Nina Chuba, with your single “Wildberry Lillet” you managed to oust the controversial hit “Layla” from number one in the charts in August. Are you now also recognized on the street?
Yes, actually whenever I go out. In Berlin, where I live, people are too cool to approach you, but I see the looks. It’s worse in other German cities, especially in Hamburg, my home country.
When people talk about you, they often talk about how young you look. Does that bother you?
I’m actually not that young, 24 years old. But I have no problem with that. I could also be a bit more grown-up, but that’s just not in me right now.
Before they made it to the top of the good old charts, “Wildberry Lillet” was #1 on Tiktok.
I actually wasn’t in the mood for Tiktok when my management told me three years ago that I should do it. I thought: Tiktok, these are little kiddies dancing around.
That’s right.
Yes, but I quickly realized how funny it is too. I tried to promote my music through it, but no one was really interested. Then I started uploading mostly fun videos and one of them went viral. It was also cool to realize that people are more interested in who I am than what I do. That’s how I became relatively well known, which in turn has only done my music good. Now people like me and my music, it’s very nice.
Do you read the comments under your posts?
Yes, I read everything. I find that interesting. In the beginning it was a bit difficult with the hate comments, but now I look at it and think: Yes, well, go your own way. And sometimes there is justified criticism. Then I know I can do better next time.
There are more and more well-known female rappers in Germany, but they differ from the rappers in one respect: the women are almost all well styled and look good. It’s different for men: many rappers go on stage unshaven, with dark circles under their eyes and unwashed hair. Do you feel the pressure to always look perfect?
Nah, I like to dress up, and if I don’t feel like it, I don’t do it. But it’s definitely the case that women have to fight for their fame differently and that they have better chances if they look good. That’s too bad. Men don’t have that problem.
Do you style yourself?
Partly. I’ve been into fashion a lot, but sometimes I just don’t have the time to find the coolest new brands.
You have an amusing tiktok in which you confess that you thought the clothes by designer label Celine were merchandise from a rapper of the same name.
Yeah man, I thought so for so long. I didn’t grow up with brands and I still don’t know how to tell Prada from Balenciaga. I don’t own any of those clothes either. For me, fashion has to look good. I don’t care if it costs thousands of euros now or if it’s second-hand. It’s such a big thing in rap. It’s all about: Look, my Gucci sweater – it doesn’t look cool at all.
As a newcomer, does it matter whether you’re a man or a woman?
I used to think it mattered less than I think it does now. But things are just getting better.
Was there a moment in your career when you felt uncomfortable?
Yes, a lot. I think every woman in the music business needs to experience that at some point. That you get to know people who don’t want what’s best for you, who don’t take you seriously, who don’t respect you. You have to struggle a lot, I cried a lot when I was in the studio with people I wasn’t comfortable with. That feeling of not being able to compete with the more powerful person in the room is very draining.
What kind of situations were you in?
