In the past few years, Boston bred artist Nat Anglin has released The Bartender (2011), 20 Something (2012) and the critically acclaimed Ways To Go project which was released exclusively through DJBooth.net. Nat’s continued success has landed him some impressive gigs across the country including A3C festival in Atlanta and SXSW in Austin, Texas. Nat now resides in Los Angeles, California and continues to make waves in the Hip-Hop world. With an untitled project in the works and slated for a late Summer / early Fall release, Nat stands poised to make his biggest splash yet. Affiliated with the famed ‘BosAngeles’ crew, a network of Boston transplants that live in Los Angeles, there is no doubt you will be hearing from him soon enough.

How did you come up with the name Nat Anglin?

That's actually my real name. 'Nat' is short for 'Nathaniel'. Originally when I first came up I was known as 'NATural' (you see the wordplay I'm sure) but it wasn't a marketable enough name. Still a good nickname though. I've always hated the way 'Nate' and 'Nathan' sounds so Nat always stuck.

What motivates you to make music?

Life. I think life is full of experience and those experiences are shared through storytelling. I was a film major in college with a focus on screenwriting which was my original passion before rap music. No matter what I've done in life it's always come back to writing and I think I just connected with Hip-Hop culture in a different way. I think the biggest motivation is storytelling and sharing personal experiences. I think everyone has a story and a different view of the world so not only am I inspired by experiences I've had, I am also heavily influenced by those around me and their experiences as well. I always try to bring an original and honest flair to my music and I believe it reflects my life and the way I lead it on a daily basis. I owe a lot of my motivation to the city of Boston of which I hail from.

Who are some of your idols?

Idols is a good one. I feel like usually it's 'who has inspired you' in the past. From a music standpoint I think DJ Premier and the late Guru are absolutely up there as my Hip-Hop idols. Preemo is the best of all time and Guru is from Boston and his voice always manages to put me at ease when I play Gangstarr's music. Aside from music my go to answer would be my father and my grandfather on my mother's side. Historical figures: Michael Collins, John F. Kennedy, Bill Russell, Ted Williams and Martin Luther King Jr.

What were your favorite albums of 2015?

I think To Pimp A Butterfly is the unanimous choice for many reasons. That album is incredible. An opus in many ways. I don't think I'll manage to fully appreciate it until years down the line when I've unpacked it more and more. He's one of my favorite artists right now. Cousin Stizz Suffolk County was up there. He’s from Boston, I think he had one of the better produced albums of the year and I think he's poised for a breakout in 2016. Dutch ReBelle's Kiss Kiss EP was phenomenal too as well as Brandontory’s SHINE project. He’s been working with Timbaland and Fade, who’s produced for Bryson Tiller & Rihanna. Outside of rap I really dug Cage The Elephant's Tell Me I'm Pretty and The Weeknd's Beauty Behind The Madness.

Why did you choose hip-hop to express yourself? Why not another genre?

I've always loved Hip-Hop, especially the rebellious and honest nature of the medium. I'm a brutally honest and loud person in 'real life' so I think that kind of fits the mold. I like to voice opinions and give voice to those who are underrepresented. I always joke that some rappers are politicians in disguise. Some are good. Some are terrible. I like to think I'm an honest politician that likes to share not only my personal experiences but reflects the ones of those around me. On top of that I am very aggressive. I think that is a staple in much of my music. Lastly, Hip-Hop culture has always been so good to me. I've met so many good people through our shared love of the genre, some of which I consider family. The genre has really exposed me to different cultures over the years. I feel I owe a lot to Hip-Hop as it has helped me better understand the complicated world we live in. Some might say that it is cheesy but it's the god's honest truth. Music and the experiences because of it have really shaped me a lot over the years.

What do you want your fans to take from your music?

I think much of rap music nowadays is quick, easy, and disposable. I understand it. Most of our world these days is one click away and attention spans are shorter than skirts at the nearest club on a Friday night. I'm sympathetic to that. A lot of listeners need something that doesn't involve wasted time and I think a lot of up and coming rappers need to realize this. You are owed nothing. Someone gifting you their ears for even ONE song these days is huge. So be thankful for what you get haha. I think I've made some true fans in my music days. I think the best compliment I've gotten from fans or critics is that I don't sound like anybody else. If you are down to give my music a shot I feel like I end up 'surprising' a lot of people if you really dig into my content. I think tendencies are to put rappers into a box these days ... my fans will tell you I don't sound like anything that is out.

How has the move to LA helped your music career?

When you are in Los Angeles everyone is in the same room as you. Like I workout next to 50 Cent sometimes; now that sounds ridiculous but it is true. I think it gives you the ability to really make an impact in person with folks that are making serious moves behind the scenes. There are also a plethora of ways to engage your music out here. You can try to get it into films, tv, commercials, etc. Also, LA is the entertainment capital of the world so it brings out a lot of folks with creative ideas. I think it's helped me a lot in the creative process. Also has helped me a lot in the ways I think about the business side of music. It's a bit tough out here doing shows though, not a huge deal of places throwing Hip-Hop/Rap events.

Describe your sound in three words.

It's the real.

What’s next for Nat?

I'm coming off of a recent show with Mobb Deep at The El Rey Theater in Los Angeles and I just dropped my first single/video titled 'Shhh!' last month. I'm currently in the studio a lot with Brandontory, Law The Producer, and a few other Massachusetts transplants; that whole crew has some great music too. I'm excited to get this Welcome To BosAngeles EP out soon. I've got some great collabs in the works. You will be hearing a lot from me very soon.

Connect with Nat Anglin
www.natanglin.com
Facebook.com/NaturalHipHop | Twitter.com/natanglin
Soundcloud.com/natanglin | Instagram.com/natanglin_