Yet another talent arises from the Nasty North; NUE is one the most interesting rappers to come out of the new wave. His music is a mixture of ice-cold production, producers like Sauceboy and Aid are responsible for some of the beats on his recent mixtape Iroquois, and though his music has been described as “bleary-eyed,” it isn’t confused or existential, but rather melodically raps a melancholic party mood.
NUE has the ability to adapt to different types of productions while maintaining the tonal quality of his voice. For example, on “Deadman” produced by TT AUDI 808 MAFIA, NUE speeds up his raps, but doesn’t lose any of the drawling nature of his flow. This fusion of fast and slow, tired but energetic can be compared to ingesting depressants and then wilding out. NUE recently signed to 300 Entertainment, becoming the first Canadian to join the label. Though Iroquois is formulaic, with NUE melodically rapping over new-age beats, his personality bleeds through on tracks like “Freestyle 26.” Despite the fact that NUE’s music revolves around numbing himself, it’s obvious that his narrative finds away to voice itself, even in the face of suppression. NUE is a powerful addition to Toronto Hip-Hop, and I’m excited to see him be a part of the culture.
