“Clean up your rap, your story’s getting dusty. Wash out your mouth, your lies are getting rusty.”
Why Nina?
Nina Simone wasn’t here to entertain — she was here to confront. A classically trained pianist turned uncompromising truth-teller, Nina used her voice as a weapon for justice, art, and change. Her influence cuts deeper than sound.
Origin Story
Born Eunice Waymon in North Carolina, she trained to become the first Black classical concert pianist. After being denied entry to Curtis Institute due to racism, she redirected into bars, playing under a stage name to shield her identity from church circles.
Signature Style
Her sound defies category — a fusion of jazz, gospel, blues, classical, and folk. Her phrasing was deliberate. Her delivery? Uneasy by design. Nina didn’t sing to please — she sang to wake you up.
Beyond the Music
- Civil Rights Firebrand
Protest anthems like Mississippi Goddam and To Be Young, Gifted and Black became movement staples. - Fearless Activist
Marched with MLK, challenged norms, and paid the price with censorship and exile. - Exile and Legacy
Lived in Liberia, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. Resurged late in life as younger generations rediscovered her. - Scholar & Rebel
Turned down record deals, demanded artistic control, and refused to be defined.
Why PD Loves Nina
She represents art with teeth. Nina is a model of integrity, range, and force — a reminder that great work often requires great courage. She didn’t bend. She didn’t dilute. She created with purpose, and it changed the world.
You do your thinking with a one track mind
Keep talkin’ about heaven glory but
On your face is a different story
Clean up your rap your story’s getting dusty
Wash out your mouth, your lies are getting rusty
Can’t believe nothing you say
’cause I’m around and I see what you do
You know you’re funky as a mosquito’s tweeter
You gotta mouth like a herd of boll weevils
Same old game, same old thing, you never changed
Always rappin ’bout the same old thing
All on that day
Well got to run to the rock
Please hide me, I run to the rock
Please hide me Lord
All on that day
But the rock cried out
“I can’t hide you, ” the rock cried out
I ain’t gonna hide you there
All on that day
Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do
You better stop the things you do
I ain’t lyin’, no, I ain’t lyin’
You know I can’t stand it
Your runnin’ ’round
You know better, daddy
