“Violence, abuse, sexual harassment, rape, racism, sexism, homophobia, discrimination, misogyny.” The trigger warning before the music video for “A Good Woman” points out all of these things. And that’s not an exaggeration. But not unusual either: In the single – the entire album “Periodt” will be released on October 6th – rapper Nura appears uncensored and provocative as usual. Her rhymes are aimed at social problems and role models that may now be less widespread, but are far from over.
Over the past year, the number of people affected by domestic violence has continued to rise. And according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, around 70 percent of these almost 250,000 victims are women. “I don’t have any privacy or rights,” Nura raps: “I’ll get his rights until I cry.” And while the next lyrics are about rape on the way home at night, about “slut-shaming” and a toxic male self-image, she aggressively swings sex toys in the air or aggressively chops at phallic vegetables.
One might find this flashy, not subtle enough or metaphorically worthless. Nura, who fled from Kuwait to Germany with her mother and siblings when she was three, wasn’t even accused of using too many swear words – stylistic devices and self-empowerment or not.
But on “Periodt” there shouldn’t just be strong, uncomfortable messages. The queer artist also wants to create a good atmosphere with her third solo album and the subsequent tour: On “Für den Vibe” she samples Chrystal Waters’ deep house number “Gypsy Woman” and turns it into an up-tempo dance track . With La-da-di-la-da-da lyrics, Nura’s version feels like the flirty after-work song that was sung about. After a late summer party, booty shake and one drink too many. “Sidebitch”, on the other hand, sounds almost melancholic and the latest single “Bella” has dancehall rhythms and provocative, sex-positive lyrics. In “Fat A$$,” every hook is spot on and the bass rings out as Nura raps about taking women away from guys.
Nura, Sunday, October 8th, 7:30 p.m., Technikum, Speicherstraße 18