He's tall, dark, handsome, intelligent and has talent that you wouldn't believe! Mississippi born, Internationally living, Nation is one of the most slept on up and coming artists in the Hip-Hop underground. Behind the "Real Nigga Shit" there's a young man with ambition, strength and contrary to what he may let off, a heart of pure gold. I had the chance to talk to Nation so I could find out WHO or WHAT Nation is and he more then willingly let me in on the man behind the lyrics:
So Nation, seeing as how you are the first person I’ve interviewed for the site I’ll start by asking how are you and what is new with Nation?
AND I’LL START BY SAYING THAT ITS A PLEASURE FOR YOU TO HAVE ME. NOTHING IS EVER REALLY NEW WITH ME. ITS MORE, WELCOMING IN THE EXPECTATIONS. I’M OVERSEAS RIGHT NOW OF COURSE PROMOTING MYSELF, AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND WORKING ON 2 PROJECTS: 1) NATION UNITED: VOL 2 AND SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SPRING 2012.
I think alot of your supporters are excited to hear that. Now who exactly IS Nation?
IT'S NOT A WHO BUT MORE SO A WHAT. OBVIOUSLY AN ARTIST BUT A MAN OF THE PEOPLE, A HUSTLER FOR THE DOLLAR, A HISTORIAN OF THE CULTURES AND A MIND TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
Now I'm a big fan of yours, but before "The Belief" I hadn't heard of you. I know you have more mixtapes to offer, but with “The Belief” and “Nation United” being released with in a year of each other, What exactly do you want people to get from your music?
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS DOING MIXTAPES BACK TO BACK BUT TIMING IS EVERYTHING AND I FEEL PEOPLE WASTE ALOT OF IT DOING BACK TO BACK RELEASES UNLESS OF COURSE YOU’RE A MAINSTREAM ARTIST. THE MESSAGES IN MY MUSIC ARE AS BLUNT AS MY PERSONALITY. IT'S RAW POETRY EMOTION AND GHETTO ART AT TIMES. BUT THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON MY NEW SINGLE “STAY” FT JOSEPH ANTHONY…IT’S A RADIO SMASH!!!
Oh I know! Its in my iTunes! So when did you know that you wanted music to be a career?
SHIT JUST KEPT CALLING ME BACK YOU KNOW. I WANTED TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND BE A BOSS DOING WHO KNOWS WHAT BUT AT THE TIME I WASNT SHOOL SAAVY. DUE TO SOME BAD DECISIONS AND MISFORTUNES HERE I AM, BACK IN THE THRESHOLD OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS.
I could definitely see you busting heads on a football field (laughs) I promised I wouldn't get to personal but I have to ask what was life like BEFORE the music?
HARD, GUTTA, POVERTY AMONGST ALL, BUT I FIGURED IT OUT THOUGH. OF COURSE ITS BEEN LIKE THE NEW FAD LATELY TO SAY YOU FROM THE STREETS OR BE A STREET NIGGA BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, PEOPLE DIDNT LOOK AT A REAL STREET NIGGA LIKE THAT. YOU WERE LIKE THE GUYS NOT TO HANG AROUND CAUSE YOU GOT A BAD NAME OR WASNT GONE BE NOBODY IN LIFE ANYWAY. NOW IT GETS YOU FAME AND FORTUNE. SOMEBODY WAS A FUCKIN GENIUS (LAUGHS)
You have a point there! So what is your motivation?
THE FACT OF KNOWING I’M ALWAYS A DOLLAR AWAY FROM BEING WHERE I USED TO BE AND WORRIES THAT I MIGHT NOT BE A SUCCESSOR IN THE EYE OF MY SON. WHAT HE THINKS OF ME WHEN HE’S OLD ENOUGH TO [KNOW] IS WHAT KEEPS ME STRIVING FOR NEW HEIGHTS.
There is nothing more admirable then a father who wants his son to see him do better. Besides your little tyke, who you CLEARLY adore, Who inspires Nation? Who are your musical influences?
THIS QUESTION IS SO GENERIC. IS THIS LIKE A TEMPLATE FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES INTERVIEWS? (SMILES) ARENT INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION THE SAME THING? MY MUSICAL INFLUENCE IS MY MOM WHO USED TO SING AROUND THE HOUSE ALL THE TIME AND SOME OF THOSE FAMOUS RAPPERS FROM THE 90’S (LAUGHS)
Nation you of all people know that inspiration doesn't always mean motivation, but with you I see different. Can you tell me about the first song you ever wrote?
YEAH IT WAS CALLED “PRESSURE FROM THE WORLD” IT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST HOOK I CROONED ON. I WAS WITH MY FIRST LOVE AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH SOME THINGS AND AT THE SAME TIME I HAD ISSUES WITH SCHOOL AND THE LAW; MUSIC WAS MY OUTLET CAUSE I AINT HAVE NO MONEY TO STAY OUT OF JAIL AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT GOES.
For a second, I wanted to feel bad, but its clear you've come a hell of a long way since "Pressure From The World" Now... How in all hell did you come up with the concept for “Mr. Marcus”?
ME AND MY LABELMATE “THA JOKER” WAS IN THE MIST OF DOING A MIXTAPE. HE HAD A MANAGER AT THE TIME BY THE NAME OF C-MO. IT WAS A LIL SAYING THEY STARTED ABOUT PUTTING IT DOWN ON CHICKS AND WHEN IT CAME TO FTE, IF YOU WERE A BAD BITCH YOU WANTED TO BE FUCKIN ONE OF US IN THE CAMP. (LAUGHS) WE PUT THE CONCEPT TOGETHER, WENT THROUGH A FEW CHANGES WITH THE SONG AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
For some reason I can see how you came up with the concept and why it's such a hit! So Nation where do you see yourself musically in the next 5 to 10 years?
THE ECONOMY SO FUCKED UP RIGHT NOW THAT THE VISION IS BLURRY. RIGHT NOW THIS SHIT LIKE A 9 TO 5 WITH US ARTIST, WE’RE JUST WORKING WITH A MINIMUM TO NO BENEFITS. WITH ALL THE POLITICS, BACKSTABBING, PETTY SHOW MONEY, DJS GETTING COCKY BY THE SPIN AND HOES FUCKIN OVER RAPPERS, NOT TO MENTION THE DUMB STUNTS US ARTIST PULL OURSELVES. I SEE MYSELF AS ONE OF THE TOP ARTIST IN THE GAME.
Where can people who want to know more about Nation go to find you?
THEY CAN JUST HIT ME ON MY SOCIAL SITES:
Twitter/ @NATIONSAIDIT
Facbook/ NATIONBEAN
WWW.FTELIVE.COM
Youtube/ FAMLYTIESNETWORK
Myspace/NATIONSAIDIT
Its good to see someone in this industry who doesn't mind staying true to themselves. My darling Nation... I salute you.
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