Straight out the Chi(cago) : Nate Marshall

Tokyo: Ayt firstly Big ups on winning the performance slot with Blu and Exile, how was that experience?

Nate Marshall: It was great man. It was just great to get to watch them. especially seeing them soundcheck

Tokyo: Exile sick on beats huh?

Nate Marshall: Exile is a stickler for his sound

Tokyo: Word. So who are your musical influences?

Nate Marshall: Hmm

Nate Marshall: I have some weird influences i guess... The Roots, Gucci, Clipse, Common, Prince

Nate Marshall: Lots of folks

Nate Marshall: Lots more I'm blanking on

Tokyo: Gucci Wow weird combination but i guess that means you very open minded you don't confine yourself in a box......I also get a hint of Lupe in your style just cant help but notice u got the same type persona and flow do u get that comment a lot? and is there like a Chicago style of rap?

Nate Marshall: Haha. I get the Lupe thing a lot. And Kanye is a huge influence, same with Twista and all of those cats.

Nate Marshall: I don't know if there's a Chicago style per say... I think Chicago tends to bring a certain level of lyricism to the table but there's definitely different looks. Common is totally diff from Twista and there's a lot more diverse stuff when you get into more underground scene stuff

Nate Marshall: But I think the common denominator in the Chi is lyricism, there's less glamour than the east or west coast or down south so we're more focused i think, it's not all about swag

Tokyo:Yeah mos def Chi-city definitely got the illest lyricists...the music seems more conscious. Your work got recognized by the Vanderbilt review,and you were also featured on HBO's "Brave new voices" that's pretty major would you say your work is like an outlet for social commentary ? what do you rap about?

Nate Marshall: A lot of my writing be it rap or poetry is based around my experience. So it's a lot about growing up in Chicago, the college experience, the black American experience. I consider myself an activist on some levels. I'm definitely passionate about Chicago and about the violence there and I try to do what i can to help. Right now I'm actually trying to start an anti-violence scholarship for youth in the Chi.

Tokyo: You've accomplished quite a lot at such a young age, the HBO feature and the Vanderbilt review what inspired you in the first place to just start spittin where did it come from?

Nate Marshall: I started when i was 12. Listening to Talib inspired me and i also started writing a lot of poetry and got into poetry and went from there

Tokyo: Peeped out the Langston Huge project very fresh,anythin droppin afterwards? any projects you working on?

Nate Marshall: Not sure,I'd like to work on a project while I'm in Cape Town

Tokyo: word. So what's your take on the hip hop scene in Cape Town, have u had the opportunity to experience it?

Nate Marshall: I've met a few cats and had a chance to peep shows, mingus, ill skillz, and some other cats

Nate Marshall: I like the scene here, it seems small but there's definitely some talent


Tokyo: Word. The Cape Town scene is steadily growing it might be smaller than the joburg scene and less glamorous but Cape Town definitely home of the real hip hop. So for people who don't know where can they get your music?

Nate Marshall: http://illuminatemics.bandcamp.com

Nate Marshall: And peep my boy SCP at http://shaunpeace.bandcamp.He's my producer and I'm on his mixtape as well

Tokyo: Ayt word spread the love. Before we wrap up you were one of the stars on a documentary called louder than a bomb has it been officially released like has it been aired on tv yet?

Nate Marshall: It's going through film festivals now. I'll actually be in Chicago next week for the chi film fest premiere it might get an Oscar nomination and might get a release in theatres

Nate Marshall: But we'll see

Tokyo: Wow that's major. You definitely doing something right, fingers crossed for that nomination. thanks a lot for your time Big ups on what you doing,you are definitely one of the chosen few. You got a bright future keep the fire burnin Big ups! its a wrap !