music

Korin Talks “FNG$,” Femininity, and Her Current Musical Era

"The best feeling in the world is being confident.”

By Daija Green | Posted on June 03, 2023

Earlier this year, the Atlanta-based singer and songwriter Korin unveiled a fun visual to accompany her single, "FNG$." The song cleverly plays on the iconic track "Get Money" by The Notorious B.I.G. and Junior M.A.F.I.A but with a bold feminine twist. It honors unapologetic, independent, and steadfast womanhood. "Personally, I'm not going back and forth with no man," says Korin with confidence when describing her headspace during the conception of the song. The self-described "kaleidoscope girl" is magnetic. Versatile. Imaginative. A lil moody. And has no room for bs. "We don't cry or worry about what anybody else has going on because we're too busy with our own shit." shares Korin.

The accompanying visual is playful and sexy. It opens with a behind-the-scenes look at a photoshoot where Korin shows off various looks serving major IT girl energy. A number of memorable montages are featured in the visual that evoke a sense of relevance, such as Korin and her friends lip-syncing and dancing along to the lyrics in the car on their girl's night out. Korin shares that relatability is a priority in her artistry, "I want you to really feel like you are talking to your cousin or your homegirl. I want to stay relatable as much as I can. I want to stay honest."

Below, Korin gets candid about her current musical era, how she redefines her femininity after a toxic relationship tainted it, and the inspiration behind the "FNG$" visual.

“FNG$” has been on repeat since you dropped it. During the creation of this song, what headspace were you in? What were you experiencing that inspired it?

With “FNG$” I was kind of living in it. I tell all my friends to aim high and I do the same thing. Personally, I'm not going back and forth with no man. I'm not asking for a handout. I don't expect a handout. I was raised on a hustler mentality - to just do what you got to do, to get what you have to get. I feel, “FNG$” in a different way.

I turn on your music when I want to hear something that’s going to make me feel good. Is this your intention?

I want to give an experience with my music. I want you to really feel like you are talking to your cousin or your homegirl. I want to stay relatable as much as I can. I want to stay honest. I want to change the mood for sure. I want people to put me on when they're tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. Like - let's switch it up.

For your “Famous 2201” visual you used really playful clay animation concept. What were your intentions when creating this latest visual?

With this song I wanted to take it down a notch. I also wanted to use it as an opportunity for people to feel like they're growing with me. This one is playful on a simpler level, but it still has me all up in it. The edits, the effects, like, it's just very different and unique. Nonetheless, I look cute. I look gorgeous. So we are going to love it.

How did you want it to be received?

I want this one to be more like boss bitches link up. We don't cry or worry about what anybody else has going on because we're too busy with our own shit. We have the opportunity to be selfish with ourselves. I just want it to be more so all about me, me, me, me, me but relatable in a way. It's like, yeah, fuck that. Let's get some money. Let's do more work. Let's create more things. Let's keep working. Let's be creative geniuses. Let's be mad scientists. You know?

With this one, I got to really tap into my femininity a little bit more. Crazy, this time of year, every day, my pattern app is messaging me like - step into your femininity. Be feminine today. You're going to wanna do it; everything's going to push you towards it. And I'm like, dang, I kind of manifested that with the song.

What does stepping into your femininity look like on a daily for you?

It's me getting up and taking care of myself way more every day. Not just skincare and stuff, but actually making an effort to do my hair, do my makeup, and put on some nice clothes. I always dress like a little boy. So putting on some feminine clothes, understanding, and starting to love my body and not always trying to hide it. I was in a relationship where the guy made me dumb down my looks and personality and made me think that everything he said was law. Now I'm stepping into my most feminine self, and that relationship was like three or four years ago, but I had to use three years to undo what I learned in those two years that I lived with him.

I'm still learning every day, and I love it. I feel like it allowed me to really have a grip on power. Like I really got to learn my power and become more confident. The best feeling in the world is being confident. I swear. I feel I can do anything; even if I'm having a depressing day, I remind myself I'm a woman.

What kind of music did your parents listen to growing up? How did it impact your sound?

I have a Caribbean background. My mom is Guyanese and my dad is Jamaican. I grew up with a lot of caribbean and soca music - just reggae for days. But what my mom really had me on was regular old-school R&B. She was a very big Mary J fan. So I was a very big Mary J fan. The way that lady had me singing about heartbreaking pain at fricking nine is crazy. We had pictures of Lauryn Hill all over our house. So I grew up on Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu, for sure. My mom was definitely a Biggie girl. She loved her some Kim and Biggie. Didn't give a damn about Tupac, so I don't know much about Tupac.

How does your background in acting impact your artistry and music?

It impacts it a lot. It impacts it when I'm doing videos, photo shoots, and interviews, when I talk to people and connect with D.J.s, producers, and A&Rs. They can always tell I was an actor. They're like, 'You act, huh? You have a very animated personality.' I can be a different person whenever I want. Like my family and manager tell me, I have so many personalities. And I don't see that as a bad thing. I see that as refreshing.

Your energy is very free and welcoming. I think that manifests in your creativity as well. If you could place a color to your aura, what would it be?

I feel like I'm a kaleidoscope. It's just all the colors in there because I'm a moody girl. I'm a very moody girl.

How would you describe your current musical era?

My current musical era is for research purposes.

So you're at an experimentation phase?

Yes. A lot of experimenting and a lot of alternatives. This is the research and development stage for sure. I kind of like it though. I like the trials and errors. Because if you go straight to the top, how you going to know when you fuck up?

Follow Korin @codenamekorin