While New Britain, CT native Niki Ellis was raised on hip-hop by her father (who was a DJ), everything changed when she heard Lil Kim’s classic “Not Tonight” remix in 1997. It was her first time hearing women rap and Ellis knew, even at a young age, that she wanted to be an MC. And on her debut mixtape, Unexpected, she has put her all into staying true to the genre she loves while also pushing it forward.
The 11 tracks on this project are just as inspired as they are diverse. Even though Niki Ellis tackles a variety of sounds and topics, her commanding voice and flexible flow keeps the tape grounded and very much of her making. And you’ll know that as soon as you hear opening track “All Day,” a massive and braggadocious banger featuring singer Autuore (who appears on several tracks).
Ellis keeps the momentum going strong throughout Unexpected, whether she’s delivering an upbeat and summery jam (lead single “Feel Good”) or switching things up for a bouncy, flossin’ anthem (“Lights, Camera, Action”). Other highlights include “Good Love,” which pays homage to the slick R&B-rap joints of the mid-’90s, and super-tough closer “Time of Your Life,” which features New Yorker, Brodie Fresh.
Toward the end of the track “Boss Up,” Ellis spits, “I see a lotta people with the ball that never shot/ I’m the one who kept runnin’, still haven’t stopped,” and it’s perhaps the most telling line on Unexpected. That’s because it exposes her hunger and drive, both of which led her to join the Air Force at 21 years old. During her service, she found the time to build connections across the globe and continue perfecting her craft. If that doesn’t show her passion, what could?
Unexpected is available for purchase on all digital retailers, and you can also listen via DatPiff.
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