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South African rap heavyweight Nasty C is back with his highly anticipated album Free, a project that reflects his current state of mind and creative liberation. In a recent interview with Apple Music, he shared insights into the inspirations behind the album, his creative process, and his ambitions to support upcoming artists.
“It’s just where I’m at right now — mentally, psychologically, emotionally even,” Nasty C explained. “I’ve worked myself to get to this point where I feel free. Free to create and have fun. Tap back into that excitement that I’ve always had for music. Sometimes it fizzles out but now I’m back in it and it feels great.”
Learning to Produce
Nasty C also opened up about his journey into music production. Entirely self-taught through YouTube tutorials, he credits his early challenges for helping him fall in love with the craft. “I started doing this when I didn’t have the money to pay anyone to help me out with that kind of stuff. So I had to learn it myself,” he said. “I pay heavy attention to it when I’m working on music. The reverbs have to hit at certain points to emphasise certain sounds. I’m a geek when it comes to that sort of stuff.”
The Creative Process
When it comes to making his own music, Nasty C approaches the studio like a blank canvas. “There’s no inspiration from anywhere. I go in there like, okay, let’s see what’s going to happen today. I start pressing sounds and I’m really just looking for a feeling. One chord can start the whole thing for you. It might take a little bit of time to get there, but then you hit that one chord that really sparks that inspiration or the idea.”
Launching His Own Label
Beyond music, Nasty C is making waves in the industry by launching his own label. “I felt like I needed to do it. A lot of the newer generation look up to me and I’ve always been the kind of artist to try and make a platform,” he said. The label offers tools and data tracking for artists, allowing them to monitor their growth without being confined to a traditional label structure.
“I don’t want to have artists signed to me. I’m still running in my own career, so I don’t want them to feel like I just signed them and neglected them,” he explained. “For me it makes more sense to give them a distribution platform versus signing them to a traditional label structure.”
Mentorship and Giving Back
Nasty C credits much of his success to the guidance he received from older peers and industry veterans. “A lot of the OGs really helped me. People like DJ Switch, Cassper, AKA, Davido — they actually helped me, in real ways, not just a co-sign. It’s very important for me to keep that going for the next generation.”
Messages Behind Free
At its core, Free is about vulnerability, honesty, and creative liberation. “The feeling of being free to create… Sometimes we hold back because we think, ‘What will people say?’ But I’ve realised that stuff doesn’t really matter. My job is to create and put it out there,” Nasty C said. “All the stuff I speak about in the project — being aware and accepting that you’re not here forever, coming to terms with stuff, loving that person and telling them everything you need to tell them when you have that chance — it’s super real stuff.”
With Free, Nasty C offers fans more than just music; he delivers a message of authenticity, artistic freedom, and the importance of passing on guidance to the next generation.
