@NellyNelMB is one of the brightest shining up and comers in the Northern California rap scene. The South Stockton native has been putting on for his city and section for the past year, with a string of strong singles and full length projects. We had the pleasure of presenting his most recent release Lifestyle, a 14-track opus which explores the ways his upbringing and identity as a Crip have impacted his present and future.
I had a chance to chop it up with the the thoughtful artist about the new album. Read it below!
Thizzler: Where are you from? How was your upbringing?
MBNel: South Stockton, CA. Had a lot of ups and downs and trials I had to overcome, but it shaped me to be the person I am today.
T: How did you begin making music?
MN: Started off messing around for fun. I dropped a song on SoundCloud, people heard it [and] started giving me feedback, so I just continued on from there.
T: How did you get your rap name?
MN: It was like how NBA, YFN, YBN, type of shit .I just went by Nel, and threw MB in front. That was it .
T: How would describe your musical style?
MN: Like that new wave shit where it’s a lot of melodizing, but I’m not just mumbling or Cappin’, talking bullshit. Everything I’m saying is true shit I been through, witnessed, or stories from my own friends feel me? Ain’t no sugar-coating.
T: Tell me about Lifestyle.
MN: [It’s] just an album about the lifestyle I chose. The ups, downs, losses, wins, sacrifices. Shit I been through and how it came to be.
T: What inspired the project?
MN: Just fell into place. My songs at that moment all was goin’ the same direction, so I was like let’s just call it Lifestyle.
T: How is it different than Forever?
MN: Forever was my debut project. Forever was just like every hit song I had, put all into one project. So difference with it from Lifestyle, is Lifestyle was actually planned and thought out.
T: How did it get its title?
MN: Like I said, it was just how the life is. I had a song called “Lifestyle” made already, so I thought that’ll be a good name.
T: How has being a Crip effected the way you move in the streets and in music?
MN: Like any other person or Banger; with caution, and for my music, it just gave me a perspective to bring to the audience.
T: What do you want Lifestyle to do for your career?
MN: Hopefully catches people attention. Wake em up and gain some new fans.
T: What message do you want fans to walk away with?
MN: I get a lot of people telling me how I inspire them, and it’s an amazing feeling knowing that people look up to you and you helped someone go through hard times. I just want people to know that no matter how hard shit get, no matter how many losses you took, no matter where you coming from; you can overcome it all.
T: What’s next for MBNel?
MN: Wherever the wind take me. I’ma continue to do music and continue dropping and being consistent. But also but looking into a lot of investing and trying to do my own business shit since God gave me these tools to work with, that doing music gave me.
T: Is there anything else you want to say?
MN: I appreciate every one of the supporters for real for real. Without y’all, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. All I ask is continue to support. I won’t ever switch. And if ya haven’t already, grab that new Lifestyle presented by Thizzler, and I promise new and better shit’s g’on be on the way!
Check out everything from MBNel right here on Thizzler. Get Lifestyle everywhere here. You can follow MBNel on Instagram at @MBNel
