Meet Nelson Pratts Jr | Recording Artist. Audio Engineer, & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nelson Pratts Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nelson, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my business was the love of creating, pushing boundaries & being an example to my son’s and other youth of color who look at me as a representation for following your passion as a purpose. Being the blueprint of how you can be different in something that is unheard of and flourish pursuing it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

What keeps professionally busy is running my portable recording studio business as well as being a dad! Lol.

Please tell us more about your art?

My art is a culmination of my pain, struggle, love, experiences, cultural background and my home of Brooklyn, New York. My art is a literal expression of where I’m from the way I talk from my accent to the way I wear my clothes, to the people and sounds that have influenced me in a plethora of ways.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others?

What sets me apart from others is my background being Puerto rican & Nigerian. I have the blessing of so many unique forms of style, language, look & perspective. I am 1 of 1 and would all embrace our own qualities that no other person has.

What are you most proud of or excited about?

I am proud of my resiliency & my fortitude. I will never give up. I love reaching my goals and surpassing expectations.

What I am excited about is being able to wake up everyday and do what I love. Taking care of my family & pushing to bettering myself and those around me.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?.

Treating everyone with respect. Standing your ground Sincerely & hard work. I put in my ten thousand hours studying, learning, implementing & committing to action.

Was it easy?. It was not easy and still isn’t by any means but know that with consistency and a plan things will hopefully turn out how I would want it to.

How did you overcome the challenges?

I continue to overcome challenges by knowing to love and trust the process. Realizing nothing is done overnight so having put in the time and understanding this internal feeling that even though it might not work today or even tomorrow that it will soon.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

Believing in myself is a major motivator in succeeding in anything I work towards. The lessons I’ve learned have been a failure is a part of it all. You cannot look at failure as a loss but a lesson. Every successful person has only learned from trial & error so just know going through the motions. In the words of the late great Airmiess Joseph Asghedom aka Nipsey Hussle “The most important thing, number one, is you gotta get rid of doubt. If you have doubt in what you’re doing, it’s not gonna work and the way to do that is you have a plan.” The Marathon Continues. State of mind.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story? What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that we are a beacon for hope; a view point of representation for those who we resemble & look like, so they can know it’s a real possibility. I want them to know that my story is that a kid from the housing project complexes from Brooklyn, New York in some of the most dangerous and crime ridden areas in the most known city in the world can make something of himself, so can you. Never give up please we are not a product of our environment but we can utilize the lessons from our upbringings to overcome trials & tribulations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I would take my first to the downtown Denver area specifically 5 points & RiNo it’s a rich area with great black history. I’ve lived on the east side for 5 years and love the environment. It resembles the Bushwick/Williamsburg area in New York city. A place of creatives, entertainment, culture and fun.

Secondly: I would take them to the night scene such as events like vibes at the park at city park hosted by Tiffany Chanel & her partners. They have indoor events as well., Reggae on the roof at vinyl. Taco Tuesday at Zeppelin Station with the great DJ’s such as DJ Squizzy Taylor, IamGrÜv, DJ Top shelf, DJ Sinz. R&B events like Cuffin Denver DJ’d by Big Styles & other known local DJ’s. We also have Nativ Hotel & Lounge on 16th street mall along with tetra lounge in the RiNo district. There is so much to do here, trust and believe.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

So the people I feel and want to give them their flowers while there here still would be the collective I have been apart of from the east side of buffalo know as Always Cool Society comprised of five of us Chusoko, Mello Da Truf, Dev11n, Yamez Tru & myself. They have not only championed me but pushed me and have critiqued me on a level that has not only elevated my game creatively but with my brand. Please Check Them Out.

Secondly: I want to give a shout to those who are in other creative fields that inspire me to push! It would be Enock also known as BrothaE a choreographer, director & photographer from the democratic republic of Congo who pushes not only the essence of afrikan imagery, rhythm, & representation but is a life line to keeping african elements alive as I try to do with my music. Please Check Him Out On Instagram: @BrothaE and youtube: BrothaEnock

My affiliation with a second collective my hometown & borough of Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York known as Team GIG

with artist like @MookNov, @RnbStizz, @WorldwideClyde, @SluggoDaDon, @Frankloutheboss, @PremmeReecey & Curator/Producer who spare heads a lot of the production @therealdjgig

Trapscott: @320Spyda, @Dizzle_Raw , And so forth.

Lastly: I want to thank olodumare (god) & my Ancestors for guiding, protecting & keeping me in tune with the world around me. I want to thank my mother & sister for always believing in me since I started my journey as an artist, producer, & audio engineer 15 years ago. My two boys for their unconditional love and sincerity.

Website: www.hipxgawd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hipxgawd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hipxgawd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hipxgawd/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCoGwLWg-GDGmkIo-wq_aw

Other: https://www.hipxgawd.com/merch

Image Credits
Mohieldin Mohieldin @themohieldin