After relocating to Hamburg in 2003, Nneka has been working closely with the hip hop beatmaker DJ Farhot. As a young singer she first gained public attention in 2004 while performing as an opening act for dancehall reggae star Sean Paul at Hamburg Stadtpark. After much acclaim, Nneka released her debut EP The Uncomfortable Truth with the music label Yo Mama's Recording Company after which she performed on her first tour with Patrice, playing shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
She finished recording her first album in the autumn of 2005. Entitled Victim of Truth. Garnering rave reviews from the media, the UK's Sunday Times later declared it “the year’s most criminally overlooked album”, comparing it favourably to 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
In February 2008, she released her second album, No Longer at Ease. The title of the album is taken from a novel of the same name by Chinua Achebe and reflects the lyrical content of the record. Most of the songs are political, talking about the plight of the Niger Delta and the corruption in Nneka’s homeland. “No Longer at Ease” combines the political and the personal in “a winning mix of soul, hip-hop an reggae”. The lead single from it, "Heartbeat", became her first song to break into the German Top 50.
In November 2009, Nneka staged her first concert tour of the United States where she performed shows in New York City, Vienna (Washington DC), Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Furthermore she was a special guest on The Roots Jam session. Her first US release Concrete Jungle was set for 2 February 2010.
Nneka recorded her last album Soul Is Heavy in Nigeria. She also co-founded a charity foundation called the "ROPE foundation" with Genda, Ahmed Nyei from Sierra Leone. She has worked extensively in charity and arts with the foundation in Sierra Leone. Nneka has also worked with Reebok and her track "Shinning" topped global charts in 2013.
J
Nneka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fierce look you wear has killed my confidence
I have made many mistakes
I carry a heart an open wound my love
But forgiveness is king my friend
And grudge is not a fruit of the spirit
Therefore I come to you as I am
Naked as I am, I found the truth
As the moon pulls the ocean
So the Earth pulls the moon
In the same way I am what I am
Cause your existence defines my being
As my weakness is my strength
So my tear they find happiness
In the same way I know that your hate reflects boundless Love
(Yeah, boundless love oh)
The world doesn't stop (doesn't stop)
When we command it to
Our righteousness is strong I learn to love you yea
Everything isn't what it seems to be
Now we wanna run we wanna go fast
As my soul was within sin
My feet could stand on solid ground
Cause I know
The moon pulls the ocean so the Earth pulls the moon
In the same way I am what I am
Cause your existence defines my being
As my weakness is my strength
So my tears they find happiness
In the same way I know that your hate
Reflects boundless Love
(Bridge)I'm getting rid of the jee jinx that you gave
Getting hold of all the things I deserve
I'm letting go of all of the lies that you told
I'm getting rid of all the things that you've said
I'm getting rid of the jee jinx that you gave
I'm getting hold of all the things I deserve
I'm letting go of all the lies that you told
My confession for you to own
Ooh as the Earth now Earth pulls the moon
In the way I that I am, cause your existence defines my being
As my weakness is my strength
So my tears they find happiness
In the same way I know that your hate reflects boundless Love
As the moon pulls the ocean (reflects boundless love)
In the same way I am what I am (reflects boundless love)
As my weakness is my strength
In the same way I know that your hate reflects boundless love
The lyrics to Nneka's song "J" speak about forgiveness, acceptance, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Nneka speaks directly to someone who has shown her hatred with a fierce look, saying that their existence defines her being in a way that is both positive and negative. She acknowledges her own mistakes and weaknesses, and realizes that forgiveness is the only way to move forward. By letting go of the grudges and lies that she has been carrying, she is able to find happiness and strength in her tears and open heart. She sees the world as constantly moving forward, and acknowledges that even the bad things that happen can reflect boundless love.
The repeated metaphor of the moon pulling the ocean and the Earth pulling the moon highlights the interconnectedness of all things. Just as the Earth needs the moon to survive, Nneka needs the person she is speaking to in order to define her own existence. Even the hate that she has experienced reflects a deep love that connects all beings. The song ultimately speaks about the power of forgiveness and acceptance to heal wounds and find happiness in a complex and interconnected world.
Line by Line Meaning
I see hatred in your face
The angry expression on your face is making me very insecure
The fierce look you wear has killed my confidence
Your intense appearance has decreased my self-assurance
I have made many mistakes
I acknowledge that I have committed numerous errors
I carry a heart an open wound my love
My heart is always vulnerable, and I am easily hurt
But forgiveness is king my friend
Forgiveness is the ultimate virtue, my dear friend
And grudge is not a fruit of the spirit
Holding a grudge does not align with our spiritual values
Therefore I come to you as I am
That is why I approach you in my true state - unguarded
Naked as I am, I found the truth
In my vulnerable state, I have discovered the hidden reality
As the moon pulls the ocean
The gravitational pull of the moon affects the ocean's tides
So the Earth pulls the moon
The Earth's gravity affects the orbit of the moon
In the same way I am what I am
Similarly, my identity is shaped by your presence in my life
Cause your existence defines my being
Your existence contributes to the definition of who I am
As my weakness is my strength
My shortcomings can also be the source of my power
So my tear they find happiness
Even my tears can lead to joy
In the same way I know that your hate reflects boundless Love
I understand that your hatred actually stems from boundless love
The world doesn't stop (doesn't stop)
The world continues to go on, despite our attempts to stop it
When we command it to
Even if we try to control it
Our righteousness is strong I learn to love you yea
Our moral integrity is potent, so I have learned to love you
Everything isn't what it seems to be
Things are not always as they appear
Now we wanna run we wanna go fast
Nowadays, people are always in a rush
As my soul was within sin
When I was deep in sin
My feet could stand on solid ground
I could find stability and support despite my mistakes
I'm getting rid of the jee jinx that you gave
I am releasing myself from the negative influence you had on me
Getting hold of all the things I deserve
I am taking possession of all that I am entitled to
I'm letting go of all of the lies that you told
I am no longer holding on to any of the false things you said
I'm getting rid of all the things that you've said
I am discarding all the negative things you spoke to me
My confession for you to own
I am admitting to my wrongdoings, and I expect you to accept that
Ooh as the Earth now Earth pulls the moon
The Earth's gravitational pull continues to affect the moon
In the way I that I am, cause your existence defines my being
My identity is shaped by your continued presence in my life
In the same way I know that your hate reflects boundless Love
I understand that your anger and hatred towards me is actually a result of boundless love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: NNEKA-LUCIA EGBUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind