When you think of a war machine you may think of things from a simple gun but it has to be an automatic weapon something that fires rapidly or you might think of some sort of weapon of mass destruction. Someone might even think of a person in such extreme physical shape that there physical skills are like weapons a master of some kind.
NLZ aka War Machine?s skills within the studio as a producer and as a MC/lyricists are war like. His steps to becoming a force to be reckoned with are matched only with his courage to withstand the obstacles that come along with being dedicated to his craft/ music and the industry alike.
NLZ (Nefariuz Lyrical Zen) Nefariuz meaning wicked! A former soldier with the US Army?s 101st Air Assault Division who hails from East Orange (ILLTOWN) New Jersey home to some of the illest MC?s and across the bridge or through the tunnel to the birthplace of Hip Hop itself. NLZ?s best describes his style as ?unorthodox articulation? so you know it wont be lyrics without direction, resurfacing something substantial back into the world of Hip Hop.
NLZ has been around music since he was a kid, immersed in the older jazz records his father played, from the likes of George Duke, George Benson, Quincy Jones, and Grover Washington Jr. ignited his interest and laid a foundation of musical curiosity. Growing up in East Orange, New Jersey and experiencing what the hood had to offer a young black mind was an obstacle within itself. From violence to the destruction of individuals through drugs he was fortunate to have a father, a loving Aunt, and Grandparents that played an important role in keeping NLZ focused and from becoming another statistic.
At the age of 10 NLZ started to write just to rhyme as well as learning how to play the clarinet. He was mostly inspired by MC?s like T La Rock, Marley Marl & MC Shan, LL Cool, RUN DMC and many others that captivated young minds at that time. Then along came Kool G Rap, GZA, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, NAS and Cormega that made us recognize that we too are capable of greatness.
At the age of thirteen he worked on his first demo with Godfather D, cousin to legendary Cool V, Biz Markie?s DJ. Living in East Orange he found his self surrounded by MC?s like Treach and Vinney from Naughty by Nature as well as the Outsiderz and several locally infamous groups.
In 1995 while stationed in Korea NLZ formed his first group called the ILL KLIK (the last K is backwards, Ill Klik means Inner city Lyrical Lunatics) which comprised of several MC?s that were from the states. Universal Soldiers was another group that NLZ formed when he got back to the states which later changed there name to the ?HEADTUCHAZ? with group members Swif, Vintage, C-4, RAHZ, OFFUL & DJ Flash the Headtuchaz were on there way to greatness performing all over the country opening up for major artists like Redman, Method Man, WuTang Clan, Scarface, Def Comedy Jam and other artists that happened to come through middle Tennessee and show some love. The Headtuchaz were selling out local venues as well as headlining local events and selling CD?s in a major way. It is now 1996 and NLZ armed with a Roland MS 101 and an ASRX drum machine starts to produce his own hits. With influences like RZA and DJ Premier he decides to add this skill to his already heavily armed war machine.
At this time after bad deals and setbacks NLZ set out to record his own project and hit the road with Dom Pachino the PR Terrorist. In January 2005 they released and album called NAPALM WORLD together as TEAM NAPALM they received wide recognition on all WU affiliate sites. With that release NLZ was called a lyrical genius surely one of the most intellectual rappers out there said by a Broad jam Staff Member.
While NLZ?s skills as a producer and MC continue to grow tremendously, he sees his own progression as an added accomplishment. Adding engineering school to his resume and being very skilled with graphic design this self made one man music department feels that educating himself helps him to be a well rounded individual.
In May of 2006 Team Napalm split up after such a short stint. They say that when something dies something else is reborn and the situation between Team Napalm is something that died which gave birth to a more focused War Machine. NLZ never one to stop or give up kept on moving making obstacles his footstool. Within that same month NLZ gets the opportunity to work with Godmother Entertainment sign to Godmother Records for an album project. In June 2006 he had 4 songs on the La Familia Volume 1 compilation and 5 songs on the Red Mountain Records Compilation called Groovin Asia released the same month. The next six months that followed the split of Team Napalm has been only a blessing for NLZ with vast releases such as the Black Box Official Street CD a prelude to his highly anticipated album called N-Destruktable coming out January 23, 2007. With 3 other solo catalogued releases as well as production credit on several underground and overseas artists the war machine can not be stopped. Armed with determination, focus, a family, a label he calls home, a video and a very bright future with Wu Tang Management / Protect Ya Neck Records. NLZ continues to say that being in this business is not only about the money it is about culturally being a role model to a lot of teens has become a real focus. Like I say we don?t choose or destiny our destiny chooses us and as long as we stay on track we won?t get derailed.
NLZ is truly N-Destruktable!