When NF dropped the music video for his track, “All I Have,” he gained a legion of fans. The combination of excellent lyrics, technique, vocals, music, and transparency forced many in the music world to take notice. The video for “All I Have” has accumulated close to 400,000 views in less than 5 months.
2014 witnessed music off NF’s recently released self-titled EP play on TV (ESPN, FOX, VH1, NBC, etc.), Radio, and on playlists. NF is just getting started and he knows it. The Gladwin, Michigan-based emcee is currently working on his debut retail album, which is set to drop in early 2015.
NF Speaks On Upcoming Album
“I’ve been working on the album, which I’m really really excited about, just doing that a lot,” NF said after Chris Chicago of Jam The Hype asked about what he was up to. “Doing some shows and talking about tours but just really trying to dig down and get some good songs on the album. I’m very picky and very particular on what I want for songs and stuff. I’m excited man, because I feel like the EP is something that people haven’t heard in this industry for a while, that raw. I’m not saying no other Hip Hop artists are raw but it’s different. When you listen to it, you feel like it’s something you haven’t heard in a while. I actually just got a mix in today for a new song that I just did. It’s probably one of the deepest, most though out songs I’ve ever done. I’m really proud to put something like that on my new album.”
NF believes that the new album gave him more space to be himself. He talked about how the project will display his singing skills a little more than the EP did.
“The album just basically gave me more space to be myself and show you a little bit more,” NF said on Jam The Hype LIVE with Chris Chicago [Episode 565]. “The EP is only 6 songs so there is only so much I can say. To me, an EP is only a preview. That’s just what it is. The album has allowed me to do some more things because I sing a lot; I listen to a lot more than just Hip Hop so I wanted to have some tracks on the album that were definitely a mixture of Hip Hop and me singing, but maybe just a little more singing to show some people that. For all the fans that love the Hip Hop side of me, they’re definitely not going to be disappointed with some of the tracks on the album. Even when you listen to the songs on the album I have a lot of singing on them but there is still that moody NF different sound so I don’t feel like I’ll lose people on that, I think people are going to love that.”
NF Desires To Showcase His Diversity On The Upcoming Album
The Wake Up-lyricist displayed his singing chops on FLAME’s single “Start Over.” The singing on NF’s new album is not going to be like “Start Over” and will have different types of sounds.
“People are not going to be disappointed.” NF said. “The EP has only been out for 4 months. You’re not going to be waiting long, it’s coming. When I say singing on the album, that doesn’t mean you’re going to put in my album and be like ‘it’s just singing.’ Even the “Start Over” joint, the signing is not even like that. It’s more like moody singing. It’s more like a deeper darker feel. I got tracks on my album where I’m just rapping for 3 minutes with no chorus. Then the next track you go to might just be like me and a piano, I might have a rap first, but the majority of it is like this emotional tone to my voice, kind of like a “Wake Up” tone. What’s cool about the album is that if you don’t like Hip Hop, I think you’re still going to like my album. If you love Hip Hop but you’re not really into just signing, I think you’re still going to like my album. It’s very diverse. I don’t get so bad where it’s like ‘What kind of artists is NF trying to be?’ If you don’t like a hard rap song, the next song you might have a track that’s like the complete opposite that you enjoy.”
NF is signed to Capitol CMG Label Group. Chris Chicago voiced his concerns of Capitol possibly wanting to push NF in a more singing direction and put rapping on the back-burner like he has seen other labels do to other artists. NF tells Chicago not to worry and that the Hip Hop heads are going to feel his forthcoming project.
“Na, Capital has been amazing dude,” NF told Chris Chicago. “It’s not like that at all. Everything you hear on the record I approved. I wanted to do that. What people need to understand and what people don’t understand most of time is that a label is investing thousands and thousands of dollars into you, so you have to do at least a couple things. What’s cool about Capital is it’s kind of like, ‘Do the songs you want to do and we will talk.’ You want to have a couple of those songs where it can reach maybe a broader audience. There is not one song on this album where I’m like ‘I’m not comfortable putting that out.’ The album is raw. When you put in the first track you’re going to know this is NF. I’m not being pushed in any direction. You know what I’m saying. I wouldn’t be worried about that at all. There are a few songs where you might be like ‘That’s a little lighter,’ but you got to understand people only heard six songs, you don’t know the kind of music I listen to and what I do. Some people will be like ‘well, the whole EP was just like hard rapping’ but yea I didn’t have space to do other things. Those were the songs that I had and put together. You put on my album and you’re going to get hit with like intense hard rapping songs. I’m not going to lie; that one song where I’m spitting for two and half to three minutes, I’m like ‘It’s hard.’ I don’t know how to describe it, it’s kind of like a Godzilla meets Saw track. It’s dark, it’s deep and it’s just me like rapping really hard on a beat, if you don’t like that than you might not like that song. Like I said there is such a mixture on this album, it’s going to be good. I’m excited about it.”
NF’s new album doesn’t have a title yet and will feature “All I Have,” “Wake Up,” and new songs. He is gearing up to drop another music video in the near future as well.
Follow NF on Twitter: @nfrealmusic
RELATED: Episode 565 – Jam The Hype LIVE With Chris Chicago – Interview With NF
nf is cool, i like his music. i will definetly buy the album but i wish he would work on the spirtuallity of it, you know, rapping the word of GOD a bit more. but nf certantly is a great artist!!
I don’t know man. I get what your saying but these artist arn’t just reaching out to the church they are reaching out to everybody. Sometimes you are just going to have to listen a bit harder because I guarantee you will find that Jesus undertone. Usually you will find an artist challenge the believer and/or knock down the ways of the world without using scripture or sound like they are preaching. We can still enjoy we just have to allow God to move the way he wants in these artists.
Yeah I have to agree with you in a way, thanks. 🙂
If you listen to his other music on youtube (just click on a nf song and listen to the youtube playlist) he really does a lot of talk on spirituality.
Agreed! Nf`s older stuff is really good!!! And his newer stuff is very good too!!! I’m not trying to be a critic, lovert Mays did explain a very good point, and I do kind of agree, nf is really cool, I’m going to see him in concert in February!!!! Can’t wait!!!
NF’s a beast!!!