Born in the early morning of September 7th 1982 and given the government name, Michael Robert Ricard, and named after St. Michael his life began as a miracle by beating the odds. Due to a surgery that his mother was required to go through the doctor gave little hope of his survival but by the graces of God was blessed to overcome a less than 1% chance of making it. This would be reminded to him as he grew up by his mother so that he would always remember he was blessed and to take full advantage of life. He was also given a second name, a Korean name, Young Sik. Raised in a home of obedience and structure because his mother was Korean and his father was enlisted in the Air Force did not seem to stop him from rebelling against the morals that were deep-rooted in him at an early age. His father helped him hone his writing skills with punishments of writing essays in only the second grade as well as teaching him the concept of hustling a product to his advantage over the other guy. With all the opportunity that a person could ask for he was constantly causing trouble and being a magnet for the darker side of life seemed to blind him from seeing his full potential as a young man. Developing an edge by learning how to use words to defeat others became natural for NICE since he grew up around a majority of white and black people to wear he just was just in the middle and having to deal with verbal attacks from both sides. Allowed NICE to not only learn how to be quick on his feet but build up a thick skin for controversy and actually embracing it to make him stronger. Never permitting his past experiences to pass judgment on anyone but using it to understand him better and using it to touch others.
Always having an immense love and joy for music as well as entertaining others it seemed he was destined to express his voice to the world one day. Thanks to the different cultures he was introduced to and musically influences he was able to take a unique view of the world and put it across in a special way unlike many other artists. It wasn’t until NICE was about twelve until he actually found himself completely in love with hip-hop and rap mostly because it expressed that raw intense aggression that he found in his soul and became a voice for that. This was around the time that Wu-Tang, Biggie, Tupac, Dr.Dre, Snoop, No Limit, 3-6 Mafia, Big Pun, Jay-z, DMX, The Lox, and NAS were either at there height or truly exploding onto the scene. Still remembering that first time that he decided he was going to start rapping, he was fourteen hanging out at the local bowling alley in Charlotte, NC listening to some of his peers in a cipher. When as dumb as it may sound to him now had the audacity to ask if they could teach him how to rap. Where they quickly replied, “You can’t be taught how to rap, you just have to feel it and let go.†With those words NICE began his passion for rapping but at first not very well at all. Constantly facing brutal criticism from his closest friends he began to constantly practice and practice and practice both day and night. Never really starting to write until he moved away both because his father had a job offer but also his parents wanted to get him away from all the people NICE was associating with and getting involved in activities that were the beginning to a long road of hardship and problems in the future. First getting arrested at fifteen for shoplifting then again at sixteen for possession not to mention the constant physical fights that happened on and off school grounds his parents thought it would be best for his future to move to Syracuse, NY.
Being secluded to only his thoughts and memories of what he had already gone through in life NICE began to write and translate those feelings and stories into poems, lyrics, and eventually into complete songs. This is where his name originated from. It was given to him by a close friend by the name of Q because one day while driving around Q got out of the car to approach some females and they asked who was in the car. Q replied, “Oh, That’s NICE.†They responded, “NICE. Why is his name NICE?†Q quickly said, “He’s NICE because of the way he flows, the way he talks, the way he walks, the way he dresses, basically because he’s NICE with everything that he does.†The rest is history. NICE started using this talent to make a name for him in a new place with new faces because he didn’t have his reputation that he gained with him anymore he had to start over. Once again still not truly learning from his past mistakes yet began engulfing himself into the same crowd and not crawling anymore but walking down that path. NICE slowly allowed that rage inside of him to really take over for years to come. Truly embodying the people around him and becoming what he believed to be real life. NICE began using his daily troubles to constantly grow his lyrical skills battling anyone who dared and hosting parties at friends’ houses for hours by freestyling over any beat and a mic. Then finally taking it to a local college radio station at Syracuse University where he would battle people who called in over the airwaves live. He also did a tribute to Big Pun, when he passed away, was a great honor for him seeing that was one of his influences growing up. At this time he started thinking that this would one day be his calling in life but wasn’t ready to really take it serious. It was still just fun and his passion, a way for NICE to get stuff off his chest and explain who he really was.
NICE graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School in 2000 and went off to college just turning eighteen at the beginning of his freshman year. Rochester Institute of Technology was his first taste of freedom from any kind of supervision. Though in a dorm he never listened to any R.A., come on now. He tried to escape his past but it seemed to follow him. Primarily a rich kid kind of school NICE instantly stood out as he always did. Not having a job and being approached by kids on the campus for certain services. NICE quickly got very active in supplying many of the students in the dorms with their recreational needs. Through that year he would first feel the side effects of this lifestyle both being robbed and being forced to rob as well to recover and make a point to certain competition. After the first year decided to drop out and go back to Syracuse, NY then about a year later moved on down to Charlotte, NC where he dearly missed and to mainly to avoid a pending case that he hoped would just go away. In which, NICE remembers a phone call from his mother where she had a dream of him out in the ocean on a boat and it was a beautiful sunny day and out of no where a storm came in and knocked the boat over and him into the ocean. She warned him to be prepared for a hard period in his life. Starting off new once again, NICE started feeling the pressures of trying to survive on his own without true friends or family near him to keep him focused. Addicted to the money and lifestyle that he had become accustomed to begin doing what he knew best to make sure he had that. This was a cycle that would go on for the next couple years. He had to Deal with conflicts with rival dealers in the area and jealous haters around him on a regular basis until he finally had enough. Packed up and moved back to Syracuse, NY and faced his problems up there to move on with his life. NICE decided to try to start over again by going back to R.I.T, in which that positive attitude did not last very long because of the hunger for his addictions and vices. Instantly gaining back his reputation he had previously from his freshman year started doing major things around campus. Partying and living in excess without a care in the world until eventually it all caught up with him one day when campus security came busting into his room in which he was caught with marijuana and other paraphernalia products. The outcome was NICE was suspended for a year and required to complete certain requirements prior to coming back.
That’s when he was introduced to the crazy world of the car business. The perfect trade off for an ex-hustler, this was legal drugs, the same concept: go out find a customer, sell the product, and negotiate the best deal possible. Rookie year became one of the top salesmen for the company but decided to go back to school. Of course, NICE was dealing with a new case, a new year before he went back and while back but once there swore to turn over a new leaf and this time last longer than any previous attempt but slowly was sucked back in. This time it was worse because NICE picked up a new vice on top of the others. POKER. Not attending class then losing his license from failure to pay certain tickets he was truly living on the edge and with the false illusion of the American Dream: hopes of getting rich quick became desperation. Traveling deeper down a road NICE never thought he could go down. He began selling harder drugs in order to make up for loses and keep up with monthly bills. NICE was beginning to do so well that local snitches/haters became jealous and decided to drop a dime on him. This story is told in his song “Big Trouble Small Town.†At this time his family already was back down south in the Atlanta, GA area and wanted to once again help him get back on track so insisted he come home and start over. Everything started off great at a new dealership making big money, selling lots of cars, the case in New York reduced to a violation along with a fine, and earned a new car demo. Life was going good but drove right into another road block. Typical car salesman, so classic, received a DUI in the demo. Struggling with another case and trying to find a way to express all this built up aggression God gave him another blessing on top of the many God already given NICE and introduced him to James “Ishman†James in 2005 and they began work in 2006. There was an instant connection and good vibe between the two in the studio. NICE and Ish would put together songs for “Da Angel ‘N’ Da Devil†on the spot, the pieces to the puzzle were starting to come together. NICE was doing well at the new dealership he was working for and finally after years of self inflicting struggle and hardship was doing what he loved most. He started realizing that this is what he was to do for the rest of his life. But of course the story isn’t over yet, NICE did get into one more confrontation with the law later that year in Newnan, GA where they were trying to pin him with a felony and that did not stick but was reduced to a no contest misdemeanor plea. This additional conflict gave NICE even more inspiration on his debut album “Da Angel ‘N’ Da Devil†which is dropping sometime in the summer of 2007 and soon after a mix tape will follow. Currently still on probation from his last offense NICE has steered clear of all his past wrong doings and is focused on his passions in life by making his music his true and only addiction. NICE has overcome many obstacles in life that many with the same were not blessed enough to make it through and he knows that. He believes it is his responsibility to use these experiences to help others and touch people with his voice of wisdom. Still growing as an artist NICE has a bright future ahead of him as long as he stays determined and focused on his dreams. Don’t sleep on this up and coming star cause he doesn’t sleep he’s always grinding. You will remember the name…Git NICE!!!NICE's 1st tattoo by Randy
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Demand NICE with Eventful!What's Real!!!Natural Born Hustlaz/Black Dragon Records/HIT$ 4 HIRESongwriter/Lyricist/Artist/CEO/Visionary: Michael "Nice" RicardOrigins: Half Korean and Half French Canadian...I'm a Mixed Baby, I'm da Best of TWO WORLDS!Birthdate: 9/7/1982 THAT MEANS I'm 24 and Birthplace: Sacremento, CAGrew up: Mainly in the Carolinas So I remain Southern at heart...Sumter, SC and Charlotte, NC are where I spent most of my life but I have lived in South Korea; Trenton, NJ; Denver, CO; Syracuse, NY; and Rochester, NY. Now reside in the Atlanta, GA area.Natural Born Hustlaz Entertainment is Da name of da parent company overseeing both Black Dragon Records and HIT$ 4 HIRE. Eventually going to also have a video production company Warpath Productions. Coming up on a quarter century of good and bad misfortunes have brought me to this path I've chosen. I am Da true definition of a Tragic Hero...Destined for great things but due to one or more overwhelming flaw(s) I bring on my own destruction. In which, history seems to repeat itself in my life over and over again. But I have heard that "a man who's flaws take years to correct is quite a man." Hopefully this rings true in my case. My soul purpose is to provide substance to a clearly diluted industry focused only on meaningless idols. Definately not in it for the fame I'm a simple man. I'm in it for the love of hip-hop and music in general. Music sets us free in a world full of restrictions. It's about time for someone to step up and be strong enough to spread a positive message in an age where negativity clouds us all. Trust me I know darkness can overcome anyone of us at any given time I know this cause I've been there myself many times before but don't allow it to blind you forever. Even the darkest room can be overcomed by the smallest light. One by one there can be change but together can start a revolution. LEAVE COMMENTS ON SONGS AND PHOTOS. LOVE FEEDBACK!!! Both Good N Bad...Aight!
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