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New York is filled with great singers but not all of them are self-contained artists like Na2 whose been deemed one of the music industries best kept secrets. Alot of artists get discovered and others know exactly what they want and avidly seek it on their own terms. That is definitely the case with Na2 (Nay-Two).
The eclectic singer/songwriter who was born and raised in the Washington, DC area, experienced a great epiphany during a trip to Los Angeles, CA while working for the U.S. Justice Department. "I came to the realization that music was my passion and that it was time to follow my dreams," stated Na2. After returning home to Maryland, Na2 found out his childhood friend Grenique had signed with Kedar Entertainment, former Motown President Kedar Massenburgs initial record label that launched the careers of Erykah Badu and Chico De'barge. After moving over to Motown, Grenique asked Na2 to move to New York to become her background singer and assistant. Touring with Grenique afforded Na2 the opportunity to perform on BETs Planet Groove, Soul Train, BET Soundstage, the Sister 2 Sister Intergenerational Awards, as well as numerous other high profile appearances across the country.
Such exposure made it easy for Na2 to make good relationships with club owners and promoters along the east coast and take center stage as a solo artist at New York hot spots like SOBs, Joes Pub, Jimmys Uptown, Village Underground, Speed, Ashford & Simpsons Sugar Bar, the legendary Blue Note jazz club, Phillys infamous Black Lily Showcase, DCs Cada Vez and as far as The National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has opened for Olu (V2), Kindred (Hidden Beach Recordings), as well as jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips (Hidden Beach Recordings). Aside from singing backgrounds for various artists, he has also shared the stage with such artists as Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Jaguar Wright, Coko (of SWV), Eric Roberson, NDambi, Karen Bernod, Bianca Ryan (America's Got Talent), Lorenzo Owen's (Oprah's Pop Challenge), Renee Neufville (of Zhane) & John Legend just to name a few.
Na2 has made cameo appearances in the music videos for India.Aries (Motown) third single "READY FOR LOVE", Khias (Artemis) debut single "MY NECK...MY BACK", Kindreds (Hidden Beach Recordings) 1st single "FAR AWAY FROM HERE", as well as sang background vocals on Hip Hop artist Talib Kwelis (Rawkus/MCA) second smash single "GET BY" produced by Kanye West. In 2003 Na2 was spotted in Sister 2 Sister Magazine as well as received great reviews in the SPOTLIGHT section of Rolling Out Magazine. You can also catch Na2 singing backgrounds on Kanye Wests protégé & Columbia Recording artist John Legends debut CD on a the track entitled "I CAN CHANGE". He sang background on a few other songs as well but they didn't make the CD. Since then, he's also had the opportunity to record and help arrange the backgrounds on one of Kanye's newest protege's Consequence (whose CD should be out by the end of 2006).
Learning quickly and singing on the spot has been a gift Na2 has possessed since he was a child. During his high school years, he regularly sang with a DC-area go-go band, in multiple contemporary gospel groups and performed in front of thousands of onlookers at the US Air Arena in Landover, MD. "Back then, even though I was singing at different venues, I never thought my voice was good enough to have a successful solo career so it took me a while to start pursuing music on a professional level," expressed Na2.
The soulsters voice is definitely good enough... so good that aside from working regularly as a background singer, Na2 was chosen to record the opening theme song for popular radio personality Michel Wrights mid-day broadcast on WPGC 95.5 in Washington, DC, (which is the ..1 station in the DC market). The show intro became an instant hit with her radio listeners, thus causing Michel to invite Na2 to perform a live 25-minute set on her music video program 8101, a nationally aired cable show. "I have been able to accomplish quite a bit in this short period of time living in New York... When I look at what I have done thus far, I get excited about whats to come."
The future looks very bright for Na2. When he's not hold up in his home studio working on his debut CD, he's taking a break to work on a few compilation projects, doing radio jingles, engineering vocal sessions and recording background vocals for established artists. Its only a matter of time before the the brutha in the background becomes known for being center-stage.
