Meet Da Queens: Nina9

Nina9, aka, Miss Nina, was born and raised in Memphis, Tn. She developed a love for music at an early age, learning to play several instruments. Influenced by the rap styles of artists such as Lord Infamous (formerly) of Three-6 Mafia, Crucial Conflict, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Busta Rhymes, and Twista and their tongue twisting flow she would eventually adapt elements of this style to create her own unique style.  "I've been a writer all my life. In elementary, I had a few poems published nationwide, won writing and essay competitions, and excelled all writing assignments up until graduating high school", she says of her skill. At the age of 17 Nina wrote her first rap.. 

 After participating in the nationwide “DJ Farenheit’s Making the Next Hit, Season 2” (December 2010) competition and advancing to the final round, she realized that she could no longer let her talent go to waste. Following the competition, Nina9 then  to perform at open mic events, where she began to build a fan base and collaborate with other artists. In addition to local Memphis artists, she has collaborated with artists in Columbia and Murfreesboro, Tn., Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and even Canada. In August of 2011, she released her first mixtape, “Nina9 Killin Em, Vol. 1: Murder She Wrote”, formerly titled “The Nina9 PseudoAlbum Mixtape: Vol. i”. The mixtape received such great feedback that it was re-released on the exclusive mixtape website LiveMixtapes.com in December 2011 (hosted by DJ Hood and DJ DL).

 Nina has also gained recognition from popular web and blog sites such as MakeMeFamousEnt.com, MakeMeFamousBlog.com, IllMaterial.com, MemphisRap.com, and has even been mentioned in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper as “up-and-coming hip-hop talent”. Among her accomplishments, the song “Don’t Wanna Lose U” (from her vol. 1 mixtape) topped many citywide submissions competing for a chance to win video production via Fuel Films Memphis and Live From Memphis’ “48 hr. Video Launch”. It was selected as one of the top 5 finalist songs. “I submitted my music not really thinking much of it. About a week or two later I got a ‘congratulations’ email. We made the video in 48 hours and it premiered at Live From Memphis’ 7^th Annual Music Video Showcase. I was so excited!” In attendance of the 7^th Annual MVS, Stone Awards (StoneAwards.org) coordinators Stanley Campbell and Nina Holley were so impressed, they invited Nina to perform at the 17^th Annual Stone Awards ceremony (October 2012). In addition, 9 has been nominated as the 5^th annual SCM Knocdown Awards’ “Best Female Indie Rap Artist” and “Slept of Female Artist of the Year” (November 2012).

Currently, Nina9 is working on her next mixtape, “Nina9 Killin Em, Vol. 2: No Mercy”, due to release summer 2012. Though success may not come overnight for this underground femcee, her talent, grind, and strive to reach the top assures that it won’t be long before she’s in the ears of rap and hip-hop lovers everywhere. “I have a point to prove”, she says, “… and I won’t stop until I’ve proven myself worthy to be heard.”