N.O.K.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA | N.O.K.

 INTERVIEW: TERRELL "REALIFE" BLACK

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP-HOP, THE CULTURE?

N.O.K: MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP HOP HONESTLY IS MY FAMILY. I WAS RAISED SEEING ALL THE ELEMENTS IN ACTION EVERYDAY. TOO MANY MEMORIES TO NAME.

VALIDATED: YOUR LATEST SINGLE, "WAITING FOR (BIRD CITY ANTHEM)" PRODUCED BY 84 MUSIC, WHATS THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THE RECORD?

N.O.K: THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT SONG IS THE SAME MOTIVATION BEHIND EVERY SONG, TO GET ON AND REPRESENT, TALK MY S***, HAVE FUN AND REP THE CITY CORRECTLY. IT'S ACTUALLY A BIRD CITY LOVE SONG, JUST HAS A DIFFERENT TONE TO IT.

VALIDATED: WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE "WAITING FOR (BIRD CITY ANTHEM)" AS THE LEAD SINGLE?

N.O.K: IN THEORY IT SHOULD BE BUT IT IS NOT MY LEAD SINGLE,  I ACTUALLY DROP MUSIC DIFFERENTLY, BASED OFF THE CLIMATE WE ARE IN. I ACTUALLY DON'T PUSH A LEAD SINGLE. THERE IS A SCIENCE TO WHAT SONGS I PUSH AND WHICH WAY I PUSH THEM, "WAITING FOR..." JUST GOT A REALLY GOOD RESPONSE.

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE RESPONSE TO THE RECORD?

N.O.K: THE REACTION IS GOOD SO FAR, I LOOK FORWARD TO ROCKING IT LIVE AS WELL.

VALIDATED: YOU RECENTLY DROPPED "LEGEND HAS IT...". WHICH ARTIST AND PRODUCERS DID YOU WORK WITH ON THE PROJECT?

N.O.K: CHILEE POWDAH, DOMANICHE, AND DARAMOLA, JUST TO NAME A FEW ARTIST. PRODUCERS INCLUDE 84 MUSIC, DJ PAIN 1, AND THIS CAT AUSTIN TAYLOR AND MORE AS WELL. LOT OF TALENTED HANDS WENT INTO THIS PROJECT.

VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU WANT LISTENERS TO GET FROM THE PROJECT?

N.O.K: I WANT THEM TO FEEL MORE ENLIGHTENED AFTER LISTENING AND ENTERTAINED BY THE CRAFT. HOPEFULLY TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM IT THAT CAN BE USED IN LIFE. MOSTLY WANT THEM TO GET DEEZ BARS!

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TRACK OFF THE PROJECT AND WHY?

N.O.K: EVERY TRACK IS MY FAVORITE, THAT IS LIKE ASKING A FATHER WHICH KID IS HIS FAVORITE! LOL PUT A LOT OF WORK AND TIME INTO EACH SONG, SO THEY ARE ALL MY FAVORITES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

VALIDATED: HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE GROWN AS AN ARTIST SINCE YOUR LAST PROJECT?

N.O.K: MY LAST PROJECT WAS FRESH OFF OF ABOUT 5 YEARS OF MUSICAL SILENCE. IT WAS MORE OF A WORKOUT TO GET IN SHAPE. THIS PROJECT I'M PRETTY MUCH WHERE I WANT TO BE. I WRITE NEW MUSIC EVERYDAY NOW, A FEW YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GET BACK TO. THIS WILL ACTUALLY BE MY 5TH ALBUM RELEASE OVERALL SINCE I FIRST STARTED PUTTING OUT RECORDS.

VALIDATED: WHAT DOES HIP-HOP MEAN TO YOU?

N.O.K: EVERYTHING!

VALIDATED: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT'S THE CURRENT STATE OF HIP-HOP?

N.O.K: IT'S IN A STRANGE SPACE BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF GOOD MUSIC BEING PUT OUT. I STILL HEAR DOPE MUSIC EVERYDAY. JUST NEVER BEEN A FAN IF IT'S NOT AN ORIGINAL STYLE BEING PRESENTED. TOO MUCH I COULD SAY ABOUT THAT TOPIC...

VALIDATED: DO YOU FEEL MAINSTREAM HIP-HOP ARTISTS ARE DOING JUSTICE WITH RAP?

N.O.K: MAINSTREAM MEANS SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO ME NOWADAYS, IN REGARDS TO THE ONES DOING THE ACTUAL CRAFT OF HIP HOP AND EMCEEING, THERE ARE A FEW REPPING IT RIGHT WITHOUT A DOUBT.  

VALIDATED: WHERE CAN THE READERS SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR MUSIC ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA?

N.O.K: INSTAGRAM.COM/NOKSPIT

YOUTUBE.COM/NOKSPIT

FACEBOOK.COM/NOKSPIT

TWITTER.COM/NOKSPIT