Static. Stagnant. Suffocatingly repetitive is the breeze that flows throughout the music world. Here to resuscitate us from that commercialized smog; and to blow us away with lyrical fresh air is Nemo. I first caught wind of Nemo after downloading his amazing EP “Elevator Music.” Eccentric, eclectic, and immaculately produced, “Elevator Music” is dope as dope gets.

Art Nouveau Magazine: You opened up for Wale. Tell me about that.

Nemo:It was an awesome experience. For a while some of my homies had been trying to put me on to him but I’m not really a ”Hype Beast” so I ignored everything about most of the freshmen class. But now I’m like his biggest fan, everything he drops I download. He’s most definitely one of my favorites in the game right now. Not to mention I’m a musician, and I’ve been playing with a live band since I was a child (Inspired by The Roots) so it was good to see him vibe like that as well. He put on a great show, not to mention he was bearing the “ROC” chain. lol

ANM: What’s the significance behind your name?

Nemo: NEMO is both natural & spiritual to me. Nemo was actually a nickname given to me by my oldest sister right around the time the movie came out. I was a loose cannon, I was out all day/all night doing ridiculous things and my mom would be calling around the area looking for me … and a lot of my homies caught on to the name, at 1st I would be like “dude, chill” but after a while it grew on me & I accepted it. How it got deep is when I began to find myself spiritually and one night after watching the movie I noticed how his story paralleled with my life. I mean he clearly wasn’t the coolest in the crew, I mean homie had the little fin all at lol, he did a lot of disobedient & daring things for acceptance … and those acts of disobedience brought some unbearable obstacles his way … My life in a nutshell!

ANM: How did New York that affect your music?

Nemo: I mean growing up KY during the 90′s most young-ins would usually vibe to No Limit, Cash Money, etc. Just more of the southern scene .. but with my mom being raised in Queens I would always visit her side of the family and get hipped to Nas, Wu-Tang, Jay, Big, etc. The Funniest thing was when the East Coast/West Coast beef was going down, as young as I was I had the Audacity to take sides … I loved New York Growing Up. Everything from fashion, Music, Food! lol Everything was so diverse there. Every time I would meet someone new in KY as a child I would be like yeah I’m from “Queens Baby, Farmers, Linden, All at” But I most definitely grew out of that. haha But Lyrically the East Coast influence enhanced me a lot.

ANM: You’re also a producer. How do you find balance between producing and rhyming?

Nemo: Well I mean me getting into the production side of things is kind of what inspired me to continue to rhyme. I’ve been playing instruments in “church” all my life, I just never told anyone, I guess I didn’t want to seem soft or something, but thats why musicians such as Outkast, Mos Def, The Roots, Q-Tip, & The Neptunes inspired me so … When I begin to study their work and a few others I was excited about incorporating live instrumentation in my work … And its funny because I’m a hip hop producer who hasn’t figured out the art of sampling, as far as like old records go. So all of the production you hear on my projects is straight from the minds of me & my production partner Doug “Porter” Ford. But being a self producer is a blessing, Financially & artistically … I know exactly what sound I’m looking for.

ANM: What’s your take on the state of Hip-Hop?

Nemo: With Brothers like Wale, K’Naan, Drake, B.O.B. we good. Jay still making music, Mos & Tip still making music. Jay Electronica still holding down the underground. Kanye is at the peak of innovation. Then there’s others who haven’t got a chance yet like this cat name NEMO. (laughs) Sike naw, but I also rep my Ohio homies L.E. & Bugz Tha Rocka, I mean according to the blogs, word of mouth, etc. those cats is next. As well as Atlanta native Mums FP. I’m just waiting on another release from Outkast & DMX. Call me a dreamer on The “X” wish. lol

ANM: When did you start rhyming?

Nemo: I started rhyming when I was like 9 or 10, I was attending a summer camp, they had like the sickest talent shows & my age group’s instructor was a local rapper, so he formed a group w/ me and like 2 others, he wrote our rhymes, &
we spit them over The Lox’s ”We’ll always love big poppa” … I’ll never forget that. Every since then I’ve been the kid with the classwork in the corner of the desk & my rhyme book in hand. lol Every time my camp instructor comes to one of my shows we reminisce, he a old head now! lol

ANM: Who are some of your major influences?

Nemo: My mom is a singer/songwriter, so she definitely had a huge influence on me. I grew up in a very musical church where renowned gospel musicians such as Terry Baker (Kirk Franklin) & his brother Simeon Baker mentored me. When I got to high school I begin to develop an eclectic ear, So I was listening to everything from Sting to Snoop. Some of my major influences are Andre 3000, Prince, Will.I.Am., & anyone who was ever involved with the Soulquarian Movement of the late 90′s.

ANM: You recently released your project “Elevator Music.” Tell me about that?

Nemo: Elevator Music was my summer debut … It did exactly what I expected it to do, it allowed me to capture a few new ears, as well as reinsure old followers that I’m still chasing this dream. I wouldn’t say it was a classic project but its most definitely nearest to my heart being that it was my 1st baby. I was able to collaborate with a friend out of California, Seven Davis Jr., and that was awesome, he’s really talented & accompanied me well in illustrating my thoughts. I hope the listeners enjoyed it conceptually, I feel like I made a great attempt & thats not the end of my journey. A winter release is in the works.

ANM: Why Do You Consider yourself Leader of the Free World?

Nemo:I plan to be the voice that speaks out against negative, whether it be religions, politics, racism, sexism, etc. I’m not saying I will live up to that title every day of my life but I guess thats just self-empowerment. I read that title on my website everyday and its a reminder of what I can & can not do in this walk of life.

ANM: What’s Next For You?

Nemo: Hopefully all of this labor pays off and I begin to see fruit. I’m looking for more blog attention, tours, major collaborations, etc. I’ve already mentioned this but I also have a winter release on its way. Produced in its entirety by my production team “Harry Porter” … which consist of Me (Prince Harry) & Doug “Porter” Ford.

ANM: Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

Nemo: uhhhhh … www.LeaderOfDaFreeWorld.com Much love to the homies at Oneness287, Primary Colors, & Peace/Love to Art Nouveau Magazine as well for supporting me early in my career.