Interview with N.A.N. (A.D. The General and Gifted)

We want to congratulate N.A.N. (A.D. The General and Gifted) for their Underground Music Awards 2010 nomination for Best Rap Duo. A.D. is a contributing writer for BirthplaceMag.com, and pens interviews with up and coming, as well as established artists in the New York City scene. Additionally, since 2004, A.D. has been running the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program, an ongoing music showcase series, dedicated to providing performers a place to demonstrate their talents, and have the media take notice. We are happy to be a sponsor of the EHMP and encourage New York City-area artists to explore the possibilities of performing at A.D.’s events.

The following is an interview with A.D. The General and Gifted, penned by N.A.B. affiliate Ms. FeFe, herself a member of the EHMP staff and an MC herself.

Please tell the world who N.A.N. is?

N.A.N.: N.A.N is a way of life. We believe in the concept of “NOTTHING”. Everything you want to achieve in life, is NOTTHING. Create your game plan, and attack life head on. It’s NOTTHING. We also believe we were born with NOTTHING and we will die with NOTTHING. So we are Notthing Ass N.eutral I.ntelligent G.s G.athering A.spiring Z.tars.

How long has N.A.N. been in existence?

N.A.N.: Since 2003, 2004.

You guys are a male/female rap duo. How do you feel it benefits or takes away from your music?

N.A.N.: We don’t feel it takes away at all from our music. It actually brings balance to our music. We are able to share two sides of the story. Along with our combined passion and desire to share the truth with our peers and youth alike all over the world, it’s the strength of two strong MCs combined. One man, one woman. No gimmicks, just real music.

N.A.N was nominated for a UMA in 2009 for The Most Original Rap Group/Duo and has been nominated in 2010 again for Best Rap Duo. A.D. The General recently won Rap Artist of the Year at The Tastemakers Awards and has been nominated for a Positive Imagine Award. Gifted recently won Freestyle Cipher of the Year at The Tastemakers Awards. How do you feel about the nominations, the triumphs and the failures?

N.A.N.: Thank you. It feels good to be recognized and nominated, period. We were glad to be in the Most Original Group category in 2009 and we are really excited about our recent nomination as Best Rap Duo. We hope to bring that award home to Brooklyn and share it with our N.A.N./N.A.B team. We are one of the first female/male rap duos in New York. Now as far as the other accolades that we have won previously, we are extremely grateful. We don’t look at not winning an award as a failure. We look at our message, our movement not growing and reaching the masses, as a failure. We look at being nominated for any award of substance as an honor. Being able to live our dream every day is a triumph.

Are there any other male/female rap duos you know of? If so, how do you two differentiate yourselves from the average duo?

N.A.N.: REBELL STAR, we really like them, they have a great attitude about music and life. There is never any animosity between us. As far as differentiating ourselves from the average duo, the average duo is a gimmick. Manufactured by a label or some marketing executive. N.A.N has had to deal with life and death situations to continue to be N.A.N. Our music speaks for itself, our grind speaks for itself, and our stage performance speaks for itself, so there’s not much to worry about, except making great music for the world to enjoy. At the end of the day that’s N.A.N’s goal.

A.D., I know you also have The Elegant Hoodness Musical Program, going on 6 years strong. What is your most memorable moment at Elegant Hoodness?

N.A.N.: Yes, wow so many memories. Every Elegant Hoodness is a memorable experience. One of the most memorable though was in 2006. We managed to have over 500 hundred people come together peacefully. Gifted and I took over a local school yard in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. We build a stage out of scrap wood, borrowed electricity from the cousin down the block. Ran the electricity down a hundred foot extension cord for the DJ and we had a concert. We rocked till midnight. No police involved. Shouts to Boe Skagz, Agallah Bishop, The A- Alikes, Def Jam and all who held me down that day.

I know you went to Miami as well. Do you plan on hitting any other states this year to brand your Elegant Hoodness name?

N.A.N.: Yes of course, we opened the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program at The Safe House in Orange NJ May  of this years, and are planning grand openings for Philadelphia, Pa., in July, Atlanta, Ga., in August and Missouri in September. We will also be returning to Miami in September.

You’ve got the Street Album Miller Time circulating in the streets right now. What else are you guys working on? Will there be solo projects as well?

N.A.N.: Correct, Miller Time is currently out. Over 5,000 sales, 1,000 giveaways and 6,000 downloads thus far. There are 14 original tracks on Miller Time and six industry instrumentals. We are finishing up another street album and the official N.A.N album, Failure To Quit as well. Solo projects, yes for both of us. We looking at a double album.

What is the goal for N.A.N.?

N.A.N.: The goal is to finish what we started, to work hard, enjoy life and to travel the world, spreading our definition of “Nothing.”

Anything else you would like to say?

N.A.N.: Yes, we want to thank team N.A.N. & N.A.B. for holding N.A.N down, all the haters for keeping N.A.N relevant in the streets and the supporters which we represent. Hope you voted N.A.N “You’ve Tried Everything, Now Try Nothing!” http://bit.ly/votefornan. Change gone come! www.facebook.com/adthegeneral and for info or booking, call 718-415-6610.