‘N-I-Z-E-R I’m on a mission / Under no condition will you ever catch me slipping / I put my thoughts on paper all you gotta do is listen / Maybe if you pay attention you might see the vision.’ – Focused
There has to be some deep meaning to it.Perhaps it’s an acronym I think to myself. Now – I’m – Zealous – Emphasising – Reach. No.That can’t be it. Wait. Maybe… No – Inspired – Zag – Elicates – Ridicule. ‘It’s a name that just came out : Nathi Nizer.It’s like a suffix.It started when I was younger with friends calling me that and later it stuck with my family says the 20 year old rapper.’
Sun rays intermittently punch through cumulus clouds. It’s December and this time around Johannesburg’s seen more than it’s fair amount of rain. There’s a cold chill in the wind which has us in jackets. A sufficient amount of sun has Nizer and I in shorts and the climate of our conversation holds no disparity. Kempton Park’s Nkosanathi ‘Nizer’ Mtsheweni lost his mother to cancer at 13 years old. His grandmother then took over guardianship. Nizer’s the middle child to an older step brother Tshepo from his mom’s side and his immediate younger brother Sabelo. ‘My mom laid the foundation and my grandmother expanded on what my mom taught me. The man I am today is because of my Grandmother. I am who I am because of that woman.’ Nizer explains he now stays with his uncle in Thembisa after his grandmother’s passing and that his father had moved on, remarried and started a new family a very short time after his mother’s death. Maybe too short a time. He’s not been in good relations with his dad if at all as a result and severed ties there. ‘ He’s living his own life. He literally started another family after my mom passed on. That’s the type of man he is. He made his choice and I made mine. I’m not gonna force you to be my father if you don’t want to be.That father figure role, my older brother kinda played that and I appreciate him most for that.It’s just that whole dynamic and I’ve made peace with it.’
Peace. There’s anything but that happening just alongside us. As it happens I’m in for a treat as our undisclosed venue plays host to Nizer’s friend and label mate Gusto whose arranged a listening session for his next release entitled ‘Built For The Process’. As expected the entire 1619 click is present and accounted for where other than myself and Nizer’s girlfriend , a few close friends who play an integral role as creative forces and fans of the label are also in attendance.From my first listen it becomes apparent 1619 Records have a productive year ahead and so do I. ‘I’m glad you were able to be here for this’, says an empathetic Gusto. ‘It’s important to me’.Nizer and I excuse ourselves and leave the small party to their scrutiny of the project while drinks are being served. ‘This is quite a nice rum’, mentions producer Alto. He takes a sip of his cup and examines the bottle before passing it around. Peace ? No. It seems it’s definitely a time for celebration.
Alto’s the first of the 1619 crew Nizer had been introduced to via his cousin during his high school years and produced 2 of the total 6 tracks on his debut entitled Chapter 1 : King. Nizer’s childhood friend aw.kw.rd however holds the title of being the first producer he’d ever been in contact with and does all the rest. ‘In tenth grade I remember we started getting closer.We were just chilling in class and he was like yo ! You rap right ? And I was like yeah. Yo man I got some beats ! I was like oh you got beats ? Cool. I listen to the beats I’m like maaaan ! I fell inlove. I’m like yo man you gotta send me these. And that’s the way our relationship started. I remember I started calling his beats arkward. That and because he’s just naturally arkward and then he gave himself that name.’
Nizer has a certain way about him. He’s funny without sometimes realising it. On doing so he gives off an energy that would uplift the most wayward of souls along with the party of 5 that you came in along with. I wonder sometimes.What’s the real reason so many of us have lost our way to that energy ? Or have we ? Only to be brought back around by a friend who propels us onward. In Nizer’s case this friend may very well have taken the form of music.It’s clear he’s been through so much and his virtuous and vivid experiences are well documented within his sound but he’s not moping about despite the trails of gloom inherited by an absent father and having lost two key strong female figures important to one’s development can be trying.He’s definitely one of the guys you’d want in your circle and he’s proved that. But I want more and so do you so let’s dig in.
Who is Nizer ? What’s a typical day for him ?
‘A philanthropist. I’m about peace love and positivity. I have love to share. I’m about spreading it. I’m keen to learn. I’m a listener. I’m an early morning guy. I follow routines of my idols. Habits. Millionaires and billionaires. How do I get to where they got ? To install descipline and order I follow a schedule. I’m up at 6. I work out. Keeping in shape gets my mind stable. I also do some meditation and after that I read. I’m currently reading Law of Attraction. I’ve read it before but that was like peer pressure but now I’m reading to understand. The previous book I read was 48 Laws Of Power. (1619’s) Gusto, Basso and Dome put me on to say you can learn from this. We don’t only share interests of going out or style. We actually share knowledge, share power and I’m fortunate to have those friends that are focused on life in that way. We talk about generational wealth and it’s those conversations that motivate you. Nipsey (Hussle) said if you look at the people in your circle and you don’t get inspired then you don’t have a circle. You have a cage. Those words stuck with me.The people I have around me inspire me to do better and be better.’
At what point did you decide to rap ?
‘I started listening to hip hop early because of my older brother. At 9 I would recite other rappers but later in the same year I remember my mom bought me a Blackberry and I’d download beats of my favourite songs. It was a Blackberry Curve. Those B.I.S days. The first beat I ever wrote for was Dreams by The Game. I’d been playing Tekken 5 on a PlayStation 2 with my cousin and I downloaded the beat and just kept it on loop. I grabbed a pen and just started to write. I still have my lyric books from primary school and I’m never throwing that away. Those are memories. When my mom passed on I took writing alot more seriously. I was like now I have a story to tell and that was at 13 years old.’
You’ve featured Dome Yahshua and Basso-Relievo on this tape. Tell me about that.
‘First and foremost Dome is my favourite rapper in 1619.I’m a huge fan and I’ve always wanted that Dome flavour. More than most things he’s a phenomenal writer. With Bas (Basso-Relievo) he’s just one of the best rappers.He’s cadence, his flow. It just grabs you. Basso-Relievo is one of the first that pops in my mind when I think about hip hop. I needed that on my project. Gusto makes an appearance too on my song Focused although he’s not credited. That pillar strength. I have my own but they are those extra pillars.’
What’s your stance on unheard talent ?
‘My question is what are you doing to be heard ? Don’t be lazy. Don’t get comfortable. Don’t think you’re the shit because your homies tell you that. A couple of friends at school said so or because Kurt told you you’re the shit. Don’t be full of yourself. Work hard.Thinking and doing are two different things. Keep working. Keep stacking up that work so that you grow everyday. Dedication, hard work and patience. Stay consistent.’
What do you want people to absorb from this project ?
‘More than most things I just want you to get to know who I am. Know who Nizer is.How does Nizer think ? Where does Nizer come from ? Where does Nizer want to go ? What can I expect from Nizer ? I want people to listen to this project and want more.I feel like although it’s complete its really not.’
A few days prior to meeting up with Nizer I bumped into X, the President of 1619 Records and asked him about his youngest emcee. ‘I could say he’s like a collective of who 1619 is from a younger perspective.He has that Basso in him.He has Gusto and he worked on this for a long time. He hasn’t done alot yet. This is his milestone. Dude dropped a 6 track project and I just want to see him on his path. He’s been through alot. I just want to see him as an overall artist.Homie is ready for it.’
We sometimes forget the relevance and importance of this globally recognised musical genre called hip hop amongst today’s iced out rappers dripped in brands most have trouble pronouncing, cars more than most can afford and grandiose videos shot in mansions , clubs and exotic locations with lyrics promoting everything from crypto currencies to alcoholic beverages.We still are not to lose sight of it’s essence. The individual presence behind the mic. His or her words thoughtfully processed laboured and structured brought forward. Reaped from within to lay bare. It’s here where the collective of artists under 1619 Records remain rooted. They say hip hop’s a youngsters game but why not also have it admired on offering relatable content. The kind you can see your grandfolks bopping their heads to and rhyming along with. Isn’t that the definition of classic ? Oh happy day to when that becomes its next trajectory. But hell yeah ! Lets get it in ! I mean who wouldn’t want the kind of financial freedom we see displayed in rap’s current climate as a multi billion revenue stream. My impressions of 1619 are that they aren’t to be considered an underground movement if there’s even such a thing in today’s digital world. At best they’re all Forest Gumps networking on being real, approachable and being relatable. They’re not too dissimilar from Gump’s journey hurdling along life’s lessons. But yes.Money… One less thing right ?
Chapter 1 : King is out now !
Follow : @futurekingnizer
Check out FUTUREKINGNIZER on #SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/WaqcA
Producers aw.kw.rd and Alto : @aw.kw.rd @altothaproducer
Featured @1619.records artists : @bassorelievo1619 @domeyahshua @officialgustolvk
Follow : @goreallermusic
Follow me : @kurtadonis1
Thank you for the music 