Nova Rockafeller

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Nova Leigh Paholek (born 22 July 1988), known professionally as Nova Rockafeller, is a Canadian independent rapper, singer, songwriter, and music video director.

Rockafeller was born in Edmonton,^[4] and raised in Jamaica;^[2] living there from the ages of 9 to 14^[5] after her family started a water sports business.^[1] She also briefly lived in Toronto and New York City.^[6][7] As a teen, she dropped out of high school and began rapping during a difficult period of her life split between sleeping at the Edmonton Youth Emergency Shelter and living in a series of group homes.^[4] She was inspired to start rapping after exploring the online battle rap forums by her then boyfriend.^[6]

Rockafeller grew up surrounded by music as her father and her brother, Terry Paholek, were heavily involved with the Edmonton music scene and had their own home studio.^[4] She began rapping at the age of 15 when she was living in a group home.^[8][4] The moniker 'Nova Rockafeller' was given to her one night during a party with other rappers, who decided she needed a new name.^[6]

In 2011, Rockafeller released her debut album Insufficient Funds, which chronicled six months of her life.^[6] In 2012, Rockafeller had her song 'call me (BAT MAN) 347-574-7192' posted on the front of The Pirate Bay during its period as 'The Promo Bay'; the song was available as a free download.^[9]

Mercury Records took notice of her, so Rockafeller moved to New York and signed with them.^[10] The label would later become Island Records, and, in turn Def Jam.^[4] Her relationship with Def Jam ended when the company dropped her without warning after three and a half years. She found out when her landlord said that the company would no longer pay her rent.^[8] Prior to the label dropping her, Rockafeller had been working on an album named Accidentally Gangster,^[7] which was cancelled.^{[citation needed]}

In 2015, during her time with Def Jam, Rockafeller began to break out into the mainstream with her single "Made in Gold", which reached the Top 20 on Sirius Top Hits.^[3] The single was featured in teen comedy film The Duff.^[4][11] Her music has also been featured on Siesta Keys, Dancing with the Stars, and Bad Girls Club.^[3] That year, she toured with Set it Off and All Time Low,^[3][12] as well as performed at SXSW,^[13] Riot Fest,^[14][15] and the Gathering of the Juggalos.^[16] Since her appearance at the Gathering, Rockafeller has been associated with the Insane Clown Posse and the Juggalo movement.^[17] She also performed at Violent J's first solo charity tour with Lil Eazy-E.^[18]

In 2021, Rockafeller released "Hey You", her first solo single in over 2 years to tease her newest album Scared of Heights.^[8] The video received over 250,000 views within a single day.^{[19][self-published source?]}

In 2012, Rockafeller launched her line of jewellery 'Toys on Chains'.^[20][7]

In 2017, Rockafeller began dating Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald. Together, they started the band GFBF and began writing music.^[21] When MacDonald wrote 'Dear Rappers' and gained prominence, Rockafeller poured herself into supporting him. She shot and directed all of his music videos after 2017,^{[citation needed]} created his website and was featured on most of his albums, and helped him navigate the music industry away from the pitfalls she experienced.^[8]

Rockafeller has cited some of her influences as Good Charlotte, Blink-182,^[12] Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest, Damian Marley, Weezer, Busta Rhymes, Outkast, Bright Eyes, Nirvana, Die Antwoord, and Meg Myers.^[1]

• "1990s" (2014)
• "Made in Gold" (2015)
• "MI YARD" (2016)
• "Wishing Well" (2018)
• "Jesus on My Neck" (2018)
• "Genghis Khan" (2018)
• "Hey You" (2021)
• "Gang Gang (feat. Tom MacDonald)" (2021)
• "Did Your Best" (2021)
• "Lost Girls" (2023)

With Tom MacDonald

• "Sober" (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
• "Bad News" (2020), with Madchild, ft. Nova Rockafeller
• "Gang Gang" (2021)
• "No Good Bastards" (2021), with Nova Rockafeller & Brandon Hart
• "Church" (2021), with Brandon Hart ft. Nova Rockafeller
• "Heart Emojis" (2021), with Brandon Hart ft. Nova Rockafeller
• "In God We Trust" (2022), with Adam Calhoun, Struggle Jennings, & Nova Rockafeller
• "Chrome" (2023), with Adam Calhoun & Nova Rockafeller

With Violent J

• "Sick Kidz" (2016), with Violent J, ft. Young Wicked, Nova Rockafeller & Lil Eazy-E

With The Wikid One

• "Find Me" (2017), ft. Nova Rockafeller

With Rp Jesus

• "Pillz" (2017), ft. GFBF, Nova Rockafeller & Tom MacDonald

With Thrashole

• "You Want Her" (2018), ft. Blimes, The Buttress & Nova Rockafeller

With D-LinQuint

• "Superstar" (2019), ft. Nova Rockafeller, Y.I.C & Jay P

With Rachel Geek

• "Come Talk to Me" (2020), ft. Nova Rockafeller

• Official website-*

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