We were lucky to catch up with Nate James recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nate , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve been involved in is my second album, “No Man’s Land.” This project is meaningful because it illustrates a very misunderstood lane in music: artists who are Christian, but don’t want to make “Christian Music.” In my experience, I had several conflicts with those inside the CHH (Christian HipHop) industry that made me lose my respect for that community. However, I knew I would never leave my faith behind, so I was faced with the problem of figuring out that line between Christian and secular music.
And thus, “No Mans Land” was born. In war terminology, this phrase means the section of land which is not controlled by either side. This is where I find myself in the music industry, the No Mans Land. And so, that whole project unpacks this concept and is very meaningful to me as an artist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I come from a very interesting background. Being from a broken home seems more and more common these days, but mine was truly intense. My biological father made life a nightmare most days and nights, and music was one of the only escapes I could find. At that time I had become very fond of Elvis, Stevie Wonder, and Rascal Flatts. I first started writing songs when I was in my early teen years. I had always been a poet, and once I found a love for rap I realized I could use that poetry in the genre itself. I started learning raps and writing my own, which led to my first release in September of 2020. That song saw considerable traction, so I continued. Each song saw more and more love from the fanbase that I knew I had to keep going. I was motivated by how much music had impacted me, knowing I wanted to have that same impact on others.
Since then, I’ve done over 150,000 streams across over 100 countries, and have networked with industry professionals on all levels. I’ve met some of my heroes, and I am nearing the time when I will be able to work with them closely. This year in particular is going to be massive for me.
My listeners can always expect top-level lyricism from me, but I try to remain unpredictable as far as sound and message. Though unpredictable, my quality remains consistent. I have remained an artist who many can relate to, and I look to share that with more people every day.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Honestly there are just too many to choose from. Life has thrown just about everything it can at me. I’ve lost loved ones very close to me unexpectedly, seen my parents split twice, experienced medical problems, struggled with finances, the list goes on and on. However, I am guided by the simple fact that it’s not what happens to you, but how you react that truly matters. I still perform just the same when I’m depressed as when I’m happy. Anyone who allows their life circumstances to dictate their productivity will always be outperformed by those who don’t. That must be what guides you.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

For musicians, the Smart Rapper YouTube channel has been valuable, along with the NDPNDNT Podcast with Nic D. They teach marketing strategies and mentality tips.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/NateJMusic