24hourhiphop.com got a chance to interview Illinois recording artist NukemNash. NukemNash tells us about his life growing up along with his musical influences. He also tells us about when he began making music and, also talks to us about past, current , and future projects. Lastly, we get to check out his latest mixtape and music video. Check out the interview below and let us know what you think about our Next In Line!
24HHH: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are?
NukemNash: What's up world, I'm NukemNash! I am a rapper/recording artist from Illinois, right in the middle of the map, in the 217. Right in the heart of the midwest.
24HHH: How did you come up with your Producer/Artist name? Tell us about it.
NukemNash: NukemNash was created when I was in high school. I use to play the game Duke Nukem a lot on Play Station so what I did was, I made this promo picture of myself as Duke Nukem and put my head on it as a joke. But then people just started calling me Nukem. So the name stuck, and I then added the last name Nash. Everybody use to hear my songs and tell me I wasn't killing tracks, I was Nuke'n them.
24HHH: Where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?
NukemNash: I'm from Illinois. Right in the middle of Illinois in the boondocks. I'm from the part of Illinois where we don't have much, we don't live lavish lifestyles, we don't take what we do have for granted, and we keep our family and friends in the good when we have it and stay unselfish. It's all about respect. If you give respect, you will get respect in return. Music plays a huge part of our everyday lives and allows us to show people that it doesn't matter where you come from, everybody has a story worth telling, and that's what I've always done.
24HHH: Who were you raised by? Tell us your family situation. Got any brothers, sisters, or any siblings? Tell us about your childhood and how it impacted your music?
NukemNash: I was raised by my mother and step father from the age 8 after my parents got a divorce when I was 7.I'm the oldest brother of 5 siblings. I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
24HHH: What age did you start making music?
NukemNash: When I was growing up I played a lot of sports, so that consumed a lot of my free time. Whether it was practice, or a team camp, or tournaments. I played basketball, baseball, football, and soccer. But ever since I was little, music was the biggest part of my life. When I was about 9 years old I was to listen to everything from Led Zeppelin to 2pac and from The Who to Jay-Z. When I first heard 2pac it opened me up to a whole new interest,when I read The Rose That Grew From The Concrete, poetry. I started writing every chance I could get, whether it was in class, on the bus, or on the way to games. I then started becoming confident enough to enter my work into various nation wide poetry contests and won a few, and my poems were featured in numerous poetry books. I then decided I wanted to put all of my guitar lessons to the test and form a band with some friends I went to school with. We then started playing shows around in surrounding towns, and trying to make a name for ourselves. At the same time I was still writing poetry and also starting to develop my skills as an emcee. When I turned 18 I graduated high school, and tried out for a touring hardcore band from Illinois and got the postition as their guitarist. For the next 2 years I toured all down the east coast of the US and all over the midwest promoting an album we wrote that previous year. When I returned from tour, I then started working with the Go Get It Boyz from Jacksonville, Illinois. We formed a family of artists of different skills and started to do shows. One show I was approached by a manager by the name of Big A from Champaign, Illinois and he had interest in my work. That year I signed with his label Avenger Clique and put out my first mixtape The NashVillain Chroniclez. That year we did various shows in the midwest, Las Vegas and Minnesota. I am now also in a touring signed band called The Convalescence from Ohio. We just recently signed with Ferocious Records and are about to release our first album with Ferocious on May 5th titled The Process. While also this year I have released two brand new mixtapes. The ABSOLETHAL mixtape was released in February and INVANITY was released in March.
Check out NukemNash – Toxic Avenger Ft. Truth aka Trouble (Official Video)
24HHH: What inspired you to pursue making music?
NukemNash: Ever since I was young I always idolized famous writers, such as Edgar Allen Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne. I also idolized all of the biggest rockstars and rap artists. Since the day I discovered music, I knew from that day that music was what I wanted to do with my life. I want to be an artist that will forever be remembered in history as a great artist, and a great writer. I have numerous different writing styles that I use and I want to show my versatility through them.
24HHH: What artists/producers do you work with? Or rubbed shoulders with?
NukemNash: The artists that I have worked with have been great influences on my music to what it is now. I've worked with Truth Aka Trouble, Deezy Da Queen, Cutthroat I am, KnarlyNice, Ghetto Gutta, Young Louie, Babyface Bandana, Mike Gz, Double GG, and a few other artists. Some producers I have worked with is The Fastrax, BaddMonkey, and Myka Green.
24HHH: What else you got coming out? New Album? or Mixtape/EP?
NukemNash: Like I said earlier I just recently released two brand new mixtapes this year to set the tone for my work in 2014. I released ABSOLETHAL in February and INVANITY in March.
Check out NukemNash – Absolethal
24HHH: Tell us about your newest single "Absolethal", how did you come up with that, share us the story?
NukemNash: Absolethal is the title track off of my ABSOLETHAL mixtape. I have a huge interest in complex writing. So basically what Absolethal was just a like a tone setter track, where I discussed topics such as politics and other views I have about the government among other topics.
24HHH: Any new travel plans, what you got going on?
NukemNash: Yes actually all of the rest of 2014 I will be on tour. From May 3rd until Late October I will be touring all over the US. Hitting both coasts, the midwest,and all of the southern coast. So 2014 is going to be a very busy year for me.
24HHH: What is the biggest thing to happen in your career?
NukemNash: At this point in my music career. The biggest thing that has happened is being able to tour nearly the entire US before the age of 24, and also, just recently one of my songs off of ABSOLETHAL was featured on the Roll Or Get Rolled Over Mixtape Presented by Dj Blayze in NYC and worldwide on datpiff.com and coast2coastmixtapes.com. The mixtape has artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Jelly Roll, and lots of others. So to this date that's the biggest thing that has happened for me. But, after this interview with 24hourhiphop.com this will be the biggest thing. So thanks for that!
24HHH: Where can people find you?
NukemNash: You can fine me:
www.soundcloud.com/nukemnash
www.facebook.com/nukemnash
Twitter: @NukemNash
24HHH: Where do you see yourself going in 2014 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?
NukemNash: In 2014 I plan to keep making music, and releasing numerous mixtapes. Basically I feel what sets me apart from other artists is my versatility. I sing, I rap, I also produce and create music. So basically I plan on just showing all the different sides of me. What I mean by that is I might put out a mixtape of all hip hop tracks and then follow it with an entire mixtape of ambient r&b. Then the next may be an EDM mixtape, or a dubstep/rap mixtape. Just depends on how I'm feeling at the time in my life and what I'm going through that will reflect my creative choice. I like to challenge myself as much as possible, and try and step out of my comfort zone a lot. I feel that's the best way to evolve into a better well rounded artist. That's what I plan to do. No boundaries. No limits. Just good music.
24HHH: Any last words or shout outs?
NukemNash: I would like to give a huge thanks to: 24hourhiphop.com for this interview and your interest in my music. Also to my friend Dj Eddie, my soul mate and best friend/promoter Erin. And all of the people back home who have supported me since day 1 with all of my music endeavors and still continue to. Looking to do some big things in 2014, so stay tuned, follow me and keep up to date with all of my newest mixtape releases. NukemNash.
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