Q&A With Lil Nuts
Please tell us what exact area code you represent? 603, New Hampshire
How long have you been making music? Been making music for almost a year now, started recording back in February of last year.
How did you come up with your emcee name? I used to freestyle quite a bit when I was a kid, and people would say it was a little nuts. Ended up sticking.
What influenced you to become a Hip Hop artist? What were the main factors that got you into, quote on quote, “Underground Hip Hop”?! Was in quite a bit of pain both physically and mentally last year. After I got medically separated from the US Navy, there was a lot of limitations to the kind of work I could do. It became very therapeutic, and a good way to get rid of, or refocus the pain. I’ve always been a fan of underground, as the message is usually much different than what mainstream artists put out.
How important is it for your to stay ORIGINAL? How would you describe your style? Originality is something that is missing right now, a lot of people spitting the same messages and same styles over the same kinds of beats. I take pride in taking a raw approach to recording; not using auto-tune, or not even really mixing and mastering (which definitely impacts quality, however I don’t give a fuck). My style is a combination of everyone doing it, and everyone who has done it. I pull from the greats, and make it my own.
Tell us about the creative process for your new album “Straight Out of Concord”! Straight Out of Concord was recorded over 12 months, in California, North Carolina, and Vermont. Total cost of production was $250.00, as I could only afford the cheapest software/audiobox/headphone/mic. When getting into artist mode, I like complete isolation and silence; something that is nearly impossible when you are bouncing from place to place. For the first part of the year, I would work during the day, and stay up most of the night recording/watching tutorials on basic mixing/mastering. About midyear, I quit my job to focus on finishing the album.
In 2019, who will be on your personal music rotation playlist!? Any new artists you are listening to? My rotation is a mix of Kendrick, Pac, Wu-Tang, ASAP Rocky and Suicideboys. I don’t really listen to much else.
Any new projects and videos you are working on? Planning on a tour anytime soon? I’ve got a few side projects with my boy Ruffih, who lives in Kuwait, and I’m trying to find the time/resources to shoot a few music videos for my past album, but right now I’m in save and survival mode. Not working for the last half of the year put me deep into the struggle lol. Would love to tour, waiting for the right opportunity to come my way.
Your TOP 5 Dead Or Alive??!! 2pac, Big L, Biggie, Kendrick, ASAP Rocky
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”? Something that goes against the grain, doesn’t conform to the drug and namebrand riddled messages of mainstream hip-hop.
Drop all your music and social media links!
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lil_nuts_7-5
Bandcamp: https://lilnuts.bandcamp.com/releases
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lil_.nuts/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CeYdWrS5VxvWohDIFfRcI?si=4AbQjR6rQLWnn7XiOc3I7A
Any shout outs!? Shout out my boy Sixes for them big dick beats he keep slangin my way
