Norway: Bad as Stella Mwangi Wanna Be

Stella Mwangi (Norway 2011) has premiered the video to her single “Bad As I Wanna Be” today. Shot in Kenya, her native land, the video presents an edgy image of a short-haired and grown-up Mwangi, radically different from the cheerful girl we saw on stage in Düsseldorf, rapping this song surrounded by boxers and bodybuilders.

She has responded to criticism about the artwork for the cover, where she appears to be smoking marijuana, saying that people ignore the art behind what she’s done and that, in reality, she’s not smoking a joint, but rather a cigar. She says that “of course I’m not advertising for drugs” and that the “so-called experts that say it’s cannabis are not experts”.

Stella, who will perform the song for the first time tonight in VG Top 20 show at Town Hall Square (Oslo), has said that, after all, “Bad As I Wanna Be” is all about freedom to do whatever you want, be different and “not giving a shit about what people might think of you”. When questioned about the possibility that fans will stop supporting her because of this new image, she said to be confident that people won’t change their minds about her since, when you really like and support someone you remain fond of them even if they change. She says that she has grown and that is what all of this about. “I cannot always be the same. There will always be someone who judges anyway”.

Tonight’s show represents Stella’s second time around in VG Top 20, since last year she appeared with her Eurovision entry “Haba Haba“. However, “this time it will be extra fun,  because I can rap. It’s delicious!”.

You can watch the video here.