Today on the podcast we are featuring the Los Angeles-based artist NEMSIS. Learn more about her and listen to her track “INNOV8!.”
Show Notes and Transcript
Just popping in to give you a heads up. This podcast contains paid promotional content. That means we were compensated for the feature. All opinions are our own and we only choose to represent music that we truly dig. Now on with the show.
Hey everyone welcome to the Eat Sleep Breathe Music podcast. I am your host Jeanette Kimszal. For those of you just joining us, this is the podcast where I talk about different musicians and how their music affects me and then play a track for you to listen to.
So you can check it out and form your own opinion as well. And I’d love to know what you think of the track if you’re so inclined. And I’ll have details where you can tell me if you want to share your opinion at the end of this show.
Today I am chatting about the Hip Hop/R&B artist NEMESIS.
The Los Angeles-born emcee was named for her indomitable ability to slay contenders in early 2000’s battles and sessions on the schoolyard.
As an unconquerable opponent, the stage name NEMESIS was taken from her cunning musical ability to outwit and outbattle her adversaries.
She is also known as one half of the California hip hop duo Pure Order which also features emcee God’s Gift.
Together according to their Bandcamp page their music will “enliven and refresh the lyrical hip hop arena with the raw and intelligence that reigned in hip hop’s Golden Era.”
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Golden Erra of hip hop. This is the name given to mainstream hop hop music made in the mid-1980s to early-mid 1990s.
It was an outgrowth of the new school hip hop.
And I was curious about the new school of hip hop and how it differed from other timeframes so I did a little research on the topic.
According to Wikipedia new school hip hop ran from 1983 to 84 and was made up of music from artists Run DMC, and LL Cool J.
It featured drum machine-led minimalism with some rock elements tinged in. It has rapping taunts, boasts, and socio-political commentary delivered in an aggressive, self-assertive style.
It was tough, cool, and differed from the funk and disco, novelty hits, live bands, synthesizers, and party rhymes of artists prevalent in the early 1980s. These things were looked at as outdated and “old school.”
The songs of this era were also shorter and more likely to fit into radio time slots. By 1986 hip hop became a part of the mainstream music scene.
The golden age came out of the new school and was made up of artists like Public Enemy, KRS-One and his Boogie Down Productions, Eric B. & Rakim, Ultramagnetic MCs, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and the Jungle Brothers and many other artists came out of this era.
Their music was experimental and had themes of Afrocentricity and political militancy. It also featured an eclectic array of sampling
The innovations of this golden or “mid-school” era of music also had a large influence on the development and eventual mainstream success of hip hop.
So this era of music has quite an impact even on artists making music today.
It also seems that NEMESIS’ music falls into this category of golden hip hop. It also has elements of the R&B and soul genres.
To me, NEMESIS specializes in these head-bopping beats that bring you positivity and a higher plane of existence. These themes seem what is falling in line with the Golden era as well.
And also just looking at their Bandcamp page there is that mention of golden hip hop.
According to her bio NEMESIS’ aim is to entertain and uplift the hip-hop culture creatively.
She wanted to find the disparity between ideals that founded hip hop and the pop hip hop that degraded those ideals.
The best thing about music is that it means so much to different people. It is one thing to make something that is fun to listen to but it’s always amazing when someone can make something that is meaningful and also very ear-pleasing.
That is how I felt with this track.
The thing that I think really got to me was that it took me back to the early 90s when I was younger. I remember my sister was very into hip hop and I think it was because it was very popular at the time.
It wasn’t until grunge didn’t kick in yet and we were always listening to hip hop and R&B centric. I really do recall that time period.
Now I’m not a rap expert. As I say normally, I’m no music expert. I just like to share things that catch my ear or give me enjoyment and excite me and this is one of those tracks.
And I feel with this track she really has created something special.
According to NEMESIS the aim of her music is to go back to that golden era and make music that digs into the ideals that founded hip hop. All the while throwing out what may be diluted or maybe kind of clouded the whole center of hip hop.
You know she is also…she is also making something that is very entertaining and very valuable for the listener.
And with this track, I would say that she has definitely done that. Everyone listens to music differently and if you’re someone who is looking for an ear-pleasing
Sometimes I hate talking about music because I feel like it’s arbitrary and who really cares what I think about it? Music is so subjective but I feel like there are artists to promote and I like to say things that make me happy about their music.
Listening to this brought a smile to my face. Mostly for the music itself. It opens with those early 90’s hip-hop beats. And it’s that 90’s vibe that I really love.
This golden era of hip hop will surround you like a warm blanket and keep you happy. The song’s initial boom-bap beats will transport you back in time.
At least it did for me.
The fact that the 90s are so prevalent now in culture and clothing It’s not surprising that the music is getting a reboot.
I always think it’s cool when new music sounds like old music.
I am one not to listen to the lyrics at times. I think this makes me kind of a shallow music reviewer.
When I tried to dive deeper into the lyrics I did find something that would appeal to people who are looking for some meaningful lyrics.
NEMESIS is a witty and cunning lyricist. She is speedy and fastidious but never misses a beat.
She drops a lot of knowledge on the listener with her slick and witty rhymes.
The song offers a nice sentiment for the listener. Taking it all in can help to move you to a higher level mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. You know it can kind of help you get to a better place.
All the while dropping some major knowledge with catchy sounds and meaningful lyrics.
The whole concept of innovation basically means to kind of introduce new ideas and methods to ourselves so you know so our brain can expand and our mind can expand.
It reminds me of that NBC commercial that goes “the more you know.” Then it goes do, do do. Or whatever, and like
The themes of this track captivate that whole ideal and make you feel uplifted as you listen to the hypnotic beats.
There is an alluring appeal to the track that will make you feel uplifted and start chanting along with the hypnotic chorus: “Thoughts plus beats equals INNOV8! and Grow!”
It’s just so refreshing and fun. It’s a detour from what you may have heard before.
While a high-voltage rip-roaring party track can make you feel good. It’s nice to have music that is also purposeful and driven with an intent to question and cultivate the mind.
If you’re wondering how NEMESIS sounds her style has been compared to artists like Rakim, Nas, Lauryn Hill, Rhapsody, Wu-Tang Clan, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and MC Lyte.
This is the 3rd single from NEMESIS it is out now and her earlier tracks “Nefertiti the First” and “Tigress” charted #1 and #2 respectively on RapAttackLives.com college radio hip hop chart.
Additionally, she has been getting love from the blogosphere with many raving reviews and features online. She has been written up in the following outlets:
Living Life Fearless, NOHO Artist District.com, Insomniac Magazine, Tinnist, The Mouth Soap, YourEDM, and Raised by Cassettes. I love that name. I think it’s a really great name for a music blog.
I will leave links to these in the show notes in case you want to read more about what others had to say about NEMESIS.
Her other music is now available to stream now on Spotify, Amazon, and other streaming services (I can leave a link in the show notes)
But with that being said I think I’ve exhausted myself and you so without further ado here is “INNOV8!” by NEMESIS.
We would love to know what you think about NEMESIS and her track “INNOV8.” You can tell us in a comment on the podcast webpage. You can also leave an audio comment at the link in the episode summary.
For more information on NEMESIS check out her official website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
If you want to follow her on Instagram she is at the handle NEMESIS.PureOrder. That is N-E-M-E-S-I-S DOT P-U-R-E-O-R-D-E-R
Her Facebook handle is NEMESIS-101882012487862. That is N-E-M-E-S-I-S dash 1-0-1-8-8-2-0-1-2-4-8-7-8-6-2
On Twitter, she can be found at the handle NEMESIS_PO3. That is N-E-M-E-S-I-S UNDERSCORE P-O-3
The band just released some new merch on their Bandcamp page as well. I can leave a link to it in the show notes if you want to check it out.
If you are looking for more new music be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you will get the latest updates on our artist features. You can also find more music features on our website at www.EatSleepBreatheMusic.com. That is E-a-t-S-l-e-e-p-B-r-e-a-t-h-e-M-u-s-i-c dot com.
Thanks for listening and see you in the next episode!
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