Tracks like “Son of Vincenzo” and “Tell The Truth” are sure to be songs of the summer and each track was produced to be performed. In this chapter of life, Nyck is letting go of control a bit and letting himself be free to just create and you can definitely hear that in this EP.
In this exclusive interview with office, Nyck Caution talks about the process of creating, his favorite up and coming artists, and his future plans. Check it out below!
Tell me about “Friend Of The Family.”
So the album I did with an amazing producer, Charlie Heat, he produced on my last album, Anywhere But Here. He did the song me and Denzel Curry. Then after we came out with that, we were just talking, he sent me a bunch of beats, and I did a few of them right away. And then it just organically became like this group project. We already had three, four songs. So we made ten songs and called it a day.
You’ve come from a collaborative background with Pro Era. How did the development of Friend of the Family progress to becoming a joint project and how does it differ from past projects?
The only other joint full album I did, I was in like, the Pro Era or Beast Coast albums, which is like eight people— no seven people. I did Nyck at Knight with Kurt Knight, who's also a producer, but he's a rapper too. So, he made the beats, we made songs together, this one was just all these from a producer. And he's like, into the Italian theme too, he smokes cigars wear suits. So, that was just the theme of the whole stuff, you know, older, more mature and keeping that as like the theme of all the sounds. And he wasn't here, it would have been probably cooler if he was here. And we did it together. But he would just send stuff then I sent them back. And then I went to LA to like, do all the finishing touches. But it was great. I love working with one producer.
Your debut album “Anywhere But Here” was about your father’s passing and dealing with that, I know that helped a lot dealing with the same thing. When it comes to Friend of the Family how do you want your EP to make people feel?
So this one I would say, like, from before my last album, there was like a big gap between me dropping music. And that was for a bunch of reasons, you know, like labels stuff, other projects coming out. But now this is like a year removed from my last one. This one I just wanted to be more like it's not as like emotional, you know, I'm kind of out of that rut. So it's just like, good music. I think it's good raps, great production. And like somebody could just listen to like, you don't have to think too hard, just a good album.
You've been open about your grieving process. Friend of the Family feels much lighter in comparison to your last few projects, was this writing process kind of different for you especially after taking steps towards healing and taking care of your mental health?
I feel like I put everything into that last one, it was like four or five years worth of trauma. And even with that album, I didn't want it to be a full sad album. Like there were moments when I was reflecting and it would be like, "Would my dad like this song?" because he was involved in the whole process. With this one, I think I have a chip on my shoulder. I feel like I have something to prove or something more to show the world. Because for years, you sit on music, like a lot of rappers are similar to me where you just have so much music and then when it's time to drop something, you pick the best but you have all these other songs that never make it. With this album, I didn't want to overthink it. I trust my writing and my decision making and I just wanted to drop a full-length project that’s all good quality shit, you know? And That also comes with Charlie, having a great producer just makes it way easier because you don't have to overthink the if the beats are good? Does this beat match the sonics of the other be like they're all high-level beats. So just not overthinking it.
You’ve worked with your friend Meech before, went on tour with him, and now you have another song out with him on the EP, what’s the thought process like when you’re writing songs and then thinking about who would be a good feature?
It's tough because like, you go through different, you know, people, certain songs. I'll do a verse and a hook, and I just leave it open. And there are a few names I think of but Meech is one of the main ones. I think he is one of the best rappers of the last decade, at least he's one of my favorites. And there's not much of a process like I'll make the song, I’ll think of who would be good for it and I reach out to them and if it happens, it's great. If not, maybe I'll reach out to someone else. And then if no one is biting, I'll just do a second verse myself, because that happens too.
What do you think is the summer anthem for this project?
Probably "Son of Vincenzo", the one with Meech. I just did that video too so, the video should be out when this comes out. I think it's a really good one and I want to perform that song. I just want to perform again too.