MY TRUTH, NO FABRICATION: BIG NO

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA | BIG NO

InterviEw realife

VALIDATED: Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, what’s your earliest memory of hip-hop culture?

BIG NO: Being from richmond we don’t really, well especially at that time, get alot of shows but the first real experience that grabbed me was when MC Hammer, Kriss Kross and TLC did a concert at Richmond raceway (we call it the fair). just being able to see them on stage and MC Hammer was super big then and Kriss Kross was my favorite then, them and snoop. it was super special to me, I remember it like yesterday.

VALIDATED: What prompted you to switch from drummer to rapper?

BIG NO: I never really switched, I loved the drums from like 6 on up but as I got older I starting getting in trouble. the drums made me feel like one day out the week for a couple hours I could make my momma proud by playing for her church. then me and the reverend got into it, I was fired and shortly after went to prison so that's how that ended.

VALIDATED: Which rappers influenced you and what if anything did you “borrow” from them?

BIG NO:Jay-Z and Big definitely influenced me, then state property and like Lil wayne and Yo Gotti, Gucci and Jeezy as well. Jay Z, I took from him just the want to be the best, like if you gonna like somebody you better study the best. him and Big was great artist but they was talking about their own truths, so that put in me To wanna always give you my truth... no fabrications, no extras. Gotti And Jeezy showed me I ain't gotta crunch my brain on the craziest bars. people wanted to hear about the life I was living and seeing and if I could really rap that's even more of a plus.

VALIDATED: In 2017 you dropped a collaboration project called “Fawk Yo Buzz”, what can you tell us about the project?

BIG NO: "Fawk Yo Buzz” is probably the rawest material you gonna get from the city... period. me and my real cousin Lil Ville was just in the studio writing about right now but looking back I feel like I said too much on it, for real. we call it indictment music because me and cuz was just talking to each other but it birthed a lot of real classic music like "showed love" and probably had the hardest intro to ever come out of Richmond. It set the tone for my intro's but also energetic trap anthems like "Jumpin Jaxx" too.

VALIDATED: What was the response to the project?

BIG NO: “Fawk yo Buzz” for a first project went crazy in the city, the music and even the merch. it was a point when everywhere you went in Richmond you saw bart simpson on shirts and when we performed you could see it. you could see it in the crowd, oh they really rocking and relate to the music... definitely a successful starting project.

VALIDATED: In 2018 you released your first solo project “Junkie Lives Matter" featuring the local hit “Favorite Baby Daddy". What is it about that record that made it catch fire in the city?

BIG NO: for one it was catchy and the fact that it’s relatable. in my city most households ain't got both mom and dad, same father, same mother kids... so most women got a babydaddy they rock with more than the one they ain't with. then the fact everybody in my city know what type a father I am only made it mean more.

VALIDATED: Your music is heavily influenced by your life, raw and uncut including cockiness, pain and showing vulnerability in relationships. What is your target audience?

BIG NO: To be honest it's people just like me, people who have seen or been in my shoes as well as people who have not but want to know what it's like. I try to cover multiple markets and show my versatility. 

VALIDATED: You’ve performed in front of crowds of 10,000 people while opening up for Cardi B and Plies and others, describe that experience for us?

BIG NO: It was crazy and I credit that to why my performance has gotten stronger each time. once you’re in front of that crowd and get good feedback your adrenaline rush takes over. you fiend for that type of crowd, so even when it's not that many people you perform like it is every time.

VALIDATED: Your sophomore solo project “Junkie Lives Matter 2”, drops in a few days, what can fans expect from the project?

BIG NO: more of the raw No, definitely more smack you in the mouth music too from track one, to personal life experiences and emotions on tracks like "yesterday" and "young die young"... just digging deeper from each aspect.

VALIDATED: Which producers and artists did you collaborate with on the project?

BIG NO: I worked with LilGonthetrack and young and upcoming producer alot Ron oilers. of course I went back and got some heat from the legend Yung Lan. features from one of R&B’s up coming hard hitters T-Rell, also one of the cities most stamped artist Monnie 2real and a very talented artist out the city Ms Fancy.

VALIDATED: What will be the lead single from the project and why did you choose that record as the lead single?

BIG NO: “Young Die Young" will be the lead single. I chose it because I lost my nephew by homicide on Christmas and the following week my brother lost his baby mother to gun violence. after that the song just felt like it's what my people needed.

VALIDATED: What can we expect for the remainder of 2020?

BIG NO: Definitely more shows out of town... I will be in atlanta this week coming up. also more projects back to back to apply pressure. my goal is 4 projects this year, 2 are done, as well as my Merchant website kicking off very soon.

VALIDATED: What’s your social media contacts and website?

BIG NO: Instagram @Iam_NorthsideNo, Facebook @therealbigno, Twitter @NorthsideNo, youtube “Big No channel” and my website is being put together as we speak 88waystodrip.com.