Who is NASTY? Where are you from?

Well my government name is... my GOVERNMENT name. LOL. Nah, Branden Jones, and I am from a lot of places by the nature of my military-life upbringing. I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada; lived several places in and out of the U.S.; went to high school (graduated) in Shreveport, Louisiana; went to college in New Orleans, Louisiana; and spent the larger part of my adult years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Arlington, Texas. New Orleans (Dillard University) is where my endeavors in music started.

What makes you different from other emcees?

I pride myself on simply being me--- not hiding or holding back any part of who I AM--- hence, the reason I use the name "BE!" I don't have to create a persona of being hard or a thug or anything like that. And that's no shade to those who portray that. But I know the authority and power I carry. And I'm a very broad soul, where I AM very spiritual, laid back, serious, and intuitive, but also very loud, engaging, friendly, comedic, and silly. I really do not think I can be defined by anything other than I AM... and so I BE!

Why is there a distinguishing between BE!NASTY! & Nasty On The Beats???

Well, obviously I AM the same guy. But I've been doing this since college. I like to keep a separation between the two operations--- producing and emceeing--- because as an emcee, I also work with other producers, and as a producer, other emcees, rappers, artists.

Why did you leave music and rapping when you did?

Well, make no mistake, I love God and I AM very in tune with ministering to others to the saving of the soul. Me leaving music was the result of a struggle of trying to identify how to meld both ministry and music together. But I had some very legalistic and overbearing attributes that had to be rid of. So it wasn't necessarily God removing me from music, but me needing to "be" removed because of what had to be sorted out in order to do it FREELY while still growing and maintaining my ministerial posture IN HIM. Honestly, I don't know if I would have appreciated music as much as I do now without the process I went through. My soul is enriched along with my spirit. There's a greater sense of WHOLENESS AND CONFIDENCE that I AM experiencing now. And it is reflected in my music.

Why "the prophetic and nasty emcee" as opposed to "the prophet"? What's that about?

I grew up Christian. And still maintain my Christian faith, which is more focused on The Kingdom of God than it is "church". That being said, I AM filled with The Holy Spirit and operate heavy in prophecy and prophetic mystery, ministry, and operation. Yeah, it's deep over here. So, it's really letting people know that while I AM A PROPHET, I'm also an emcee. So you'll be getting both. I think one of the things that many "Christian rap artists" suffer from is the stronghold of not feeling like they have the liberty to truly emcee without being "religious" about it. I know Yeshua saved me. And my faith is reflected in the liberty I possess, preach about, and enjoy. So I AM BOTH a prophet AND an emcee with a very favorable blend expressed in my music. And the "nasty" part... well, I just happen to appreciate SEXUALITY as God intended. Some of these squeamish and prude  religious folk just gotta deal with the fact that I love God AND fucking... and openly making that known.

How did you get into rapping? 

It was really the result of loving Hip Hop music in general. I used to recite a lot Wu-Tang, Biggie, Blackmoon, and Nas lyrics in high school. And I would get real animated with it. So the personality and charisma was showing itself already. When I got to college, I met up with some guys (Lyrikill) who were rapping and freestyling, and I got inspired by that. Watching a live show with Common and The Roots (in March 1999) sealed the deal. I literally pointed at Black Thought and said to God "I wanna do THAT!"

Who are your influences on the mic?

Too many to name, because almost everyone (in and out of music) I try to get inspiration just for the craft of it. But without being too deep (lol), Black Thought, Redman, KRS-One, Rakim, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Lyrikill, Nas, Biggie, Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah, MOP, Little Brother, Aesop Rock, Casual, Planet Asia, Elzhi, Brother Ali, Skyzoo, Rapsody, Midaz The Beast. But there's so many more. I love those who take the art of emceeing seriously, and do what they do. And believe it or not, a lot of my emceeing is inspired by R&B/ Soul singers--- Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder.

What are you working on now that people should take note of?

Originally the target project was (and still is) "The Checkmate of The Great American Tragedy & #IAMWHOEVERTHEFUCKISAYIAM". (yeah, long title, but that's what it is.) It's about 23 tracks long, and it's really a project that developed in the early stages of my return to production. Well, I'm NINE recorded albums in... and counting... and several production albums in as well, and it still is not completed. But it really is something that I want to complete. What's cool is, I've developed so much as an artist over the last 2 1/2 years, so the project have much more depth than when it started. 

Of the nine albums I've recorded already each one has  something different that I'm offering. But my favorite is probably "45."  And it's probably because of not only the depth of my pen game, but while Lyrikill wanted the beats for Congriss album to be loops, I wasn't able to get there at the time. But making some loops for him a few months later, I actually got THREE different projects out of them--- "45," "Never Afraid To Fail (Lyrikill)", and "90 Angle". And "45" came out so awesome, with the beats style, the theme, and a birthday release.  

What are the main take-aways from your music for the audience?

I just want people to have fun and be intrigued by what comes out of my mouth, while also enjoying the beats underneath the rhyme. The prophet in me wants them to know about the LIBERTY God is offering us, despite it being frustrated by religious people are this janky-assed government. But I speak boldly so that hope will spark in them to ignite a continual flame of growth in that understanding.

Where can people access your music and/or reach you?

All of my music is accessible on BANDCAMP: www.nastyonthebeats.bandcamp.com

Email: nastyonthebeats@gmail.com

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/nastyonthebeats

https://www.instagram.com/nastyonthebeats/
https://www.youtube.com/@NastyOnTheBeats https://www.tiktok.com/@nastyonthebeats