The Prince of Nostalgia

Just here to inspire you to GROW!

[1000kissestoyou]

love frank

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Lock-in season. I’m not chasing noise, opinions, or distractions right now—I’m chasing purpose. My sense of urgency is real… like yesterday. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this. Some of you are right here with me—tired of talking about it, ready to actually move. So why are we limiting ourselves? We’re building, we’re creating, we’re stepping into everything God has for us. I’ve been cutting off what doesn’t align, protecting my peace, pouring into myself, and trusting that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I know God is guiding me—I feel it. And if you feel that too, stay locked in. This season isn’t about proving anything to anyone… it’s about becoming who we’re called to be. ✨

[theprinceofnostalgia]

This might sound cliché, but I just realized something while sitting with my friends.

They really care about my dreams—and they push my hardheaded self. We’ve been at my place for hours going over the script, vocal composition, and voiceover work for this film, and they won’t leave. They’ll literally crash here and be like, “Do it again.”

Not trying to make anyone jealous, but you need friends like mine. They refuse to let you quit. Trust me—I said “I quit” at least five times tonight, and we still kept going.

There’s so much work that goes into making a film. Nobody ever told me I’d have to actually learn how to sing for real to do voiceover work. We practiced so much tonight I almost started hating my now-favorite artist. 😅

But honestly, I feel so loved, heard, and seen. They all passed out, and now I’m cooking for them to show my appreciation.

Just in a real place of gratitude. We working over here. 😮‍💨😅

[theprinceofnostalgia]

It’s Oscars weekend.

While the world celebrates the actors, directors, and creatives on stage, I want to send love to the thousands of people behind the scenes who helped make those films possible.

The corporate teams.

The operations teams.

The finance teams.

The coordinators, planners, analysts, and problem-solvers who keep the machine moving.

Film is never made by one person. It takes a village.

As someone who works on the corporate side of this industry, I know firsthand that many of the people who helped bring these stories to life may never walk the red carpet, never hold the statue, and may not even get a ticket to the room where the awards are handed out.

But your work matters. Your contribution matters.

And the films the world celebrates this weekend would not exist without you.

So to everyone working behind the scenes — congratulations. Your impact is just as meaningful as the person standing on stage accepting the award.

May God continue to bless the work of your hands.

It’s our weekend too. 🎬

[theprinceofnostalgia]

There’s so much relationship advice on the internet. Everybody telling you how to date, what your standards should be, what your non-negotiables should be, what kind of person you should be attracted to. Everybody trying to influence how you love.

At some point you’ve got to tune the noise out and choose the person who genuinely chooses you.

Not the one the internet told you to want.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but ChatGPT is not your therapist.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Woke up thinking about that Chicago incident with the mother and her kids being jumped. That video is sickening and disturbing on every level. I’m praying accountability is actually enforced—however that needs to look.

I’m not from Chicago, but I respect how people are calling for real action. Because let’s be honest: accountability comes two ways. Either the city steps in—Chicago PD, the mayor, activists—or the streets will, and that never ends well for anybody.

Coming from Compton, I’ve seen the measures a city can take, and I’ve also seen where intervention doesn’t work. My heart has been praying for that mother and her children all morning. Watching that makes you realize not everybody is meant to be a parent. Those kids are missing something at home, and that responsibility falls on the parents.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

So many people have dreams and goals they’ve been talking about for 5–6 years… but still haven’t moved. Year after year, time just passes by like we’ve all been promised an unlimited supply of it.

The truth is — we’re all getting older. And whether you like it or not, everybody has a prime. At some point, you’ve got to be real with yourself. If your work ethic doesn’t line up with the level it takes to be great — whether that’s a CEO, a surgeon, a writer, an athlete, or an actor — then how can you expect God to bless you with that position?

Faith without WORK is dead. You can pray all day long, but if your grind is weak, your dreams don’t stand a chance. Don’t expect A+ dreams with C- effort.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I’m going to be real and direct. You are exactly what you attract. If you don’t like what’s coming your way, look within and start fixing the parts of yourself that continue to attract that negative energy.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

God is so good to us, yet we don’t always praise Him in advance. Think about the times you were at your lowest, unsure of how you’d make it through—and somehow, it worked out. That wasn’t a coincidence. There is a LIGHT on your life, and if you’ve been searching for confirmation, this is it. You owe it to the dark times to BE ALL YOU CAN BE.

You are covered, in Jesus’ name. 🙌🏾🤎🙏🏾

[theprinceofnostalgia]

I always wonder how the women who left me feel, knowing I was trying to be the best human being I could be for them. I loved them unconditionally, with no barriers or limits—just loving them for who they were, whether I agreed with everything or not. My entire goal was to show them love and ensure they felt cared for and comfortable.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Tonight reminded me of those magical nights with your partner, singing “When I See You” at the top of your lungs, talking about love and feeling completely consumed by it. I need that! Love is so beautiful. Who wants to be out on a date overthinking everything? Take my brain and toss it—I just want to be lost in you. I’m over here singing Keyshia Cole’s “Trust” and all kinds of other songs for you. 😮‍💨🤣

[theprinceofnostalgia]

One thing I’ve really been focused on is becoming a good steward of the relationships and friendships that God has blessed me with. Yesterday, I called every one of my close friends—those who have been supporting me during this season—just to check in on them. It was a wellness check. I didn’t ask for anything, and the only reason I called was to see how they were doing. I asked, “How are you feeling? Are you good? Is there anything you want to talk about?” It was purely about their well-being.

One thing I’ve learned is that life is really short, and I truly believe it’s important to be a good steward of your friendships. I’ve found that with multiple friends, I don’t even talk much when I’m on the phone anymore—I just listen. I let people express themselves and get things off their chest. I’m in a season where I’m simply listening, being there for them as a sounding board. Whether they need advice, motivation, or encouragement, I want to be that person for them.

Yesterday felt so good to check in with my friends and let them know, “Hey, if you ever need someone to lean on, I’m here for you.” One of my homegirls said, “Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re just checking in on me. This feels so good. I appreciate you so much.”

The message here is this: be a good steward of your friendships. At our age, if you can’t maintain social relationships or friendships, something is wrong. Sometimes, it’s not everybody else—it’s you. Some people will get on the phone and talk about themselves for hours without ever asking, “How are you doing? Are you okay? Do you need anything? What’s going on with you?”

Take a moment to check in with people. Ask how they’re feeling. Let them know you’re there for them. Life is too short not to nurture the relationships that matter.

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Don’t take social media too seriously. ✨

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Some advice for the fellas: a big change I made when dating was to stop doing dinner dates on the first date. Instead, I started focusing on hobbies, experiences, or simply grabbing ice cream. Let me explain—it’s about connection.

Stop spending exorbitant amounts of money on people who, nine times out of ten, don’t even like you.

My therapist helped me understand that true connection is what really matters. When you have that, it doesn’t matter where you go—people want to be around you because they genuinely like you.

Y’all go on these dinner dates and then ghost each other the next day. Stop it! 😂

[theprinceofnostalgia]

Big blessings this birthday weekend! 🙌🏾 For those who don’t know, when I was 17, I signed a contract that legally tied my real name to the publication, preventing me from using it in any film or media opportunities. For years, I’ve had to go by The Prince of Nostalgia in all my projects. Well, that contract has finally been nullified! 🎉 From now on, you’ll see my actual name alongside The Prince of Nostalgia, which will always be a part of me. This has been a long journey, but I’m beyond thankful to finally be free to use my name again, both legally and contractually. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way. This is just the beginning of what’s to come! ✊🏾

— Joseph Rivers

#BirthdayBlessings #NewChapter #PrinceOfNostalgiaForever #Freedom

[theprinceofnostalgia]

It’s so hard to relate to gender wars. I’m not gonna lie, as a man, I’ve been spoiled by my woman. The bar is set high because just as I give gifts, I receive them. Just as I give love, I get it back. It’s always been reciprocal. I get surprises too. I just can’t relate to that atmosphere. I’m really spoiled, and I spoil in return, so it’s an exchange of love, care, and nurture.

The reason I love designer colognes is because a woman spoiled me by buying me designer cologne. The reason I even eat at five-star places, when I traditionally love Black-owned spots, is because a woman has taken me on a date to a five-star place—something outside of my norm. But at the same time, everything I receive, I can reciprocate, even a hundred times more. That’s my point. People focus on the wrong things. It’s not about modeling your relationship after someone else’s; it’s about finding someone who works for you and letting that work for you. No one has to understand your relationship, but you’ve got to be in love with it because you’re the one living it.

Why be with someone who doesn’t treat you like the king or queen you are? Men deserve to be spoiled. Women deserve to be spoiled. It’s an equal exchange. Like I said, I just can’t relate because I’ve been spoiled my whole life.