NATE OG @NATEOGDET INTERVIEWS DETROIT NEIGHBOR AND DETROIT WORDZSMITH AND VERBAL ASSASSIN NAMETAG @ITSNAMETAG

1.Whats good bro? I am a big fan of your work and I have been up on you since '07 when I heard you on Black Milk's Popular Demand, But for the readers or new fans feel free to introduce yourself and tell them Who you are? what you do? and where your from?

Thanks for supporting for so long. For those who don't know, this is Nametag, your new favorite recording artist. I'm a family man first, then I'm a music robot (lol) hailing from Detroit, MI.

2. Who are your influences?

Outside of music, truly my family. Knowing I have a daughter to help provide for is a huge influence followed by her mother staying in my corner having my back. Keeps the ambition going. Within music, Russell Simmons, Jay-Z, Dame Dash, Diddy, Kanye, Prince, The Roots. I've been in a pioneer mindstate lately.

3..How long have you been an MC and what made you say this is what I want to do as  career?

I've been an MC probably since my elementary days. Rapping was always a fun hobby. I think I took it seriously during high school. If I recall right, it was around the time I ended up on this Slum Village compilation titled "Dirty District 1". I was in a group called Ten Speed & Brown Shoe then. I already had the ability to move crowds, but knowing it's a possibility I can make a living off of it pushed me.

4.What is the music scene like in Detroit and does that affect your creative process at all or output?

Honestly, the music scene is segregated, a lot of cliques. That's just the way it is. On the upside, within these cliques it's a lot of diversity. The way I see it, this has allowed our city/state to dominate the music releases for fall 2013. Does this affect my creative output? Yes. A lot of us Detroit artists, you can hear that integrity in our music. A no nonsense approach, sticking to our true brand because it makes sense in the long term.

5.What is your creative process like an MC, I am a producer but always am intrigued by the creative process of all artist?

Creatively, I don't like overthinking anything I do. It takes the fun out of it. Only time I go for overthinking with my process is if I feel I'm about to write a struggle bar. Especially those obvious struggle bars.

6.Now we're both from Detroit but what does Detroit mean to you as a resident because the world has this slanted view of the city and is cast in a very negative light if you could define it?

Detroit definitely builds character for anybody who's a resident or was one. That's how is see it. I probably wouldn't be the artist I am if I wasn't from here. Media focus on the negative because it helps ratings, the way I see it and I don't see it as right. It's a lot of positive in the city as well. There's a balance. Those who view it slanted only choose to see it as negative only.

7.What Are some of your current releases and how can the readers or fans find them to show support of your music?

My most current release is "For Namesake", a collab album with Flint, MI producer, Nameless. It's released under Brick Records, a Boston based indie label. We have a remix project to this coming soon titled "Redo" which will feature 2 brand new songs as well. All of my music can be found atitsnametag.net

8.Now the Namesake album was classic. You and Nameless are both of my influences as producer and the caliber of MC I'd like to work with. what was the creative process of recording and making this album and will there be more collabs between you two in the future?

Thank you. It's like I was saying earlier, I didn't overthink the writing process, just wrote what I felt. I can't speak for him but based on the feel of the production, I'm guessing Nameless did the same. Collabing, we just felt we can make a dope project together and reach many supporters and new fans without compromising our true sound...and still be diverse. There will deifnitely be more future collabs. I got a batch of beats now for a For Namesake II.

9.Now if Im not mistaken you have your own label called Volume Up Entertainment, what inspired you to create your own label and when was it established, and what is the structure like of the label?

Well, Volume Up Ent. was never a label. It's actually my publishing company title through ASCAP. Right now I have my "Lead And Be Legendary" brand a.k.a The L.A.B.L Movement that I am structuring as a media group I will launch soon. There are tees available for that now if you visit itsnametag.netWhat inspired me to do this? The heavy hitters in the game. Your Russells, your Diddies, Shawn Carters. It wasn't impossible for them and it will not be for me.

10.I also know you have a team called Slang Committee, was  curious on when that was established who are the members and what made you create it?

It's actually a "K" instead of "C" for Committee. That was a collective started in my high school days at Cass Tech. Mannnn, we haven't done anything since like '05 maybe '06. The members are me, ONPoint, C. Young and Gratiot Jones. Everybody still holding their own musically though. Keep a lookout. That's going to always stay on the heart though for me as an mc. We were knocking out mixtapes back in high school before it was the trend. We kept each other ambitious, having that hunger.

11. Nametag, what do you think of the state of hip hop as it stands in 2013 and the industry as a whole as far as the divide between artist and fans, sales and radio spins?

I think the industry needs to invest and incorporate artist development. Too many here fast, gone faster artists in and out the game because the labels want a fast buck. The last half of your question is simple: A lot of artists need to understand it's ok to be a fan. You don't have to rap (lol). Sales would increase if every music release wasn't free, (mixtapes, etc.) even though piracy is tough to defeat. A whole lot of politics tie into radio spins, period. It ain't  as simple as "Request my single by texting it to this number" NO!! You want your joint in regular play, them stations want money. Focus your single to internet and college radio.

12. Do You have any jewels or words for aspiring MC's and Artist that want to do this as a career?

Yes. Make sure this is what you truly want to do because it will drain you and beat you down. Have fun with this, don't take yourself "too" seriously, unless it's on the business end (paperwork, conducting yourself right). Utilize your resources properly. STOP spamming links on social media. Posting your music link 20 times per day isn't going to make people want to hear your music. It'll turn them away from it. Oh, stop saying "Turn up!!" Lol.

13. Do you have any special thanks or shout outs if so feel free to do so now?

Thank God for keeping me on Earth serving my purpose.Shoutout to my fiancee Kila and my daughter Paris. Shoutout to family and extended family, my manager, the producers who lace me with the dopeness, and the artists who drive me to keep my pen game sharp. Shoutout to true fans and supporters, like the ones who actually buy and download the music, view the videos, and spread the word about it. Thank you.