“Go Best Friend” Premieres with Essence’s Girls United
New York, NY – January 20, 2022 – Chicago rapper and rising star, Nia Kay is set to release her new music video titled, “Go Best Friend” on Friday, January 21, following an exclusive premiere today with Essence – Girls United. Nia released this new single on the heels of the successful debut of her song “Ignored,” which ranked #2 on the BET Jams Fresh Face Friday countdown. She has collaborated with Asian Doll and received industry co-signs from Cardi B and Dreezy. She has also been featured in Vogue Italia, Wonderland Magazine, Untitled Magazine, LA Weekly, Sweety High, and Hello Beautiful.
With more than 6.9 million fans on Facebook and almost 1.6 million followers on Instagram, Nia is excited to share her new “Go Best Friend” video with her fanbase. The single is released under the Smashtown Records/Tha Branch label.
“’Go Best Friend’ is about the beauty of having your friends by your side and encouraging one another to live life to the fullest,” says Nia. “The message is also personal because my friends support me in my daily journey with type 1 diabetes and I hope others are inspired to seek and give support to their loved ones when they face life’s challenges.”
In addition to the release of “Go Best Friend,” Nia has stepped up as an ambassador for Breakthrough T1D, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) non-profit. In this new role, she’s joining efforts with the organization to educate the public about the life-threatening autoimmune disease and the importance of early detection, which can help people avoid severe conditions at the onset of the disease and ultimately saves lives.
Growing up with T1D and overcoming the daily highs and lows of the disease has fueled Nia’s passion for raising awareness and inspiring other T1D youth that they too can achieve their dreams. The “Go Best Friend” music video features a clip and end-card of Nia managing her T1D using an insulin pen, and information about the Breakthrough T1D T1Detect screening education and awareness program.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Nia. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report focused on T1D in youth, showed that T1D is growing most sharply in African American and Hispanic youth populations,” said Kenya Felton, Breakthrough T1D Senior Manager of PR and Celebrity Partnerships. “Nia’s voice is important in helping us reach diverse communities and breaking down the misconceptions of the disease.”
On January 13, 2022, Nia performed at an intimate event in her hometown of Chicago to celebrate the launch of her new music video “Go Best Friend,” and to raise awareness for T1D. Images and footage from the event were captured by Shutterstock, a creative platform dedicated to supporting talented artists across all genres, with a commitment to advancing philanthropic causes.
About Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
T1D is a chronic, life-threatening autoimmune disease that can strike children and adults at any age. It requires rigorous 24/7 monitoring of blood glucose levels—even overnight—to avoid potentially lethal highs and lows in blood sugar, as well as other devastating complications like kidney, eye and nerve diseases. While its causes are not yet entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved. Its onset is sudden and is not related to diet or lifestyle. In T1D, the body’s immune system destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, meaning the body produces little to no insulin to regulate blood sugar and get energy from food. There is nothing you can do to prevent T1D, and—at present—nothing you can do to get rid of it.
About Breakthrough T1D
JDRF’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications. To accomplish this, Breakthrough T1D has invested more than $2.5 billion in research funding since our inception. We are an organization built on a grassroots model of people connecting in their local communities, collaborating regionally for efficiency and broader fundraising impact, and uniting on a national stage to pool resources, passion, and energy. We collaborate with academic institutions, policymakers, and corporate and industry partners to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with T1D. Our staff and volunteers throughout the United States and our five international affiliates are dedicated to advocacy, community engagement and our vision of a world without T1D.
