Which Recently Famous Girl Rapper Are You? (Based on Your Sun Sign)

Cover Image Edited by (c) Jasmine Lomax.

*Please note: You can also read for your Moon and Rising sign too if it resonates!

Pop astrology is about the ability to package your information in a way that is equal parts easy and entertaining. Whether you use Bratz dolls or iStock images for your aesthetic, being able to make easy-to-digest information for casual fans is its own skill (seriously, I follow too many astro accounts on my personal IG for my own good). And for the longest time, while I know what type of aesthetic I enjoy (retrofuturism, “nostalgiacore,” etc.), I hadn’t quite decided to the fullest extent which part of that aesthetic to start with.

Today’s post is gonna change that!

Since I’ve gotten a recent boost of inspo, I figured it’d be fun to my own version of pop astrology by viewing it through the lens of recently famous women rappers (you know, because we like have no choice but to stan all of this fresh energy these ladies are bringing to the game right now)! So in honor of the Sun’s march into Aries, aka the “real” new year, let’s just dive right in:


Aries: Dreezy

Loud, proud, and never afraid to flex when you’ve completed a big goal, you must be an Aries!

Element: Fire
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Cardinal
Planet: Mars

In tropical astrology, 0 degrees Aries marks the start of the astrological “new year.” This is because the start of Aries season coincides with the Spring Equinox, which many take to mean as both symbolic and literal representation of things being born anew. That’s probably why you’re seen as the sign that wilds out so damn much — you can’t help it that you have so much energy! You, like the Earth at the start of spring, just want to burst forth from your shell and awaken to new possibilities every day that you can. You are passionate and temperamental, fearless and impulsive. Sure that might get you into trouble if you don’t think before you speak, but there are times where action is needed without hesitation, and nobody knows how to throw themselves headlong into the thick of things like you do.

Why This Rapper?: Aside from the obvious fact that every rapper here shares your Sun sign, these women and their rap personas are meant to reflect the type of energy you have as a sign. For Dreezy, she raps with a straightforward bravado; she favors a rapid-fire flow over grandiose metaphor. You will never second-guess where you stand in comparison to her — both you and Dreezy are proud of who you are and you’re both not afraid to tell everybody about it.

Songs For You: when you’re out being the natural-born leader that you are / when you’re just in the mood to talk shit ’cause you know you’re the shit

Taurus: Rico Nasty

Sensual, hard-working, and always in the mood to party, you must be a Taurus!

Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Fixed
Planet: Venus

Whoever said a Taurus was boring has clearly never met you! It’s probably because you like to take your time with things and move at your own pace — you hate to be rushed because you know good work requires patience, discipline, and love. Your pragmatism sometimes makes it hard for you to initiate new ventures, but it’s just because you don’t want to let those you care about down. You also have a propensity at times to get distracted because you are so sensual; you feel out the world around you through your five senses, so having them engaged in a way that is meaningful to you means going to that fancy restaurant is (sometimes) more important than sticking to your budget for the month. That’s okay, though, because you’re a magnet for resources and know how to manifest abundance in a way that enables you share your bounty. Enjoying life’s simple pleasures is a birth-right for you and you want everybody to know it!

Why This Rapper?: Like you, Rico loves having shit — her raps are often about how good she’s eating and how she can’t stop until she’s making her a billion. This bull takes life by the horns and makes the whole world her playground by making every lane her lane, because if it’s fun, both you and her know you gotta try it at least once. Both you and Rico are also known for your stalwart work ethic; you don’t care if something takes a while because you know what prize(s) are waiting for you at the end of your trek.

Songs For You: when you need to remind people why they shouldn’t fuck with you / when you just need to chill out, light a blunt, and vibe

Gemini: Princess Nokia

Crafty, quick-witted, and down to try anything once, you must be a Gemini!

Element: Air
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Mutable
Planet: Mercury

Consistency? You don’t know her — you’re too busy experimenting with new things all the time! You love to pick up new outfits, new tracks, and new ways of thinking. Stagnation is your biggest enemy; it’ll be a cold day in hell if there ever comes a time where you decide you’re done learning something new about yourself. You tend to get a rep for being “flakey,” but you prefer to call it “being adventurous.” Your greatest skill is your ability to shape-shift to fit whatever it is a situation calls for regardless of the setting. Just be mindful that you don’t put yourself into situations where you feel like you can’t be your weird ass self because that’s why so many people like you in the first place! (P.S: You’ll also be pleased to know that rap is overrepresented by you, dear Geminis, because your fast-thinking ways make you a natural when it comes to word play).

Why This Rapper?: Princess Nokia is the literal definition of “shapeshifter” — any time she disappears and reappears in the public eye, she is rarely the same person, both in dress and in her music. She can spit hard and loud one minute, then curl around a lo-fi beat the next. You both understand that there is a wealth of knowledge in the world, and one of the best ways to absorb that information is to test it out for yourself. Experience, after all, is the best teacher of them all.

Songs For You: when you feel like shocking people because you’re bored / when you need to remind haters why your versatility is attractive

Cancer: Saweetie

Compassionate, intuitive, and deceptively playful, you must be a Cancer!

Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Cardinal
Planet: The Moon

They say “crybaby” but you prefer the term “emotional gangster.” You wear your heart on your sleeve because you believe in the concept of radical vulnerability. You also tend to get accused of being moody but it’s not that you mean to be! Your emotions just flow so effortlessly that sometimes even you don’t understand what you’re feeling until you feel it. That’s okay: those who know how to sail your moods with you get rewarded by seeing the vivid interior of your persona. Seriously, how can anybody get bored with you when you have a whole world in your heart? Just don’t forget to show others that though by poking your head out of your shell now and again so you don’t miss out on new friendships!

Why This Rapper?: Saweetie — even in her more aggressive flows — rarely needs to raise her voice to get her point made. Like you, she knows how to “say it with your chest” by showing, not telling. It’s the calmness of her demeanor that entices, regardless of whether she’s bragging about how she’s got them “white folks pissed” or going on a dream-like ride as she upgrades to a new man. Being soft doesn’t equal being weak!

Songs For You: when you wanna show off the fact that being a homebody doesn’t mean you can’t entertain / when you need to hit the streets with your bestie to show what people are missing out on

Leo: Tierra Whack

Creative, energetic, and photo-ready at all times, you must be a Leo!

Element: Fire
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Fixed
Planet: The Sun

God, when are people going to get on your level already? Never, because you know you’re out here doing what everybody else is too nervous to do which is staying true to yourself. Now you may have been known to steal attention away a time (or five) from another, but you’re not trying to do it on purpose! It’s just that everything you do, whether you’re a world-famous celebrity or just your neighborhood barista, has to have your creative imprint on it. The upside to this is that you learn how to share the spotlight so everybody around you can shine (which you just LOVE to see!) The downside to this means you have a knack for getting into it with others over “creative differences” sometimes, and those differences might become a black hole for you as you get sucked into the drama of it all. But hey, everything’s all G in the end so long as you remember that somebody else’s shine will never take away from yours.

Why This Rapper: Both you and Tierra Whack are innovators just by doing what it is you like to do. You both have known from a young age that you’ve got too much potential to blindly follow the rules, instead preferring to make them up as you go along (Tierra did this by dropping a whole ass album with one minute tracks!) And just when somebody thinks they’ve got you all figured out, you move in a new direction and stun everybody with a new flavor that everybody else is scrambling to copy.

Songs For You: when you’re getting sick of all these clones copying your swagger / when you need to let out your inner child and have fun

Virgo: Bbymutha

Industrious, analytical, and gifted with the ability to create your own trend, you must be a Virgo!

Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Mutable
Planet: Mercury

Follow trends? No, no, no. You are your own trend. Whether or not people want to hop on the train doesn’t really matter to you, either — even if what you’re doing never really “catches on” with those around you, people respect your gift of foresight and your ability to tend to the details that others wouldn’t even think twice about. As the purifier of the zodiac, you transmute your hurts into incredible feats of innovation, spinning ordinary thread into gold. Whenever you experience a hurdle to overcome, it’s often you who is your own worst enemy. Try not to let the fact that the reality of something isn’t as great as what you see in your third eye — perfect will always be the enemy of good, my lovely Virgos, and most of the time what you do is fucking stellar.

Why This Rapper?: Like you, Bbymutha really just wants to do her own thing and doesn’t care if anybody else is doing it. By staying true to her own vision, she’s created her own niche of rap for herself; her kitschy vibe comes from a place of authenticity, something uniquely hers because it was transformed from her past pain. Both you and Bbymutha also know that something doesn’t have to be “popular” to be “good,” and even if somebody doesn’t like what you’re doing, they better at least show some respect because you deserve it!

Songs For You: when you’re trying to align your chakras so you can get that bag / when you need to weed out the fakes who can’t hang

Libra: Doja Cat

Fly, charming, and forward-thinking in all that you do, you must be a Libra!

Element: Air
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Cardinal
Planet: Venus

There is no such thing as doing things “one way” with you because you like to keep your options open at all times! And okay, a lot of people love to point out how that makes you “indecisive,” but if only they understood how important it is to see something from multiple angles. At your best, your ability to appreciate the nuances of life enables you to respond by pulling whatever the hell you want out of your magic hat; your knack for spotting what’s hot and what’s not in your line of work makes you an undeniable asset to have on anybody’s team. On the flip side of that coin, your biggest struggle is finding a healthy balance in life – whether you are trying to juggle a home, a career, your education (or all three at once!), try not to push yourself too hard in any one direction by hyperfixating on the details. You are capable of doing it all when you give yourself the room to flow naturally so why stress about it?

Why This Rapper?: Doja Cat once said “[you] can’t trust a big butt and a Gemini-i-i,” but don’t get it twisted: his lady is a Libra through and through. Both you and Doja rarely stick to one thing for too long because you already know you can do anything you put your mind to. Instead, things are a lot more fun for both of you when you’re given the space to tinker, allowing your gift for aesthetic presentation and functionality to shine. Any lane can be your lane when you want it to be!

Songs For You: when you want to channel your inner romantic and have a good time with bae / when you’d like to point out once again that you look good in anything

Scorpio: Sukihana

Provocative, transformative, and the definition of a “ride-or-die,” you must be a Scorpio!

Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Fixed
Planet: Mars (Traditional), Pluto (Modern)

Do you get tired of being called too “intense” when you’re just really trying to mind your own P’s and Q’s? Maybe it’s just the fact that you have a very sensitive bullshit detector and that scares the neighborhood. Or maybe it’s the fact that not everybody is as comfortable baring their soul like you are, which is how you keep your friends close and your enemies guessing. What you’d really like people to know, though, is that just because you’re not afraid to examine your shadow self doesn’t mean you can’t keep it cute. In fact, your steely persona is sometimes used to hide the tender person that lies beneath — it’s not uncommon to hear a Scorpio who doesn’t really like blood or gore because you are so attuned to the suffering of others that it feels like you’re suffering right alongside them. It’d be hella helpful if you started adding some alone time into your routine; that way, you have the downtime you need to disengage from being so “tuned in” to the collective’s energy all the time!

Why This Rapper?: In true Scorpio fashion, Sukihana has gained a reputation for being somewhat controversial. It’s not that you and her like to say and do things to upset others on purpose — you both just can’t help but “keep it real” even when sometimes it’d be easier not to. You both understand the importance of holding it down for your loved ones, and if that means you have to take some L’s on the way, you both don’t give a shit at the end of the day. Another interesting thing about both you and Sukihana is that, whether or not you identify with some of those “hypersexual” stereotypes, there is an undeniable magnetism to your personality that allows you to leverage your sexuality for your gain (IF you choose that route!) Mystery is an art form and you both are its masters.

Songs For You: when you’re feelin’ like a fine freak with money to blow / when you have that crush you haven’t been able to get out of your head for the last six months

Sagittarius: Mulatto

Intelligent, honest, and always looking for your next adventure, you must be a Sagittarius!

Element: Fire
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Mutable
Planet: Jupiter

Schooooooool’s out, forNEVER! You consider yourself to be a lifelong student — even if you don’t really like school, you know that learning never stops once you’re outside of the classroom, and you will apply yourself with your whole heart to whatever it is that grabs your interest. Not just content to learn, however, you want nothing more than to take what you know and help others learn too, either as a teacher or by leading as an example. It helps that the number one thing people would accuse you of being is “too” honest; never afraid to tell it like it is, you understand how important it is to be truthful even if what you have to say is going to hurt some feelings. Honesty is your love language and anybody who can’t handle the occasional burst of brashness from you is advised to stay clear — you don’t like to water yourself down just to be likeable (although it IS advised you find the balance between being truthful and being kind; your honesty doesn’t have to be mean to be sincere)!

Why This Rapper?: Mulatto is living and breathing her Sagittarian energy. If you wrong her, she just turns around and dazzles everybody with a 3-to-4 minute rap expose’ on why you’re dusty. Which means this is what you both have in common: nobody who does you wrong gets to stick around long enough to hear about it! But you both don’t really like to stay mad, either — Mulatto would much rather brag about how much better she’s doing and have fun while she’s doing it. Any time money is good, you’ll both dole it out without a second thought because life is too short to be lived without enjoying yourself along the way.

Songs For You: when you want a beat to groove to while doing your humanitarian duties / when you’re in the mood to sweet talk your boo-thing to the bed

Capricorn: Flo Milli

Ambitious, self-sufficient, and one of the hardest party animals out there, you must be a Capricorn!

Element: Earth
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Cardinal
Planet: Saturn

Bored is for people who ain’t got shit to do, aka Not You! Whether you’re putting in extra hours this week to get that promotion or doubling down on finishing your latest knitting project, you make it a point to complete as many goals of yours as is humanely possible. It’s important to you that people see the hard work that you do and think it’s effortless — you have a hard time accepting help from others because you take a great deal of pride in doing things by yourself. Not so infrequently, you can come off to others as being the “unfriendly” hottie but it’s quite the opposite: you can get attached to others like crazy if you don’t protect your energy! Remember that it’s okay to let your guard down and be vulnerable around those you trust — your loved ones appreciate when you tell them you’re struggling just as much as they appreciate all the hard work that you do. (P.S. people also get a kick out of you when you show off your incredible “party animal” energy, so don’t be afraid to say ‘yes’ to that party invite now and again).

Why This Rapper?: Flo Milli is walking proof that Capricorns are anything BUT dull. She’s wanted to be famous since she was a kid so she grinded her ass off and made big moves to get here, and she’s having a hell of a lot of fun doing it. She raps with a sense of levity — she, like you, is always laughing at the haters — but also loves to show off her skill by sliding all over the beat in sixty different flows. Both you and Flo are capable of moving mountains once you’ve set your sights on something you want, and you both make sure that it looks good as you’re doing it. There’s a reason people refer to the legends as “the GOAT” — not everybody has what it takes to tough things out to the top of the mountain!

Songs For You: when you need a minute to flex extra hard about all your hard work paying off / when you need your quality time with yourself because you got too many suitors breathing down your neck

Aquarius: Megan thee Stallion

Unconventional, innovative, and a big fan of the OG Dark Web, you must be an Aquarius!

Element: Air
Polarity: Yang
Modality: Fixed
Planet: Saturn (Traditional), Uranus (Modern)

Be honest: you had the phrase “normal is just a setting on the washing machine” in your house or on a t-shirt at some point. You couldn’t care less about what’s hot or what’s not because you’ll do your own thing either way. Sometimes the things you do crash the headlines, and other times people won’t bat their eyes at your latest “idea,” but you know that doesn’t mater — few people can say they’ve stayed true to themselves through and through. Your out-of-the-box individuality that you are so known for is easily your most attractive trait, although some might be blushing pink over your high-minded idealism. The best way to endear allies to your cause? Making sure that you don’t get so attached to an idea that you see no other way of doing things. Change only works when everybody is winning, not just those who you “think” should win!

Why This Rapper?: In true Aquarian fashion, Megan thee Stallion has the media running ragged to keep up with her. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she uses her catchy hooks appeal to a wide audience, then stuns the audiences into total silence with her lyrical prowess. She, like you, likes to do her own stunts where applicable — she often does her own makeup and wig styling for her music videos. And while you may not be rackin’ up Grammys, both you and Meg stay winners because you both don’t compromise when it comes to being your authentic self. If somebody is sweating how “out there” you are, that’s just a bonus in your eyes.

Songs For You: when a potential suitor of yours needs to know what they’re about to get into / when you’re feeling like a nostalgic baddie and need a throwback to bop to

Pisces: Kash Doll

Effervescent, flamboyant, and borderline psychic, you must be a Pisces!

Element: Water
Polarity: Yin
Modality: Mutable
Planet: Jupiter (Traditional), Neptune (Modern)

The running gag is that Pisces are tender little babbies who must be looked after at all times. But the truth of it is, everybody is coming to YOU in their greatest time of need because you know how to keep it together during a crisis! You’re also the least suspicious looking of the bunch, which means you’d be the perfect accomplice to helping somebody hide a body AND help them keep the secret. People really hate that they can’t pin you down, to which you say ‘so what?’ You trust in divine timing and know that you’ll attract folks who understand your vision without you having to explain it too much. Just be mindful of being too vague — there’s a difference between justifying yourself to undeserving people and letting your loved ones in when they feel like you’re avoiding them!

Why This Rapper?: Kash Doll proves that being a mystic and giving individual doesn’t mean you’re not hard. She is both ultra-feminine and heavy hitting, delivering her raps without so much as breaking a sweat. Like you, she is keenly aware that a part of being human is being contradictory, so you both know how to embrace your conflicting impulses without worrying too much about whether or not that “says something” about you. You both also make it abundantly clear that being open-minded is a must if somebody is trying to hang with you — you’re both the wave and everybody better gear up to surf.

Songs For You: when you’re in the mood to be hard and goofy at the same time / when you feel like flexin’ because you’re on some real #manifest shit


About the Author

Jasmine Lomax (she/her) is a freelance content creator, educator, and poet who currently resides in Seattle, Washington. When Jasmine isn’t busy ticking away at the computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, tending to her spiritual studies, and the occasional bout of crying over fictional characters.

Celebrity Case Study: Rico Nasty

You know the phrase “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do)?

It’s that, except we’re gonna make it “What Would Black Women Do” instead because that’s who’s next to godlieness right now.

Before we start, I just have to say: It has been so, so, so fucking refreshing to see my fellow Black women taking center stage these last several years. And though my focus for today is pop culture, I want it to be known that pop culture is not the only place where Black women are thriving. We owe the many Black women on the ground who have been doing local, grassroots-oriented activism for pushing political awareness out there and getting all three branches of the gov’t to flip blue — a feature not seen since the 1960s Civil Rights Era. The fact that we also have Kamala Harris front-and-center as the first (Black!) woman vice president is nothing to sneeze at either.

Kamala Harris, America's first female vice president-elect, makes history
Ms. Harris isn’t going to “save us” from the many crises that have cropped up, especially considering she has a history of endorsing pro-police policies. Still, I want to highlight this because she is the product of many Black women working together to elevate her (and others like her) to the highest positions of power. (Image (c) Philadelphia Inquirer)

But let’s take it back to pop culture here because I think that’s one of the biggest gains I’ve seen in the last half of the previous decade. Think about it: we started the 2010s in a dearth, really only having Nicki Minaj to look up to for representation in the rap game. This is not to say that she was bad (on the contrary, she put the whole genre on her back for most of the decade); rather, I’m pointing out the fact that she was literally the ONLY visible woman rapper in the game for so long. And a lot of what she had to do to gain her visibility required feats of ingenuity. She took on many personas (remember Roman?) and steered quite frequently into pop in order to garner mainstream appeal.

Then the doors started to open and we got Cardi B. Yes, she may have been “planted” by the industry as a way to artificially engineer competition for Nicki, but her staying power is cemented by her growing body of work. Better still, these labels and their attempts to create an either/or dynamic between women rappers has backfired because now we have a whole buffet to choose from. Just off the top of my head, I can list: Megan thee Stallion, Tierra Whack, Doja Cat, City Girls, Saweetie, Young M.A., HOOK, ppcocaine. Again, that’s just off the top of my head.

Suffice to say, the explosion of Black women in rap towards the end of the 2010s and into the 2020s is a very promising sign to me. The reasons for this explosion can be explained on both a mundane level — i.e. platforms like SoundCloud enabling musicians to trim the fat and avoid bullshit label deals — and on an astrological level (Uranus in Taurus is peak #divinefeminine energy if you ask me).

But I could go on for days about how the rap game changing is just one of many signs that we’re learning to honor the beauty of Black womanhood. So instead, I decided I would make this a fun little series where I pick some of my favorite Black women in the game to highlight their achievements while having some good ol’ fashioned fun with astrology.

Astrology in Action: An Overview of Rico Nasty

Maria-Cecilia Kelly (aka Rico Nasty) was born on May 7th, 1997 in Washington D.C. Normally when somebody doesn’t have a birth time I default to noon because it’s an easy catchall for at least approximating how somebody will experience their planetary placements, but I’ve opted in to setting her time for 1:00 AM for reasons we’ll be exploring below (Image (c) The Fader).

As expressed, I set her time for 1:00 AM because I remember reading this interesting article from a fellow astrologer that did the same and her placements made a lot of sense to me. I have tried to find that same article but unfortunately, nothing comes up, so let’s just start from scratch and hash it out.

If you don’t know anything about this amazing scream rapper, you don’t have to: one of the first things that will leap out at you about her is her distinguished appearance. If this approximate time is to be believed, then her Capricorn ascendant would explain her slender, compact frame. Saturn as the chart ruler “restricts” the body; she is lithe but angular, her multi-faceted personality all “contained” in a petite form. This is doubly so when we consider that Saturn is in the 2nd house (the house of both resources and material possessions), of which the body can be seen as an extension of.

How Rico decorates her body can be seen by the concentration of energy in her 1st house, especially with Uranus and Jupiter being in Aquarius. Aquarian energy is all about radicalization, and so she radicalizes herself as a form of self-expression. Again, we have a case of “doubly so” since Uranus is in domicile here — not only does she want to make a statement (“I don’t ask for shit, I demand it“) but she requires a constant reinvention in how she presents to the world. Add Jupiter, the planet of expansion and magnification into the mix, and you’ve got somebody who’s going to do it up and do it large every single day.

An few examples of Rico’s exaggerated style, which can go anywhere from punkish and tomboy to hyperfeminine. You’d be better off trying to find Carmen Sandiego than you would trying to find this woman wear the same outfit twice.

We can also attribute this desire for constant, over-the-top change in presentation to her 10H Pluto, which sextiles the cluster of planets in her 1H. The public perception that she transforms a lot is supported, even encouraged. It flows naturally from the self to her career, and being supported by Pluto’s ability to regenerate allows her to constantly transform herself.

A Quick Aside: Diving Deeper with Traditional Astrology

Method 1: Mutual Reception & Sole Depositors

Before I move on to the content of her music, I wanted to take a quick second to look at her chart using more traditional (read: Hellenistic) methods — there is, after all, never just one way to look at things.

First, let’s establish which planets take priority in her chart by going down the “Chain of Command.” That is, which planet(s) in the chart are in mutual reception with each other (transfer energy on a mutually beneficial basis), and which planet(s) are the sole depositor(s) (the planet that exert the most dominance in Rico’s life)?

Please excuse the handwriting! But here’s an example of what I mean by “Mutual Reception” and “Sole Depositor”: starting with the ascendant, I trace the planet that rules that sign (which is Saturn in the case of a Capricorn ascendant). I then see where Saturn is and trace its ruler (Mars, since Saturn is in Aries). And so on and so forth until we get to the top of the chain.

Through this method, I’ve discovered that Mars and Mercury are in Mutual Reception with each other, which tells me that it comes naturally to Rico to communicate (Mercury) her anger (Mars). She is heard loud and clear and when she is mad, there is no mistaking it for anything else! It also gives her words (which are already blunt thanks to her Mercury being in Aries) a razor sharp edge, which I believe is a major contributing factor to her style of rapping.

In addition, I have discovered that Venus and Uranus (both in their signs of rulership) act as the sole depositor to at least two planets each. They both gain a lot of power here and all of my previous statements about her Uranian impulse for change, coupled with her hyperfeminine, material loving Venusian nature “lead” the rest of the chart. This reinforces what I’ve said earlier about how, if she were born around this time, that it would explain her constantly rotating wardrobe and her love for all things pink and glittery at the same time.

Method 2: Astrology of Sect

“Astrology of Sect” is another Hellenistic concept that has to do with assessing which planets gain mofd power based on whether the person in question has a diurnal (day) chart or a nocturnal (night) chart. At the time of its conception, the then 7 classical planets (Sun-Saturn) were split up and assigned a sect.

In the daytime sect, you have the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn.

In the nighttime sect, you have the Moon, Venus, and Mars(1).

Again, coming back to Rico, I’ve chosen to establish that she’s of the nocturnal sect, so we look to the nighttime planets to see what they’re up to first.

The Moon is exalted in Taurus and Venus is domicile. Since Venus is considered a benefic (“good”) planet, Venus yet again is doing Rico nothing but favors by being here. Not only is she a deeply compassionate being who wants the best for those around her, but love is poured right back into her cup on a never-ending basis. She is rarely, if ever, lacking in her social relationships, despite the hardships and setbacks she’s faced.

As for Mars, which is considered a malefic (“bad”) planet, it’s rather neutral in Virgo. It’s not actively coming in to bust her kneecaps and slow her down, and considering we established that Mars is in harmony with Mercury, I believe the “bad” effects of Mars (which have to do with violence, anger, and accidents) are downplayed here. Instead, she gains most of Mars’ positive aspects (the drive to achieve and a healthy sexual appetite).

Sect - The Astrology Dictionary
A handy little chart to help you remember which planet goes where in case you ever want to do a deeper dive into Hellenistic Astrology (Image (c) The Astrology Dictionary).

It’s important to note that whatever gains one “team” of planet makes, the other loses out on. In this case, Jupiter’s expansive touch doesn’t reach quite as far as it’d like to, and so its potential to magnify Rico into the public eye is hampered by being “out of sect.” Similarly, Saturn (which is the other malefic) isn’t the happiest around in a night chart, so the “negative” things that it does (which is to limit and create more obstacles to overcome) are amplified here too. With Rico, it would make perfect sense: she is not shy about talking about how she came up from limited means, and it’s a fear that I believe she is still grappling with as she pushes herself harder and harder to accumulate wealth.

And Now, Have A Segway Onto the Topic of Rico’s Music

While we can also attribute Uranus and Jupiter in Aquarius for her shocking, over-the-top delivery (she is known for her ability to growl and scream in most of her raps), I think it helps that she a) has a Grand Earth Trine between Neptune, Venus, and the North Node and b) has Mars in the 8th house. Why? First, let’s look at the Grand Trine. Neptune (which is conjunct her ascendant) adds a dream-like and ethereal touch that softens up her Capricorn rising. It making pleasant aspects with Venus and her North Node means her artistry is, in a word “romanticized.” What she does is deeply inspiring to those touched by her music; we see the glamour of her persona (Neptune), love her for it (Venus), and thus, feed her “destiny” to be of service to others by disseminating her message (North Node in the 8th house). Add Mars here, and you get more clarity on the themes of her music: songs like “Rage” and “Smack a Bitch” seethe with the energy of somebody who wasn’t able to express their anger healthily because others would project onto her and tell her she was being “too much” when she really wasn’t.

A prevailing theme with those who have prominent 8H placements is that of being projected on. The 8th house deals with our shadow self and the proverbial skeletons in the closet. In this case, Mars’ energy (being about anger, action, and motivation) may have been denied to Rico when she was growing up, so she chooses to channel her frustrations through her art instead.

Of course, I don’t think Rico would have inched her way into the mainstream as quickly if her only branding was that of a punk rapper. Yes, she wears that quite proudly on her sleeve, but remember what I said about Uranus, Jupiter, and Neptune all being in the first house — the constant need for reinvention takes precedence over all. And she has proven that she can flex herself in other arenas with the production of songs like “iPhone,” which is as glitzy and hyper-popish as you can get in a song. Other songs that come to mind involve “Own It” (which is relatively “polished” and has an easy hook that draws you in despite the crystal-studded Dominatrix gear she’s rockin’) and “Lightning” (a simple, 808-heavy beat where she chooses to flex her wordplay prowess by sliding on and around the beat). She is, in a single word, versatile.

One other big thing I’ve noticed about Rico is the repeated emphasis of food and money in her lyrics — a very Taurean trait to have, yes, but the Sun-Moon conjunction is yet again a “doubly so” circumstance since it’s something that she both identifies with (Sun being ego) AND finds comfort in (Moon being emotional security). Though her Sun and Moon are not a part of her Grand Trine, this dominance of Earth energy grounds her eccentric tastes into something more concrete. She’s not just talking about getting paper — she is getting the paper.

I think “OHFR” is a good summary of everything Rico is at her best. She is out there and radical in who she is, but she moves with a sense of purpose. Her rebellion is grounded in a practical desire to provide for her family and be secure, both very Taurean matters.

I also think it explains why she comes off as very spikey and aggressive in her music, but quite soft-spoken in her personal life. This is not to say who you see isn’t the “real” Rico Nasty, but only a faucet of somebody who is truly a gentle spirit. Using music as a safe haven to vent her grievances, it frees her up in her private life (a 4th House matter, which is where her Sun, Moon, and domicile Venus are) to focus on what she loves, which is spending quality time with her family. By making sure she spends downtime recharging in-between tours and recording sessions, she re-emerges into the public eye with a renewed sense of vigor, eager to take the world by storm once again.

Lastly, the concentration of energy in the 4H makes her core motives “accessible” to her fans because they are concerns most anybody can relate to. Of course there’s the matter of wanting to eat well and provide for loved ones, but it’s also in the way she chooses to make her political stances known. There may not be some eloquent, sweeping statement on the current sociopolitical landscape of America in her lyrics, but using her platform to help other Black women artists gain exposure is more radical than anything she could say. In true Taurus fashion, she is learning to use her power to lead by example.

Just a cute little interview I wanted to post because this is another perfect example of her 4H energies coming out. Despite her tough-as-nails persona, she still loves soft, glittery colors and is quite “girly” in her spare time. You’ll also note how “delicate” she sounds when she talks, which only endears her to her fans, me included.

A Sneak Peek: Where Will She Go From Here?

A feature I want to include in my #WWBWD series will be a mini “sneak peek” at where I think the person in question COULD go based on progressions and those interactions to her natal chart(2).

I’m choosing progressions over transits for one simple reason: Progressions speak to longer-term energies and reflect the person’s inner process as they navigate changes over an extended period of time. This is not to say that transits DON’T work, but transits are better for looking at specific moments of time (whereas we can track an individual’s progression over the course of a couple of years by getting a feel for what themes might be coming up). It’s always a fun exercise for an astrologer who’s trying to get their chops!

The progressions are set based on the date of writing this, which is January 23rd, 2021.

When we look at (secondary) progressions, we pay attention to the Moon first. In this case, we note that it’s just clocked in at 0° Aries (which only screams URGENCY as she frantically pushes herself to get more projects out and rake in the dough). Though she has some time — up to a year, I surmise — before the progressed Moon approaches conjunction with her natal Saturn, I get the sense that she’s working on setting up structures to ensure these money-making projects come to fruition in a tangible, sustainable way. There may be some setbacks and frustrations as she meets this goal, but I see this as evidence that her goal for 1B is not just talk so long as she can weather the delays of getting there.

What’s more, her MC has since migrated into Sagittarius, where it’s conjunct her natal Pluto. Already having a natal MC in Scorpio is a traditional indicator in astrology for amassing wealth through fame (remember that Scorpio has some associations to the 8H, which deals with gaining resources through the “other”) — but now that her MC is conjunct her 10H ruler, she’s set up to increase her appeal and really take off. Because Pluto is a slow moving energy, her fame may not be as sudden as that of her peers, but the trade-off is that she’s going to be in the game for a longer period of time.

The other factors that I think will be helping her along in her endeavor is her prog. Mercury conjunct her 4H planets and her prog. Sun entering Gemini (which rules her 5th house).

Mercury here tells me she’ll be more vocal about her private life. I have noticed that, as her son gets older, she hasn’t been as shy about showing off and discussing how she spends time with him. This extends into her lyrics — she’s been using her son as another source of creative inspiration to keep heading off in new directions lyrically (i.e. “I call you my son ‘cus you actin’ like a kid”).

The prog. Sun, on the other hand, suggests her dating life may start entering the limelight — the one part of her life I feel has been kept so under wraps that it’s hard to glean who she is and isn’t dating, if she is at all! Curious fans are going to love learning about it of course, but the Sun here also tells me she’s going to learn to have more fun in her relationships and express her sexuality in a more light-hearted matter (which we’re already getting snippets of from songs like “Pussy Poppin'”).

Considering that Rico Nasty is my favorite living artist right now, I have a personal investment in seeing her career flourish. She has been living out the pop-punk fantasy I have long dreamed of seeing hit the mainstream, and I see her as a leader in pushing the punk rap genre forward. As she continues to tweak her sounds and push her presence forward, I just want to applaud her as one of the many Black woman who’s definitely one killing it right now. Let’s hope this energy keeps flourishing as we inch forward into the new decade.

This one isn’t meant for anything specific. I just think it’s so good that I need everybody who’s reading this to listen to it and bop.

(1) Mercury, true to its two sided nature, can be either/or depending on certain conditions that I won’t get into today just so this article doesn’t become 50 pages long.

(2) Just wanted to make a small note here that you’ll see my chart images change. This is because I use both Janus Light and astro.com to do my readings, as Janus Light does not support progressions of any kind. I eventually hope to upgrade but until that time comes, please bear with me as I toggle with the two!


About the Author

Jasmine Lomax (she/her) is a freelance content creator, educator, and poet who currently resides in Seattle, Washington. When Jasmine isn’t busy ticking away at the computer, she enjoys reading, swimming, tending to her spiritual studies, and the occasional bout of crying over fictional characters.

References

Cardi B: How the Rapper Escaped Poverty to Top Billboard
Nicki Minaj is the Greatest Rapper of the Decade
Rico Nasty Rediscovers Who She Really Is

Celebrity Case Study: Kurt Cobain

If you read my previous post about the astrological marker that Vaporwave has left in the music world, then this post likely comes as no surprise to you. Nonetheless, this post is overdue for me as I’ve been itching to talk about it for a while.

And there’s much I can say about it — about Kurt Cobain — without even touching the natal chart. We are talking about a person whose fame has seemingly transcended time, his memory still a fresh imprint now two generations removed; their most popular song broke one billion views on Youtube — a rarity shared only by 178 other videos since its inception in 2005. The acoustic guitar he played at the now iconic 1993 MTV Unplugged Show has also recently sold for $6 million, making it the most expensive one to ever sell at an auction.

On and on I can go. My own bias aside, there is a clear, measurable impact that Kurt continues to leave decades after he took his exit from Earth. After all, it’s hard not to be inspired by the electric genius that was his music, or by his rage against the bullshit treatment marginalized identities get. “Grunge” may be the genre, but “punk” was his spirit.

A wise man once said that Nirvana cut the popular Hair Metal genre of the 80’s down “like wheat before the sickle.” How else can you describe a song that revolutionized an entire decade of music and pop culture?

Of course, the astrology in this man’s natal chart has also been turned and spun a decent amount of times. I’ve read excellent breakdowns about just how influential the Grand Water Trine in his chart and his ability to make his art flow like water. I’ve also read about the drowning influence of Neptune (due to the fact that five planets were located in watery Pisces) and how it came to create a person whose compassion for the masses’ suffering, and his sensitivity to the constant limelight, made him feel as if he was constantly drowning.

All this is to say I agree with it. None of those feats would be possible without the dream-like dissolution Neptune brings. Or the fact that the concentration of planets in Pisces wouldn’t create anything less of a person who is constantly aching to merge with all of humanity.

I’m writing this, however, because I want to see more love letters to the potency that is his Grand Kite formation.

The natal chart of Kurt Cobain, born February 20th, 1967 with a recorded time of 7:38 P.M. The location is set for Aberdeen, WA. I outlined the pattern in his chart for clarity.

Let’s start with a quick refresher on what a Grand Trine is. If you are still newer to the language of astrology, a Grand Trine is a configuration of 3 (or more) planets that all reside in signs of the same element. In Kurt’s instance, the afromentioned pattern occurs because Neptune in Scorpio chats with Jupiter in Cancer, who then have a three-way conversation with the Mercury-Venus-Saturn configuration going on in Pisces.

“Come, doused in mud, soaked in bleach — ” I’m not even going to add much here. The resonate, watery themes are exactly what you can expect from a Grand Water Trine

As wonderful as this all sounds, no position, aspect, or pattern is without its shadow side. Trines are generally considered positive because the communication between planets simply flows without resistance, which is why the trine aspect requires that planets be in the same element — who else could understand the plight of an element’s fundamental nature better than itself? But the lack of tension present here means sometimes that it’s easy to ignore your hidden potential. Talent may come so naturally that working hard seems pointless. You can just do it.

The difference between a Grand Trine and a Grand Kite is the introduction of at least two sextiles and at an opposition; it’s fun little astrological pattern that shows a burgeoning karmic potential. Consider: before Nevermind, Nirvana was a band that could only afford one $600 session to record their album. The sudden shoot to the top of charts after years of grinding behind the scenes has Jupiter being in the 10th house written all over it, thanks to the expansive nature of the planet in its sign of domicile. And keep in mind that Neptune, Pisces’ modern planetary ruler, is off being the other sextile in this configuration in the chatty 3rd house. This only doubles down on the elusive nature of Kurt’s lyrics, considering the way he chose to express himself and communicate was rarely straightforward.

Now consider the crown of this pattern: the opposition. As Lynn Koiner writes, “the key to understanding the dilemma of the Kite is in understanding the influence of the opposition.” Oppositions in a natal chart indicate a conflict of energies that the individual is constantly battling; this configuration can make one teeter back and forth between two split impulses, their frustrations with integrating these contradictions projected both out and in. Even without considering the planetary bodies spearheading this Grand Kite, oppositions can be the source of great tension.

But consider them we should. Every astrologer who uses the modern system will tell you Pluto is no joke. This is the planet that causes the deepest disruptions in our psyche, both personal and collective. Power is everything to this planet; it is an all-consuming and all-or-nothing energy that leaves no room for moderation. When you pair it off with an eccentric, marches-to-its-own-beat kind energy like Uranus, you’re going to get a revolutionary who craves constant, enduring change.

There is more than just Neptune at play when we take a deeper dive into Nirvana’s music. For example, listen to this guitar solo (time: 2:29) on this cover Kurt did at his Live at Reading performance. The way he pulls off from the established backdrop of the bass and drums in a rancorous wail, then end it with frantic screaming — the sudden change (Uranus) in tempo comes in raw, unfiltered, and disruptive as hell (Pluto).

The Pluto-Uranus conjunction pinned so neatly to Kurt’s ascendant is reflective of the era he was born in. I don’t think we need to take much of a history lesson here; the 1960s stands out in our mind as one of the most iconic eras for the Civil Rights Movement, a time fraught with constant violence and the emergence of radical schools of thought a la Malcom X. There was also manifestation of things like second-wave feminism, the Free Love Movement, and a renown urge to explore radical, out-there drugs like LSD — all expressions of a potent conjunction that wanted to tell the system to fuck off in every way possible. Since planetary configurations like this come only every so often (in this case, anywhere from 111 – 146ish years), having one so powerful sit on the ascendant means his very being felt compelled to push boundaries constantly, and at any cost.

This is why that, despite how “quick” Nirvana’s success seemed, it was anything but. The Grand Kite pattern can supersede a Grand Trine when it can be realized because the opposition often compels the individual to put their potential out in the world. Before and during the band’s “official” inception in 1988, Kurt was filling notebooks with fake interviews that he came up with, constantly thinking about how he wanted to respond to potential questions he might receive about his music. He would also fill his journals with mock-ups for his music videos, and was known to be finicky about who he worked with to make sure the creative direction was honored. It’s on record that when the director for “Heart Shaped Box” declined to do any more music videos in fear that he couldn’t live up to Kurt’s expectations, Kurt said he would never make another music video again (and he didn’t — “You Know You’re Right” is a posthumous release.)

In finances too does this impulse show up: regarding the infamous 1992 dispute over Nevermind’s royalties, Nick Soulsby states that “Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl receive[d] a cut on only eleven Nirvana songs including 12.5% each on Smells Like Teen Spirit, [with] Kurt receiving the remaining 75% on those songs.” Put simply, the control of finances and the conscious manipulation of the band’s image is nothing short of the Plutonian impulse for power (the added layer of a Pluto-Saturn opposition going on his chart would have only stressed his rigid discipline and issues with control).

"I'm Kurt Cobain and I'm in a dress! Fuck You!" Lol
Journal entries like these reveal the amount of thought Kurt put into the artistry behind the band. It was easy to believe the “slacker” image he put on considering both what he said and how he dressed, but I can’t imagine a slacker ending up with being hailed as one of the greatest artists of all time on accident.

None of this is to discredit the power of Uranus here either. To sent trends, thinking outside of the box is crucial; how else to do it than through the flashy, lighting-bolt inspiration that Uranus gifts us? Such futuristic insight often means that the ingenuity isn’t understood until years — sometimes decades — after. However, the beneficial aspects the Pluto-Uranus conjunction was receiving from a happy Jupiter and a content Neptune I believe offset the lag time that sometimes comes with these heavy configurations. Not to mention that there was already momentum from the Seattle sound (“grunge”) pushing Kurt along. It just so happens that in activating this pattern, he was able to articulate most clearly the collective’s trauma by channeling his razor sharp awareness (Uranus) through his Piscean energy, creating a sound that is equal parts harrowed and melodic. Talk about seeing into the year 3000.

This configuration is not without its downsides. The constant tension that demands resolution in the opposition can be stressful. Being that Pluto (who also rules death) and Uranus (which can herald sudden endings) lead the way, we recall all the near-death instances Kurt had towards the later part of his career — he nearly overdosed during promotion of In Utero in July of 1993, and then again in March of 1994. There’s also the matter of his stomach issues, which he has been quoted saying were so bad that it made him consider suicide. Since Uranus is the modern co-ruler of Aquarius, which in turn rules the 6th house cusp, the erratic nature of this planet has caused many fits and starts with the stability of Kurt’s health. The fact that his Sun is tied up here means the chronic illness he experienced often weakened his vitality; the experience was very personal.

There was also the on-again, off-again nature of his heroin addiction. The Pluto-Uranus conjunction is on his ascendant, yes, but hiding just behind it, which puts it in the 12th house of subconscious matters. It seems he would have these Uranian flashes of insight now and again that made him aware of his self-destruction, but Pluto here can make it hard to access (and heal) up the traumas that compel one into addictive behaviors. It felt like a black hole in his life that he could not fix; being that the conjunction opposes Venus in the 7th, it could have been that, when he felt he was not receiving the assurance and love he so deeply craved, he would turn back to his old tricks in an effort to salve the wound (and this is only emphasized by the fact that the conjunction is also opposing his Chiron, which is the asteroid that symbolizes the ‘wound we cannot heal’). Such wounds are left to fester when they cannot be dredged up into the light.

Here’s an example of this illustrious configuration being triggered by transiting aspects that were expressed negatively. On October 22nd, 1992, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love made a series of threatening phone calls to journalist Victoria Clarke. Transiting Mars is conjunct both his natal Moon and Jupiter, indicating emotional unrest (Moon) that kept growing (Jupiter). The transiting Sun is also conjunct his Natal Mars in Scorpio. In domicile, Mars’ fiery temper flowed freely; because Kurt felt his home life was under attack, he went on the offensive, encouraged by the transiting Sun to take matters into his own hands (“If anything comes out that hurts my wife, I’ll f*cking hurt you.”)

I’m not going to re-hash the events of his death because I feel that is territory too well tread, and I want this to be more of a love letter than I do an eulogy. With that being said, I will briefly point out that Pluto, being in the lower degree of the conjunction, is firmly in control of the chart, to the point that I would argue it is 2nd only to Neptune. Think about it: we’ve discussed how Pluto oversees death and wealth. How is it that the Cobain estate was able to balloon from a modest $50 million at the time of his death to the $450 million empire it is today? We are still talking about the man whose guitar was the most expensive to ever be sold off at an auction, after all. It helps that his North Node is off in 8H Taurus (which if you recall from my previous article on Surviving an 8th House transit, is the house that pertains to, you guessed it, death and other’s resources). Taurus is not a fan of being in the 8th because it wants to hold on to what it possesses, but the karmic trigger to share his material abundance is already set. Not to mention it can overlook “letting go” in this instance because Taurus here is providing for those it loves. Think about it: he has been able to ensure that both his wife and his daughter, Frances, can live comfortably for the rest of their lives should they choose to never work again.

Here’s an example of astrology in action even long after the chart bearer has passed. Using progressions as my method of analysis, we can see that his progressed moon at the time of the guitar being sold (June 20th, 2020) is in conjunction with his Gemini MC. Clearly, he continues to evoke resonant emotions in the public eye. Then there is also the matter of his progressed Mercury passing over the Venus-Saturn conjunction. The auction is just one more way Cobain lives on; I have reason to believe that the new owner of his guitar has nothing but serious (Saturn) love (Venus) for the late frontman, which he spoke about quite candidly (Mercury) in the interviews I skimmed.

Revisiting what Lynn Koiner has wrote about the Grand Kite formation and how the opposition is the crux that makes the wheels turn, “the opposition requires much self-examination to utilize effectively, to resolve the conflict and harness its power. ” Compromise was necessary to utilize the natural talents inherit in his Grand Water Trine, but the compromise was that he had to trade his comfort for anonymity by accepting his status as a superstar. It may seem that he couldn’t do it (considering he’s no longer walks with us on this plane), but I would argue that he has fulfilled his destiny by living on decades after the fact. Not to say that we don’t want him here with us (I would always want that!); but rather, that we should do well to appreciate his transformative insights on what it is to hurt, to love, to rebel, and to live through the power of his music.

Pin oleh Inoue Chika di Nirvana | Kurt cobain, Tokoh sejarah, Musisi
If you don’t think “kill a politician and wear his clothes” is the most metal ass thing a Pluto-Uranus person could say, then I don’t know what to tell you.

References

31 Years Ago: Nirvana Release Their Debut Album
Cobain’s ‘Unplugged’ Guitar Sells for Record $6 Million
Ownership of Nirvana, Part One
Victoria Clarke, “My Adventures with Kurt and Courtney”
Suffering and Success: The Astrology of Kurt Cobain
Tom Petty on Nirvana’s Success
THE KITE PATTERN