Princess Loko

Summers began rapping in her teenage years as a method to communicate her thoughts on the over-policing, constant surveillance, and rampant crime in her hometown of Whitehaven, Memphis, a predominantly Black community in the 1990s (due to white flight) best known for its proximity to Elvis Presley's Graceland.{{Cite web|url=http://mlk50.com/2022/08/11/longtime-memphis-rapper-princess-loko-died-in-obscurity-will-a-beyonce-feature-grant-her-the-renaissance-shes-overdue/|title=Longtime Memphis rapper Princess Loko died in obscurity. Will a Beyoncé feature grant her the 'Renaissance' she's overdue?|first=Justin A.|last=Davis|date=August 11, 2022|website=MLK50: Justice Through Journalism|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=September 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914203940/https://mlk50.com/2022/08/11/longtime-memphis-rapper-princess-loko-died-in-obscurity-will-a-beyonce-feature-grant-her-the-renaissance-shes-overdue/|url-status=live}} She would also frequently discuss avoidance of the gaze of men who attempted to use intimate relationships to exert power over her and other women. Summers soon met rapper and producer Wright, who would become a close friend. They would frequently record songs together as teenagers in secret, skipping school and sneaking equipment in and out of her house. Wright would eventually sign her to his label Street Smart Records, and she would join his rap group Ten Wanted Men. The contributions of Summers and fellow female rapper La Chat to Wright's group were described as "razor-sharp stilettoes in an arsenal otherwise filled with heavy, male artillery."{{Cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2018/11/tommy-wright-iii|title=Still Runnin-N-Gunnin: The Rebirth of Memphis Rap Legend Tommy Wright III|website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com|access-date=September 14, 2023|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206044130/https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2018/11/tommy-wright-iii/|url-status=live}} “I felt they were just as good as the guys,” Wright said. “That’s big to me – I never really thought about it being special. I just looked at it as ‘They’re dope.’” Summers would later part ways with Wright and the label in 2003, signing with Hy Lyfe Inc. after mounting financial difficulties resulted in the closure of the Street Smart label offices.

In 2014, designer Isabel Simpson-Kirsch created a clothing line in collaboration with online retailer VFILES paying homage to the faces of 1990s Memphis rap, with Summers' lyrics from Wright collaboration "Comin' For 94" featured prominently on handprinted skirts, pants, and various denim pieces.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/isabel-simpson-kirsch-designer-lil-b-tennessee-rap-collection-project-pat-vfiles-interview/|title=Isabel SK, the Designer Behind the Lil B Clothes, Has a New Collection Inspired by Tennessee Rap|first=Marissa G.|last=Muller|date=May 11, 2014|access-date=September 14, 2023|archive-date=October 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020112001/https://www.vice.com/en/article/rz9ew6/isabel-simpson-kirsch-designer-lil-b-tennessee-rap-collection-project-pat-vfiles-interview|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/isabel-simpson-kirsch-based-her-entire-graduate-collection-on-lil-b/|title=isabel simpson-kirsch based her entire graduate collection on lil b|first=Emily|last=Manning|website=i-d.vice.com|access-date=September 14, 2023|archive-date=November 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115195540/https://i-d.vice.com/en/article/3kqnp5/isabel-simpson-kirsch-based-her-entire-graduate-collection-on-lil-b|url-status=live}}

In 2020, Summers died from complications of congestive heart failure.{{cite web|last=Farrell|first=Paul|date=2020-05-22|title=Pioneering Memphis Rapper Princess Loko Dies at 40|url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/05/princess-loko-dead/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612200719/https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/05/princess-loko-dead/|archive-date=2020-06-12|access-date=2023-09-13|website=heavy.com}}

In 2022, producer Kelman Duran, who had received permission from Summers' family, estate, and close friend Wright to use her catalog of songs in his productions, sampled Wright's song with Summers (1994s "Still Pimpin") to create dembow and reggaeton-infused opening track "I'm That Girl" from Beyoncé's seventh album Renaissance.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kelman-duran-renaissance-beyonce-1394962/|title=Kelman Duran Didn't Expect To Be Part of Beyoncé's 'Renaissance'|first=Julyssa|last=Lopez|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 10, 2022|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=August 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811165148/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kelman-duran-renaissance-beyonce-1394962/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://us.carhartt-wip.com/blogs/journal/the-gospel-of-kelman-duran|title=The Gospel of Kelman Duran|date=January 3, 2023|website=Carhartt WIP USA|access-date=September 13, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724223300/https://us.carhartt-wip.com/blogs/journal/the-gospel-of-kelman-duran|url-status=live}}

• Wanted Dead or Alive (1995)
• 10 Toes Down (1997)

• Game Recognize Game (2001) {{ref|Game Recognize Game|A}}

• It’s All On Me (2006)
• Long Ovadue (2012)

:A. {{ref|Game Recognize Game|A}} Though mentioned in passing by several publications, this project has not been widely released.

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loko, Princess}}

Category:1979 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:Rappers from Memphis, Tennessee

Category:21st-century African-American musicians

Category:20th-century African-American musicians

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