As a young man, Nex was into all forms of music. From Latin to English, no genre was untouched. His earliest influences include Marvin Gaye, Minnie Rippleton, Hector Lavoe, and many more. He credits his aunt Sonia as one of the earliest influences on his musical career for making him listen to what she described as "real music." His brother Carlos was the one who introduced him to rap via Rakim, Run DMC, and others. Professionaly recording for about 6 years now, Nex got his start with a group in high school called NYCU. The crew consisted of Fransisco "Jowe Blkk" Lopez [Blkk Steel Ent.], labelmate and cousin "Eratiq", and brother in-law and fellow rapper Lynell [GridlockProductionz.].Nex' name is an acronym for "Nothing's Ever Xpected." After the death of Hip-Hop legend "Big Pun", Nex felt like it was never expected in hip-hop for another Latino artist to be as nice as Pun. "I don't think I'm no where near Pun's level... but niggas need to realize that there are more Latino rappers than Pun and Joe". When asked about his plans in the music industry, Nex replies with: "To make Gridlock a household name; to be at the same position or higher as a Def Jam/Bad Boy/Roc-A-Fella... we got the talent, so I'm sure it's destined. I love rap, but I only want to be seen as a rapper for the time being... I wanna leave the game as a business man."Before Gridlock, Nex was looking forward to working with Roc-A-Fella. "Jay was/is a big influence on my rap career. However, in the same sense how I respect Jay, I have to respect further how he started his own shit. This Gridlock Productionz - this is our Roc-A-Fella. We more than a dynasty... we FAM." His first project [due out this summer] is entitled "Born To Be Famous." Asked why name it that, Nex responds: "I think that's pretty self explanitory [laughs]. Nah, but seriously, I put a lot of effort into this album. This is my first album on Gridlock Productionz...and like I said, I'm tryna make Gridlock a household name." The album will have 18 tracks - featured artists include the Gridlock Productionz team, Jowe Blkk of Blkk Steel Ent. & The Regulator crew. "My second project [N.E.Xamination: My Life, My Sins, My Struggles] is due out towards December '08. This one is more personal. The first album is just what it states - 'Born To Be Famous.' I'ma show you why I was born to be famous.""You want to know something... I don't regret a single thing that's happend to me in life", says Nex, "but I do wish my man E-Nice [E-Nice was many of the crew's homie back in the day. He was stabbed on E. GunHill about a block away from his home - over a girl.] was still alive. He knew I rapped, but I never got to show him how nice I was. I rapped one time for him, and it was 3 days before he died. I seen that as God telling me that this man had to know how nice I am before he passed. 'Born To Be Famous' is dedicated to him. He was gonna do big things with his life... R.I.P my nigga. My career is dedicated to the women I love most: my mom [Yvette Cepeda], my sisters [Tanya, Eileen, Desi, and Zieda] and my god daughters [Heaven, Jazmine, Amani] - love you."Anybody with any shows or connects and wanna talk music....You can email me @ [email protected] for the love. .
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