By: Akiel Griffith/Contributing Writer

“Hip-hop has always been controversial, and for good reason,” wrote artist Jay-Z in his book, “Decoded.” Nonetheless, one hip-hop artist that might be seen as controversial is Nicholas “Sain’t N.I.C.” Brown because of his style and criticisms about a variety of topics.

Just take a look at one of his recent recordings, “For the Fallen,” which the rapper describes as “..truth being spoken in those 52 bars of realness.” Brown is a current senior at the University, majoring in English, and is expected to graduate in spring 2012. Music has always been a passion for the Bahamian-born rapper, and has never let any obstacle stop him from pursuing his dream.

He is a meticulous planner with a great entrepreneurial mind, has a thriving passion to succeed and is a dedicated student — and not just of hip-hop, but of all music.

When asked about who his biggest music inspirations are, he said: “Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson because nobody can live up to their legacies, and it’ll be a long time before anybody comes close to what they did.”
His latest project is a mixtape titled “Collection Plate: Can’t Afford Beats Vol. 1,” which offers the listener a different musicality compared to the usual hip-hop track.

Eleven tracks out of this 12-track composition were produced under a beat-boxed simulated melody. According to Brown, he sought to create a “unique” project that was different from the norm.
Onzy, a longtime friend and executive producer for the project, describes Brown as being “a mix of humor and intelligence,” and speaks of him as a born entrepreneur. Onzy also seemed enthusiastic about the fruition of Brown’s music career and notes that he was “good to work with.”

“I’m signed to my own label and own my masters so, yes, I have plenty of regrets,” Brown said sarcastically. “Seriously, I’m happy with where I’m at because I started my own company. When I get higher in status, my next deal must be epic, but until then, I can easily say I don’t have any regrets whatsoever.” Outside of academia, the aspiring rapper reads books such as “How to Be a Hip-Hop Producer,” and chooses to be studious by indulging himself in a supposed 16- to 18-month analysis process of each new hip-hop artist who lands on The Source’s Five-Mic list.

Not wanting to give up, Brown chose to work on what would become “Collection Plate: Can’t Afford Beats Vol. 1.” The mixtape was inspired by rapper DeStorm and his beat box remake of a song from Drake’s “So Far Gone” mixtape. Brown said it took about a month and a half to write, but took a rough eight to nine months to produce.

When asked about his greatest accomplishment so far, he said, “getting people to pay attention me,” and remarked that, as an aspiring artist, “you have to try [to] prove to the world that you’re something.”

As his new project picks up steam online, Brown also has other plans in the work. He is currently working on his new mixtape, “Collection Plate: Can’t Afford Beats Vol.II,” and an album named “Water Into Wine: The 1st Miracle LP.” In the future, he hopes to take his movement worldwide and into the hearts of millions.