Nice da Doughboy
Interview by Black Dog Bone
Is there a lot of Rap music happening in the Quad-Cities?
The Quad-Cities has gotten a lot bigger, both sides of the waters. It’s a lotta up and coming artists. Basically I’m just tryin to open a few doors and let them dudes kick it in. It’s a real hot area right now..
Is most of the Rap coming from Moline, Rock Island, Davenport or Bette
ndorf?
It’s hot artists in Davenport, it’s hot artists in Rock Island, some hot artists in East Moline. I’m not sure about Bettendorf. Everywhere else is pretty much crackin. I’m bumpin into a lotta guys who’ve got skills. And they hungry, ready to get on.
Where do you fit in? I fit in at the top, man. It’s like with anything, if you don’t feel like you the best then you shouldn’t be doin it. I’m CEO of Nice World Entertainment and lead artist for N.W.E and the I-80 G's which include I-Balllz and Kaotic.
Have you been doing music for a long time?
I’ve been rappin seriously since about 2001. I started off in another group, Moblife. Big ups to Mr. Savage, TNT, Dub D and Cole. But we parted ways, decided to do other things. It’s all good. We had some success. Did tracks with a lotta major artists. Big shot outs to my people, they gave me a taste of this industry and I haven’t looked back since! Now it’s about NWE NDD and Kuddy Da Kreator and taking this Midwest movement globally. with production by Da Legendary Beat Freaks, Kwame, Bosko. NDD upcoming projects will be felt all across the map!
When you had Moblife, what city were you based in?
The lead guy was from Chicago, everybody else was pretty much from Iowa. We branched out and did shit in other places, but the main base was the Quad Cities.
What kind of sound did you have? Like a West Coast sound or an East Coast or Midwest?
Midwest. The sound that we have now, this NWE and the Legendary Beat Freaks sound is definitely like no other. The tracks that we puttin out is one of a kind. The people will find out sooner than later.
Do the beats have a club feel or a dark grimy feel? How would you describe them?
I’ll let my producer answer that. He’s right here.
Kuddy: We’re doin all typa stuff. You gonna hear a little R & B mixed with a little Hip Hop. I might sample anything that I hear. I don’t limit myself to one type of music.
Are the beats more skeletal or a more heavy sound?
Kuddy: I put a lot of melodies. I’m bringin more of a musical side along with that bounce, along with that kick and the 808. I’m giving a little bit more. I’m letting the tracks speak to you.
As far as the lyrics, what are you rapping about?
Lyrically, murdering. But, we’ve got stories. Me personally, I’ve got a lot of Midwest flavor with a Down South swag. My people’s all from Down South. I’ve been a lotta places. When you’ve been around people for a certain amount of time, you pick up things. I’ve been in a lotta places, so I’ve picked up different slang. I fit in in every hood, just like pit bulls. I definitely can hold my own, but I’m always gonna keep it street, keep it hood. That’s what I know. I rap about getting money. Or I wouldn’t be Da Doughboy. It’s how we live. I speak real shit. When you keep it real everybody can feel you. What I have learned from being a lotta different places is everywhere people is doin the same shit.
You lived in different parts of the country?
I done lived in Chicago. I lived in Arkansas. I lived in North Carolina. I lived in Florida. I’m in 50 states. Big shouts out to Duval County, Jacksonville. Big shouts out to Cook County, Chi-Town. My folks out there. I’m a lotta places. Texas. We everywhere. I was the same dude you probably didn’t know sittin next to you at the Super Bowl. At the All-stars game, that’s the same dude right there.
I used to live in downtown Davenport. I could see the Mississippi River, the bridge and everything from my back window.
I can’t believe it!
I could send you a photo of me in Davenport.
Photoshop is a muthafucka nowadays! I’m just fuckin with you. But you know 2012 NWE, we plan on makin our name stick. Kuddy Da Kreator’s gonna be one of the most influential producers out here. I’ve got tracks from Bosko and a lotta other people. I fuck with my mans because he’s like my left brain. It’s like a Dre and Snoop thing over here.
Do you have product out or are you working on something?
My previous album "Da Doughstorm” is out now, online distributed by Island Def Jam on Itunes. Just google Nice Da Doughboy. This new album we workin on that we just dropped the single for, that’s gonna be out here in a second. I’ve got mixtapes and all typa shit. I got music. Comin in 2012 I’ve got projects with CTE, Twista, Cashis and Jeremiah. NDD the self proclaimed "King of Iowa" will be a household name.
I remember there used to be a record store called Co-op?
They still got Co-op. Co-op’s still crackin. They still support local artists. Big shots to them.
You’ve been working with Kuddy Da Kreator for a long time? How did you meet?
It’s like the first time peanut butter met jelly. We came together and made it a sandwich. It’s been like that. We’re just now making this big push for Quad-Cities. Everybody gonna know Da Doughboy, NWE, Kuddy Da Kreator.
You could be the first one to blow up out of the Quad-Cities.
It’s a few rappers out here that’s representing that need to get more attention than they get. They know who they are. My whole thing is this: everybody gotta keep strivin. I’m still strivin. A lotta people don’t wanna put in the work. They just want the glory.
Are there places where local artists can perform out there?
I’ma tell you, I took about 45 days off and opened up a coffee shop. That was a good business deal for me, so I did that. Now that I’m officially back rappin, I’m settin up shows, I’m settin up concerts and all typa stuff. Getting ready to rock out this last quarter. These singles is hittin for the last quarter. Then next year we’re ready to take over everything.
Where is you coffee shop?
It’s in Moline, Illinois. Southpark Mall.
What plans do you have for 2012?
Next year we’re gonna hit you with the “Epinal” album. We’ll hit you with the mixtape. We hit you with the DVD “Groove Wit Me”. That’s out now, you can get that online. It’s gonna be like a three part movie, sorta like “Trapped In The Closet”, 1930’s gangsta feel to it with the flapper dresses and everything. Got a few projects comin up. Definitely more and more collabo’s. It’s all comin along.
What type of music are people listening to in the Quad-Cities?
They listen whatever’s hot right now. You got a lotta people listening to South Rap. You’ll get a lotta Gucci Mane fans up here, a lotta Jeezy fans. Right now it’s definitely a lotta Southern Rap. Tech N9ne is hot. The Midwest loves the Midwest. Of course we bump the West Coast—Spice 1, C-Bo, Brotha Lynch, D-Shot. We was in Sac Town with those dudes.
Your main focus is on Da Doughboy at this time?
Right now, and the Legendary Beat Freaks. NWE, Nice World Entertainment. Don’t sleep on the Da Doughboy! We here and we ain’t goin no where. Final Shot outs!! To My Qc Artist that are patiently waiting to blow We are all one! Cribbs,Ty Cutta and the whole Creative Factory, Chief Big & the whole Blackfist family, my dude Kuz and A-1 Yola of Avenue Entertainment, Pif Entertainment, Nom Ent. Keep striving, we here now! To my fallen soldiers—y’all tatted in the back of my mind. My nigga Loc, Big PiP, Baby G, Lil Scud, Cujo, Kaotic. I’m out here fo y’all, ya feel me? Last but not least, my fans that have believed in yo boy from the start. They will know why soon. And thanks to Murder Dog. This is the beginning of big thangs! Nice Da Doughboy outta here!!
