NITTI IICE 'Year of the Dragon' Interview
Can you tell us about the overall theme or concept behind this album?
Venting, feelings, emotions, therapy! A great way to let things go!
What was your main inspiration for creating this album?
A need to vent, going and growing through life — the ups and downs, highs and lows.
How would you describe the sound and style of this album compared to your previous work?
This one is more emotion-based, more of my story.
Are there any particular tracks on the album that hold special meaning to you? If so, why?
They all played their parts in molding the project! "Nameless," "Alone," "Issues," "SiRR," "Bars Matter II," and "After Dark" are the ones my peers keep mentioning.
Did you collaborate with any other artists or musicians on this album? How did those collaborations come about?
Oh definitely! I brought a whole bunch of family out for this one!
Were there any challenges or unexpected moments during the production of this album?
Oh definitely! One of them — "SiRR" was supposed to be a Staten Island version of "1 Train" by A$AP Rocky, but a lot of them didn’t send verses or decided not to be a part of it (no love lost).
How do you hope listeners will feel or react when they hear this album for the first time?
Like a rollercoaster of emotions! I had a few people tell me they cried vibing out to "Issues," which was good to hear — they can relate to certain things.
Can you share any interesting anecdotes or stories from the recording studio or while on tour related to this album?
"Alone" was a verse from a song I had in the stash that someone took down from major platforms. I, for one, do not like wasting verses, so I was in the studio and mentioned to the engineer a sound. He created the beat on the spot, and we made the track in less than an hour lol. You gotta grow and not just go through things in life — your life is a movie only you can express!
What message or emotion do you want to convey to your audience through this album?
All of them! It's okay to feel and express yourself!
How does this album reflect your personal growth or evolution as an artist?
I put music on hold while I worked and went through life. Though I was actively performing other songs, I was going through writer's block and had to go out and live a little!
Are there any specific instruments or production techniques that were particularly important in shaping the album's sound?
I wanted to bring old-school hip-hop sound back but make it new and fresh. Hip-hop is in fact alive, and bars still matter!
Are there any lyrical themes or narratives that run through the album as a whole?
Just emotions based upon life and untold stories.
What are your plans for promoting this album, and what can fans expect in terms of live performances or music videos?
Definitely plan on doing some promo performances as well as social media promotions and a few music videos for specific moods/songs.
If you could remix any song and have anyone on it, what song and who would be the feature(s)?
"SiRR (Staten Mix)" — Method Man, Shyheim, Eddy I, Veto, Holy Moe, JoJo Pelegrino, Flukey, Tyrone Briggs, James Rich.
What advice would you give someone with a dream?
No one else was given your dream — it was given to you with a purpose! To see what life looks like if you don’t chase it and what it could look like if you do! “Everyone else is taken, so why not be you?”
Links to social media:
Instagram
TikTok
Link to album on Spotify:
Spotify Artist Profile
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