Nat Powers

Nat Powers

Nat Powers in Paris, June 2012
Background information
Birth name Nathaniel Jeffrey
Also known as Mr Powers
Born (1986-06-04) 4 June 1986
Origin Leicester, East Midlands, U.K.
Genres Hip hop, rap, grime, soul, R&B, Motown, Neo soul
Occupation(s) Songwriter, Record producer, Composer, Lyricist, Poet
Instruments Vocals, Drums, Akai MPC, Keyboards, SSL Board
Years active 1999–present
Associated acts Sam Sneed, Spice One, Ghostface Killah, The Pharcyde, Run Dmc, Darryl McDaniels, Newham Generals, Leroy Burgess, Heartless Crew, Death Row Records, Maxi Priest, Professor Green, Danny Boy (singer), Tray Deee, Tha Eastsidaz
Website www.nat-powers.com
Nat Powers Signature

Nat Powers (born Nathaniel Jeffrey on 4 June 1986) is a British song writer, record producer and poet from Leicester who has worked with hip-hop figures such as Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, Spice One and with a majority of the iconic Death Row Records roster. He was mentored by multi-platinum rapper and producer Sam Sneed.[1] He has also been co-mentored by musician Leroy Burgess of the 1970s R&B group Black Ivory, who himself was mentored by Stevie Wonder when he was rising to fame.[2]

Early years

Nathaniel Jeffrey enrolled in a local college course in 2003 and studied Music Technology, going on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Music, Technology and Innovation.[3] During his university studies he began working with orchestras and choirs as a conductor, choir director and film scorer, before going on to establish himself as a record producer.[4]

Doctor's Note

In 2010, he began close a working relationship with the son of Dr. Dre, Curtis Young. Together they created an album, titled 'Doctor's Note' with Young providing the vocals and Powers on the production. The album had a worldwide release in September 2012.[5]

Explosion Incident

On 31 August 2011, Nat Powers and his mother narrowly escaped being killed in an explosion that tore apart a kebab shop. A body was discovered in the wreckage by firefighters, and was later identified as employee Fiaz Ahmed Ansari. Six people – two men and four women were arrested by police shortly after the explosion, and in September 2012 two of the suspects were found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for eight years each.[6] Nat Powers described seeing flame ball shoot out and the metal shutters "flying across the road" to local media in a TV interview, and remarked that to avoid something as devastating as that, "someone was most certainly watching over them".[7]

Career

2012-2013

In late 2012 he began working with British Grime artist D Double E, Maxi Priest and produced more than half of an album for West Coast rapper Spice One. Other collaborations he has made include Yukmouth of Luniz, Three 6 Mafia, CJ Mac, The Manhattans, RBX, Akil the MC of Jurassic 5, Slip Capone, Danny Boy (singer) and Run Dmc.

In February 2013 he produced the official remix of Fire Blaze by British urban group The Rascals, featuring Professor Green, released on EMI/Virgin Records.[8] In the summer of 2013, he began working on new material for Ghostface Killah, as well as a collaboration with Young Dirty Bastard, first born son of the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.[9] During the autumn of 2013, he began extensive work on a full album for The Pharcyde.[10]

After not performing live for over 10 years whilst concentrating on his production career, Powers returned as a performing artist in late 2013, holding a concert in Paris in La Bellevilloise, followed by another at Le Petit-Bain on the Seine river.[11]

2014

In February 2014 Nat Powers announced the release of his debut solo single, titled 'Napoleon Bonaparte'. The single and official video were released on the 25th of March 2014.[12]

After an eight-month break from music, and a two-month visit to Malawi in Africa, Powers returned to his career by producing a new single titled 'Lovely Jubbly' for UK Grime artist D Double E. The song received a worldwide premiere on MistaJam's show on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1xtra on 4 October 2014.[13] On 15 October 2014, the official video for 'Lovely Jubbly' was released by Noisey and Vice (magazine). The video stars D Double E as a cockney mobster turned debt collector, with Powers co-starring as his 'right-hand man' and driver.[14]

2016

On the 26th February 2016, Footsie of the Newham Generals and Giggs (rapper) released their single 'Hot Water' which produced by Powers. The single was released on Footsie's own Braindead Entertainment, and was heavily supported by Radio DJ Charlie Sloth and BBC Radio 1. [15]

Powers began actively working in the South African music industry, starting by working with platinum recording artist Lira (singer) when he produced 'Let Go Sometimes' for her 2016 album 'Born Free'; released on 25th March 2016. [16] He continued his efforts in the South Africa territory by producing controversial single 'The Man' for female rapper Nadia Nakai, released on August 19th 2016 on Independent label Family Tree Entertainment. The single also features the label's CEO and mainstream rapper Cassper Nyovest. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Quinn, Max (November 2012). "Nat Powers Interview". Broken Culture. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  2. ↑ Joseph Squellati (21 October 2013). "Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  3. ↑ Defraitas, Matt (11 October 2012). "Nat-Powers". HipHopFratHouse. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  4. ↑ Blunt, Nick (20 October 2012). "UK Producer Nat Powers". BlatantlyBlunt. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  5. ↑ Miedzielec, Pawel (17 December 2012). "Curtis Young/Nat Powers "Doctor's Note EP" - recenzja". PopKiller. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  6. ↑ BBC News (26 September 2012). "Leicester kebab shop fire pair jailed for manslaughter". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  7. ↑ Leicester Mercury (31 August 2011). "Mother and son speak of kebab shop explosion horror". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
  8. ↑ Amazon.co.uk (3 April 2013). "Fire Blaze (Nat Powers Remix)". Amazon. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  9. ↑ Joseph Squellati (21 October 2013). "Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  10. ↑ Joseph Squellati (21 October 2013). "Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  11. ↑ Samuel Chiwaka (17 February 2014). "Hip Hop Producer Nat Powers to Take Malawian Music to Greater Heights". urbanlifemalawi.com. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  12. ↑ Samuel Chiwaka (17 February 2014). "Hip Hop Producer Nat Powers to Take Malawian Music to Greater Heights". urbanlifemalawi.com. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
  13. ↑ DdoubleE (4 October 2014). "Lovely Jubbly". twitter.com. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  14. ↑ Noisey Staff (15 October 2014). "D DOUBLE E HAS TURNED COCKNEY MOBSTER IN THE VIDEO FOR "LOVELY JUBBLY"". noisey.vice.com/. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  15. ↑ Rod_Author (24 February 2016). "FOOTSIE FT GIGGS – HOT WATER (MUSIC VIDEO) @FOOTSIE LINK UP TV". Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  16. ↑ i-classical (09 April 2016). "LIRA BORN FREE ALBUM INFO, i-classical". Retrieved 2016-11-17. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ↑ Sonia (19 August 2016). "Nadia Nakai feat. Cassper Nyovest – "The Man" (Prod. By Nat Powers)". Retrieved 2016-11-17.
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