that’s your opinion, everyone else already has one.

Q:  What can see coming up next from Nikki Natural?

Nikki Natural: I am taking my talents back to Atlanta, I’m going to out there for a couple of months. I just recently signed management with BankRoll Freddie, BKM (Band Klan Mafia). We will be going on a publicity run when the world opens back up to the public. People know Nikki Natural, the artist, they have met a little bit of her on TV, but now its time to drop this music on their heads and show them this beautiful personality. I always tell people my inside is so beautiful and more beautiful than the outside of me.

You can keep up Nikki Natural by following her on Instagram @nikkinatural. Check out her latest single “That’s Me” down below.