Tokischa
This past workweek felt chaotic for me. By day, I’m an attorney. I’m five months into a new job at a new firm, and I’ve been experiencing a lot of culture clash moments as I learn how to navigate this firm’s office politics and take on more responsibility as a mid-level associate. In the past few months, I’ve had a lot of “WTF is going on” moments, a lot of “WTF am I doing” moments, and a lot of “WTF was I thinking” moments.
By mid-week, my typical song rotation was not matching my mood. “DE MARAVISHA,” by Nathy Peluso and Tokischa, came up on shuffle and then I was down a Tokischa rabbit hole. Tokischa’s songs really scratch the itch for music that feels abrasive. I like her songs because the lyrics feel completely uninhibited and unconcerned with ruffling feathers.
Tokischa seems like that in real life too, in a very likeable way. On “Tokischa Antes de Ser Tokischa,” from the podcast Escuela de Nada, Tokischa was open about her past drug use, getting kicked out of school, and her early sexual experiences. She also showed her sense of humor and an authenticity that felt genuine.
Tokischa’s Background
Tokischa is Dominican. She released her first single in 2018; in 2021, her first song that hit the charts was “Perra” with J Balvin, which made it to number 48 on Billboard Hot Latin Songs.
2021 was a big year for Tokischa. Not only did “Perra” make it on Billboard Hot Latin Songs, but so did one of my two favorite Tokischa songs, “Linda,” which she sings with Rosalía. She released my other favorite song, “Estilazo” with Marshmello (should’ve made it on the charts as well) in 2021 too.
Tokischa has been nominated for 18 different music awards. She’s got one Latin GRAMMY to her name in connection with Rosalía’s album Motomami. She was nominated for another Latin GRAMMY this year with Nathy Peluso for “DE MARAVISHA,” as Best Urban/Urban Fusion Performance. Bad Bunny’s “DtMF” is also nominated in that category, so I’ll be interested to see who ends up winning it.
Mi Diccionario Entry: Rulay. Good/great, chilled, relaxed, carefree, etc. in Dominican slang. I heard “rulay” in a Bad Bunny song, but I didn’t pick up on it. Then I heard the same word in Tokischa’s song “MIAMI”: “Yo estoy rulay, estoy en Miami.”