Aja (entertainer)
Aja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 4, 1994[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | |
| Known for | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Associated acts | Shilow |
| Website | ajakween |
Aja (born January 4, 1994)[1] is an American rapper, reality television personality and drag queen[2][3][4] best known for competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Aja released their debut EP, In My Feelings, in 2018, followed by their debut studio album, BOX Office, in February 2019. Their second EP, ALL CAPS, was released in June 2019.[5][6][7] They released Nail in the Coffin, a Halloween-themed EP, in collaboration with Shilow later that year.[8] They currently host the web series Ayo Sis on WOW Presents Plus.
Early life
Aja was born on January 4, 1994, in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.[1][3][9] They were raised by adoptive parents.[3] They used to suffer from PTSD and anxiety, attributing them to a "broken family" situation, but stopped having panic attacks after starting drag.[10] They lived as a trans woman for a year at age 18, later coming to identify as genderqueer after learning about non-binary gender identities.[2][7] Aja identifies as a person of color.[11] In 2018, they stated on Twitter that they are of Moroccan, Egyptian and Libyan descent.[12][13] Later, in a 2019 Tweet, they stated that they are not of Libyan descent.[14]
Career
Aja began doing drag in Manhattan at age 16, participating in contests at Posh Bar, the Stonewall Inn, Metropolitan Bar and Sugarland.[10] They were announced as one of 14 contestants for the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race on February 2, 2017.[15] Aja placed ninth that season and subsequently returned to participate in the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.[16] Aja was eliminated during the fifth episode of All Stars 3, but they returned in the following episode to compete for a chance to win re-entry to the competition.[17][18] Another contestant, Morgan McMichaels, rejoined instead, which placed Aja seventh overall.[18]
The drag house Haus of Aja, based in Bedford–Stuyvesant, includes members Aja, Kandy Muse, Momo Shade, Dahlia Sin, and Janelle No5.[19][20] They perform at Hardware Bar.[21]
Aja appeared in a commercial for H&M's Pride OUT Loud campaign in May 2018.[22] Since June 2018, Aja has hosted a talk show called Ayo Sis on WOW Presents Plus.[23] In May 2019, Aja was sponsored by Starbucks to promote the company's S'Mores Life contest.[24]
In July 2018, Aja announced that they no longer wish to be known as a drag queen but rather as a queer artist, stating to them. magazine:
[B]eing a queer artist is more generalized, and being a drag queen is way more specific. I know I kind of let go of the idea of being a drag queen because, for most people, the stereotypical drag queen lip syncs and performs. I've been working on my burlesque and my live music, and I don't really have the drive to dance and flip flop and be doing dips and, 'Is she gonna jump from there?' It's just not something I want to do. It's something that is part of me, but it's not something that I'm carrying into the future, so I'm kind of leaving the term behind.[2]
For the next three years, Aja focused primarily on their musical career. In September 2021, they stated that they would again begin performing in drag. After seeing Kylie Sonique Love win the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Aja said: "It really hit me at that moment that trans is who I am and drag is what I do,... that me doing drag has never taken away from who I am as a person.... As of today I can feel comfortable to say that I am a drag artist again."[4]
Music
Aja released the single "Level Ya Pussy Up" with producers WNNR and DJ Accident Report in February 2017.[25] Aja's single with fellow season 9 queens Sasha Velour, Peppermint and Alexis Michelle, titled "C.L.A.T.", was released on April 21, 2017.[26][27] The track was produced by DJ Mitch Ferrino, who was featured on "Purse First" by Bob the Drag Queen.[28] Producer Adam Joseph remixed Aja's rant about fellow season 9 queen Valentina in a track called "Linda Evangelista".[29][30][31] In September 2017, Aja appeared in the music video for Velo's song "Big D*ck Daddy" alongside Phi Phi O'Hara.[32]
On March 1, 2018, Aja released a solo music video, "Finish Her!", which was produced in collaboration with WNNR and DJ Accident Report. It features some of Aja's runway looks from All Stars 3.[33] Their debut EP, In My Feelings, was released on May 11, 2018.[34] Videos for two other songs from In My Feelings, "Brujería" and "I Don't Wanna Brag", were released on May 7, 2018, and July 13, 2018, respectively.[35][36] Aja's second EP, All Caps, was released on June 28, 2019.[5]
Aja's debut studio album, BOX Office, was released on February 7, 2019.[37] The album consists of fifteen tracks and includes features from Shea Couleé and CupcakKe.[38] A music video for the album's single "Jekyll & Hyde" (featuring Shilow) was released ahead of the album on February 1, 2019.[39] On September 27, 2019, Aja released a Halloween-themed collaborative EP with Shilow titled Nail in the Coffin.[40] It was preceded by the music videos for its singles "Mama Chola" (featuring Amira Wang) on August 30, 2019, and "The Purge" on September 23, 2019.[41][42]
Personal life
Aja resides in New York City.[43] They use singular they pronouns.[3][44]
Just before filming season 9 of Drag Race, Aja was in a situation of domestic violence with a previous boyfriend.[45] In December 2017, Aja and their current boyfriend were kicked out of a Lyft after kissing.[11][46] The driver was later fired, and the company issued a statement of support for Aja.[46]
In August 2018, Aja was banned from Twitter for referring to a user who discounted their gender identity as a "senseless cow".[47] Their account was reinstated after a few hours.[48] In a July 2019 interview with them. Magazine, Aja shared that they were in the process of changing their legal name from their birth name to Aja in order to reflect their non-binary gender identity.[7] They said,
I’ve never identified with the name I have. Being adopted and already having several names, I feel like the name I was given wasn’t even my real name. I was like, it’d be nice to have my own name. Especially for someone who identifies as more fluid on the spectrum, as nonbinary, one of the things that really influenced was people thinking there’s this dramatic transformation and detachment from Aja as a person and an artist. What people don’t realize is that Aja the artist is Aja the person, there is no difference.[7]
They further stated,
I don’t like to be dead named. It’s really uncomfortable when people do that because even the people in my life don’t call me by my government name. I don’t think it’s proper or respectful. Everyone calls me Aja, even my mom sometimes.[7]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Box Office |
|
| Crown |
|
EPs
| Title | Details | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|
| In My Feelings |
|
[34] |
| ALL CAPS |
|
[5][6] |
| Nail in the Coffin |
|
[40] |
Singles
| Title | Year | Album | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Level Ya Pussy Up" | 2017 | Non-album singles | [25] | |
| "C.L.A.T." (feat. DJ Mitch Ferrino; with Alexis Michelle, Peppermint, & Sasha Velour) |
[28] | |||
| "Finish Her!" (feat. WNNR & DJ Accident Report) |
2018 | In My Feelings | [33] | |
| "Brujería" (feat. DJ Mitch Ferrino) |
[49] | |||
| "Demons, Witches & Bitches" (feat. Shilow & Vixen) |
Non-album singles | [50] | ||
| "Art Jesus" | [51] | |||
| "Jekyll and Hyde" (feat. Shilow) |
2019 | BOX Office | [52] | |
| "Commercial" | All Caps | [5] | ||
| "Mama Chola" (feat. Amira Wang) |
Nail in the Coffin | Credited to Aja & Shilow | [8][41] | |
| "The Purge" | Credited to Aja & Shilow | [42] | ||
| "Draw the Blood" (feat. Electropoint) |
2020 | Non-album single | Credited to Honey Davenport & Aja | [53] |
| "21 Roads" (feat. Katie Jobes) |
2021 | Crown | [54] | |
| "Tough Love" (feat. GESS) |
[55] | |||
| "Crossbow" | [56] |
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | RuPaul's Drag Race (season 9) | Contestant (9th place) |
| RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked (season 9) | ||
| 2018 | RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 3) | Contestant (7th place) |
| 2019 | Tattoo Tales[citation needed] | Themself |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Femme | Panzy LaRue | [57] |
Internet series
| Year | Title | Role | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Hey Qween! | Guest; accompanied by the Haus of Aja | [58] |
| Fashion Photo RuView | Guest host (two episodes) | [59][60] | |
| Ayo Sis | Host | [23] | |
| Follow Me | Subject of one episode | [61] | |
| Call Me Couleé | Guest | [62] | |
| 2020 | The Pit Stop | Guest | [63] |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Too Funky" (short) | [64] | |
| "C.L.A.T." (short) | [28] | ||
| 2018 | "Finish Her!" | [65][66] | |
| "Brujería" | [35][67] | ||
| "I Don't Wanna Brag" | [36] | ||
| "I'm Kawaii / Ayo Sis" | [68][69] | ||
| 2019 | "Jekyll & Hyde feat. Shilow" | [52] | |
| "Mama Chola" | [41] | ||
| "The Purge" | [42] | ||
| 2020 | "Draw the Blood" (feat. Electropoint) |
Credited to Honey Davenport & Aja | [53][70] |
See also
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Aja [@ajaqueen] (January 4, 2018). "God its my birthday yall. 24 years old never seemed more anti climatic lol. But i guess ill combine my farewell 2017 post with my birthday post.
This past year has definitely been one for the books" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via Twitter. - ^ Jump up to: a b c Street, Mikelle (July 3, 2018). "Why 'Drag Race' Alum Aja Is No Longer Using the Term 'Drag Queen'". them. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on July 4, 2018. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Spanos, Brittany (February 7, 2019). "'Drag Race' Star Aja Is Ready to Be Your New Trap Queen". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Baska, Maggie (September 6, 2021). "Drag Race icon Aja announces return to drag and opens up about ongoing 'gender journey'". PinkNews. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Blynn, Alex (June 14, 2019). "Aja Discusses Feeling Pigeonholed, Artistic Integrity, & Their New Single 'Commercial'". Billboard. Lynne Segall. Archived from the original on June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Malone, Chris (June 28, 2019). "Aja Delivers Viciousness & Vulnerability On 'ALL CAPS' EP". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Goodman, Elyssa (July 12, 2019). "Exclusive: Nonbinary Rapper Aja Discusses Their Name Change". them. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Nolfi, Joey (August 30, 2019). "RuPaul's Drag Race alum Aja sizzles in fierce 'Mama Chola' music video". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
- ^ Patricio, Edana (March 9, 2017). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 9 episode 1: Lady Gaga, the Queens and spoilers". International Business Times. Newsweek Media Group. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Giannotta, Meghan (February 13, 2018). "Bushwick's 'Drag Race' contestant Aja explains the therapeutic power of drag". AM New York. Rich Tomko. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Cuby, Michael (February 1, 2018). "Aja Told Us the Backstory Behind Her Epic Death Drop on RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Season 3". them. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ^ Aja [@ajaqueen] (July 10, 2018). "I'm Moroccan and Egyptian" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Aja [@ajaqueen] (July 10, 2018). "And a small percentage Libyan" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Aja [@ajaqueen] (October 28, 2019). "It's like are y'all for real lol someone went on it and fixed all of it up and then I saw it just now and it's like stuff that's not even true lol like I'm not Libyan and it says that, also I was not adopted by a single mother" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ "RuPaul's Drag Race Cast | logotv.com". Logo TV. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (October 20, 2017). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' reveals first 'All Stars 3' cast member". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Yang, Bowen; Rogers, Matt (February 22, 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: Survival Art". Vulture. New York Media, LLC. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Yang, Bowen; Rogers, Matt (March 1, 2018). "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Recap: Messy Girls". Vulture. New York Media, LLC. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ "The Haus of Aja". Grizzly Kiki. November 18, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Aja [@ajaqueen] (April 16, 2018). "The #Hausofaja would like to present to you our newest member @janelle.no.5 !!! We love this hoe and can't wait to see what this woman adds to our collective ✨