'The Search' is Over, NF will be the Next King of Rap Flow

NF (left) is the next in the long line of Eminem (right) rap "descendants," but does he have something that separates him from all the rest? Photo Credit: Medium

EVER SINCE... I was a young'n Eminem was the King of Flow in the rap game. He became a Rap God truly, even if the title was self-proclaimed by a ridiculously filthy freestyle, because his influence changed the world of rap forever (something only Gods can do). White rappers barely existed before Em (I know there was the old school generation but they didn't shatter the game like Em did), and after him they were a dime a dozen (in a rap mecca like Yonkers NY where I grew up it felt like at least 25% of the guys I knew had dreams of a career in music, and over 50% tried rapping at some point in their lives). Every kid with a Caucasian skin color and an appreciation for this type of music wanted to be like him, even if Marshall's message was a consistent warning to do the opposite. He lived a hard life and escaped it through his artistic outlet, a key that is at the core of many of the greatest rappers of all time back to NWA or Pac or whoever you want to name. Rappers don't usually rap because they lived a spoiled childhood, at least not the legendary ones, they rap as a release and release comes from struggle.

EVER SINCE... Eminem broke out, people have been looking for his eventual replacement. That's just the way things go in life, people always look to the next thing instead of taking enough time to enjoy the present... "who's the new Eminem?"... "who will take over the rap throne?"... "who's the best white rapper alive?"... etc (and that's just about this topic). I've heard fans compare countless white rappers to Eminem, all because of skin color. Every white rapper is always the next Marshall Mathers, even if the shoe doesn't fit. The shadow of the lyrical legend has made it tough for other white rappers to gain their own identity, even if he paved the way for them. I've heard all these artists compared to Eminem at some point in my life: Yelawolf, MGK (before the beef), Chris Webby, Logic, G-Eazy, Mike Stud, Mac Miller (RIP... and his style was his own more than most), M. Shinoda, Sam Adams, Lil Dickey, Cal Shapiro, Hoodie Allen, Huey Mack, T. Mills, Asher Roth, Tom MacDonald, Witt Lowry, Jon Clash & Robb Twizz (these last two represent the pride of Yonkers), and more that I'm probably forgetting. The truth is, most of these rappers have made an extremely different style of music from Eminem, but he always draws the immediate comparison anyway. People love to discuss and debate these topics, in truth because everyone wants their opinion to be heard (I'm right there at the top of that list, I know, it's partly why I love doing this blog), but people also want to have their personal part in discovering the next big hit, whether it's a musician or a film or a fashion fad. People need to predict what will happen in sports and politics and tv shows. It's human nature I suppose, but music more than anything inspires prophetic talk and loyalty to underground artists you find and 'come up with.' I used to be so proud that I listened to J. Cole when he was writing 'The Warm Up' and rapping 'The Come Up,' or Timeflies Tuesday when they made YouTube videos of Cal freestyling out of a baseball caps. Hell, I still am proud. The last few years though, I've been all about a new artist who's begun to break out. Not gonna lie, I didn't start following NF, Nathan Feuerstein, until his single 'Let You Down' topped the charts on the radio. I was not with him at the very beginning... that's okay though! Admitting it is the first step and the second is the step on the bandwagon.

EVER SINCE... NF was a young'n he was influenced by Em. Most white rappers were, so this isn't breaking news, but NF has stated that sometimes Marshall was all he listened to, shunning everything else. I'm assuming when I say this, and assumptions should never find their way into a story, but maybe this unquestioned loyalty and mentoring was a product of Nathan's hometown. Gladwin, Michigan (NF's birthplace) is less than 175 miles North of Detroit (the city Eminem always called home), and with his own problems growing up in a time period where Em was the role model for young white youths all around America, Detroit probably seemed even closer than that. The basic facts NF has revealed about his childhood in either his lyrics or interviews aren't glowing. His parents were divorced (which he references frequently in his music), he was abused by a step-boyfriend that dated his mother, his biological father had to fight to get him back and raise him, and his mother eventually passed away because of an overdose (the hit song 'How Could You Leave Us' off the album 'Therapy Session' is dedicated to her). NF doesn't shy away from these tragic moments or personal stories about his life, he uses them as an arsenal for an often jaw-dropping lyrical and flow-stopping display... sound familiar?

EVER SINCE... the moment I first heard NF I new he was special. If you know music, and I like to think I do because I used to study, live, breath, and do it... you can tell the talent from the dreamers. I had the ability to tell myself I was the latter. That takes brutal honesty and self-awareness by the way, but true rap by real artists never left my heart, even though the game probably has less true artists now than ever before. I could go off on a tangent about the recent ruin of rap as an art form, but I'll stop myself before a pop a blood vessel. The truth is I started to drift away from the genre the last few years, listening only to a select few artists like Cole, Drake, MGK, Mac, and a handful of others, but rappers like NF, Logic, Timeflies, and Joyner have brought me back with a smirk on my face... this article is about Nathan however. I finally got a chance to listen to his latest release this morning in its entirety, 'The Search,' and I was not disappointed, in fact I was about as impressed as I've ever been with an entire album. This collection of tracks was so phenomenal that I had to start writing this article before I even finished the last couple songs. There is no SKIP on this album, not one single song that shouldn't be in your library if you appreciate real music that provides more goosebumps and deep thoughts than punchlines and catchy hooks. The crazy part about NF though is that he has that Em storyteller flow in him. He has the raw ability to write a life-changing story and message into his song and still turn it into one of the best tracks you've heard in the last decade. In his earlier albums, these perfectly balanced songs were mixed throughout, but lately each release progresses and NF has seemed to grow at an accelerated rate compared to most. I find myself downloading more and more as he transforms into what he was born to be. For 'The Search,' I downloaded the entire 19 tracks (Time has a duplicate track), and there wasn't one song I even debated whether or not to add. For a point of reference, I'm very picky with downloads on my Spotify. Most albums I listen to will find it tough to get past the 50% threshold in downloads, the best ones are usually sitting around 75-80%. 100% is near impossible. Some of my favorites include: Time, The Search, When I Grow Up, Leave Me Alone, WHY, No Excuses, Like This, Options, Hate Myself, Returns, and Trauma (but like I said, the whole thing is straight fire).

EVER SINCE... I rapped myself, I grew an appreciation for the subtleties that make every rapper different. NF is not the next Eminem. For starters, he is a self-proclaimed Christian who no longer curses in any of his music (and supposedly he apologizes at most concerts to the fans who heard his earlier, "angrier," lyrics that cursed early and often with no restraint). I respect the _____ out of this. While most artists are talking about money, disrespecting women, lavish living, and competing for who can curse the most in a 4 minute span, NF now stands defiantly against this in an attempt to better himself and any children that may look to him as an idol. We need more of this leadership. He doesn't make party music or radio hits, at least not yet... Eminem eventually got into some of that later on. The voice is similar sometimes, but completely different others, it is his own, and he deserves that respect of being unique like all top rappers do. The main reason NF is not the next Eminem is simple though (and NF would probably be the first to admit this), no one can ever be the next Eminem. It will never happen. There will never be another one like him. That is what it means to be iconic. This article isn't meant to say NF is the next Eminem, I want to be clear about that... but eventually Marshall will pass his torch. This is the torch for white rappers of course, but it's also the torch for lyrical genius, effortless flow, silky-smooth delivery, and prophetic content based on truth and honesty. It's the torch for the rap worshipers and the rap icons alike. Drake may be the King of the Game right now (with the most hits and fans, the more commercial crown)... and Cole may be the King of Lyrical Ability (Young Simba constructs an album better than any man alive in music as Nas' true heir)... but I am now convinced that NF will be the next King of Flow, Eminem's former mantle. Let the debate begin!