Nova Rockafeller

Nova Palohek (born 22 July 1988), known professionally as Nova Rockafeller, is an independent Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and music video director.

Nova Rockafeller
Birth nameNova Palohek
Also known asElle Dirty D,[1] epdMC[1]
Born (1988-09-22) September 22, 1988
Edmonton, Alberta
Genres
Acoustic rock,[2] Hip Hop, Pop Music, EDM[2] Punk Music.[3]
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Music video director
InstrumentsVocals, Guitar
Associated acts

Early life

Rockafeller was born in Edmonton,[4] but raised in Jamaica,[2] spending a quarter of the year there between the ages of 3-9, and moved there when she was 9 until she was 14.[5] Her family had moved there to start a water sports business.[1] In addition, she had briefly lived in Toronto and New York City.[6][7] She dropped out of high school, and had spent time at the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter,[4] where she started rapping due to her boyfriend at the time.[6]

Music career

Rockafeller had grown up surrounded by music as her father and brother were heavily involved with the Edmonton music scene, and had their own home studio. [4] She began rapping at the age of 15 when she was living in a group home.[8][4] The moniker 'Nova Rockafeller' was given to her one night during a party with other rappers, who decided she needed a new name as a rapper.[6]

In 2011, Rockafeller released her debut album Insufficient Funds, which chronicled six months of her life.[6] In 2013, Rockafeller had her song 'call me (BAT MAN) 347-574-7192' placed on the front of The Pirate Bay during its period as 'The Promo Bay'; the song was available as a free download.[9]

Mercury Records took notice of her, so Rockafeller moved to New York to signed with them.[10] The label would later become Island Records, and, in turn Def Jam.[4] Her relationship with Def Jam ended when the company had dropped her without warning after three and a half years. She found out when her landlord said that the company would no longer pay her rent.[8] Prior to the label dropping her, Rockafeller had been working on an album Accidently Gangster,[7] which has since been cancelled. Following this ordeal, Rockafeller moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music as an independent artist.

In 2015, with her time with Def Jam, Rockafeller began to break out into the mainstream with her single "Made in Gold", which reached the Top 20 on Sirius Top Hits.[3] The single was featured in teen comedy film The Duff.[4][11] In addition, her music has been featured on Siesta Keys, Dancing with the Stars, and Bad Girls Club. [3] That year had she has toured with Set it Off and All Time Low,[3][12] as well as performing at SXSW,[13] Riot Fest,[14][15] Gathering of the Juggalos.[16] Since then Rockafeller has been associated with Insane Clown Posse and the Juggalo movement.[17] She also performed at Violent J's first solo charity tour with Lil Eazy E.[18]

In 2021, Rockafeller released "Hey You", her first solo single in over 2 years in order to tease her newest album Scared of Heights.[8] The video acquired over 250k views within a single day.[19]

Controversy

Her appearance at the 2015 Gather of the Juggalos drew controversy as she was advertised as "Nova Rockafeller and her sexy ass".[16] Later, Violent J had texted Rockafeller after a scandalous image of her and Tom MacDonald was posted online, which Macdonald later responded to and leaked online.[20] This exchange began a beef between the three artists. While implications may suggest that Violent J had romantic inclinations for Rockafeller, he claimed to be in a 'professional relationship' with her.[3] While cited as a PR stunt for GFBF, Rockafeller denied these allegations and expressed her affection for the Juggalo movement.[21]

Side projects

In 2012, Rockafeller launched her line of jewellery 'Toys on Chains'.[22][7]

Personal life

Rockafeller has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.[23]

Tom MacDonald

In 2017, Rockafeller began dating Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald. Together, they started the band GFBF and began writing music.[24] When Macdonald had written 'Dear Rappers' and became famous, Rockafeller poured herself into supporting him. She shot and directed all of his music videos, created his website, co-wrote hooks, and helped him navigate the music industry away from the pitfalls she experienced.[8]

Rockafeller suffers from severe asthma. On 10 September 2017, she had an acute case of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and a partially collapsed lung. To pay for the medical bills, MacDonald started a GoFundMe page in order to pay for the hospital bill, which exceed $10,000 in donations.

Influences

Rockafeller has cited some of her influences as Good Charlotte, Blink 182,[12] The Fugees, Tribe Called Quest, Damien Marley, Weezer, Busta Rhymes, Outkast, Bright Eyes, Nirvana, Die Antwoord and Meg Myers.[1]

Discography

Studio albums
  • Insufficient Funds (2011)[7]
  • Scared of Heights (2021)

As Ampt
  • Ampt (2019)

Singles
  • '1990s' (2014)
  • 'Made in Gold' (2015)
  • 'Wishing Well' (2018)
  • 'Jesus On My Neck' (2018)
  • 'Genghis Khan' (2018)
  • 'Hey You' (2021)

With Tom MacDonald

  • 'Sober' (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • 'Bad News' (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller

With The Wikid One

  • 'Find Me' (2017), ft. Nova Rockafeller

With Rp Jesus

  • 'Pillz' (2017), ft. GFBF, Nova Rockafeller & Tom MacDonald

With Thrashole

  • 'You Want Her' (2018, ft. Blimes, The Buttress & Nova Rockafeller

With D-LinQuint

  • 'Superstar' (2019), ft. Nova Rockafeller, Y.I.C & Jay P

With Rachel Geek

  • 'Come Talk to Me' (2020), ft. Nova Rockafeller

Filmography

Rockafeller has directed and produced all of the music videos below, unless otherwise noted.

With Tom MacDonald
  • 'Dear Rappers' (2017)
  • 'Castles' (2017)
  • 'Helluvit' (2018)
  • 'Hangman' (2018)
  • 'Whiteboy' (2018)
  • 'In These Parts' (2018)
  • 'This House' (2018)
  • 'American Dreamz' (2018)
  • 'Exposure' (2018)
  • 'Politically Incorrect' (2018)
  • 'Everybody Hates Me' (2018)
  • 'I Wish' (2019)
  • 'Sad Rappers' (2019)
  • 'Straight White Male' (2019)
  • 'Lethal Injection' (2019)
  • 'Mac Lethal Sucks' (2019)
  • 'If I Was Black' (2019)
  • 'Buttholes' (2019)
  • 'I'm Sorry' (2019)
  • 'Ashes' (2019)
  • 'Cloned Rappers' (2019)
  • 'Trying To Kill Me' (2019)
  • 'Fake Fans' (2019)
  • 'I Hate Hip Hop' (2019)
  • 'Famous' (2019)
  • 'White Trash' (2020), with Madchild
  • 'Sober' (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • 'Bad News' (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
  • 'D.R.U.G' (2020), with Madchild
  • 'I Don't Care' (2020)
  • 'Coronavirus' (2020)
  • 'Blame the Rappers' (2020), ft. DAX
  • 'I Don't Drink' (2020)
  • 'I Can't Sleep' (2020)
  • 'No Response' (2020)
  • 'My Fans' (2020)
  • 'The Music Industry' (2020)
  • 'People So Stupid' (2020)
  • 'I'm Corny' (2020)
  • 'Gravestones' (2020)
  • 'Cancer' (2020)
  • 'No Lives Matter' (2020)
  • 'Sellout' (2020)
  • 'Best Rapper Ever' (2020)
  • 'Angels' (2020)
  • 'Fake Woke' (2021)

With others
  • 'Dreams', by Brandon Hart[25]
  • 'Wicked Ways', by Chuxx Morris[25]
  • 'BDY', by Stalgia[25]

References
  1. Weekly, RAY SCHWEIBERT, Atlantic City. "Island girl Nova Rockafeller will rock the house at The Pool After Dark Friday". Atlantic City Weekly.
  2. MANGUM, SEKIA. "Celebrity Sightings: Female rapper Nova Rockafeller spotted at The Pool". Press of Atlantic City.
  3. Romaker, Ian (December 28, 2018). "Strong sentiments against the man: Nova Palohek and Tom MacDonald [GFBF]".
  4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/nova-rockafeller-from-the-streets-of-edmonton-to-a-record-label-1.3000133
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhuWKASTvg
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atxf8WI_vc0
  7. "HIP HOP: Nova Rockafeller is sexy and she knows it". GIG CITY. January 11, 2012.
  8. "Why I quit rapping". NOVA ROCKAFELLER.
  9. "Nova Rockafeller on Pirate Bay | Faygoluvers".
  10. "Being an Independent rapper vs. a Major label artist". NOVA ROCKAFELLER.
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogrsDHwamDc
  12. "After touring with All Time Low, Set It Off, Nova Rockafeller premieres new tracks". December 23, 2015.
  13. "SXSW Music List No. 9". www.austinchronicle.com.
  14. "Riot Fest Toronto 2015 Lineup Announced Featuring Wu-Tang Clan, Drive Like Jehu, and Rancid -". June 1, 2015.
  15. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/torontos_riot_fest_adds_weeer_prodigy_cancer_bats
  16. "What's It Like to Be a Female Rapper at Gathering of the Juggalos?". LA Weekly. July 28, 2015.
  17. Seife, Ethan de. "What I'm Watching: The 2015 'Gathering of the Juggalos' Infomercial". Seven Days.
  18. March, August. "Violent J • Nova Rockafeller • Lil Eazy-E • Ghetto Blast • rap, hip-hop • Dj Stigmata at Launchpad, Albuquerque". alibi.
  19. https://twitter.com/NovaRockafeller/status/1347966479610699778
  20. "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  21. https://www.facebook.com/NovaRockafeller/posts/so-my-bf-posted-some-texts-that-violent-j-sent-me-because-he-was-pissed-and-now-/10155228966439561/
  22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bD0FSkXNVqQ
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFP9LoUKCM
  24. Nyanchama, Venic (June 24, 2020). "Tom Macdonald: Bio and net worth in 2020". Tuko.co.ke - Kenya news.
  25. "Music Videos I directed for people other than my boyfriend". NOVA ROCKAFELLER.
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