Shelby Nichole-Lee Baldwin says that 2024 is her metamorphosis year.
Baldwin, who goes by Nichole-Lee, is a rapper and singer from Anchorage. She gained attention after dropping her EP “Booked & Busy” in 2021, which features Seattle drag queen Glenn Coco, also from Alaska.
Nichole-Lee is releasing a single this spring, her first project since her 2022 single, “Gorilla Grip.” She says she’s been recording in Atlanta, Seattle and Las Vegas, and recently obtained a manager who is “very knowledgeable” of the industry.
“I am working on reinventing my sound, and what it means for me to be a female rapper from Alaska,” she said. “I have several things in the works for my artistry and my music. Because I am an independent artist, I have full creative control and the ability to experiment.”
She’s had several small indie music labels approach her for a record deal, but she says having a manager able to navigate the ins and outs of being a recording artist has been instrumental.
She says she’s inspired by artists like Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, Rihanna, and Beyoncé. She says a good beat is the foundation of any song.
“Usually, I only need to hear the first 10 to 15 seconds of the song to know if I love it and want to make something out of it,” she said. “Then there are moments where I don’t want to write a song at all and I just want to write raps a cappella. I love writing with no beat because it forces me to create my own melody and concept in my head from scratch.”
Nichole-Lee says the rap scene in Alaska is a boys club, but she’s never let that stop her.
In 2013, she was highlighted in an Anchorage Museum exhibit, “Pass the Mic,” which featured local musicians across the state. She was the only local female rapper featured in the show.
“It was really wonderful to be included in that,” she said. “It gave me the motivation that ‘Okay, people do recognize my hard work and my talent.’”
Nichole-Lee’s music can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, TIDAL and other platforms.
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.