Dominique is a multi-hyphenate artist, social entrepreneur, and cultural organizer from Detroit, Michigan with the mission, musical and otherwise, to set souls on fire, impact and inspire lives in a meaningful way, and contribute positive vibrations and love in the world. She seamlessly blends the worlds of music, cultural organizing, JEDI consulting, and community engagement to push people and culture forward.

Artistically known as Nique Love Rhodes, she is a dynamic national hip-hop recording artist, songwriter, performer, producer, and a self-proclaimed freedom rocker who just happens to rap. Imagine the spirit of Bob Marley, the  lyricism of Lauryn Hill or Lupe Fiasco with the heart of Rage Against the Machine, and you’ll get somewhat of an idea of what she has to offer musically - what she calls “LIBERATION HIP-HOP MUSIC.”  With lyricism rooted in universal truths, social commentary, critical thinking, and mindful reflection, her music elevates positive vibrations within the universal collective conscience, and promotes social awareness and responsibility. 

For her live show, Nique transforms from a conscious MC to a freedom-fighting rocker. Leading her multi-faceted band known as the NLR Experience and pulling from a wide range of influences, her dynamic shows fuse hip-hop music with rock and jazz to create a dynamic live musical experience a la the Roots meets Rage Against the Machine meets N.E.R.D. Nique has performed at major festivals and headlined venues nationally and internationally. Nique is completely independent and self-releases her own music through her label NLR Entertainment and publishing company Black Mayflower Publishing.

While music with a positive message has been at the forefront Nique’s brand, she extends her passion to initiatives that are rooted in community and culture. As a cultural organizer, she is the co-founder of D.Cipher, a music mastermind collective and non-profit dedicated to advancing the Detroit music economy through collaboration and partnerships. To date, D.Cipher has invested over $100k into Michigan’s independent music community.  Rooted in activism, she launched Rise Up Higher, an initiative to use music as a tool for social good to empower youth, promote peace and unity, and advocate for social justice and civic engagement. This work builds on the empowering themes found in her music, and allows her to connect and inspire people in a tangible way outside of music.

Dominique works closely with various mission-driven organizations through her consulting company + idea hub, Since 88 where she provides consulting services focused on justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultivating creativity within organizations. Nique Love Rhodes is a graduate of Spring Arbor University where she  received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Ministry - a trans-disciplinary major she created that consists of courses in theology, philosophy, urban sociology, and psychology.  She has worked with organizations such as the Kresge Foundation, CitizenDetroit, and a coalition of climate and clean energy advocates. She has lectured and shared ideas at the Hip-hop Literacies Conference at Ohio State University, the Urban Literacies Conference at Michigan State University, the American Musicological Society Conference, and the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. She is also a Salzburg Global Forum 2020 Cultural Innovator Fellow, and a 2021 CultureSource Creators of Culture award recipient.