“Free Lyric” Tells the Story of a Young Black Female Rapper Cancelled for Her “Provocative” Lyrics

Watch the new documentary by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Cherish ‘Chez’ Oteka on Field of Vision.

Free Lyric revisits one of rap culture’s first-ever viral moments: the public shaming of a 17-year-old Black female rapper. Created by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Cherish ‘Chez’ Oteka, the documentary is now available to watch for free on Field of Vision.

In 2011, O.G. Niki released a freestyle detailing her experience of sleeping with six men on one occasion, a sexual confession that shocked the internet. With the rise of social media as the backdrop, Free Lyric follows the journey of Niki and her unique experience of being an early victim of modern-day cancel culture.

Told as an unfolding narrative during the digital era of the early 2010s, this 31-minute short documentary reconstructs the investigations of internet sleuths and online trolls who worked to expose the identity of the girl behind the controversy. Archival footage and social media clips recreate the overwhelming noise of going viral overnight, while dramatized scenes and present-day interviews deliberately challenge the audience’s certainty in what is and isn’t true.

Public understanding of consent and coercion has evolved since the freestyle initially went viral. As Niki prepares a musical comeback for the first time in 15 years, Free Lyric revisits the events that made her infamous with a different understanding of the sexual encounter that once defined her online.

Field of Vision is honored to collaborate on the film’s release with me too. International, who have created a viewer guide to assist audiences in processing the various themes explored in the film. me too. International is a convener, thought leader, and organizer in the global movement to end sexual and gender-based violence.