Award winning rapper and singer-songwriter, Joshua Nathaniel formerly Niño Brown / Cortez Garza has just released his scathing rap beef track, The Finalist. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia the rap capital of the south and arguably in more recent years, the entire country. We caught up with the multi-genre & multi instrumentalist and here’s what we learned about the track.
Q: There’s some question as to who and what the subject matter is in regards to, care to shed some light?
A: Just a friendly competition. That’s what we do. It’s a sport. If I were ever in a serious beef with anyone, the last thing I would do is record my intentions whatever they may be.
Q: There are pretty strong indications that this is not friendly. The research on our end uncovered The Finalist is a response to an Athens, Ga. rapper named Cardynal.
A: I don’t hear a Question.
Q: There have been widely publicized beefs that the culture embraced, maybe some more details would create more of a viral moment?
A: If I thought anyone cared then maybe I would, but we aren’t talking about Sauce Walka.
Q: Do you see this as a potentially ongoing back and forth?
A: I’m actually surprised I ever wrote this song. I’m hands down the single most written about artist in the history of the Athens, Ga community. Not just in the press but I’ve had more songs written about by some of the biggest rappers and singer-songwriters in the last 10 years or more. I’ve only ever responded one other time. I don’t typically get involved in this kind of thing.
Q: Are you worried about blowback?
A: You trippin. Listen, once you’ve outgrown a local scene, especially in a small college town like Athens, the gatekeepers will find a way to suppress your motion. Except they never could so their minstrels, who are the “influential artists” got involved. It’s all about control, and I can’t be controlled. That’s what the song is about and essentially why I responded in this case. On the surface it sounds like it’s about a lil homie who stabbed me in the back but if you pay close attention it’s more big picture type shit.
“The Finalist” is available everywhere now
