Today StreetHop.com sat down with a very good of ours named Nauce. He's worked with many artist such as Wyclef and is very talented. He produces his own tracks as well as raps. It's a shame he hasn't blown up; so that is why StreetHop has decided to give him a little push.
StreetHop.com: What's good with Nauce?
Nauce: What's good with Nauce??? Let's see..... well things are really looking up for me right now. I am fortunate and blessed enough to have a lot of DJ's willing to accept tracks from me, play me in the clubs when they're spinning, or throw me on their mixtape. We all can use exposure, and I really appreciate that. thats the true essence of hip hop right there. It's real sad when no one wants to play new hot music from up and coming talent without charging them an arm and a leg. It seems as if there's no more love at least up on the east coast side of things.
StreetHop.com: How did you get your name, and what inspired you to rap?
Nauce: How did I get my name?? Well I was originally called "The Narcissist" and my people use to call me Nauce for short. A narcissist is someone who is in love or rather totally into themselves, but I flipped the definition at the time. I changed it to mean that I was in love with the things inside of me such as God, my family, friends, music stuff like that. Over time I out grew the Narcissist, and I just kept the name Nauce. I eventually couldn't depend on some of the people in my inner circle to help me do things such as getting beats to write, going to the studio and recording or getting my material mixed so I started doing every thing on my own. I started making my own beats, going to sessions on my own and paying for my songs to get mixed so that made me the boss so I figured I was the boss and I was gonna dictate what i could or not do so Nauce is the Boss there you have it. I make my own moves and answer to and wait on nobody.
StreetHop.com: What was it like growing up in Newark?
Nauce: Growing up in Newark wasn't to bad. Let me rephrase that it was bad, but not as awful and bad as it is now. You know you had your crime, people getting shot late night, getting robbed at gun point, jumped by gangs, stolen cars riding up on sidewalks, or spinning doing donuts in the middle of the street, crooked cops you name it it was going down. That was the norm you knew that stuff was going down but now its just fucking ridiculous. Gangs especially the Bloods out here are just out of control. They do majority of the killing out here now and its usually senseless violence. People just rolling up hopping out shooting people for no reason just for some initiation. It was to a point there was like 1 or 2 murders everyday since January. It got so bad they had to call the FBI and state troopers down to stop what was going on and its mostly all juveniles thats doing all the killings. Late night on in the street if you not paying attention to your surroundings or whats going on its easy to get got. It happened to me almost twice where niggaz hopped out hat low bandanna tied up on the face gun drawn ready to rob me and throw me in the truck but i booked man. i peeped it and through the grace of God they didn't get me or shoot me b/c only thing is gonna happen when they pull you in that van is you're gonna get robbed, possibly pistol whipped and it's a 99 % chance they gonna kill you and dumb you off on the side of a road so i was blessed man. but its crazy out here man if you don't need to be out late night its no reason to put yourself in danger and that ain't no scared shit thats some real life shit. So many people get killed round here with no respect o regard for life man its so crazy out here man.
StreetHop.com: How did you hook up with Wyclef for The Carnival?
Nauce: Far as hooking up with Wyclef I have been to his studio a couple of times and that was on the strength of a artist he had signed to him named Reptile. I met Rep through a college buddy of mine at the time and he was digging how i was rhyming so he invited me to come down to MIA with him and perform a freestyle on stage during his segment. I never met him face to face on some whats good how you doing shit but i actually met Jerry Wonder {his partner at the time I don't know if they're still cool} but he was a real good dude. he had a good vibe with him.
StreetHop.com: What went on with you and your people after that?
Nauce: What went on with me and my people after our little fall out / break up? Well we all still cool we don't really talk to each other much but far as musically there's nothing happening. We are all still friends and as grown men we all have different responsibilities and agendas we need to fulfill so thats understandable. With them not giving me any production or getting beats to me when i needed it, or having my material mixed in a fashionable time, it actually made me better. It drove me to be a better producer and to be more dependent on myself to where as if i need something done i gotta get on me to make it happen no one else. It all rides on my shoulder and I am happy with that. I need a beat i make, I need studio time I pay for it, I need something mixed i take it to whoever pay him and let him do his thing. That was probably one of the best things that could of happened to me because now I am twice the problem as a rapper and producer. I'm open to listening and working with other producers. I'm just an all around understanding and open guy.
StreetHop.com: Tell me about your company N.W.O.
Nauce: N.W.O. stands for Nauce World Order that's my click. I do my own production as you know so if anyone wants some fire let me know, and I am gonna be coming with that heat. Its my production company. I have a few artist I am gonna be working with such as my home girl Eisani Steelz and Raw Sheed. They're pretty much under or rather roll with that click because I am producing for them.
StreetHop.com: What do you think about current rap compared to old rap?
Nauce: Far as current rap compared to the old i think it fucking sucks right now. Lol. I believe the problem is no one has their own identity. For instance on the east coast everyone sounds exactly the same. They either tryna be the next 50 cent and G unit or the next set of Cam and the Diplomats. They all selling drugs, shooting niggaz, talking bout chains, or jewelry, acting super gangsta and hard and its pathetic. Not knocking what someone is doing if thats what you do thats what you but a lot of dudes is fronting. If someone wants to rap about that lifestyle thats cool but at least try and come at it with a different perspective or way of spitting it to catch the listener's ear better. Be creative or something, show some style have some swagger do something just don't play follow the leader to everybody else. They just saying shit to say it. If you put all these niggaz in one line side by side they all fucking sound the same you feel me?? Lol. Back in the days of say Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Slick Rick, Biz Markie, or even Nas, Big, Jay Z, 2Pac, Snoop, N.W.A., Ice Cube the list goes on but these artist were ALL DIFFERENT. It wasn't cool to sound like or be like someone else. Everyone had their own lane, they own personality or swagger. You had to have a certain flavor, style, and appeal about what you did, said or acted thats how you stood out and now its like no one doesn't care about that any more. Music has no creativity what so ever for the most part. I believe if dudes take it back to the essence of when you think about what you're saying and how you plan on saying it, the music will get better as a whole. Everyone can't be a gangsta or a hustla but then again who is letting the images of this particular part / percentage of Hip Hop be the only part being shown or given any light thats what we must ask. I think the only people right now who really represent Hip Hop good are Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Common and a couple of others out there. Hip Hop is suppose to be different it was never everybody only doing one thing. It spoke about different things such as life in the hood, partying having a good time, politics, humor, skills, and awareness, but now I don't know what they are doing to it, and that's exactly why Nas said Hip Hop was dead. Its more about money then the culture right now.
Sadly Nauce and I had to cut it short, so expect a part two coming soon. Please feel free to check out Nauce by clicking here Also, check out Nauce's newest hit "Screw It Down" by clicking here.
StreetHop.com: What's good with Nauce?
Nauce: What's good with Nauce??? Let's see..... well things are really looking up for me right now. I am fortunate and blessed enough to have a lot of DJ's willing to accept tracks from me, play me in the clubs when they're spinning, or throw me on their mixtape. We all can use exposure, and I really appreciate that. thats the true essence of hip hop right there. It's real sad when no one wants to play new hot music from up and coming talent without charging them an arm and a leg. It seems as if there's no more love at least up on the east coast side of things.
StreetHop.com: How did you get your name, and what inspired you to rap?
Nauce: How did I get my name?? Well I was originally called "The Narcissist" and my people use to call me Nauce for short. A narcissist is someone who is in love or rather totally into themselves, but I flipped the definition at the time. I changed it to mean that I was in love with the things inside of me such as God, my family, friends, music stuff like that. Over time I out grew the Narcissist, and I just kept the name Nauce. I eventually couldn't depend on some of the people in my inner circle to help me do things such as getting beats to write, going to the studio and recording or getting my material mixed so I started doing every thing on my own. I started making my own beats, going to sessions on my own and paying for my songs to get mixed so that made me the boss so I figured I was the boss and I was gonna dictate what i could or not do so Nauce is the Boss there you have it. I make my own moves and answer to and wait on nobody.
StreetHop.com: What was it like growing up in Newark?
Nauce: Growing up in Newark wasn't to bad. Let me rephrase that it was bad, but not as awful and bad as it is now. You know you had your crime, people getting shot late night, getting robbed at gun point, jumped by gangs, stolen cars riding up on sidewalks, or spinning doing donuts in the middle of the street, crooked cops you name it it was going down. That was the norm you knew that stuff was going down but now its just fucking ridiculous. Gangs especially the Bloods out here are just out of control. They do majority of the killing out here now and its usually senseless violence. People just rolling up hopping out shooting people for no reason just for some initiation. It was to a point there was like 1 or 2 murders everyday since January. It got so bad they had to call the FBI and state troopers down to stop what was going on and its mostly all juveniles thats doing all the killings. Late night on in the street if you not paying attention to your surroundings or whats going on its easy to get got. It happened to me almost twice where niggaz hopped out hat low bandanna tied up on the face gun drawn ready to rob me and throw me in the truck but i booked man. i peeped it and through the grace of God they didn't get me or shoot me b/c only thing is gonna happen when they pull you in that van is you're gonna get robbed, possibly pistol whipped and it's a 99 % chance they gonna kill you and dumb you off on the side of a road so i was blessed man. but its crazy out here man if you don't need to be out late night its no reason to put yourself in danger and that ain't no scared shit thats some real life shit. So many people get killed round here with no respect o regard for life man its so crazy out here man.
StreetHop.com: How did you hook up with Wyclef for The Carnival?
Nauce: Far as hooking up with Wyclef I have been to his studio a couple of times and that was on the strength of a artist he had signed to him named Reptile. I met Rep through a college buddy of mine at the time and he was digging how i was rhyming so he invited me to come down to MIA with him and perform a freestyle on stage during his segment. I never met him face to face on some whats good how you doing shit but i actually met Jerry Wonder {his partner at the time I don't know if they're still cool} but he was a real good dude. he had a good vibe with him.
StreetHop.com: What went on with you and your people after that?
Nauce: What went on with me and my people after our little fall out / break up? Well we all still cool we don't really talk to each other much but far as musically there's nothing happening. We are all still friends and as grown men we all have different responsibilities and agendas we need to fulfill so thats understandable. With them not giving me any production or getting beats to me when i needed it, or having my material mixed in a fashionable time, it actually made me better. It drove me to be a better producer and to be more dependent on myself to where as if i need something done i gotta get on me to make it happen no one else. It all rides on my shoulder and I am happy with that. I need a beat i make, I need studio time I pay for it, I need something mixed i take it to whoever pay him and let him do his thing. That was probably one of the best things that could of happened to me because now I am twice the problem as a rapper and producer. I'm open to listening and working with other producers. I'm just an all around understanding and open guy.
StreetHop.com: Tell me about your company N.W.O.
Nauce: N.W.O. stands for Nauce World Order that's my click. I do my own production as you know so if anyone wants some fire let me know, and I am gonna be coming with that heat. Its my production company. I have a few artist I am gonna be working with such as my home girl Eisani Steelz and Raw Sheed. They're pretty much under or rather roll with that click because I am producing for them.
StreetHop.com: What do you think about current rap compared to old rap?
Nauce: Far as current rap compared to the old i think it fucking sucks right now. Lol. I believe the problem is no one has their own identity. For instance on the east coast everyone sounds exactly the same. They either tryna be the next 50 cent and G unit or the next set of Cam and the Diplomats. They all selling drugs, shooting niggaz, talking bout chains, or jewelry, acting super gangsta and hard and its pathetic. Not knocking what someone is doing if thats what you do thats what you but a lot of dudes is fronting. If someone wants to rap about that lifestyle thats cool but at least try and come at it with a different perspective or way of spitting it to catch the listener's ear better. Be creative or something, show some style have some swagger do something just don't play follow the leader to everybody else. They just saying shit to say it. If you put all these niggaz in one line side by side they all fucking sound the same you feel me?? Lol. Back in the days of say Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Slick Rick, Biz Markie, or even Nas, Big, Jay Z, 2Pac, Snoop, N.W.A., Ice Cube the list goes on but these artist were ALL DIFFERENT. It wasn't cool to sound like or be like someone else. Everyone had their own lane, they own personality or swagger. You had to have a certain flavor, style, and appeal about what you did, said or acted thats how you stood out and now its like no one doesn't care about that any more. Music has no creativity what so ever for the most part. I believe if dudes take it back to the essence of when you think about what you're saying and how you plan on saying it, the music will get better as a whole. Everyone can't be a gangsta or a hustla but then again who is letting the images of this particular part / percentage of Hip Hop be the only part being shown or given any light thats what we must ask. I think the only people right now who really represent Hip Hop good are Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Common and a couple of others out there. Hip Hop is suppose to be different it was never everybody only doing one thing. It spoke about different things such as life in the hood, partying having a good time, politics, humor, skills, and awareness, but now I don't know what they are doing to it, and that's exactly why Nas said Hip Hop was dead. Its more about money then the culture right now.
Sadly Nauce and I had to cut it short, so expect a part two coming soon. Please feel free to check out Nauce by clicking here Also, check out Nauce's newest hit "Screw It Down" by clicking here.
