Connect
To Top

Life and Work with Nicki Cyn

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicki Cyn.

Nicki, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 91’, a star was born! I was born and raised in Atlanta, FOREVER I LOVE ATLANTA. I’m the youngest of three siblings, I’m a very fun, outgoing, independent, loving, spontaneous, unique woman! I have four beautiful miracles. 2 boys and 2 girls, 11,6,5 and 2. My children are my most precious contributions to this world! I’ve always been lyrically blessed, this is how I’ve always dealt with trying times in my life, I started writing at age 12 and it will always be something that brings me serenity. Hip hop was my true first love’ which led to the career path I’m on now. I’ve been through my share of trials and tribulations throughout my life, my most terrifying one being the day I almost lost my life. August 8th, 2016 in Naples, Florida, I was 16 weeks pregnant with my youngest son and craving fried pickles (which I have also loved my whole life!), I went and put oil in the pot I was about to cook in, I had the heat on med-high, I walked to my room to check on my other three children to make sure they were watching tv and not getting into everything like they usually do (I quickly realized was a bad idea!!). I was in my room for less than 5 minutes while the oil was still heating all of a sudden, I saw tons of smoke coming from the kitchen area but didn’t hear the smoke detectors go off so I surely thought there can’t be a fire, so terrified me walks out to my hallway and I gaze over at my stovetop and sure enough there was a growing fire (smoke detectors never went off) the fire extinguisher was downstairs in a closet which definitely didn’t help me at all!!! I had no idea how to put out a fire, especially involving grease (I did know you never put water on an oil fire!!) I only had time to react, there was no time to even think of possible ways to put out this raging fire.

All I could picture in my head is “my kids are gonna die if I don’t get this fire away from them and out of the house,” I had an upstairs apartment, to get out any door you have to go downstairs, so I quickly grabbed the flaming pot off the stove and proceeded to my stairs as I told my 8-year-old daughter “please keep your brother and sister back” (they try to follow me everywhere). I turned around and walked down the steps backwards (if I didn’t I probably wouldn’t be alive right now) so the fire wouldn’t burn my whole face, I safely make it down 4 steps (there were about 18 steps in all), I must’ve leaned a little on the railing because the railing ripped out of the wall and sent me falling down the rest of the stairs, while falling the pot flew into the air and poured all over the right side of my body, I blacked out and regained my consciousness at the bottom of the stairs. I got up and banged on my next-door neighbor’s door and begged him for water or a wet towel to cover my burns as he called 911, the ambulance came and assessed me and immediately gave me oxygen and wrapped me in a heat blanket, they took me to my local hospital and the doctors had me life-flighted to my nearest extensive burn unit which was Tampa General Hospital. I immediately went into surgery had 3 skin grafts and when I regained consciousness again, I had already had surgery and just starting to realize what had happened. I spent a little over four months in the hospital fighting for mine and my unborn baby’s life.

Two months in the ICU burn unit and two more months in physical therapy, learning how to walk again and use my right arm before I was finally released to go home. I had to have my entire right arm skin grafted the fire also burnt the whole right side of my head which took away my hair (it still hasn’t grown back). I spent many months at home (the same house the accident happened at) having different nurses come and dress my wounds and help me do everyday normal things, going to outpatient burn units, everyday starring at the same stairwell, I fell down was very traumatizing to me in more ways than one, I took legal action against the apartment complex (I won my case), the apartment after the assessment and specialist came to inspect got 4 code violations for the condition of the stair railing (it was screwed into drywall), the carpet on the stairs was completely worn out, the railing was too high up and too short in length. I am still going through recovery three years after. I have severe ptsd, complete neuropathy in my right arm, I get depressed a lot, and feel uncomfortable in social settings just because I’m scarred up, during the surgeries my tattoos were rearranged so I look like a broken puzzle piece. I still am missing hair on the right side of my head, I have very vivid dreams of my accident and flashbacks. It’s hard for me to cook on the stove anymore (even though I do), every time I even look at my stove, I get a panic attack, I do however still eat (not cook) pickles!!! I haven’t been back to work in three years, I get severe anxiety when I think about working again (I was always in the restaurant business), I get very nervous around fire even from a lighter, I go to counseling, I still have future surgeries scheduled, I still have constant pain from the nerve damage, I still struggle when I look in the mirror at myself and my scars, my baby didn’t get hurt at all during the fire, luckily, I didn’t break my neck or back during the fall, the biggest struggle of all is learning how to love myself again.

After my accident, I had this yearning to pursue my music dreams. I started writing again and I also rap, I write my own music, I feel like my reason for living other than my children is to tell my story through my lyrics and that’s my true calling. My music has been my sanctuary since my accident, the only thing other than my children that has kept me sane. I’ve lost a lot of friends or people I thought were friends because I’m not who I once was, I don’t waste my life, time or energy on things that aren’t important to me, I cherish every moment I’m alive and get to tell my story, I speak to other burn survivors (even ones in the hospital), I attend burn survivor events, I tell my kids how much I love them every day! If I die tomorrow, my kids would never question my love for them. My accident has changed my life for the better and at the same time the worse, I’ve realized who my friends really are I’ve realized at the end of every day, all I have in this life is God, my children, my family, and my music and that keeps me determined and alive.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has been an extremely hard road, my struggles along the way are endless, from fake friends, dealing with physical pain, emotional and mental damage, severe PTSD and flashbacks, it’s like I’m reminded of my accident every day, my self-esteem is almost nonexistent, I struggle with loneliness and not feeling like my old self, it’s been a struggle pushing myself to cook again, and face reality. Going to counseling and constantly visiting doctors. The most difficult struggle is learning how to love and accept myself again. I constantly am trying to cover my scars or wear wigs to hide the scar. My music has even been a struggle because the things I write about, most people in today’s hip hop industry don’t want to hear.

My advice for younger women starting their journey is to ALWAYS be yourself, always be genuine and unique, prayer is a precious blessing, love yourself and the skin you are in, don’t dumb yourself down for society!!! Take chances and live every day like it’s truly your last, be vigilant about everything around you! Love with all of your heart and never give up on your dreams!

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m first and foremost a mother, a single mother at that, I am a songwriter and music artist. I am the strongest woman I know!!! My dream is music, I sleep, eat and breathe music! I’m known for being a strong person and lyricist. I am most proud of the decision I’ve made to follow my dreams and the knowledge and patience to execute these things. I am most proud of the strength God gives me to continue with life every day, I’m most proud of all my blessings. What sets me apart from others is my drive, determination and dedication to achieving the things I want in life, I am a go-getter and always have been, I am very independent and do things on my own, I prefer it this way, I’m very ambitious and know exactly what I want out of life, as mentioned earlier, I’m the strongest woman I know. My courageousness and bravery, my caring heart and golden personality, my love for life and all living things.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
My perspective is almost anything a man can do a woman can do as well (to a certain extent) women are doing things they were never able to in the past. I believe women are particularly well-positioned for being a mother, a wife, working in the restaurant industry and women are gradually taking over the hip hop industry, women are running for president or high powered positions, there are tons of women first responders, women driving semi-trucks, working in the construction industry. Women are very powerful in today’s society!

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Joshua Goodman

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in