Born and raised in downtown Toronto, Nathan Tenney’s musical style is influenced heavily by the urban environment and early 1990s hip hop, as well as the cultural experience of growing up in one of the world's most diverse cities. He dropped out of high school twice, often choosing the streets of Toronto as the source of his education, but managed to clean up and graduate, and even move on to college. His experiences inform both his music and his life journey.
“I been listening to hip hop since I was about 8 years old. At first it was just about the beats. Nothing else made me bounce like hip hop did. As a teenager, I got more into the aggressive, angry side of the music, because that was what was reflecting my own life at the time. It helped me as an outlet for the rage and disillusionment I felt at the world growing up. “
“As I grew older, I started relating more to the positive, progressive hip hop movement. I realized MC’s can still be aggressive and speak truth rather than spit foolishness. Sound Of The Police by KRS-One is probably my favorite hip hop track of all time. Bouncing bass, kickin drums, aggressive lyrics, spittin truth about the world he lives in, and I could relate to that. “
“When I make my music, that’s what I strive for. I want people to hear my songs and first connect with the sounds, and then connect with the lyrics. I want people to be able to just listen to the instrumentals, and not get sick of them, but also want to hear all of my words. I need to inhabit both of those worlds simultaneously, or the music is not worth making for me.â€
With beats reminiscing of Hip Hop’s golden age but progressing on with new sonic landscapes, and lyrics with a positive message, This Is For You.. captures the essence that is hip hop.
Positive affirmation of the human spirit through phat beats and ill rhymes.
