🎃 HALLOWEEN!! 🎃
The spookiest time of the year is coming around, and with it, the drop of our first line of Nefarious Merch!
From hoodies to stickers, we’ve got them all, and once we get into the haunts and horrors, be sure to find our devilishly fire apparel live and prime for the taking!
Nefarious Supply Season 1 is available now as a big thank you for your constant support use discount code NefSupply1 to get 10% off your first order!
Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. They have bolstered an impressive fanbase within the DMV area and are reaching for even further heights with every project they release.
Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster.
Below, we get into our sixth episode with member, Reem.
Enjoy 😈
Alright, so first question is how will the group be different from other collectives that currently exist?
This is gonna sound like mad cliche but the way I see it is kinda like we’re on our own wavelength. Like the way, we operate as a group of friends but we move like a collective. So when I come here it's not like I feel like I have to go to work, I feel I coming here to hang out but also get some work done. Meeting with the group doesn’t feel forced everything feels natural and free-flowing.
That’s awesome! So everything is like organic?
Yeah exactly!
So have you guys ever performed together as a group?
I honestly don’t perform live too often the only time I perform live is when there is a debut or something or like a project coming up. As far as a group I think the first time we performed together was when I was just coming into the group. It was the first show we had in college park and the second was at 808 Vol20 at The Crown. And that shit was a movie it was like the fucking Voltron coming together and just fucking shit up!
So I saw on your Instagram that you have a lot of illustrations that you post there. Is that like an animated character that you feel best represents you as a person? Or if there isn’t what would be one?
I wouldn’t say I have like a specific character that encapsulates who I am as a person cause that’s all my characters foreal. So like the way I draw my eyes are really just really an exaggeration of like my eyes lowkey because there really small and slanted and shit so it seems natural. And plus my eyes are like my favorite feature of myself which is weird but.
Nah man brag on yourself!
Nah yeah, so I like my eyes so I just figured I would exaggerate a little bit and make it me so it wouldn't be like I was trying to bite off someone else’s style or somethin’. I kinda just like found my style by making the characters myself.
Ah, shit man, that’s cool though! So you see yourself through the art that’s a good way to look at it. So is there an artist that you feel like you can listen to nonstop?
Ummm I don’t even know because their artists that I fuck with heavy but I have to hear different shit throughout the way. So lately i’ve been listening to a lot of Mike. He’s this rapper from New York, as well as a bunch of different artists and genres. I also been listening to a bunch of old school hip-hop to but even then it’s not like one artist I could just listen to I ain’t even gonna hold you bruh I might lose my fucking mind.
Yeah same here, I was thinking that too when I don’t think I could just listen to just one person I start to get bored.
Yeah exactly like I love Lil B you know shoutout Based God, Taskforce Lil B all day Nigga. But really I couldn't listen to Lil B all day bruh like Nah.
So is there a current trend in music that you like to break?
I’m really tired of clout chasing its like annoying. Like I’m really shy and timid so I don’t really like to talk to people I don’t know so its like niggas will pull up to you and be on some extra shit like aye you should follow me on IG and yadda yadda yadda, and there was one incident where like I was at The Crown and I must’ve dubbed this one dude who was tryna say wassup or whatever and he had hit me up on twitter like DM’d me and everything and was like “Yo you’re a fucking asshole”. And I read it and I'm like what are you talking about and he’s like “first off you don’t follow me, and second, you acting like you all high and mighty and shit” and i’m like Nigga. I. Have. Anxiety. I’m scared of people bro leave me the fuck alone. Shout out to him though. He’s probably gonna read this and be like man ima kill this nigga. It’s whatever though still thuggin’ still shinin’
I mean absolutely and it's like a thing like you’re not entitled to talk to everybody.
Yeah exactly like people feel entitled to your time and shit! But it’s like from a music standpoint its like. People make music cause they wanna get famous off that shit. Not even cause they wanna get famous off that shit. Like in high school there was Nigga’s making music cause they just wanted girls and money. And like Nah, why do you wanna be a rapper? Ghostie said it best; “Why do YOU want to be a rapper, why do people want to be rappers?”. CLOUT. And I can’t fuck with that bruh, like when people make music or get involved in fashion for just clout I can’t get involved with that cause like my agenda is different and it’s not gonna work.
Yeah especially with social media and everything.
Yeah exactly and with social media. Like I be on there I say some weird shit you know like I just like talking about weird shit. Like space or even the sun exploding or like the 5% movement or whatever but it’s like Niggas really be on twitter tryna like build a cult following. And it's just weird, if you’re genuine with this shit, it shouldb’t be hard for you. And it’s getting to a point where I’m starting to hate the internet like I don't even wanna be on it no more. Like Twitter is a war zone you see people getting fuck, killed, shot, all that shit all before noon. Like I wake up first thing I see on the TL is hardcore porn.
Bro who are you telling it’s like 9:30, and this the first thing I’m seeing and ir’s like damn do yall sleep or take breaks?!?
Son, it was earlier than that and it’s the first thing i’m seeing like there’d kids getting ready for school and you’re retweeting hardcore porn!?
Man! So the next question. If you could get a cosign from any artist mainstream or underground who would you be most honored to hear it from?
Damn, dead or alive?
Yeah
Fuck, ummmm as far as visual artists i’m gonna get the most obvious one out the way Jean - Michel Basquiat he’s every Tumblr kid’s idol and I was one of those cause I was into art and jazz and fucking old school hip hop and shit. So Basquiat off top Ummm Tom Miller god rest his soul, he’s this really dope artist and he was a big inspiration on my visual style like if you grew up on the east side of Baltimore you would see all his shit on like walls and like sides of houses. Like there’s one on the North Avenue road. But um yeah one other visual artist Akira Toriyama from Dragon Ball Z. Yo if he cosigned me bro I would cry literal tears.
Any musicians?
Yeah so as far as musicians, uhhhh I don’t know like there’s a lot of musicians I fuck with but at the same time it’s like I wouldn’t really be pressed. I guess Tyler The Creator would be one cause he was a big influence on me when I was in middle school. Ummm anybody in Awful records like father, and ethereal. And lowkey local artists too like if they cosigned my art I would be happy as shit!. My niggas foreal like DKTM, Nasa8 Threeside all them niggas like if I were to get a cosign from anybody I would be honored cause that means you really fuck with it. To me, it doesn't matter who you are at the end of the day as long as you acknowledge the art that’s enough to keep me going and put a smile on my face.
That’s lowkey a really modest Anwer bro I fuck with that! So final question DKTM, Don’t Kill The Movement. What is the movement to you?
The movement is just a bunch of creative individuals that want to create for the sake of creating. Not for monetary gain, or like fame I mean those are cool but those a disposable and they will come later. For now, we're living out here and we do what we do. You know what I mean, fuck all the fake and inorganic shit fuck all that GMO shit you know we just out here trying to bridge the gap between two different cultures, and just overall bring people together. Especially in a time where like everybody is divided and everything is divisive. Like we just out here vibing formal, like existing living. Not on like narcissistic shit but like we out here just letting people know that it’s okay to be yourself just have fun with your life you know?
Yeah, what you said had weight to it, and like as far as words go the message is clear!
Also, also, also I wanna give a shoutout to Bob Ross, I remember one time I was high as shit I be enjoying the shit laughing like this Nigga painting a fucking forest makes you wanna paint bro!
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Reem you can find his Instagram here and be sure to check out his store to purchase some of his merch that he designed. Be on the lookout for DKTM episode 8 which is coming next Wednesday.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our newsletter below.
So give us a general description of you as an artist, what cultures and experiences cultivated this persona of Fredo, and/or this identity of yours?
So real live I've been making music since like sixth grade, and when I first started making music on, you know, when you're in like sixth grade like you don't really have much to talk about, so we were talking about some bullshit, and at the time, when I was in fifth grade, I was like I was popular like people knew of me.
So, I was kind of cool with everybody. I was hanging with the jocks at the time, so I when I made music and like a 6th grade, niggas wasn't fucking with me. So I sort of stopped making music after that shit, just because of people like clowned me and shit. And then when I got to high school, I started making music again and it was a completely different reaction, they started fucking with it.
Basically, my name is Freddie. But like when I when I got to high school and niggas just started calling me Freddo. So Freddo became my name and then I created a platform that I'm still trying bring up, like do merch, create like a record label, all that, eventually, when shit gets popping and that where the Top Hill comes from.
Hopefully, if I get poppin one day I can make something of a Top Hill Records. I have like my own Top Hill store and like sell like my own merch and shit.
What I was thinking when I was reading about Top Hill was that your goal is the top of the mountain like, you're always climbing towards it, that's the aesthetic of it?
Exactly so, the way I made the brand was kind of like you always want to be at the top and never the bottom you feel me? But to get to the top you have to go through the valleys and shit. You got to go through the little hills and little roads, little rough patches, and stuff to make it to the top. And then I just decided I'd make it a brand and brand myself as Top Hill Fredo.
My next question for you is, how would you describe your music to somebody?
My music is very sonic very harmonic and melodic. When I grew up singing I'd be using a lot of autotune and shit. So I mean, it's very upbeat very happy. I try to use a lot of happy beats? I'm not depressed and shit you feel me? I don't know. Very sonic, I would say. Timeless. You can always go back and listen to that shit and it'll still crank no matter, where you are or what kind of place you're in.
I can hear that Top Hill mentality in that too.
Exactly.
Who inspires you for your sound? It doesn't have to be artists doesn't have to be a producer doesn't have to be anyone in the music industry per se, it could be whoever.
I think I inspire myself bro.
I inspire myself every day. Like you wake up and you like, how can I get this bread? You feel me? Like you wake up being like:
"Yo, I'm gonna get to this bag and however, I do it, whether it's my job, whether it's music, whether it's selling clothes, whether it's whatever bro like, I'm just gonna find a way to make some money."
But, we could talk musical inspirations. I get a lot of inspiration from Travis Scott. I love him, got a lot of Uno the Activist, if anyone knows who that is. A lot of Uzi a lot of Carti, a lot of Pierre Bourne.
Oh, yeah, of course.
The only thing I don't fuck with is country music. They can keep that country yee-haw shit on the other side, forreal.
I want you to walk us through the steps that you take to create a track. What is your creative process? Do you happen to just walk into the studio and throw some beats on until one stick? Or is there a more delicate process involved?
For the tape regarding, my boy Ronnie Choc, we produce most of the beats on this tape. So usually it's like, a package is like a four-beat pack so like four beats in the pack.
Like I'll just go through the pack and whatever I'm feeling at the time is usually what I hop on, and then when I first put the beat on, I listen to it a couple of times and I turn on my like presets and everything. But you always have to start with the hook bruh. The hook gotta be the hottest thing on the song.
So you're into this like: "Yo, I need to make every track I make a vibe like this hook has to be infectious."
Bro I'm known for my hooks yo haha, shit has to be poppin. at all times. Like if I'm doing a feature for someone it's a little different. But, usually, when I start off my songs I'll start off with the intro. I try to like to set something up. Then I'll do the hook, and then I'll add a few verses in.
So for features, have you ever been brought on to just do a hook?
Yeah, people have asked me for features where I only sing the hook. I just don't like doing it that way.
To me, if it's your song, you should be on the hook. Cuz the hook, however fire, may not fit on the beat either.
Or the subject matter either, right? Like it’s just the principle of the thing?
Yeah, exactly. But this music shit is saturated. That's why it's hard for talented people to truly stand out.
Exactly, and that's why we're doing this man. To show the talent within this underground community, because everyone wants to be a rapper, everyone wants to be a singer. But you rarely see those willing enough to put the effort, the time, and the energy into making that dream a reality.
Exactly, and that's love, for real. Because not many people put us underground talent on. Speaking of, the tape is a collab tape, with two other artists. The first is BishSzn, and the other is MALO!. It's just a group of us three, close friends who make music so we all just came together and made the tape.
What do you believe is your singularity in the Music Industry? What do you believe you brought into the fold that wasn't there when you came?
I think I bring a sense of modesty to the game. A lot of these niggas in the industry are fake, but if I get a bag, I know I'm really not gonna change. I'll be the same person, just with a lot of money haha. I'll still use my platform, which would be Top Hill, to help put other niggas on.
Build studios around local communities and whatnot, make this a brand that everyone can look up to. Because niggas were really in the same position at one point. But forreal, I would be like the most unfamous famous person bro haha. I would drive my Ford Focus until the tires fall off that shit. Like I can't be somebody that I'm not. For me what makes me happy is waking up and having the freedom to do whatever you want to do.
I'm glad that the aspects you're bringing to the game come from a sense of being grounded. So my next question is kind of off-kilter, but hear me out. Where do you think you would be right now if you weren't pursuing music? What would you be doing at this exact moment?
If I wasn't pursuing music? I would probably be doing something along the lines of clothes and fashion.
So you'd still be in the entertainment industry then.
Yeah, of course. Also if I was a bit taller, I would definitely be in the NBA. But niggas are short, I'm like 5'9" haha. But I work for Nike right now so like I'm tryna go corporate if this music shit doesn't work out, but I'm not even gonna start thinking like that.
Nah, of course not. You should never completely dash your craft completely, you put that in the back burner and work on it steadily until you perfect it.
Exactly. You also need the monetary value, the money, to make your dreams a reality bro. You can have all the dreams you want but without the ability to make them real, they just dream. That’s why if anyone says they’re done making music. They’re either broke or they definitely got another job bro. No one likes to show their failures.
Yup, everyone shows their highlight reel and never their background shit.
Facts.
Big shout out to Top Hill Freddo for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him you can find him on Instagram and his music on his Soundcloud which is above. While you there check out his new release collab tape “Last Call Friendly” with Malo, and 1990Bishop you definitely won’t be disappointed!
Cleveland based artist Omari Night sets a new standard with the release of his latest single “Nasty”. Featuring production from Silence, and Tenroc, and some help with vocals from fellow artist JXDYHILL. Omari Night’s latest track is a worthy addition of his already top notch discography which includes songs like; “For Life”, “What I Need”, and “Big Racks”.” Nasty” as the first single off of Omari Night’s up coming EP “Lonely Star” which is dropping in November. Until then you can stream Omari Night’s latest single “Nasty” which is available on all streaming platforms as well as below. If you want to stay up to date with Omari Night you can find him on Instagram, his music on Sound Cloud , and be sure to check out our interview with him as well.
Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. They have bolstered an impressive fanbase within the DMV area and are reaching for even further heights with every project they release.
Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster.
Below, we get into our fifth member, Blklexx.
Enjoy 😈
So what is the most difficult part of the music making process to you?
Oh wow, that’s a good question! So um most difficult part of the creative process honestly depends. So like sometimes if you’re working with a lot of people everybody works at different rates and every body has different schedules. So like for example if you’re working with beats you might get the beat at a certain time or even a little late. And then by the time you get the beat you might not have the time to write for it because your busy working on something else. So overall scheduling, and really giving yourself time to write, especially when working with other people is the hardest part.
Yeah, I definitely get that people are so inconsistent, so next questions is kinda weird and might be kinda hard to answer but if you could name your fan base what would they be called.
Oh wow, I honestly never gave thought to that!
I thought of something like movers, but I don’t think that makes sense
Movers??????????? (Looks at Morgan with Confusion)
Yeah you know like, Don’t Kill The Movement. But i was like you know never mind.
That name sounds like we sell drugs, or like we would probably endorse and solicit drug use and sale if that makes sense?
Haha, LMFAO Move That Fucking Weight!
(baatchoy comes in and informs everyone’s he’s running to one of the best spots in the DMV Hip-Hop Chicken)
Lex: Can you bring a half and half for me?
Reem: (Slaps Keys out of Lex’s hands): NO, NAH NIGGA, FUCK THAT. (Picks them up right away), I got you bro. Also for five dollars a day you can also have a Reem Unknown.
Lex: Aye bruh, yall gotta release the audio now, Reem always says some shit like that, one time he was completely calm and he told out friend Natalie. (As Reem): “Natalie can you stop making that noise it’s making me irate.”
Everybody's laughs,
Lex: Reem Is really funny as fuck, like one time. I had met Reem and knew him around but this is really around the time we started to hang out more and become cool. So one time this nigga came up to me, and with the deepest voice possible was like. ( As Reem): “I’m drunk enough to slap a nigga.
Waaaaaaaaiiiittttt. Okay so next question next question. So how do you make your self stand out in a group with so many people.
Ummm so one thing I’m glad I did was go bald, cause people look at me and be like oh this nigga bald and that grabs a lot of attention.
Right, that makes sense. So was that your choice or did someone go like aye you should shave your head?
No actually, I was like lemme just go bald. Actually lowkey, before I even went bald we were working on a song called Blklexx Luther, and really that song ended up being the last song on Metropolis “Adult Swim To a Minor”. Like the orginal song had a different verse and hook and all that but that's where the bald idea came from, so it was going to mini persona or character for me.
So what were you called before that?
I switched between different name honestly. Like at first my first rap name honestly was so dumb, it was one of those like Logic. Not to say logic is stupid or anything like that but that such a simple name, like his appeal is like he’s a rapper, rapper. And while there's nothing wrong with that I felt like I wanted to have a less generic name. And like his name works for him because he’s built a brand around all that but for me I wanted something different.
Yeah this can actually work for you bro, like you can build a brand around this.
Yeah exactly, like my first rap name was like ILLIAD, and i coulda kept it, and i fuck with that style of artist and rap but I wanted to be me. So then i changed my name to Maverick because my name is Erick. But then people started shotetning to Mav, and people still call me Mav depending on who you talk to. Then Nav came out and Mav was way too close to Nav, and this nigga has more clout then me so that killed the name. Then i came out with Blklexx. Especially after we started talking about metropolis, cause last year around the summer is when we came out with the overall concept of Metropolis. Honestly we technically started it like when we did “Adult Swim”, but we didn’t fully conceptualize “Metropolis” was a project until last summer. Like was started making crazy synthetic beats, and then we did “City Lights”, “Chop”.
Honestly metropolis goes crazy I first heard City Lights, then I heard White Rice and I was like damn!
Yeah man shout out to Dyyo for blessing with the first verse. Dyyo is so dope because he’s like super versatile, like he doesn't really focus on being like a rappity rap dude, but he can really rap. And he can give you all different types of verse and stuff. Bro like and then the way he came in on “White Rice” was crazy and i had to match his energy and live up to the name.
So let me ask you really quickly is there a Sci-fi movie that you would really like your music to be apart of. I ask that because you have an interesting sound to you, so is there a particular show or eben movie were you would be like damn if i could get my music on that would be great.
Twinks Peaks especially cause of the way they rebooted it. It’s an old show and it ended in ‘90, or ‘91. Twin Peaks is a really big influence on a lot of us in DKTM, like me, Tish Pope. Especially with references. Like Pope has bars about Twin Peaks. Like when he says; “That’s a message for the blind from a place between the pines.” Like there's a ton more Twin Peaks references I;m just blanking on some of them.
So in what ways do you inspire yourself when you are feeling apprehensive, or the inspiration isn't there.
I literally do something else, if i feel like i have writer's block. Well for me it's less writers block and the more you know…. I’ll put it this way I feel like when i;m feeling absolutely stuck i'll start reading something else like poetry, ill listen to music that’s not Hip-Hop related so like Bjork or something. So like listening to something that is not related to what I usually listen to or make, and usually that music will give me inspiration to come back to it. As for rapping itself, I’m a big hip-hop nerd so for me there's so many different ways to approach a verse and rapping that its hard for me to have completely writers block, and i don’t really force myself to write anything so i technically never really have it.
So kinda like spur in the moment type thing?
Yeah I try to be real spontaneous, so like i did a verse for the song that’s gonna be on Pope’s upcoming project.
Yeah that makes sense after you’ve been doing this for a while there’s certain times where you just know what you’re doing.
Yeah, it’s just about being comfortable with your writing style and process. LIke when i say I'm rapping nerd I really am a rap nerd, so i try to study as much as i can to the point where I understand what separates me from other people, and I am usually able to implement at will. So I;m usually not super stuck, and I just try to have fun, keep it loose and not be to tight about any of it.
I feel as though that should be something you should always so especially as an artist, because sticking to the same regiment won’t allow you to evolve.
Yeah, like all my favorite rappers a fairly borderline unpredictable one way or the other. Its either their actual rhyme schemes, their patterns, or it can be someone like DOOM who completely plays with your expectations almost every time he says anything. Like Doom will have whole bars where everything rhymes with each other then he might a punch line, drop off that topic, start something else, and its like what he’s rapping about is fresh every time you hear him. Another one Biggie is not necessarily that way with subject matters but he’s like that with his flows so the patterns themselves are unpredictable their just like so like slick. So i just try to make my rhyme schemes like you’re going somewhere. So not even like telling a specific story but using imagery, and the patterns themselves to get the point across. Like you can either rhyme patterns themselves work in such a way when people hear them you’re able to manipulate people’s ears with them. So you can use it to evoke different ides or evoke things.
Yeah that makes sense!
Like for example the way I rapped on “Youcanshakeyourassinhell”. The first verse me and the beat are like hand in hand. Like for me it starts out at a clasp, and the first verse is very hard up with the beat and by the end we start to merge to eventually come together.
Yeah, that was one of the more eccentric tracks I’ve heard on the album, and I was like damn this is crazy. I jumped around the project first but after I went back and listen to it from top to bottom everything started to make sense.
Yeah, I feel like that's an album you could technically listen to backwards, and it kinda flows. It works because “Youcanshakeyourassinhell” is like you’re going into the city, or like you’re going into this place that we have been and where taking you there. And then by the end we kinda break things down like for me Blk Lex. Lex Luthor is a human being and he hates Superman because Superman is like a God on Earth. And yeah Lex is greedy but there so many qualities about him that human and make him relatable that it’s kinda understandable in a weird way. And while Clark Kent is a representation of American norms and values fuck that cause America is on some bullshit.
Yeah lowkey Lex Luthor is an entrepenuer, but he’s one of the most evil niggas.
Exactly but he’s relatable, and he’s is known for bending these systems. So like this idea that Superman can like can represent America as this altruistic sort of whatever the fuck. I like Lex more because he’s more like exposes the nitty gritty of everything. One of the reasons I like Blklexx as as a name is because he also indulges in evil. And that’s where “City Lights” comes in. It's about how even though we hate evil, we indulge in it, and to a certain degree we like it.
Nah, that’s crazy I ain’t never thought about that now I gotta go back and re listen to the project.
Yeah, that’s why we put it in the first couple of bars, it's completely vague, but its necessary because you have to be apart of it. Like even “Youcanshakeyourassinhell”. That’s how we best describe being in the city, its like you can have a good time in hell.
So quick question, what was the concept behind “White Rice”.
Well Dyyo came with his first and he was talking about people throwing dirt on his name of looking down on him. My verse is continuing off that but for me it's about defying people who might look down on me. And fuck all the humility like you gotta recognize who you are, and I really don’t think that to many rappers would really really want to Rap with me.
Damn, why not?
Cause I mean a lot of people aren’t really on the bars, I mean some people are I could be wrong don’t get me wrong there’s some really great rappers. But that just me. Like people are weird you know they might not have the best intentions, but like anything its always weird navigating and dealing with people. Especially in a scene where you have eyes on you, but a lot of Metropolis was honestly about the state of where we were when making the album.
Damn Word, Well it was nice talking to you and learning more about you!
Big shout out to Blklexx for coming on and interviewing with Us! if you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Blklexx and future projects you can find him on Instagram. While you there be sure to check out his newest project; “The Waiting Room” which is above.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our newsletter below.
Chicago based artist Serena Isioma is back again with the release of some new heat with her new song “Valentina”. Featuring production from Canadian based producer C Medina, Serena Isioma gets inspiration for the song from a person who entered and left her life quickly. The song is kind of a homage to the thoughts that go through her head when she thinks about this individual. This latest release from Serena coincides with the amazing work ethic and quality she’s been putting out this past year following the releases of “Breath”, “Shake”, and “Do I Make You Nervous”, as well as her amazing feature on HiddenHills song “Criminal”. Serena shows her range and talent as an artist working hard on making a name for her self. When we asked her about what can we expect from her in the near future Serena said;”All i can say is the next time y’all hear new music from me, it’ll be on a new level. *maybe* some snippets will leak or i’ll hop on a feature. just keep your eyes on me”. We cant wait to hear more music from her! If you want to keep up with Serena you can follow her on Instagram, and you can stream “Valentina” now which is available on all platforms right now as well as in the link below.
Yo yo! Wassup bro thank you for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply! So my first question is who is Pharez Scott tell us about your self?
Hey, I’m Pharez Scott I’m 19, a photographer, graphic/clothing designer, and trumpet player. I started taking photos at around 15 and never really looked back, i’ve only gotten better at what I do.
Where are you from, and how has this area influenced you, your view of the world, the people you’ve connected with, and most of all your experiences?
I’m from New Orleans and for a few years we’ve been in a creative boom, not many people know on a national scale but the city is filled with talent and because im always surrounded by talent im constantly inspired!
Who are some of your biggest influences and why?
I’d say my friends, and everyday experiences inspire me more than anything, I’m not really big on the canon of designers and photographers because then id pattern myself after them subconsciously and I don’t want to be anyone but me.
I was looking at your Instagram and I noticed you recently had a pop up titled “Girl Power”, can you tell us more about it?
My first collection was dedicated to the women that help me survive everyday life, because without the strong community of girls in my life I’m able to do some awesome things whether it’s watching Shrek with Mychele and Alexis, talking through concepts with suhayla, spending time with cierra or courtney, teasing Mikia, talking to Camryn, or eating with my mom and sisters I need them more than anything because they hold me together, whether they know it or not they are my life source, so that being said Girl Power.
So let’s talk about your photography, how long have you been a photographer and what got you into it?
I’ve been doing photography for 4 years to this point and I really just felt that Photography is a medium that is powerful and meaningful, I wanted to capture moments in time in the present and photography really stuck out to me in that way!
What type of camera do you use, and how long has it been your go to piece of equipment?
I use a canon, right now im dabling in film and my nishika is my go to for the last few months but as far as digital work I have a few canons that I’ve used.
What are your favorite type of shots to do, and why?
Thats something i’m still figuring out early on my work involved a lot of color and soft edges, then i started to do surrealism, and now I love portraits so thats subject to change.
Tell us about your favorite photo shoot, and what made it so memorable?
My favorite shoots, are the ones that happen spontaneously they may not be my best work but shooting at a park with Max, in my backyard with Corgin, or anywhere with Courtney make the moments in between the photos special because we’re just hanging out it isn’t business
If you could some advice to your younger self what would you say?
You’re planning shit out way too much, make connections earlier, tell your friends you love them, and don’t worry you’ll be fine.
What were some of your goals for 2019, and what can we expect from you 2020?
2019 I wanted to establish my brand because I’d tried and failed on many occasions you know, so the next step is to do more with my brand, expand and let it take me places in 2020. But regardless of the outcome I’ll be working hard.
Any last words?
There is power in your words and actions, they return to you both good and bad so don’t beat yourself up for too long be happy and share love!
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Pharez Scott you can find him on Instagram. While you there be sure to check out some of his amazing artwork and check out the recap from his Girl Power Pop Up.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our newsletter below.
Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. They have bolstered an impressive fanbase within the DMV area and are reaching for even further heights with every project they release.
Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster.
Below, we get into our fifth member, Mouse.
Enjoy 😈
~~~~
So Mouse, I saw that you recently graduated Towson University. If you could have chosen any song to walk into that arena to, what song would you have chosen to enter as a graduate into?
Oh, wow. Do you feel like that would be a powerful thing to walk into?
Yeah, make me feel like I'm bigger than all of y'all niggas forreal.
Have you ever found it hard for you to express yourself? Or are you naturally an open book?
I feel like for the most part I kind of feel it’s hard for me to express myself and have my expression come back like and be accurate, or like produce a true understanding.
Like that's honestly what I channel into a lot of my music and really why I started making music. It doesn't have to always be literal. So, you know, you could always make a metaphor is something that expresses it in a way. Okay.
So what do you hope your guys’ work contributes to the community either musically or just the community around you?
As we get bigger and have bigger ideas, it just inspires more people to kind of follow suit and do their own thing for real.
So it's like a ripple effect kind of?
Exactly, for sure.
Because there's a lot of similarity in the industry today. So to see people just kind of branch off into their own thing is pretty cool. That's also really why I got into underground shit, particularly from here, because it's like damn.
I really don't even listen to like a lot of mainstream stuff anymore.
Do you have a musical guilty pleasure? Like a Miley Cyrus or a Justin Bieber or someone like that, or do you specificially hate someone that's like really popular?
Nah, like I feel like guilty pleasures for me. It's just kind of like I like what I like.
I bump whatever I’m feeling at the time forreal and I'll be like this shit cranks. I was like bumpin like AFI and shit this morning, yeah, whatever I'm into at the moment is what I'm into.
If there was a lesson you could teach her younger self. What would it be?
I would probably say something like “You don't fail until you stop trying” because it's like I feel as though I learned from my family a lot of impactful lessons that were taught when I was too young to comprehend it and now talking to them again it’s like “Ah, I see.”
I don’t know, it's like if I could meet my younger self, I feel like the one person that'd be able to get through to that stubborn ass nigga is myself from the future.
I read this book about the value of science a few years ago and I'd probably like that drop that off to him as well, not even say anything, just "Read this." you know?
So, I will ask you this. You just recently graduated from Towson. Was it hard? Have you been making music for a while or did you just really get into it since graduating?
I've been making music for like 12 years, like I played in a punk band called Null Void. They, like me, and also like a bunch of people in the house right nowstarted when we were in high school and like we started doing shit live and really came into our sound.
Started touring a little bit, but we were young and we fucking lost our name, so that really like put a splinter in shit, but it's like that's what I've been doing like for the longest, and then DKTM kind of happened like as we all became separate from that, like when our separate ways.
So just like now we can do all this stuff independently and then bring it together like this.
So how did you find your way into DKTM?
So I was one of the original members.
Like I said like when I went to college and like I couldn't practice with them every week and Pope would be like working and like Aghori would also be in a different school and our drummer would just be working as well.
We all just like naturally got into producing because it's like the way to express ourselves when we couldn't, like, link up, and then when we would link up we would then bring that energy back into producing as a group, but at that time it was like this is probably going to be a little bit long.
One of the original members, Lucy Mourn, he got me into like producing forreal, like he gave me like a controller that he wasn't using and I started producing off of that and like 2014-ish.
He then introduced us to Eric, or Lex, and like we all just started linking, like 95 as well. It was just us five. We would, like, send each other little ciphers through text message, and then it's like when niggas finally started getting their own places like away from their parents, that's when shit really started taking off. We would link up and record shit and like it just went up.
Odd question here, but are you a person of the universe, like someone that believes in Universe? Or are you more like a religious person?
Definitely not a religious person.
What do you believe in?
I kind of just believe in like energy in cycles as concepts.
It's like when it comes to life and death, I kind of feel like if you look at anything on Earth, it happens in a cycle. Like a year is just a cycle of four seasons, a cycle 12 months, so it is constantly running in circles.
So it's like, if everything here is running in circles, then like why wouldn't death also be a cycle?
I feel like when people die, the energy doesn't really leave per se, whether that be like it comes back as like a cat or like another person or even an ideology, like where it's like somebody rubbed up on somebody so much that that energy just kept transferring onward.
So did you find it hard while you were studying to balance music or was it like “This is what I really want to do at the end of the day, so I'm gonna make time for it.”?
Um it's definitely hard.
Like I'm an impulsive person so it's like I'll study for a little bit and be like "Alright that's enough of that." But no it's definitely hard and I commend people who do it while they're studying because that shit is truly a challenge.
But yeah, no, I was not easy.
So to kind of ish like grapple questions number one. Is there anything in the future either solo or with the collective that we should be looking out for?
I'm working on something.
I'm working on something, but put the word, something in "bold" and "italics".
Actually, just in "italics" haha.
So the last question for you, Mouse, DKTM stands for Don't Kill The Movement. So, okay. What is the movement to you? What is it that you are trying to preserve?
When I look at it? I just think again about the transfer of energy, and how it can't be killed.
Going back to like an earlier question about what we hope to do, it's like even after we're gone, regardless of what happens I feel like we've already kind of made like an impact and that that energy will just keep going through people right with influence.
I like that. It's like, you know, in whatever you do, you're going to leave a mark on something. Like every word you speak is going to have an impact, is going to echo to something. Whether or not it's like the biggest, thing ever, it's going to make a mark at some point in life.
Definitely.
~~~
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Mouse you can find his SoundCloud above, and you can also follow him on Instagram. While you there you can also check out DKTM on Instagram and check out our previous interviews with Baat Choy, Morgan Marsh, Pope Loud, and 95.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our newsletter below.
DKTM member Mouse is putting his name on the map with the release of his new single “Love”. Taking full control of the song with production and mastery. His latest song is flip of Sweet Love by Anita Baker that is turned into some wild futuristic dance vibes. When asked about what inspired him for the song, and the overall vibe he was going for Mouse says:” I was experimenting with combining the sounds of soul samples with the electronic palette that I was into on Metropolis.” You can listen to LOVE.404+ (Anita Baker Remix) which is avalible right now below. And be on the look out for our interview with Mouse coming later this week.
For almost a year Nefarious Supply has dedicated ourselves to our mission statement, which is to become a platform for talented underground artists to shine and show the endless talent and art that they have thoroughly polished and cultivated.
From R&B to alternative, the skill and prowess has shone through artist after artist, and the further we’ve expanded our web and knowledge of music and the underground scene we’ve come to appreciate, more and more, the love and effort these creators have put into their craft.
As we’ve grown and evolved as a company and a brand, we at Nefarious Supply feel that we’re at the point where we can begin our entrepreneurial journey within this industry. With the hub we have created, we are now at the point where we can begin to promote not only these amazing creatives, but our brand in its entirety.
In collaboration with designer and brand owner, Didrik Wasson, Nefarious Supply is now revealing, for the first time ever, our very first line of merchandise!!! Below we’ve laid out for you guys the mock-ups for our new merch, from hoodies to stickers, and we would love to hear your feedback as we set up our online store.
But don’t worry, you won’t have to wait long.
The drop date for our first line is October 31st!!
We just want to give a big thank you to everyone who has believed in us and watched us grow as a company and brand, supporting our mission of bringing awareness to talent all over North America, and soon wherever we capably can.
Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. They have bolstered an impressive fanbase within the DMV area and are reaching for even further heights with every project they release.
Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster.
Below, we get into our fourth member, 95.
Enjoy 😈
~~~~
Nice to meet you man, my name is Sheku. Lets get this interview started!
So, how would you describe your music to somebody?
Oh man my music, so we started in I wanna say 2016, and about then is when we started recording. We had like play around tracks never really released anything, but there was one it was called “Murder Music”.
So the first time I recorded it wasn't initially going to be for that song but I had showed them the verse and the group was like “bro you gotta use this” so i used it. Outside of that I haven't really put out a whole lot yet, but I do have in mind what I want my first tape to be.
So do you produce?
Nah, Nah, I rap
Oh okay you rap, so you haven’t put out anything as of yet.
Yeah I haven't put out a whole lot of stuff, right now, I have an unreleased track called “Gas”, we recorded it, I wanna say, last month, but I do have some on my phone.
<He plays us some unreleased music from the DKTM vault which was heat.>
Oh shit bro, that’s nice!!
Thank You! So, its me and Lex on that record.
Oh okay, so did he produce it or is he featured on the track as well?
Yeah he’s rapping on it, but Mouse is the one that produced the track.
Bro, Mouse has been on some amazing time man!
Yeah for production with us its either really Mouse or Baat Choy that does it.
And what about Aghori, what does he do?
Yeah, so he really does grungy beats and sounds he's the best for that and if you want something that sounds raw he's the go to guy. But the way I do stuff is i can come up with verses like really easy, especially if the beat is hitting.
Once I hear it I just get to typing.
Sometimes I might not like it or it just comes so naturally that I have to save it. Other times I’ll have some stuff in pocket, and if I feel like its good I’ll save it for when I feel like the time is right.
Like there some lyrics I have from 2017 for when I feel like its ready or even if I come up with something better.
Wow that’s crazy, do you feel like a lot of rappers do that?
Oh yeah a lot of people have some stuff written for when they feel like they’re ready to put it out or they continue to work on it more and more. At the same time though saving lyrics and continuously working on them can be counter intuitive.
I say this because each year you grow as a person, the verse that you wrote then may not be the person you are now. Like the space and mind you had then can definitely changes to where you are now.
The content that you create may evolve and get better then what you had created before.
Yeah, that definitely makes a lot of sense. As you grow as a person and as an artist, so does the music you create.
So my next question is where are you representing?
Ah man PG County all day everyday. The area is extremely important to me, because a lot of people come from the area, but the DMV as a whole is just where its at.
Like I was born in DC, but I was raised in PG so the area has always been my home, that's where I was raised. As a whole, one thing I do want to see, is the DMV becoming more unified because you’ll have people from DC, PG, or Virginia not really get along and I don’t really understand that.
This area is nothing but talent, we’re all from the same area so let's get along and get together and create. The DMV should not be divided even though there are so many different styles and genres there's no reason for us not come together and collaborate and test these new sounds as a whole.
Yeah man I definitely see where you’re coming from. We gotta stop being divided, its definitely bad for the overall culture.
Yeah exactly, and of course the ones that made it like Wale, Rico Nasty, and whatnot. They can collab and make music easy, but in terms of a local standpoint, a lot of people feel like if you are getting more shine than me I don’t really want to fuck with you.
To me that does not make any sense, why not mix both sound bases that you have and and get bigger together.
Yeah definitely, in terms of our sound we don’t really have one, so the best thing to do is come together, create, and just put more music out there for the world to listen to.
But talking about creating, who inspires you on a regular basis?
Ah man, that’s a hard question because it always rotates. For me, my number one has always been Cole. Cole is one of the reasons I started writing music, I have been writing music since I was 12, and it started with poetry, but then hip hop came in and I started listening to Big, Pac, Cole Nas.
Oh okay, yeah man, the song you showed us, I was getting Nas and Cozz vibes, and that's the feeling you kind of give me bro, with a mix of a little J.Rock.
And not to say that I’m comparing you to them but I can definitely hear the influence they have had on your music.
Yeah exactly, but Cole is honestly one of my biggest influences.
Like you guys know how like people have comparisons between Kendrick and Cole and I don’t even know why. I really like both honestly but for me Cole is more relatable because of the stuff he talks about.
“4 Your Eyez Only”, on the last track, that is song is so relatable.
Like Cole says stuff and you can picture what he says. Same thing with with Big and Nas. When Nas blessed us with Illmatic of course none of us were born but listening to it you can hear and feel New York. Like their music tells stories that we can relate to.
Aside from Cole another really big influence for me is my mom because she used to write to.
She was really big on writing and freestyling and one day I wrote something for her. I don’t really remember what exactly it was but she told keep doing what I’m doing. And from then on music started to evolve for me, it just started to feel natural after a while it started to become second nature.
Like put a beat up if I like it I can just start writing, then after I finish I might not be feeling it but I’ll save it.
Wow man, that makes sense. That’s really the power of practicing and getting better.
What do you believe is your singularity within the group, like what attributes allow you to stand out within DKTM Collective?
That’s a good question, so musically, the way I sound is completely unique, so even my group mates can say when I rap while I do take influence from Cole, I sound like myself, and I didn’t really understand it until I played myself back and then it started to make sense.
So how would you describe your sound to someone who just now hearing it in three words?
So laid back, chill, and like Nipsey (RIP) prolific.
Wow man, I ain't gonna like the first time I heard Nipsey was Victory Lap, but after I went back and listen to some of his old music did it really start to click with me.
Yeah man one of the greats, I first heard him on “Mailbox Money”, his death still shocks me.
The impact he had on the community was not talked about until after he passed.
Yeah man. As they say, they don’t love you till you’re gone. One of the best and most respected artists to enter the industry. Rest In Peace, Nipsey.
So moving forward what aspects of your character, and your music blends with and empowers DKTM?
Honestly just being able to be versatile, and my story telling ability.
My music has to have a story in it, and it doesn't even have to be anything about me but as long as i can structure something together I feel great about the final product.
Yeah I’ve noticed that each of you have your own individual talents that you guys bring to the group. Aghori is like the mad scientist so he's not as uniform, Mouse is more psychedelic and grungy with his sound, Morgan is more like SZA with her sound.
It’s really awesome that so many different sounds can exist within a group of artists and you guys are somewhat all independent, but you guys fit together like puzzle pieces.
Yeah exactly that why I like that we have as many members that we do in our collective, because even though everything is set under the DKTM brand like for example, when Lex and Mouse dropped, that sound came from the group as a whole.
Yeah exactly, and that's what I think really sets you guys apart, so many different sounds that are able to mesh together. So my last question to you is where do you think at this very moment if you weren’t pursuing a career in music.
If music wasn’t something that I wanted to do and wasn’t something I loved, but I feel like I would just be working. Like work come home and just do what a regular person does. But honestly I would’ve somehow gotten involved in music regardless.
Like I gave DKTM the name, like it first it was “Don’t Kill The Messenger”, but then what was our message, but as we started to grow i realized this music thing is bigger than us, what we’re doing is a movement.
What we’re doing can’t be killed, can't be touched, and it brings everybody together.
So simple, Don’t Kill The Movement.
Damn.
That, right there, shows that you really stand by your collective and your brand.
Yeah, I say this cause at first it was just five of us, Me, Mouse, Lucy, Lex, and Pope and we didn’t really have a name at first but as we recorded more and more I told them if we're gonna be doing this we gotta have a name so that people know who we are.
I told them from the very beginning what were doing is going to be big, and we haven’t really been doing this that long but we’ve made some really big moves as a collective.
Honestly yeah man I get it, I can feel the impact you guys are going to have on the music community within the DMV, and as a collective what you guys are bringing to the table is honestly legendary.
It was nice meeting you bro, and I look forward to see what you guys bring to the table in the future.
~~~
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with 95 you can find his SoundCloud above, and you can also follow him on Instagram. While you there you can also check out DKTM on Instagram and check out our previous interviews with Baat Choy, Morgan Marsh, and Pope Loud.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our newsletter below.
First things first I wanted to thank you for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply! So to get the interview started tell us about yourself, who is Kami Osha and what experiences have influenced you as a creative individual?
No problem man thanks for having me. I’m Kami Osha, I’m from the Inland Empire, which is a mass of cities located between Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. Im not so much into titles if I don’t absolutely have to pick them, just because I've had so many different ones. But my skill set consists of music writing, production, audio engineering, graphic design, photography and djing just to name a few. I'm influenced by so many different things but movies probably hold the most weight with me.
When I found your Instagram I was blown away!! The overall aesthetic of your photos and art is amazing, each item is unique but stays consistent to a theme that is a signature to you. So tell us more about your style?
Thank you i really appreciate that. I say this a lot on my twitter but I honestly get surprised that people actually like a good portion of the design stuff I put out. My style is basically what I like to describe as me failing to copy Bryan Rivera (responsible for a large part of Post Malone’s visual identity) and Henock “Hk” Sileshi’s (responsible for Brockhamptons visual identity) styles hahaha. I look up to both of them a lot and HK was one of the main factors that made me start designing. I’m often drawn to darker tones and textures that makes my mind feel like I can actually hold the designs through the screen, so that's mainly what I put my mind to creating. I enjoy small details, simplistic spacing and ideas that aren’t always super straightforward, yet still easier to digest.
When you go about creating art, or taking photography what is your overall goal?
My goal is usually just to try something I may not have already done. Just trying to dig deeper into my mind to beat myself. It typically takes a lot for me to like my own stuff, so most of my time goes to me trying to impress me. I’m pretty confident that if I like it, then more people than not will like it too.
As you get better at graphic design what are some skills that you’ve picked up along the way?
As far as technical skills, there's limitless amounts of stuff I could name, but all of them I feel like just depend on the situation at hand. If anything, the best skill I've probably picked up would be just becoming more comfortable with trying new things. Getting a scanner was the best thing that I ever did, because it allowed me to think outside of just using the internet. It made me start doing more things with my actual hands.
So you’ve designed covers for amazing artists like Maxx Owa, Mathaius Young , Deezo, Chase Aaron, how did you meet each of these artists and how did your creative process change from artist to artist?
I guess it would make the most sense to go in chronological order, since all of the stories sort of connect in one way or another. About 8 or 9 years ago I met Chase. He lived down the street from me and we made music together often. Chase and I are usually on the same page when it comes to visual elements, so it's never really a struggle to form an idea. We just connect and try to push each other to make the best product we can.Fast forward a couple years to 2014, Chase and I ended up living together in San Diego. One of the biggest shows I performed in was where I met Deezo. We spoke a few times here and there but I was only doing music back then so the convos were a lot different. After that, I didn’t see him for a couple years and I had moved back to the block i met Chase on. A couple years later, I ended up reconnecting with Deezo while i was djing the second part of the original event I met him at, (ironic lol) in like 2016 i think, but i still wasn’t designing yet.
He told me about an artist he knew in LA named Tre Capital, that he thought I should build a relationship with and dj for. It worked out and i dj’d for Tre for a couple of years and ended up designing later things for Deezo. Somewhere in between that Tre introduced me to Mathaius and we all just became really good friends before I think he even knew i designed. What started off as me just helping Mathaius put together an idea he had for his EP cover, ended in me working more in depth with him on it and ultimately coming up with an alternate cover that I liked so much i decided to put it out anyway. Maxx came somewhere between me meeting Tre and Mathaius. I was introduced to him by my friend Oktane (1/2 of Audio Push), and by then I was already full blown designing. He had expressed to me that he fucked with the way I did things, so he ended up being the first artist I was doing every design for without us ever really even openly coming to that conclusion. I typically only work long term with people im actual friends with, so none of these were really that hard to figure out. As far as the creative process, they all usually just trust my input and let me do my own thing, and if I veer too far off we realign. It's more so me just putting together the story of the individual, from my point of view.
One of my favorite covers has to be the one you did for Mathaius Young “Boy Meets World EP,” tell us more about about how you designed the cover?
That's actually my favorite one too haha. So basically Mathaius hit me through our group chat (001), which consisted of me, him, Tre Capital & Scotty Apex, telling me about this idea he had where he wanted to make himself into a doll, which was inspired by an old Sticky Fingaz album cover. He had gotten a doll from an antique store and set it up on his floor with a backdrop, taken a picture of his own face on his phone, then cropped it onto the doll. So he sent me that file, and I went in and did a lot of color corrections to his face to match the skin tone of the doll, then did some shading so the neckline would blend. I did a lot of different texturing and color shifting so it would all look cohesive and believable. Originally there were 4 different versions because he had multiple poses of the doll and shots of his face. The version he went with had a different texturing than the one I did, which I believe him or someone he knew had made, andhe really liked it, so I just made my own just for the fun of it. I ended up really liking mine, so I let him know I wanted to put it out after we put his out, which he was cool with it. I did the track list right after i worked on the alternate. For the track list, I had him write out the song titles in sharpie on an envelope, then he sent me a picture through text. I took away the background and used grunge brushes with a tablet to blend it onto the dolls show, kind’ve in a toy story fashion. The only differences from the one he put out and the one i put out are the texturing and I added the EP title to mine.
So let's talk music you're also a producer, tell us about your production, who and what has influenced your style?
With producing, I’m really big on hard hitting drums and unique bounces. I looked to Timbaland frequently in my younger years for those things. As of more recently the last couple years, my biggest influences have been Idlekid, Mathaius Young, OhgoshLeotus and Wondagurl. I’m also trying to get more into adding more layers and textures to balance out the drums, so I've been studying piano and electric guitar for awhile.
What can we expect from you in the near future?
I'm not super huge on speaking too deeply about things before im fully ready for them to be out, but im definitely working on a lot more visual elements, and even more sonically.
Any last words?
To anybody reading this, thanks for even caring. Don’t let your current situation dictate
destination.
● KØ
Big shout out to Kami Osha for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply. if you enjoyed this interview and want to see more of his work you can find him on Instagram and you can also check out his website to get a deeper look into his portfolio.
Thank you for taking the time to read our interview with Kami Osha, and if you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter and to get articles as soon as they drop you can sign up to be on our news letter below.
Welcome to the DKTM Series. The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. Every episode, we will focus on one of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster. Below, we get into our third episode with member Pope Loud
Like every group made up of a number of members each member plays an important role by bringing individual talents that help the team collectively. A member of the DKTM Collective Pope Loud’s lyricism has shown his ability to craft a song that not only resonates with the audience, but allows him to stay true to his self. Being sure to never compromise his work ethic by settling for anything less than perfect Pope Loud brings a work ethic to the table that helps propel DKTM forward as overall collective.
So my first questions is, what is your favorite form of art specifically what is a form of art you like more than all of the others.
Pope: Personally i feel as if the best way to convey art would be something through like movies, or visual media with music put to it. But my favorite would be, honestly drawing its something i have always done whether I was in school or anywhere else. Although I don’t really do it as much as I used to but it still something i enjoy to do. But music is the most primal way to release energy which i feel is what art really is.
Yeah! Basically being able to vocalize it. Is there an illustrative style that you like the most? Like anime, or 3D animation.
Pope: Um… I wouldn’t say I have favorite art style as far as visual art because I really like a lot of different things, so it's hard to pick a personal favorite. But I don’t know ive always been drawn to tattoo style. I don’t really have a lot yet but i really wanna get more down the road.
Yeah that makes sense, The ones you have are really cool though! So the next question is, the majority of your pictures on instagram have a retro feel to them. If you could go back in time what song of yours or someone else’s would you perform to show what music is like in 2019
Pope: That’s a hard question! Well the thing is i don’t have to much solo stuff out yet I have an EP that I’ve been working on but i had to scrap it a few times because I wasn't really feeling it. So I had to start over a few times, but im finalyl starting to hone in on making an actual project that's called “GRIN” which should be out by the end of this year. But to just pick one song i guess my single “Sides”, its featuring members of DKTM with some others on there as well. The overall sound of it is not what you would expect only because i feel like a lot of music these days is monotonous, it all kinda sounds the same. Not to say that there isn't a lot of good artists out now because there is, but for the most part people are used to hearing the same cookie cutter sounds. An i feel like my songs sound nothing like the usual songs of today. You could love it or hate it but at the end of the day they sound unique.
Yeah i get it, so last week Mouse I listened to this song that you guys were working on can you tell me more about it?
Pope: Yeah so we’re working on a song that i’m doing the hook for. Mouse did the production on it. It’s actually heat.
Yeah i heard it and loved it, and if what i’ve heard is what I think you guys are working on i love that vibe. Its sounds like psychedelic music with a nice beat. Easy to listen to but also the words have meaning behind them.
Pope: Yeah when i write actual lyrics I have to take my time and write them out. I’m not good at freestyling necessarily I try to write it poetically. I approach my music with a lot of thoughts in what i’m saying and I try not to exaggerate too much. I try to be as ambiguous as possible so i don't really describe a lot of things in my life And for the rare chance I do i use it to paint a character behind what my art is.
Yeah that makes sense, it's very important that art of substance comes out or else where all just saying random shit and it doesn't really matter for anything.
Pope: Right! And it’s not like i just say whatever i just paint a picture of my character within the lyrics. It's not necessarily maybe truthly what is my life but it is my expression about how I feel about my life.
Makes sense! So which artist has the most influence on how you make music? Doesn't have to be favorite but what artist have you studied or has been your goal post.
Pope: There’s definitely a lot of artist that have made me want to create music similar to theirs. But what really got me into making hip-hop was my group mates introducing me to Danny Brown. I’ve listened to hip-hop my whole life but I really didn’t start paying attention to it until 2014. Danny Brown really got me into experimental type beats, and then I started listening to lil ugly mane, and more punk type sounds. It’s like hardcore but its also alternative. Like they’re weird sounding stuff you wouldn't hear on the mainstream radios. That pretty much shaped my entire sound. So like interesting phrased music that kinda stutters and has a lot of dark vibes so it almost sounds like a horror movie. I’ve been trying to replicate this but in a way that not talking about violence shit all the time.
So keeping it true to your character but without glorifying violence?
Pope: Right! I’m not a violent person i don’t hurt people so why would I make music thats about that or even something that i can resonate with. So like i try my best to approach it with my experiences, the music I listened to as a kid which was a lot of metal and punk. This influences the overall sound of my music.
So have you ever found it hard to express yourself, or are you naturally just like an open book?
Pope: Oh No i’m definitely not an open book at all, expressing myself is hard. I’m not very good at expressing how I feel that's why it takes me a long time to create things because i feel like i am so meticulous about what I put out. Like I just won’t make a beat and throw it on soundcloud i have to work on it and make sure its exactly how I want it to be. I’m kinda a perfectionist but i feel like i’m also never good enough. So I am working on the same things so that they come out as good as possible. The biggest downside with that is sometimes it can be hard for me to move on and do new things so I feel like I’m stuck in a loop sometimes. Even though i am not, like iof you look back you can see i am not the same person and I have changed. So it’s not like I’m actually stuck in a loop, but that just has to be human nature. You always wanna keep moving.
Yeah I agree it the worst when you out your self in that box cause its like you’re doing really well but youre saying to yourself; “nah this isn't it i could be doing so much better right now”. Like everyone can say you’re doing well.
Pope: Yeah it can be enough but it’s also not enough so you feel like you have to be getting better you have to stay moving.
So last question what do you hope DKTM contributes to the community.
Pope: Well i feel like DKTM has welcomes so many different people and it goes to show that you don’t have to be a certain type of person to connect with somebody. That’s honestly what the collective really is. It’s a way to connect with people that you’re not from the same place as. You can learn a lot about everybody and it helps you grow. Like people from outside the group come here because they feel like it’s a safe space for people to make music and just express themselves. Humans have always made music but i feel like in this society its kinda frowned upon. There’s this kinda niche person that create something. And now people are just so focused on making so much money so they don’t express their selves authentically whether it be through dance, music, or art.
Makes sense, so DKTM contributes authenticity?
Pope: Yeah Exactly
If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Pope Loud you can find his SoundCloud above, and you can also follow him on Instagram. While you there you can also check out DKTM on Instagram and check out our previous interviews with baatchoy, and Morgan Marsh.
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TWNTYFOUR is back with yet again another vibe-centered track on his new release, “Repeat”. The track takes on a darker-themed, melancholy Latin melody, overtop cozy and reassuring 808s, laid even further over a tranquil trap beat. On the track TWNTYFOUR croons with perfect vocal parallel to the instrumental, of how the woman in question shouldn’t be shy, since she’s already got him head over heels. The chorus “don’t stop for me on repeat” is straightforward yet smoothly endorses and favours the entirety the track’s ambiance and significance. “Repeat” was a complete experience to listen to, and we hope you feel the same.
“Repeat” is live now, click the audio link to the left and visit the official link on Soundcloud. While you’re there be sure to peep some of his previous work which can be found above. To learn more about him as an artist you can also check out our last artist profile with him where we got in-depth and learn more about who he is as an artist. If you want to stay up to date with him, and his music you can find him on Instagram.
If you enjoyed this interview please feel free to leave a comment and share on your social media. And to stay up to date with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Hey Blair’s! So give us some background info on you as an artist, where are you from,
and how long have you been making music?
M BLAIRS..... BLAIRS from the unknown. I’m a pretty sad individual at times but the friends that I’ve met in this lifetime make me happy. I believe that I have found my purpose and once I share it with the whole entire world, once the whole entire universe gets on board, then I’ll fade away. Probably go back to where I came from until I’m needed to go fix another dimension. Or I’ll probably enter a dream state where I dream forever.
I found my passion for music about a year and a half almost two years ago. It’s just a way to display my feelings. I don’t know how to explain them. This is my way OUT. It’s good to get those emotions out yah know. Music is the universal healing so when I do make a song it makes me feel a little better. I also feel like I’m able to give a positive message out to the younger audience of mine and find a damn good connection to the people who has dealt with the same thing I’m going through. So yeah I guess that’s enough about me.
How has your area and the surrounding cultures played an influence on you, and your music
I really wouldn’t say influence, I didn’t grow up in a good neighborhood or area. Basically grew up with just one parent, my mom. Sleeping in cars and shit. Seeing her work her butt off. Witnessing all that just made me go harder in whatever I did and even now it drives me to pass limitations, so I guess it did influence me a lil bit. Even the situations I’m in at this very moment, it’s not the best and it hurts, BUT it makes me go harder. I WANT better, and with this mindset anyone can achieve success. As far as the culture I AM THE CULTURE!!!!!
“Perfumes Gardens“ is insane! Give us some background on it, how did it come about,what was your goal with it, and how was it working on it?
PERFUME GARDENS!!!!!! Man that was a crazy project. DAMN NEAR all the songs were freestyles. Maybe like 2 of em was written (alien and new skin). And by the way I WRITE MY OWN MUSIC!!!!....... Alright so me and my bro Saiko Simm went to Miami, Florida with two other friends. This was during the time Rolling Loud was out there so you know it was LIT, but I didn’t go for that.
I was shooting a music vid. Shoutout to STEVEN, best video man I know out there!!! My other two friends went to rolling loud, they had tickets and shit. Me and Sim didn’t. So we really just stayed at the crib the whole day, ain’t really too much to do when damn near the whole city at rolling loud, and by the way the crib was ASS lol. Anyways, probably the day right before we left, I had some beats in the stash. We listened to em and we RIPPED SHIT!!!!!
We was ROCKING OUT in that small ass room. I recorded EVERYTHING, so when we got back to the city we went to the studio and laid the tracks down. And WALA, PERFUME GARDENS was birthed. Really we wanted to just show the fans how versatile we are. It’s a mixture of the RAW AND GOOD MUSIC with a taste of our style !!!! Shoutout to James for making the project come to life. I appreciate all the support we got too!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS TO DEATH I swear.
”Mistake” is actually my favorite song you’ve made will there be any visuals to
accompany it?
Oh yeah almost forgot. MISTAKE was made in Atlanta!! BASICALLY THE SAME WAY!!! Turned on a beat and WENT DUMMY!! As far as visuals, we really wasn’t planning on it BUT IF YOU GUYS REALLY WANT ONE, SAY LESS !!!!!
Name 5 people who have had the most profound influence in you on you, and your
creative style.
All of these guys are multi talented, great artist, and great individuals And one more person. I don’t want to say her name but you know who you are. Thanks so much for everything. I love you a whole bunch. Hopefully we get a chance to live our dream lives in another lifetime if this isn’t my last lifetime.
Which 5 artists do you want to work with, why do you want to work with them?
Okay I don’t know how to answer this question so I’ll just give 3 artist I want to work with RIGHT NOW and my last 2 gonna be in the far future. Well like in 3 years !
La Escobar - UNIVERSAL LEGEND
Saiko Simm - UNIVERSAL LEGEND
Lango - ENERGY UNMATCHED
Guitaremoji - SUPER ROCKSTAR
Unotheactivist - UNDERRATED GOAT
And a bunch of others. I guess these are just for right now.
What artists have you worked with?
La Escobar
Saiko Simm
My guy wayyy from Arizona, JAMESROLL!!
Umm that’s all I can think off at this moment. Lol there were more. Sorry to anybody I forgot. You know I’m losing it lol.
How has the music industry treated you so far, and what advice would you have for new
artists.
Pretty good I guess. You just have to BE YOU, BELIEVE, and BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!!! Don’t let hate overcome you because you WILL have haters. Especially the people who don’t understand. PEOPLE FEAR WHAT THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND. Just remember that and go HARD 1,000,000,000%. They won’t deny you forever. And don’t let anything contradict who you are as a person. You’re a good person no matter what. If you made some mistakes in the past YOU CAN CHANGE. Some people won’t understand that. I can go on and on but in the end JUST HAVE FUN. Okay I’m done now.
What can we expect from you in 2019, and what are your next moves for 2020?
Definitely much more CONTENT (Music, Videos, Vlogs, etc.) SHOWS ON SHOWS!!! RACKS ON RACKS!!! As far as my moves, I can’t speak on them. Confidential Information. JUST KEEP WATCHING AND LOVING ME AND HATING ME, if that’s what you do 🏾
Any last words?
Thank you guys for giving me this opportunity. If I’m not mistaken this is my first ever interview, so I really appreciate this a bunch. Thanks to all my fans and supporters. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST AND DESERVE THE WORLD!!!!
LOVE IS MY ENERGY
SANDBOX VS. THE UNIVERSE
DEATHSTAR OUT 🏾
Shoutout to Blairs for coming on and Interviewing with Nefarious Supply, if you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him you can follow him on Instagram, and you can find his music on all streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this interview please be sure to leave a like and a comment and share on your social media. If you know any creatives that you feel deserve a spot on Nefarious Supply feel free to send them our way. And to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Carter is back again with the heat with his newest track, and holds a surprise in the form of guest feature, Hiddenhills! “EYE TO EYE” is the first collaboration between both artists, and boasts a strong Latin vibe, with seemingly small hints of Middle Eastern elements.
Hiddenhills and Carter flow in and out of effortless verses, overtop heavy, yet smooth, 808s and a beautiful and infectious melody. The song is an instant vibe and grabs and keeps your attention.
By the end, you’re mouse will already be hovering over the repeat button, guaranteed.
Carter had this to say about the description of the track:
“The track was written in the form of an eye to eye conversation with a female. It's straight forward, honest, and i think it's got a really bright sound combined with the instrumental.
The writing process for this song from both myself and hills were more or less freestyles. Hills hit me up to do some work, and i sent him this one with an open verse and got the song done really quickly, so it was definitely a pleasure to work with him, and there will be more coming from us in the future for sure.”
“EYE TO EYE” is live now, click the audio above and visit the official link on Soundcloud. While you’re there be sure to peep some of his previous work which can be found above. To learn more about him as an artist you can also checkout our last artist profile with him where we got in depth and learn more about who he is as an artist. If you want to stay up to date with him, and his music you can find him on Instagram.
If you enjoyed this interview please feel free to leave a comment and share on your social media. And to stay up to date with content coming from Nefarious Supply you can sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
Welcome to the DKTM Series Episode 2 The DKTM Collective, short for “DON’T. KILL. THE. MOVEMENT.”, is a collective of artists, producers, and overall creatives that have come together in order to pursue their artistic endeavors. They have bolstered an impressive fanbase within the DMV area and are reaching for even further heights with every project they release.
Every episode, we will focus on two of the collective’s artists, until we reach the end of the roster.
Below, we get into our second artist, Morgan Marsh.
Enjoy 😈
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Morgan Marsh is a member of DKTM, acting as one of the collective’s main vocalists and creative directors.
Morgan is a free-spirited, empathetic, and conscious vocalist, with two major singles under her belt and major contribution to fellow members’ Mighty Mouse and BLK LEXX’s joint project, MIGHTYLEXX.
She features on the song Chop! and adds a softer, evergreen hook to the abrasive and bellicose delivery of the other listed artists, whilst showing she is more than capable of keeping up with her fellow vocalists.
Morgan has shown her ability to be true to herself and the creativity that flows through her, without letting it compromise her compatibility with the group.
In fact, she has only strengthened the band’s innovative dynamic, and it indeed shows, in waves.
Give us a general description of you as an artist. What cultures and experiences cultivate the persona or identity of yours?
First thing that comes to mind when I hear that question is that I’m half Guyanese.
My mother came to this country when she was 11.
Just having that Caribbean influence, definitely into reggae, afrobeats, dancehall, soca, they all contributed to who I’ve become as an artist.
So your roots cultivate who you are, it really drives you.
Yeah, for sure. That, as well as being from Montgomery Country.
Oh wow, Moco? That’s a pretty underrepresented part of the DMV area.
Gaithersburg, Moco, the whole area is very diverse. Of course, now it's becoming more gentrified.
But I grew up around people from all different backgrounds. I have friends who are asian, hispanic, it doesn’t matter.
That’s usually how it is in the DMV.
Exactly, and that’s why I love being from here, and not enough people know how special this place is, the DMV as a whole. So I’m just ready to put this city on the map.
I represent my whole state, but Montgomery County specifically. There’s not enough of us.
I can’t really name any notable Moco artists. Well, besides Logic, he’s from Gaithersburg.
Promotional Poster for “Polo”
How would you describe your music to somebody?
Very eclectic. Very different. I don’t hold myself to a certain genre of music. You’ll hear hip-hop, you’ll hear R&B. I listen to indie-alternative music, even country.
So you’re more of an evolving vibe, kinda?
Yeah, pretty much.
Whatever sounds good at the time, you know? I might go through certain phases where I’m solely listening to rock. or if it's just reggae.
Do you ever think you’ll be able to combine those sounds one day?
Hell yeah, that’s the goal. Different colors, different moods.
Do you think there’s a single word that you would use to describe yourself and your sound?
Mosaic. Different colors, different moods, different emotions, and just blending everything into one.
Who do you listen to on a regular basis?
Ooh, I love Frank Ocean. I have to he’s one of my biggest influences. Him and Andre 3000 is one of my favorite artists too, I can listen to Outkast all day. Seeing like Outkast and Missy Elliot, seeing people like them just be themselves and authentic, it’s amazing and inspiring.
There’s this one artist name Mereba. She’s an artist from Arkansas. I know what y’all are thinking, but like she makes alternative R&B music and rappers over it. Check out her project y’all.
I’m putting y’all on right now. Go in without any expectations and, yeah.
Walk us through the steps the group takes to create a track. What is your creative process? Do you guys happen to just walk into a studio and be assigned to one role or is there like a more delicate process involved.
It’s pretty random, I don’t have a strategy per say. I may just hear a beat, maybe something that Baat Choy or Mouse has made and I’ll just marinate on it.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to come up with lyrics on the spot.
So, you let it cook?
I’ll let it cook. I’ll take it home with me, I’ll think on it at work, think on it all day.
The lyrics can come first or the melody may come first, then I can get a certain rhythm going.
So that’s kind of like your sound then. You just kind of like to throw things at a wall and see what sticks.
Yeah, there’s so much freedom.
Well can you tell us anything about any future projects?
I’m actually working on a solo project, hopefully I’ll be able to drop it around spring time next year? I just started it, I only have like two songs pretty much done.
One of them is called Insomnia.
What’s the story behind Insomnia?
It’s a double entendre. So I live in an apartment. It’s a very small apartment with like really thin walls, and my neighbors are very fucking loud haha. So I can barely get any sleep at night.
So it’s a play on that, but also, just problems and struggles in life, not getting a break. I feel like I’m not really able to sleep at all/ I’m always on the go, working, working, working.
She proceeded to play us a snippet.
It was amazing.
So yeah, next spring, I wanna have seven songs. The project’s going to be called Gazed. Like, when you’re intently like looking at something and you’re like in awe and admiration of it.
That’s how I feel about DKTM and that’s how I feel about my future as an artist.
Stream Morgan’s new single, Polo above on Soundcloud, and while you’re there, be sure to check out the rest of the DKTM Collective. I promise you you won’t be disappointed. If you wanna stay up to date with Morgan and all her new releases, you can find her Instagram here. Thank you again, Morgan, for the great interview.
Is He Real? Album Artwork
IDK, born Jason Mills, is an American rapper, born in London and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The name IDK stands for Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge, and the upcoming artist has proved his name true time and time again.
Gaining traction on his 2015 mixtape, Subtrap, where he plays and narrates both sides of the drug game, whilst acting as several different characters that he created (Chris, Jon Jon, Matt, Ed, and King Trappy III), IDK soon released another mixtape, titled The Empty Bank, which premiered on Forbes. The tape focused on the concept of money and how it is so tightly interwoven in modern society today, specifically the decisions people make because of and for it.
In 2017, Mills released his third project, IWASVERYBAD, which gained him even more acclaim and a solid following. Though Mills has said that the project was not his debut, many of his fans see it as so.
Is He Real? Promotional Artwork
Shortly after his third tape, Mills announced the coming of his actual debut album, Is He Real? which was supposed to be released the very next year of 2018. Instead the artist dropped IDK & Friends to tide hungry fans over till the album’s final release. On September 4th, 2019 after the drop of two singles, Is He Real? arrived.
Cloud Blu is the opening track on the album, and is something of the prologue into the subject matter IDK is tackling. It depicts a child, named Max, being asked “What happens when you die?”. The child proceeds to take the listener on a spiritual take through what seems to be what happens on the path to heaven. However at the end of the track, Max claims it was all a dream and that, quote “God isn’t fucking real”, intriguing the listener to follow into the album’s second track.
42 Hundred Choices could be a reference to the approximately 4200 religions and spiritual traditions that are present in the world today. These ways of seeing the world are crucial in the decision making process humans have formulated over the years. This track is one of the shorter ones but makes just as big of a impact as some of the full-length tracks on the album, hitting hard with floor vibrating 808s and a catchy hook at the end, which leads into the first interlude of the album.
The “E” in Blue is seemingly told from the perspective of someone being baptized. DMX acts as a bishop, saying a word prayer that flows in and out of clarity, due to the person being submerged over and over in the water below, muffling the words. DMX is known to be a religious person, so his placement on the track fits quite well.
The interlude bleeds nicely into the next track Alone, which is a comeback anthem calling out all of IDK’s haters and shouting out all of his supporters. The beat rides smoothly and IDK delivers with subtle yet hard hitting lyricism, and yet another catchy hook, which puts this song as one of our favorites on the track list.
The song 24 was actually one of IDK’s promotional singles for “Is He Real?”, being the second single to be released. Hard-hitting piano keys and “The Empty Bank”-esque lyricism bring IDK back to his mixtape days, with the production quality of today. The track follows the religious themes of the album by referencing Matthew 6:24, the verse that the track is named after, in which it states: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Lilly is a story of the heights of fame, money, and women, and the falls that come with them. With a spooky melody overlying some consistent 808s, IDK details the sins and mistakes people commit in the name of fortune and lavish lifestyles. In the background a sample adlibing the word “Devil” is sprinkled in throughout the song, as if IDK himself is flirting with the Devil.
ISHEREAL Album + Tour Announcement
IDK’s song Porno is probably our favorite track on the entire album and marks the first collaboration between IDK, JID, and rap legend, Pusha-T. The track entails boasts of relationships with beautiful women, with Pusha coming in from the females perspective and their lust for men with felonies and charges, whilst JID rides the beat out with a serenading verse that sets the tone for a sexual rendezvous with a significant other. Pornstar Lavish Styles makes a surprising guest appearance on the hook, making the already hype song almost infectious.
I Do Me . . . You Do You is a continuation of the album’s main theme, religion. Tyler, the Creator makes a guest appearance on the interlude, after a beautiful intro, Tyler is questioned by IDK if he believes there may be a higher power. Tyler responds by saying of course there must be because someone had to have created all of this. But he believes that God as a concept and is within everyone. It’s not just some almighty being or the end all be all of humanity, but its what you believe in, what brings you happiness.
The track ends with a pivotal statement by IDK: “Tellin' us today, that a man built Noah’s Ark Is just as crazy as us tellin' a caveman We built robot bitches we can fuck”
One of the softer tracks on the album, December is considered the closest thing on Is He Real? to a love song. IDK goes on to details the things he loves about his partner and what he would do for them. Burna Boy makes a surprise feature on the track and adds his own tales of a girl he admires and wants to see prosper. The track has a soft afrobeat to it and the melody overlays beautifully bringing the song to a pristine finish.
European Skies is a religiously and politically charged track that heavily delves into the inconsistencies of Christianity and the Bible, as well as the misconceptions brought forth by these misinterpretations. IDK even wonders if Hell would be a better place due the sinful nature of the human race. He also muses on how much room Heaven must have due to there being only pure things born there, such as babies. The song is heavy yet soft and doesn't force or induce any bias, simply showing IDK’s various thought processes on religion.
IDK’s No Cable starts off with a prayer/confirmation of faith from GLC. He song touches on the desensitization and short attention spans of modern society today in the wake of terrorism, racism, television, social media, radical religion, and the loss of oneself and faith in the media for the way portray many serious issues. The song bleeds into the next track with a female voice saying “I like that”.
Digital is the first promotional single to be released for Is He Real? The track seems to be a continuation of No Cable above, speaking more so on gun violence and the how lucky IDK was to be able to look back on it all from the position he has placed himself in right now in the music industry. The track has an extremely catchy hook and was produced by Karl Banx, who also produced a majority of the tracklist for the artist’s IWASVERYBAD tape.
Michael What TF is somewhat of a prelude for the next track, detailing the issues Mills has with his stepfather and how these issues had affected his mother’s health, such as him keeping the insurance money for himself and threatening to kick Mills’ grandparents out of the family home after bringing in a new girl in the his mother’s absence. The song is funky, dark, and groovy, holding the heaviness of the subject matter while allowing the listener to bop their head and vibe.
The final track, Julia… is undoubtedly the heaviest song on the track. The artist finally goes into detail about the actual events of his mother’s death, and everything that happened prior to it. At the end of the song, after lyrically guiding us through his denial of the truth, IDK says on the final line: “When she died is when I heard my stepfather gave her AIDS”
Mills’ states in a public explanation on Instagram, that he released Julia… as not just a way to help himself heal, but also to do the same for the world. IDK says he had to clear the booth of everyone except for his engineer when he recorded.
In all, though it sometimes escapes the realm it tries to remain in, in order to delve into other topics, the central point of IDK’s album still hits and hits hard. Question everything, good and bad, and always keep an open mind, love in your heart, and your head on a swivel. The artist’s debut album is one for the books, and has set the stage for the Maryland-native to be one of the greatest to ever do it.
Let us know in the comments what you think about the new album do you agree with our rating why or why not? Comment down below! And to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can sign up for our newsletter below and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
THENASA8 is a group of artist stationed in the DMV. With such a diverse group of members and an extensive discography the Nasa8 has been working hard on establishing their selves a group of artists to pay attention to. With 40+ tapes already out and more coming down the pipeline the Nasa8 is a group of artists who shows that not only do they have an amazing work ethic that is unmatched, they have their talent to back them up as well.
What is the group and what does it stand for? Do you guys have a mission statement that you like to promote?
Well, first and foremost, we are Lawyers. I mean, look at our hands! But we are much better known for our rap music. Thenasa8 stands for Nostalgic Anime Social Awareness 8 (sike nah lol). It really means whatever you want it to mean. its more of a vibe at this point. Ride the wave.
Our mission statement follows:
"In this world, is the destiny of mankind controlled by some transcendental entity or law...? Is it like the hand of God hovering above? At least it is true that man has no control, even over his own will.”
Why did the group come together?
Cuz the people who did the second season of one punch man was trippin mane.
How many people are in the group, and what are their individual names and talents?
So before we name our people, everyone in the group makes beats and raps. All in house BOOM.
So we have:
Bito
JeeroSama
Tislam the Great
Opo Ra
SurQ
Ale from Summerclub
TEK.LUN
TrelMix
BigSto
There's also other muhfuckas that do other shit but these the big 8 on the newest album.
What type of music do you guys promote? Any specific style?
Slam Gore Punch groove is one of the genres we push MAINLY. But we dabble in electronic folk acid jazz, and I believe TEK.LUN has experimented with the unique sound of classical death funk-hop. But we just put out a straight up Hip-Hop album.
Is there an area that you all represent? Why is that area important to you?
We from Laurel, Maryland we also got cats in Baltmore across the seas in the UK. We kinda all over . WORLDWIDE YA DIG
GOIN DOWN LIKE A SLIDE YA DiG.
What does the group draw inspiration from in the music industry?
NOT A GATDAMN THING. We have never looked to draw inspiration from music industry. We realize that shit is like nahm sayin, the shit is gonna do what its gonna do, so we aren't looking to jump through a circle shape because we are circle shaped We got a gatdamn demon apostle butterfly creature thing on our album cover, We did that because we wanted it, not because we saw other peoples covers and said "thats popular thats what we should do". Plus anime rules, we do this to have fun and we do it for cats like us. The anime heads, the people with a million DBZ figurines perched at there computer desk. For the peoples that was reading shonen jump in tap class and they was trynna tell you that you cant read books with pictures in them. For them niggaz that was sittin criss cross apple sauce in the manga aisle in books a million. This is for the cats that put the towel down in the living room every Friday night to eat dinner and watch Toonami. This is for y'all.
Does the group have a preferred group of artists that they listen to or is it really diverse ?
WE LISTEN TO DOOM AND SEAN P! (RIP!) Errbody listens to different shit. We have a group of producers and musicians, collectors of vinyls, and youtube bandits. We could honestly go on but that could be a topic for a completely different interview. We have backgrounds in Metal, Jazz, Dnb, Electronic, so it’s honestly extensive as fuh. On top of that we from Laurel, 30 minutes from DC and Baltimore so we didn't just get their slang, we got the Gogo, the club music allat shit. But at the time we didn't really appreciate it we was on our boom bap bullshit... lls.
What platform can people reach the groups content on the most conveniently?
Whichever ones you can pay for shit on. Big fax. Allum.
What albums and songs do you already have out that people should listen to?
Look nigga, we got 40+ tapes on our Bandcamp. Rap tapes, beat tapes you name it. Our newest project, Conviction Arc, just dropped on the 8th. We was rockin with the homies on that jawnt, shot out DK the Punisher for the slappaz, that boy a fool for them jawnts. We had the heavenly scholar J-Live watching our backs on the track. Everyone should go buy that jawnt. Go peep the video for dat jawnt too dug. Also got a beat tape collection, NASA8+ nahmsayin, bout to put out Vol 12 next month. We pretty much get 2 beats from everyone and make a noxious concoction of a beat tape.
Is there any one song that the group has made that stands out from the rest? Any songs that people should listen to that will get people hooked?
Big Fax, "Two Completely Languages" from the new album mostly because its a diss track to magic. Fuck magic. like foreal though who the fuck is wearing robes n shit yellin thunderbolt n shit. Abracdabra ass niggaz. Aye but fr, we fucks with magic, thats the ancient science faceass.
But yea that track is fucking vicious. It's actually crazy cuz Opo Ra's verse wasn't even on the original recording, then he came home from his short stint as a vigilante justice super hero in France and came thru laid it down one take even though he didn't do it in one take. All of em nigga!!!! (but nah the song "Kyoshi dono KYOSHI DONO!!!" will probably smack your face off repeatedly.)
Do you have an outstanding moment since you got into the music industry that makes you realize how important it is to make music like this? If so what would that be?
Nah, this music industry shit fu frfr. We would much rather be known as them dope mafuckas that paint murals, you know shit like a mural of Kamala Harris squaring up with Mashiba from Hajime no Ippo, but he's like a girl, and the referee is Colnel Sanders and the rings ropes are just big ass ropes made out of chicken wings n shit. But on a serious note, finding out that we had fans in a completely different country was cool.
How has your experience in the industry has been thus far?
Aye look, we've been jerked around (pause) flerped around derped around and allat shit. THIS SHIT FU.
"And still I rise."
-Maya Angelou(pause lls)
We doin our thang and we gone keep doing it till the chevy is dry.
Can you tell us anything about future projects? Anything that people can look forward to coming from you?
Bito is doing a solo album called "Shonenjump19". Opo Ra is coming out with "Saddest form of Art: The Life of Ike Okoro", which will be coming out in the fall. Jeerosama is working on a solo tape as well, dates and title still to be announced. Shonenjump19 is pretty much done we are just waiting on him for a release date which should be sometime soon. Jeerosama will be releasing his first solo tape which will be done by fall, ready to release in the winter. Don't nobody know what Opo. Ra doin he be doin vigilante justice shit in France.
Tell us a bit about your newest project and what we can expect from it.
You can expect a plethora of sounds and vibrations that all users will enjoy. Even if your of the freebase community because technically, our music is not to be listened to, but it is to be freebased.
Do you have any last thoughts before the end of the interview? Any message you really want to get out to the people and your fans?
Thank you to the fans, coco bread slap but only if its like nahm sayin like moist, pop tarts over toaster strudels thats how we rockin.
"Hate it or love it the underdog's on top, and im gone shine homie until my heart stop"
*Jashoota comes in to finish it*
"Go head envy me, comes im raps mvp and i ain't nowhere so you can get to know me."
Congratulations
Big shoutout to TheNasa8 for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply. If you enjoyed this interview and would like to keep ups with them you can find them on Instagram and Twitter. You can also find their music on all streaming platforms including their Soundcloud which can be found aboce, and you can also support band by checking out their bandcamp. While you’re there be sure to checkout their previous work and stop over to pick up some merch by them.
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Hey Xavier Clark thanks for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply, my first question to you is who is Xavier Clark, give us an introduction to you and your craft?
Thanks for having me i was raised in Indianapolis, IN originally from rock island, IL my music is all based off vibes i get from the beats so you never know what it will sound like i like my music to be unpredictable.
Where are you from and how has this location influenced you, and your style of music?
I grew up in Indianapolis,IN i was fortunate enough to find people on the same wave length as me being from Indy you gotta go hard or you won’t get noticed out here late night drives through the city influence my music.
You have a pretty extensive discography for an underground artist all of which is heat but two bodies of work really stands out to me is, “Secluded”, and “Secluded 2” Give us some background on each of them?
I named it Secluded because I’m really an introvert type of person you never really know my location i stay within my camp when it comes to my personal life and music the first project is more of me finding my sound being locked in just me and my studio. The second one is really showing the world i found myself and my sound trying to prove I’m here to stay going out to LA has always been an inspiration I’m sure you can hear it.
You have worked with numerous musicians including; Carti Bankx, Krews, Will C., Kami Osha, Mula Kkhan, 1990bishop, Tyrus, Scotty Apex, Relax and Baby Ebony, how did you meet all of them, and how did their creative process compliment yours to create music that both of you were happy with?
Everyone you named is on the same wave length as me when it comes to the sound sonically we all compliment each other. Scotty Apex that’s the homie we from the same city same goes for mula kkhan and baby ebony. If it wasn’t for Will C. Idk if I’d have the sound i have today he’s the mastermind behind it. Kami and Tyrus both out in Cali Tyrus really been fuckin with me since day 1 kami put that sauce on the prescription hook and artwork big ups to Krews too everytime we link on a song its A1. I’m very strategic i knew our sound would click.
You put out your newest tape this “Sunset on Sunday” on September 9. 2019. The tape absolutely goes crazy! Give us some info on the EP, what was the goal of it and what theme were you going for with it?
Man me Scotty Apex and Mathaius Young would meet up every other Sunday to make these songs it just made sense to name it sunset On Sunday we all got that Cali vibe which influenced the artwork me and Scotty Apex like Kobe and Shaq you can’t go wrong with that combination.
What got you and Scotty Apex together to make Sunset on Sunday, and what is your favorite thing about working with him, and can we expect another tape from the two of you again in the future?
We have been making music for a couple years our sounds just grew to compliment each other the chemistry on the track just fits the vibes we always wanted to collab on a project it just randomly came together this year perfect timing though. I’m sure in the near future i could see another one.
I see you’re working on starting a clothing line called Overhype, give us some more info about it, and when can we expect to see the first collection come out?
2020 ideal release i was high af one day driving and the name just hit lol i always wanted to jump into fashion i grew up always fresh so i got a taste for dope fabrics.
As 2019 draws to an end were there any goals that you're happy you accomplished, and what are some of your biggest goals going into 2020?
I’m glad i linked with Edwards my engineer elevated the sound of my music and direction he mixes all my music I’m thankful i have a good engineer it’s hard to find those. My goal 2020 is to run it up on the business side I’m tryna get our to the masses.
What’s some advice you would give to new artists just starting out?
Stay consistent fuck whoever telling you to stop just believe in yourself and stay true.
Any last words?
Mynigga X signing off I’m about to go roll up big ups to Nefarious Supply!
Be sure to check out Xavier Clark’s Sunset on Sunday - EP which is avalible now on all streaming platforms. While you’re there check out some of his older music as well you definitely won’t be disappointed. If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with Xavier Clark and his music, you can find his SoundCloud above and find him on Instagram.
