Nu – Nigga Art (2024)

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UnHeard Ent strikes again with “Nigga Art” by NU, an eloquently black, 10-song album from the Harlem-born Charleston emcee. Nu’s overall style is a testament to all that is hip hop/rap, but with this album, he displays and becomes the epitome of black excellence.

As a ‘rapper’, I have a genuine appreciation for every era, genre, subgenre, trend, etc in hip hop.  However, I am an ENTHUSIAST of ‘straight cut to the gut’ lyricism and Nu delivered just that and then some, with a focus on the framework that black people ARE the culture, black people ARE the art-everything more and nothing less.

Throughout the album are segments of an OHM radio interview with Zach Giglio and NU with him explaining his approach and intention with the songs from “Nigga Art”.

Beginning with ‘MOS HIGH’ produced by DJ Var, NU begins by giving thanks and honor to ‘the most high’ over a breezy vocal loop backed by horns, woodwinds, and strings.

After flying in with the smooth intro, NU gets straight to the message with “Sittin’ Smokin’ Plottin’” prod by Manny Beats, which was one of the first pre-releases from the album he dropped on YouTube via music video.

This song serves as a simple, yet intricate answer to any one wondering ‘What’s up with NU’? Chucked full of wisdom, rhymes, and unapologetic honesty-Nu exclaims his preparation for the future and the rules and principles he’s standing on to achieve his visions of the future.

A powerful, and quite central, theme of the album is black pride and empowerment. It’s evident that NU directs his message to the black population, with an aim to educate and promote unapologetic pride in the history, struggle, and existence of us as a people in America. “NIGROS” and “BACC2BLACC” , both produced by Melloe Soule’s Matt Graham, are two prime examples coming from two different perspectives, sharing common elements of black dignity and perseverance.

“All of us petrified/ aimin’ pesticides/ to the next surprised/ from a pandemic, leave it to black people to turn it to a BANDemic/ You know we turn sh** to culture when our hands in it/ raise ya hand and ball it up like you hittin’ a man wit’ it/ If you for something then stand with it..” -NIGROS

“..cuz black where am at n**** thats a fact/ but the fact is that/ some n**** wanna lounge on the c***** act/ set the rat, a trap/ sold out the cultures to some vultures/ expose you for being a culprit/ now everyone knows it/ the flows get expansive, more high voltage/ the NUest pharmaceutical, an unknown dosage”- B2B

“NIGROS” coming from the perspective of black pride and “BACC2BLACC” saying the same, but also exposing the antithesis of those that take that same pride and quiet it to be accepted.

Outside of the production, there is only one artist featured on the album. “Holy Son” features King Culter of Holy City Records.

“Personally he’s an inspiration to me” stated NU. “I see similarities between him and myself. A leader with ambition, a burning desire to chase his passion regardless of the distance and whether or not he has to do it alone” NU concludes.

This chemistry is evident in the track as NU and Cut’ effortlessly pass the mic back and forth every four bars over the MannyBeatsChi production. An ode to staying the course and elevating mindset to achieve goals. The two recently dropped a post production remix of “Elegant Shit”, also featured on this album, exclusively on YouTube.

As an emcee, NU’s delivery holds a sense of militancy and truly packs a punch, especially with his strong subject matter. Even with staying true to that, the tail end of the album “Just Like You” and “God Gifted” became quick favorites of mine toward the end of the album.

Another Mannybeatschi production, with a simple mix of percussive loops, allowing NU to tap into an intrapersonal space of relativity with the listener in “Just Like You”.

“I hate feeling neglected rejected, its not forgotten/ the type, to turn a pure spirit rotten/ aye listen I ain’t perfect m****** but i’m working under cover/ and cover up my emotions cuz i heard them shits for suckas/and just, finished watching that Love, Beats, and Rhymes and how poetry and rap can both free the mind”

Closing the album, “God’s Gift” produced by his UnHeard comrade MaskedSlade, follows suit with a bright, neo-soul instrumental with classic instrumentation. This outro is a dedication to his journey towards personal progress and success as an artist and how he navigates that walking in the purpose of the lyrical, spiritual, and mental gifts he’s been blessed with.

It’s clear NU’s intention behind this album is a modern, elevated representation of ‘black is beautiful’.Through the history, through the struggle, we live to shift the narrative and stake claim to the black influence on the world. This is that. “Nigga Art” on ALL PLATFORMS, another #GxldApproved drop from UnHeard Ent.

“We are art as people and we persevere so much, through 500-600 years of (oppression) but look what we did”- NU