NEMZ INTERVIEW

NEMZ is a rapper from Sonoma County, CA. We talk music, the industry, and showing love and support to those around you!

What up G?!! Thanks for doing this!

Of course bro you know it’s always been nothing but love for you and the family thank you for having me. 🤞🏼

Likewise man. So I met you through my brother a long ass time ago. How did you guys meet and how did you guys start making music together?

Man, from what I remember, Simon was always a cool ass dude lol. When people at school would talk about who be rapping, Simon was a staple name for sure in high school, I peeped his music out and honestly looked up to your brother, I’m pretty sure I reached out to him on like Facebook and told him I had a home studio and bro pulled up on me after school one day and we made a slap .

Love when it comes together like that. Some of the best music comes from those situations. How did you get into making music and what were some of your early influences?

I got into making music because my cousins, I used to be behind the scenes if anything, I wouldn’t have thought I would be making music today if I was talking to 13 year old me lol. Basically it was summer of like freshman year when my cousins told me to hop on the mic and the rest has been history, I fell in love with the process of making a record. I’ve always loved music, my folks always played music loud throughout the house growing up. I just never thought music would have such a impact on me later on in life but I wouldn’t have it any other way… I’d say some influences were honestly rappers within my own city… my cousins, Simon, Obvi. Anyone coming out RP. I was always tuned in and took notes… I’ve always been the type to soak up game and recognize it when I come across it… of course I was listening to the bigger names and they all had some sort of influence but it was watching people within my own city make a impact that really drove me to get on my shit and just take the music shit on one.

Yeah there were a lot of people active at that time. They still are but more spaced out geographically. I wanna talk a little about the rap culture in Sonoma county. How do you feel it fits into Bay Area music historically and where is it at right now?

I think we are our own sound… I don’t think we really fit in if anything. In my case I’m blessed for the love I’ve received through the music with my Bay Area peers and rap friends and shit like that, but I honestly feel like Sonoma County has a lot to offer in the music scene if we had more of a spotlight out here.

I agree. How do you get that spotlight to Sonoma County? Is it strictly talent based or is there a stigma that good rap can’t come from Sonoma County? Do you see a future where someone can be successful on a bigger scale but still based in Sonoma County or do you think you have to move to a bigger city?

I ain’t gone lie, I didn’t feel like my career elevated until I stepped out of Sonoma County, fuck a stigma in my opinion, I feel like everyone has the same chance and opportunity when you wake up, everything is up to you when you’re an independent artist, you have to make something happen for yourself nothing is handed to you unless you were blessed with an opportunity or situation but in my case i felt like everything happened how it happened for me because I never stopped believing in myself. That’s my mission right now actually… going against all odds and coming out on top being from Sonoma County. I’d say it takes having that leader mindset because self doubt is the biggest killer of dreams, I done watched artists I considered “more talented“ then me stop themselves from being great. You just have to get up everyday and keep shooting your shot you know?

Love that answer. I wanna give you some props man because everything you just said has been very impressive to watch. You could always spit and your music was always good but you really are on another level right now. What would you say your biggest “break” yet was? How did you step out of Sonoma County and build more recognition in other cities?

Thank you man that means a lot to me, I’d say my biggest break was when I brought Bay Area legends to Rohnert Park to shoot a music video for my song A.D.D. I threw a pool party in H section and brought out D-Lo and Mistah FAB and I think it was at that moment when my city realized I was really out here building bridges and making it happen for our small town and it was when I felt my city behind me…but me and my team have accomplished so much from being brought out by Too Short in Mexico and performing in front of thousands, to being the first from Rohnert Park to get on the Thizzler cypher and represent my city amongst other artists who had more following and bigger platforms then me. I think that’s where I flourish the most. When you exclude the numbers and social media followings and you put me in a room or situation where we keep it music, the music speaks for itself and I think that’s where I’ve gotten the most love. Once people hear my music they recognize me for my talent and I think that’s the dopest part. I kept building bridges strictly through the music, game recognize game and honestly most people I’ve worked with and met has been genuine love. I consider myself an easy person to get along with because I always want to push people around me to be the greatest they can be. I do my best to show love, give advice, and be there for my peers aside from music and I think that’s why with me it’s different. In this industry you always feel like someone just wants something from you and not for you and I think when it comes to me I tell people all the time I don’t want nothing for me that ain’t for me to begin with. I just show genuine love and I got love for those who love me back. Go where you are appreciated not tolerated.

I remember when everyone pulled up to that. What a dope thing to do for your city. It’s that type of stuff that makes people believe in our community. Also I think that is advice to live by no matter what profession or situation you are in. What’s it like growing up listening to these guys and being able to work with the likes of FAB, D-Lo, and Short? For Bay Area heads that’s legendary man.

Honestly it’s been motivation for me because I remember when I started it was just me in my room with garage band on my laptop and a guitar hero usb mic that I would plugin to record and have a taped mic hanging from my ceiling thinking I was doing something 😂. So to look back and see how far I’ve come is always refreshing to me because I would’ve never believed I got to where I’m at today honestly with who I was and how I was thinking back in the day. If you were to tell me my life was going play out how it did I would’ve thought you were crazy . It took a lot of self reflection internally to be able to have this drive I have now and I think so long as I keep this mindset there will be more in store for me in the future .

They say greatness comes from humble beginnings. How do you feel about the drug culture in rap. Is it safe to say on one hand it sells records but on the other cuts a lot of careers short?

Unfortunately some people get lost in the sauce … I’m not an advocate for it but I also understand why it gets glorified, I mean some artists do get successful and some don’t. I don’t think it’s because they are doing drugs though lol. You can be promoting drugs, be good at rapping and still be nobody out there, so I feel like when it comes to that to each his own. You also see a lot of rappers reach the top and cut themselves short because of drugs but I feel like those people didn’t have enough real ones in their corner to get them on the right path. I ain’t perfect myself but I take pride knowing I have a good support system and circle of people who care about me and my well being that wouldn’t let me take the wrong path but to each his own. I think my message to people struggling is to never lose hope, you got to find your light and follow it. I’ve lost people close to me to drugs and it sucks, so I understand where it stems from but I also think a lot has to do with who you’re around and what people are doing with their time. Keeping myself busy always worked for me. Give yourself a goal and achieve it by any means no excuses.

Absolutely it’s so easy to get wrapped in all that when you are already feeling down. So kind of in the same vain how are you able to stay focused in studio sessions or shows where everyone is trying to rev it up but you got work to do?

It depends what we doing lol. I drink, I smoke, when I’m in the studio occasionally I might pop a adderall. I know that sounds crazy to most after what I just said but I consider myself to be a strong minded individual and honestly when I do that, creatively, I’ve made incredible records. It just puts me in a different zone/headspace. When I'm doing shows I might take a shot or two just to feel more comfortable being on stage. In the words of E-40 everyone has choices and the choices you make in life are the ones that define you as a man today so know your limits, know what’s good for you and what’s bad for you and do your best. My pops told me a long time ago, “ You can be with the shit just don’t get smeared by it.“ That’s always stuck with me.

Love that line. No shame here man. If you can handle your shit run it. Honesty is huge too so I appreciate that from you. So how much impact do think your records playing in the club has? They radio ain’t like it used to be are clubs kind of like the new radio? A platform where people don’t search out your music but hear it anyways.

I push the hard line, I’ve been to most clubs out here in the Bay Area. I think artists should definitely be tapping in with the DJ’s and getting your records out there because we think that posting on social media is the only way to promote yourself but I’m big on making sure people know your face card. So pulling up and supporting so you can get support back is huge. Radio is dope too if you can try and wiggle and make connections to get played why not, whether it’s a local station or a bigger radio platform I think the best thing we can do is get reposted/played anywhere, you never know who is listening.

It only takes one ear to make a wave sometimes. So most of my friends who are rappers/musicians have day jobs. Do you have a 9-5?

I do, I have a cleaning company. I be cleaning houses Monday through Friday so if y'all need a free estimate holla at your boy! Must be Sonoma County based. Lol

Yeee!! How do you balance that and being everywhere else seemingly at once. You are always active and in the community while making music, how do you find time for all that?

It gets stressful I won’t lie to you but basically I have my life setup where I don’t have time for things that ain’t adding to my life so if I’m doing something unproductive it doesn’t sit right with my spirit . My priorities and money always come first. Making sacrifices is always tough to explain to people who care about you but you have to have pure intentions so that people around you see the bigger picture.

I wanna ask a little about that. Did your family and close ones always see your talent from the jump? I’m gonna sound like an old head but you were a kid when I first heard you spit and I was like god damn this kid is different.

Honestly no they just caught on, it took a lot of time and I feel they took me serious once they seen the Empire streaming checks coming through the mail lol.

Yeah that helps lol. So are you signed right now or are you independent? How does that all work?

I’m independent I run my own in house label Triumph Music.

Hell yeah. How did that come about? Did you kinda just take your old model and shape it up?

I always wanted to start my own thing , I feel like no matter how many times I’ve tried to be under groups or other teams I’ve always liked just being able to do things my way.

Yeah I feel you man. So rapping in Spanish. How did that come about? I gotta be honest I don’t know Spanish for shit but it sounds so damn good. Did bi-lingual rap open up new doors for you?

Most definitely did open opportunities for me, always been a fluent speaker in Spanish so I just started experimenting one day, ended up making a reggaeton record with my boy Raka Dun from Panamanian duo Los Rakas, got a good response and I ran with it . For my Thizzler cypher I shocked a lot of people being able to switch from the two languages, I like being the black sheep. I don’t like hearing my music sound like anyone else so I told myself why not and kept implementing the Spanish in my raps.

It has definitely payed off because it’s turning heads man. You are truly one of a kind. Alright I got two quick hitters for you. Best taco spot in Sonoma county?

El fogon Taco shop. Downtown off of 4th street in Santa Rosa the salsa bar is 🔥🔥🔥and the tacos hit for me every time.

Hard to argue with. What do you got coming up? Anything you wanna promote or stuff we should know about?

I want to drop an album for my bday in January, but y'all go stream all my music on all platforms. “NEMZ“ I got tons of music out now and my boy D-Lo and Nef The Pharaoh just dropped they albums, I'm featured on them projects too. Follow me on IG @WHONEMZ stay tuned because there’s a lot coming.

Hell yeah man. Thanks again for doing this. Been rad catching up. 🔒

Thank you for thinkin of me to be apart of your platform much love bro.