- Nucentz (rapper)
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Nucentz 
Background information Birth name Robert Byrne Also known as Nu-Centz, Nuie Born April 15, 1987
Tallaght, DublinGenres Hip Hop Occupations Rapper, Song-writer Associated acts Class A'z, Hot Property Website shop.terawrizt.com Robert Byrne (born 15 April 1987 in Tallaght, Dublin), better known by his stage name Nucentz,also known as Nu-Centz or Nuie, is an Irish rapper. Nucentz is also a member of Dublin based rap super-group Class A'z. In May 2011, Nucentz won Ireland's First Rap Superstar Competition to collaborate with world-wide hip-hop star Lupe Fiasco.[1]
Contents
Biography
Background
Nucentz was born and raised in the working class area of Tallaght, Dublin. At age 12, he began penning his own rap tunes under the alias Nu-centz; a name given to him by his mother due to his constant annoying and unpredictable behaviour.[2] Nuie (a nickname given to him by a fellow emcee that stuck with fans) spent the next few years gaining experience and a reputation within the Irish hip hop scene, and was often a regular guest on 2FM's Friday night Hiphop show "The Big Smoke".
Hot Property
At age 15, Nucentz and fellow emcee Rawsoul, set up the group Hot Property. The group were also affiliated with Irish rapper Filthy Rich and Dublin singer-songwriter Paul Donnelly. Over the next few years, Hot Property performed in several gigs across the country, and gained recognition for their controversial live sets. Nucentz and Rawsoul's Hot Property album was released in 2010 [3] and featured popular page 3 model Claire Tully on the front and back cover.
Collaborations
In 2006, Nucentz performed with Brooklyn's underground hiphop emcee Wordsworth (of MTV Lyricist Lounge fame) when he and his rhyme partner Punchline visited Dublin for their Art Of Rhyme DVD promotion tour, alongside Craig G of the U.S rap pioneering "Juice Crew". Following this, Wordsworth collaborated with Nucentz on the track "Feels So Good" produced by Dublin's own ITF World Scratch Champion DJ Flip.[4] Nucentz has also worked with a variety of the country's top urban DJ's and artists, including critically acclaimed English/Irish vocalist and rapper Maverick Sabre.[5]
Gigs
Nucentz performed his first gig at 15 in the renowned Temple Bar Music Centre (now The Button Factory). Since then, he has performed in every major Dublin venue, including the O2. Nucentz has also supported Public Enemy, D12, Asher Roth, Styles P, Skinnyman, Royce da 5'9", Plan B and several other successful hip-hop acts in concert.[6]
Class A'z
In 2008, Nucentz became a member of Dublin based rap group Class A'z, which are a collection of solo artists that include his Hot Property ryhming partner Rawsoul, respected Dublin emcee Terawrizt,and Ireland's successful rap battle league (DFI) frontman Redzer. Class A'z are also affiliated with Dubline emcee Collie- who secured official chart success with his previous solo rap releases.[7] Renowned for their "infectious humour and clever lyrics",[8] Class A'z have collaborated together on numerous of mixtapes and albums, in addition to releasing solo projects.[5]
D.F.I Rap Battle League
In 2010, Nucentz appeared in two of the successful Da Fighting Irish Rap Battle League (D.F.I) events, winning both of his battles. Nucentz also featured on the DFI compilation mix-tape with his track "Win or Lose".[9]
Ireland's First Rap Superstar Competition
In April 2011, Nucentz won Ireland's First Rap Superstar competition, securing more than half of the 67,000 votes. The competition was launched by popular Dublin radio station Spin 1038, who teamed up with worldwide rap star Lupe Fiasco in a search to find Ireland's best hip-hop talent. Lupe Fiasco informed the entrants "if you bring a nice record, we'll narrow it down to three, we'll pick the best one and I'll do a verse on it".[10] The search began on March 7, with hundreds of entrants short-listed and eventually narrowed down to three finalists by Lupe and David Miller, Vice President of Atlantic Records.[2] The three final tracks were subsequently put forth for a public vote.[11][12] Nucentz' winning track, entitled "Had Enough", was produced by Jamie Mc Peake, and features vocals from recently signed Irish R&B singer Gabriella Marsella [13] and musicians Class B. The original track was featured on Nucentz and Terawrizt's 2011 collaborative mixtape Sense the Terror 2.[8]
Sin City
In late 2007, Class A'z released their "Sin City" video, produced by the Lambert Brothers.[14] The tracks itself, featuring Redzer, was lifted from Terawrizt & Nucentz' joint "Sense The Terror 1" Mixtape. The video became an instant hit, earning thousands of plays to become the most viewed Irish rap video on youtube. The track also hit the top spot in the Independent Irish Download Charts.[15]
Music Style
Described by Ireland's biggest hip-hop website as "one of the standard bearers in Irish Hiphop",[1] Nucentz is also recognised for his easy-to-relate to lyrics, humorous punchlines, and ability to deliver a variety of styles and subject matters [16] Never one to care what anybody else thinks, Nucentz makes commercial and radio friendly music which appeals to him.[11] Nucentz is currently working on a long awaited solo album.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Music for the Open Minded (2004)
- I Can Explain (2006)
Hot Property Album
- Hot Property (2010)
Solo Mixtape's
- Hardest Working Man Volume 1 (2008): Free download
- Hardest Working Man Volume 2 (2009)
Collaborative Mixtape's
- Sense the Terror (2007): Free download
- Sense the Terror 2 (2010)
Class A'z Mixtape's
- Drink Money (2007)
- Drug Money (2009) : Free Download
- On Tick (2011: To Be Released as Free Download)
References
- ^ a b Rap Ireland Offical Website, Lupe Fiasco Rap Superstar- And the Winner Is, 21 April 2011
- ^ a b Entertainment, Lupe Fiasco and Spin 1038 Find Ireland's First Rap Superstar, 13 April 2011
- ^ iTunes, Music-Hot Property, October 17, 2010
- ^ Hot Press, DJ Flip wins World Scratching Champion in Munich, 9 December 2003
- ^ a b Class A'z Online Music Store, Sense The Terror, 2011
- ^ NME, Class A'z-Sin City-Live @ Tripod Supporting D12, April 2009
- ^ ACharts, Stats-Collie,retrieved 14 September 2011
- ^ a b Rap Ireland Offical Website, Nucentz & Terawrizt: Sense the Terror 2, Feb 11, 2011
- ^ Craic Music, DFI Mixtape Volume 2, August 25, 2011
- ^ LupeENDblog", Nu-centz wins Lupe Fiasco Song Contest, April 21, 2011
- ^ a b SPIN 1038 Offical Website, Lupe Fiasco Finalists, April 11, 2011
- ^ Hot Press, Dubliners asked to pick Lupe Fiasco Winner,13 April, 2011
- ^ Drogheda Independent, Record Deal for Singing Star Gabriella Marsella, August 24, 2011
- ^ Scruffdaddy, Terawrizing the Sin City, 2008
- ^ Downloadmusic.ie, Independent Irish Music Chart, 2007
- ^ Craic Music, Nu-centz & Terawrizt- Sense The Terror 2, February 3, 2011
External links
Categories:- 1987 births
- Living people
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