If there was one word to describe Playboii Nard, it would be astute. Only being 20 years old, one would stereotypically expect the young emcee to be more generic and mundane in his thought process. Due to his age, it wouldn’t be hard to disagree. Yet, Playboii Nard was surprisingly well versed, experienced, and diverse musically and culturally. It is safe to say that the young stalwart is a pleasant surprise.

     The man the government knows as Kennon Redding has a tendency to be atypical. His musical influences range from hip hop to rock and even pop acts. His interests expand far beyond the realm of musical adventurism. Even his favorite past times demonstrate a young man that searches and researches until they achieve inner gratification. In summary, the things that Playboii Nard sees as “regular” for him tend to be uncharacteristic for us.

     STACKS Magazine took a trip into Playboii’s mind to see why, and how, it ticks.

STACKS Mag: Playboii Nard, what’s going on brother?
Playboii Nard: Nothing, nothing. Just coolin’ out on this beautiful day, blessed to be alive.

STACKS Mag: Yeah, kinda hot ain’t it?
Playboii Nard: Yeah (abrupt laughter erupts)

STACKS Mag: So, you ready to get it poppin’, man?
Playboii Nard: Yeah, I’m ready.

STACKS Mag: Where were you born and raised (as far as your neighborhood) and how has it molded you into the person you are today?
Playboii Nard: Okay, well I was raised on the West Side of Altanta. Moved from Cascade, Bent Hill. Stayed over there off of Simpson Tate and Techwood. We moved all over. Stayed with my auntie for a coupl of months in Capitol Homes. I mean, it’s just a whole bunch of different places then. I mean, we stayed in Decatur too, so we stayed everywhere.

STACKS Mag: Oh, fa sho.
Playboii Nard: It molded me into the person just because of me bringing different elements of the city as far as growing up and me seeing different people. I was around dope boys, artists, skateboarders, all different types of people. And schools that I went to, we had different ethnicities. So that molded me into the person I am: not the average black person. I look at anime, I like skateboarding, drawing, tattoos, everything.

STACKS Mag: Well, speaking on anime: What’s your favorite anime?
Playboii Nard: Naruto

STACKS Mag: Naruto? (laughter) What else?
Playboii Nard: I like Bleach, Beet the Vandal Buster, Yu Yu Hakusho, One Piece, Gundam Wing. I’m into a lot of em. Dragon Ball Z.

STACKS Mag: Okay, okay. So, how has your family felt about the music you make and the work you have been doing?
Playboii Nard: To be honest, they don’t like it

STACKS Mag: They don’t like it?
Playboii Nard: Naw.

STACKS Mag: Tell me why.
Playboii Nard: Well because, my momma, she feel like this is something….she couldn’t imagine her son doing. She wanted me to be a football player. Or because I was real smart in school growing up, she wanted me to do something else, be a doctor or whatever. But like I told her, I love music, I love art, I love being on stage, so this is what I want to do with my life.

THE MUSIC
STACKS Mag: Who are the artists that either inspire you or gave you the inspiration to make this music?
Playboii Nard: Bone Thugs N Harmony, The Game, T.I., Rakim, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Master P, Lil Bow Wow, Nirvana, Nickelback, Yellowcard, N’Sync.

STACKS Mag: Okay, so let’s double back to this Bone Thugs N Harmony. Like, when they first came out under Eazy E…after Eazy E died?
Playboii Nard: Everything.

STACKS Mag: Everything?
Playboii Nard: Everything. The first song I heard was “Creepin’ On A Come Up”. First CD I had was East ’99 Eternal.

STACKS Mag: Ooo, Wee. How old were you then?
Playboii Nard: I just started listening to them in 2002. But when I first heard them, I started backtracking and started listening to everything. But the person that just really inspired me to rap is T.I. Favorite rapper of all time.

STACKS Magazine: Alright, so how has the response been to your song “Press Play”?
Playboii Nard: I heard good reviews all across the board. Different people love it. Different races, they love it. I mean, I even sent it to people that listen to rock and roll and they like it.

STACKS Magazine: So, are you featured on any mixtapes?
Playboii Nard: Yeah, I got a mixtape called “I’m the Topic of Conversation” hosted by DJ Swamp Izzo. Its on Datpiff. You can go check it out.

STACKS Magazine: What other projects you got planned?
Playboii Nard: Well, right now I’m working on my next mixtape “I’m the Topic of Conversation Pt. 2: No Emotions From A King”. And besides that, I’m trying to get it where I get sponsored by a clothing line, trying to get a major deal cause we already got the independent deal. So we just working, grinding trying to hit different avenues: acting, modeling, whatever we can come across.

STACKS Magazine: Are there any artists you’d want to work with?
Playboii Nard: Well, when I get out there enough enough, I want to work with Wale. I want to work with Pill, Meek Mill, Whiz Khalifa, [Lil] Wayne, of course. Drake, T.I., Jeezy, Ross. Mentioned a lot of people out there.

The Money/The Hustle
STACKS Magazine: What is it that you like about the independent hustle?
Playboii Nard: The grind is a lot harder. I been doing this since I was 12. I done seen the ups and downs, and then before I met Veezy, wasn’t nobody really putting money behind me. Not even my own family because, like I told you, they wasn’t supporting me. So every little cent I had or penny or whatever, I would save up to go to open mics or do these shows until I met the people to help me out and get me along the way. Cause, like, my mixtape I just dropped that not too long ago. I used my income tax money, paid for that. My music video and everything.

STACKS Magazine: It is tough, but the payoff is good at the end. But, it is a lot of work. Aiight, so let’s talk those other business options besides music that we discussed before.
Playboii Nard: Video game design, drawing tattoos, doing anime (like different cartoons and whatnot), hell…even if it presented itself as an opportunity, do custom designs for clothing lines. Modeling, acting. I like doing those type of things. Hard HARD work, like manual labor: I did that before, I didn’t like it. At all. So something as far as entertainment I like doing that instead.

STACKS Mag: One last question: any advice for up and coming artists, seeing what you seen?
Playboii Nard: Make sure you keep God first, keep your circle small, and then make sure you keep God first again and pray because that is the only way you are gonna make it through this industry. It takes a strong soul to do it. A lady once told me it’s a 100 percent: 95 percent of these people go to work everyday and be satisfied with the job they are doing. Then you have that other special 5 percent that use their talents and their gifts that God gave them and they work and they will be happy even if they not getting paid nothing because they living they dream. And even though it’s a hard grind, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to deal with patience. Just because of the simple fact I love entertaining people and love music. You make sure you doing it because you love it, not because you want to get money from it. Because if you want money, this is not the right career or field for you. You gotta make sure that this is your dream.

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 Playboii Nard – Part 1

Playboii Nard – Part 2

Playboii Nard – “Press Play”

Article by Mark A. Harris, contributing writer for STACKS Magazine

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