In September 2020, GQ Magazine dubbed Barkaa "the new matriarch of Australian rap," and in 2020, Triple J listed Barkaa as one of the top 5 female rappers in Australia. Barkaa takes her name from the Barkindji word for the Darling River, and she feels incredibly honored to have been given permission to use this name to represent her people. Her music reflects her experiences growing up in Malyangapa and Barkindji communities.