Rapper isn’t controversial for controversy’s sake
Tokischa says she’s just expressing what she has lived, seen
Dominican rapper Tokischa’s raps — set to trap, dembow and reggaeton beats— are wildly explicit celebrations of sexual freedom, drugs and party culture. Odes, as she says in one song, to “divine filth.”
Her open-book sexuality — she is proudly bisexual, has spoken about her years as a sex worker and recently dressed as a vagina at a major awards show — has made her a queer and feminist icon in the male-dominated world of urbano music. That coupled with her rapid-fire flow, has earned her collaborations with stars including J Balvin and Rosalia.
Tokischa, 26, has, predictably, clashed with conservatives in the Dominican Republic, who have alternatively sought to censor her music videos, jail her for posing in lingerie in front of a religious altar and ban her from performing during the height of the pandemic because of her habit of making out with female fans. But she has also contended with criticism from progressives who have accused her of perpetuating misogynist and even racist stereotypes.
Like the long lineage of female pop provocateurs before her, from Madonna to Lil’ Kim to Cardi B, Tokischa understands that scandal is in no way incompatible with record sales. “The more they try to ban me, the more people want me,” she says.
She also grasps the double standard at play, one in which a male Dominican rapper like El Alfa can rap about sex as crudely as Tokischa does “and nobody says anything
about it.”
But what Tokischa would really like people to know is that she isn’t controversial for controversy’s sake. Her work, she says, is inspired by her own experiences and those of the people around her.
“They say I promote all this bad stuff,” Tokischa said. “But I express what I’ve lived through, what I’ve seen.”
Take the song “Desacato Escolar,” in which she describes students fighting, smoking weed and having sex at school. “The government got mad at me because I talk about how bad education is in my country,” she said. “They’re like, ‘You’re promoting bad habits.’ But that’s what I used to do in school. That’s what everybody does there.”
Born Tokischa Altagracia Peralta, she spent her childhood shuffling between the homes of various relatives in Santo
Domingo Este. Her father was in jail, and her mother left when she was 3 years old to work in the U.S. as a home health nurse.
From a young age, Tokischa rebelled against the island’s conservative values, cutting school, talking back to teachers and sneaking listens to dembow, which peppers accelerated Jamaican dancehall riddims with slang-heavy, explicit lyrics.
She quickly ascertained that it meant something different to be engaged in such activities as a girl. Her male cousins were given free reign to roam the neighborhood, while she had to sneak out of the house. When her brother discovered her kissing a female friend, he beat her, but when he later got his young girlfriend pregnant, “nobody got mad.”
After high school, where she sought outlets to explore her interest in theater and dance, she
entered a dark period that she refers to now as the “underworld.” She worked at a FedEx call center and often showed up high on cocaine or ecstasy. Eventually, around age 19, she turned to sex work, entering “sugar daddy” relationships with a string of older, drug-addicted men.
Evidence of that phase covers her body. She has the letters LSD inked on her left wrist, a marijuana leaf on her butt cheek and the word “coke” on the inside of her right thigh. Her tattoos contrast with her innocent-looking face — big cheeks, wide eyes, huge smile — and earned her modeling gigs.
A 2016 session with photographer and director Raymi Paulus provided a path out of the underworld. Paulus, who had also found refuge in creativity during his own tumultuous upbringing in a poor neighborhood, had been looking for a musical artist to represent as a manager. He took Tokischa into the studio and produced videos for her that mixed her twerking with his hippiestoner aesthetics. By 2018, Tokischa was moving off hard drugs, and they had released their first hit.
A string of songs including last year’s “Yo No Me Voy Acostar,” in which she raps in her signature coy voice about being high on molly and enjoying the affections of “a little girlfriend who kisses me,” drew the attention of major artists like Bad Bunny, who declared himself a fan.
The international spotlight has been a lot for Tokischa, who had never left the Dominican Republic before last year and who survived the pandemic with income from Only Fans.
When Rosalia reached out and asked her to add a verse to “La Combi Versace,” a song about high fashion for her new album “Motomami,” Tokischa had to go shopping.
“I had never even seen Versace, so how could I write about it?” she said.
But her sudden thrust into the highest echelons of pop music hasn’t been without stumbles.
The Paulus-directed video for “Perra,” Tokischa’s 2021 collaboration with J Balvin, was taken down amid widespread anger over its representations of Afro-Carribean women, in particular a scene in which Balvin, a white Colombian, uses a leash to walk two women wearing prosthetics designed to make them look like animals. Some feminists also criticized Tokischa’s rap in the song, in which she compares herself to a dog in heat.
Earlier this year, Tokischa quickly deleted an Instagram post in which she defended Rochy RD, a rapper she has collaborated with who has been charged with paying to have sex with a minor. Tokischa had written that underage girls and boys have always been “hustling for their money.”
Tokischa offered a sort of half-apology after the “Perra” video, telling Rolling Stone: “I’m truly sorry that people felt offended. But at the same time, art is expression.”
She says blowback from the incidents doesn’t bother her and that she doesn’t really care about what anybody thinks about her, “as long as I’m cool with God.”
She knows God might not be pleased with all of her choices, but hopes that he or she would at least understand them. “I live off my sexuality right now at this point,” she said. “I know God doesn’t like it, but he knows I need to hustle and survive.”
One thing is clear: There are many others who love exactly what Tokischa is doing.
OPENING
Everyday Rhythms: Music at the Mercer: Explores some common uses of music and musical instruments, shared across many regions, people and cultures. Opens June
10. Through Dec. 31. Mercer Museum, 84 S. Pine St., Doylestown. 215-345-0210. mercermuseum.org.
Lehigh Art Alliance Plein Air Nazareth Art Exhibit:
A selection of art by artists depicting outdoor scenes in Nazareth. Opening reception, 2-4 p.m. June 5. Through
July 10. Nazareth Cemter for the Arts, 30 Belvidere St., Nazareth. 484-554-5867nazaretharts.org.
ONGOING
ARTHAUS AT THE MEZZ, MARRIOTT RENAISSANCE, 645 Hamilton St., Allentown. Dialogue of Common Objects: Pam Dent and Sue Biebuyck. Reception, 5:307:30 p.m. May 19. Through June 18. People, Places & Plants: Paintings by Gerald Simcoe. Reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 16. Through Aug. 31.
ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF DREXEL UNIVERSITY, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. 215-299-1000. Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss: Explore newly discovered life forms, thermal vents, deep-sea research submersibles, and shipwrecks including the Titanic. Through July 24. ansp.org.
ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM, 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown. 610-432-4333. Eclectic Collecting:
Curiosities from the Vault: From gemstones and seventeenth-century German tankards to ancient Pompeian oil jars, exhibit celebrates artworks that don’t often make it on display. Through Sept. 18. allentownartmuseum.org.
AMERICA ON WHEELS, 5 N. Front St., Allentown. 610-432-4200. Making Life an Adventure:
Outdoors is Always More Fun!: Exhibit showcases having fun outdoors featuring 1959 H&H Fiberglass Boat & Gator Trailer. Also, 1964 Studebaker, 1969 Buick Wagon, 1970 VW Westfalia Van, 1953 Mercury, 1972 Scotty camper, 1963 Greenbrier Van, 1055 Hudson, 1961 Corvette, Fin Boat, more. Through Oct. 31. americaonwheels.org.
ART SCHNECK OPTICAL COMPANY, 720 Harrison St., Emmaus. 610-9654066. Judy Leichssenring: Through July 31.
BANANA FACTORY, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem. 610-332-1300. Harmony:
A showcase of conformity and/ or compatibility of colors, moods, textures, styles, emotions and creativity presented by the National Association of Women Artists. Through July 10. Queering Care: The exhibition is guest curated and juried by artist and arts educator Rei Ukon and invites artists to explore how Queer communities have and continue to expand, reframe and redefine
what it means to care for one another, as a form of affection, strategy for survival and beyond. Through Aug. 14. bananafactory.org.
BERKS HISTORY CENTER, 940 Centre Ave., Reading. 610-375-4375. A Snapshot in Time: The Photography Collection of Dr. William A. Haman: Showcase of Haman’s unique glass plate negatives and glass lantern slides, each developed into a crystal-clear image that offers a glimpse into the daily lives of diverse people in Berks County and beyond during the late 1800s. berkshistory.org.
BETHLEHEM TOWN HALL ROTUNDA GALLERY, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. PRI(NT)SM: A Color Wheel of Prints: Works by members of the Printmakers Society of the Lehigh Valley represent specific colors to transform the circular Rotunda Gallery into a life-size color wheel. Through June 24. bfac-lv. com.
CORPORA GALLERY, LEHIGH VALLEY CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS, 321 E. Third St., Bethlehem. 610-868-2971. Senior Student Art Exhibition: Varied works of senior students including various mediums. Through June 20. CharterArts.org.
DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER, 3145 Hamilton Boulevard Bypass, Allentown. 484-664-1002. Playing With Light: Engage in an array of light, laser and lens-based experiences, including freezing your shadows, mixing colored lights, discovering how to shake your own hand and make a laser beam bounce down a stream of water. Also, table-top style exhibits involving light islands, fiber-optics and lenses, paint with light using special virtual paint brushes, and design unique drawings on iPads and project them on the wall. Through Sept. 18. davincisciencecenter.org.
HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton. 610-756-6961. Mountain
Magic: Berks County artist Jon Bond presents 42 original works that capture the magic, mystique and harsh beauty of Hawk Mountain and the rural landscape of Albany Township. Through June 24. hawkmountain.org.
JEFFREY GROVE, 184 Main St., Emmaus. 610-9674600. Betty Allender: Through July 31.
KALMBACH MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER, 200 Cotton St., Macungie. 610-965-1140. Sylvia Roth: Through July 31.
KEMERER MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS, 427 N. New St., Bethlehem. 1800360. A Glimpse Through Glass: Explores the forms, functions, and social history of different types of glass by looking at glass through the lens of art, culture, and community. Through Aug. 28. historicbethlehem.org.
LIBERTY BELL MUSEUM, 622 Hamilton St., Allentown. 610-435-4232. Liberty Bell Museum’s 60th Anniversary: A Silver Jubilee: Exhibit tells the story of the Liberty Bell coming to Zion’s church during the Revolutionary War and how residents played a significant part in the American Revolution.
The stories drove several community members to take the initiative and found the Liberty Bell Shrine. Through Sept. 24. LibertyBellMuseum.org.
LOWER MACUNGIE LIBRARY, 3450 Brookside Road, Macungie. 610-9666864. Jill Stanley: Through June 30.
LUTHER CREST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, 800 Hausman Road, Whitehall Township. 610-391-8202. Valerie Schramak and Deb Haaf: Through June 30.
MICHENER ART MUSEUM, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown. 215-340-9800. Keith Harding: A Radiant Legacy: A private collection of more than 100 works, the show contains unique and notable pieces, including two rare Subway drawings, complete
suites of many of the artist’s icon print series and Medusa Head (the largest print in the artist’s oeuvre). Through July 31. michenerartmuseum.org.
MORAVIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 214 E. Center St., Nazareth. 610-759-5070. Charting the Unknown: Early Moravian Maps: Exhibition explores surveying techniques, the conflicts between indigenous communities and Europeans, and the Moravian contributions to surveying, early cartography, and town planning through archival documents, historic maps, and objects from the collection of the Moravian Historical Society. Through Dec. 29. moravianhistory.org.
MUSSELMAN JEWELERS, 420 Main St., Bethlehem. 610-248-3460. Levity:
Collective works by Tina Cantelmi and Teri Haddad celebrates optimistic art and is representative of faith, hope, and conviviality. Through June 24.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY, 602 E. Second St., Bethlehem. 610-694-6644. The Works of a Mechanical Genius:
The Legacy of John Fritz: Explore the early decades of the Bethlehem Iron Company and examine Fritz’s impact on work, technology, defense, and the rapid cultural changes experienced during the 20th Century. Through Oct. 15. nmih.org.
NURTURE NATURE CENTER, 518 Northampton St., Easton. 610-253-4432. Climate Conversations:
A collaboration of eight mid-career female artists from the Midwest and East Coast strangers to each other until the formed a book discussion group over Zoom to wait out the pandemic and offer each other insight and support. Through June 30. nurturenaturecenter.org.
PENN STATE LEHIGH VALLEY RONALD K. DE LONG GALLERY, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley. 610-285-5261. Parkland Art League Members Exhibition: Work from 21 regional member artists of the
Parkland Art League. Closing reception, 1-3 p.m. July 8. lehighvalley.psu.edu.
PENNYPACKER MILLS, 5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville. 610-2879349. Stereographing America: A 3D History of Stereocards: Discover the evolution of 3-D devices from the original Wheatstone stereoscope, the Brewster stereoscopic design, and the popular Holmes hand-held model. Through Jan. 31. montcopa.org.
READING PUBLIC MUSEUM, 500 Museum Road, Reading. 610-371-5850. Real Bodies:
Explores life by displaying real, perfectly preserved human bodies and more anatomical specimens. Also, new content designed to help understand the complex and cascading effect the COVID-19 virus has on the systems of the body. Through Sept. 18. readingpublicmuseum.org.
SIGAL MUSEUM, 342 Northampton St., Easton. 610-253-1222. ACE Small Works Show: Showcases the diversity of the artist membership through small works of various media in many styles. Through June
18. Another American’s Autobiography: Selections from the Petrucci Family Foundation’s Collection of African American Art.: Selected works explore American patriotism and identity as it relates to the Black American experience and addresses the challenges of Black patriotism and the circumstances that complicate the relationship between Black Americans and this country. Through July 10. sigalmuseum.org.
SNOW GOOSE GALLERY, 470 Main St., Bethlehem. 610-974-9099. The Art of the Miniature XXX: 450 paintings and sculptures by 94 world-renowned artists. Through June 12. thesnowgoosegallery.com.
SOUTH BETHLEHEM GREENWAY, Bethlehem. Thinking Through Drawing:
South Bethlehem Greenway: Think through the many forms and functions of drawing, exploring examples from the Lehigh University museum collection and the community with works by Natalie Alper, Keith Haring, Jose Clemente Orozco, Yingyi Cao, Maurice Prendergast, George Segal, Anita Weschler, more. Self-guided tour begins at either South New Street, or Trone Street, walking the length of the Greenway. Through Aug. 31. luag.lehigh. edu.
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH FINE ARTS GALLERY, 330 Ferry St., Easton. 610-905-1767. Then There is the Woman:
Art by the women who are part of the Journey Home program, a reentry program for women inside and outside of the county jail. Through June 5.
STUDIO B FINE ART GALLERY, 39A E. Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown. Reflection:
Exhibit challenging artists to present an aspect of the word that the Oxford English dictionary devotes six columns to defining. Through June 19. studiobbb.org.