Video & Interview: Shine On!: Nicatyne of F.H.O.D.

Nicatyne of Fly High Or Die is a super talented producer whose creativity just manifests from everything he touches. As a music producer, his tracks instantaneously grab your attention with his distinctive sound. I truly appreciate the selection of samples and sounds he selects for his tracks because what he's crafted you wouldn't normally hear on the radio today, which is a major plus in my book. Plus, he fits them together so well it gives you that same feeling of a traditional radio-friendly song, but from a totally different angle. His music just feels good and is fun. Each instrumental takes you on an adventure like if you were walking around a big, rave type party where there are a bunch of different rooms playing different styles of music. Like one room is hip hop, one room is dubstep, one room is world music, one room is 80's pop, one room is electronica dance type and one room is like I'm not sure what this is, but I'm going INNNNNNNN ahahaha. His tracks are so not boring just like you would keep it moving, maneuvering through a party. I just want to keep listening to all his music posted online like his Soundcloud page to hear what's next!!! Now Nicatyne the rapper is equally as interesting. Depending on the song or better yet probably just based off his mood when jumping in the booth...you may get a Mac Dre type flow like on the song One Morning, or a rap sangin', tell it like it is type of flow with Real Talk, a video directed by Erick Lee or songs with a more read in between the lines type of flow like Deaf Star. Also, check out the latest song Full Moon by the Insomniaks, which is featured on the Okay Player site. The Insomniaks is a F.H.O.D duo that Nicatyne is apart of along with Xuice Hades. Check out the F.H.O.D. website to get into more music and explore all the artists! Lastly, get to know Nicatyne a bit more by viewing our conversation below.

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Really Not Radio: *In my Nicki Minaj voice* "Nicatyne's his name cuz his slaps are so addictive" Yes, I included all the animation in her delivery as well lol I really don't know if this is the truth, but how did you get your name?

Nicatyne: lol i got the name Nicatyne in 5th grade from my cousin robert hyphy wicks after i recorded my first album ever and my name is nic so it kinda just stuck. Id say it fits

RNR: I would say so...okay, so what part of Sacramento are you from?

Nicatyne: Im originally born in long beach but i grew up in natomas/north sacramento.

RNR: Oh okay, the north area. Soooo, what I like about your production style so much is that you can't really label it and put it in a box yet it has familiar elements, but how do you describe your sound?

Nicatyne: I describe my sound as Nicky lol i pretty just try to make the weirdest cool shit possible. My whole goal is to never sound like anyone else. Ill let everybody else sound like each other

RNR: ahaha very straight-forward and to the point. More reason why I like your style! Now, the individual sounds you use are so distinctive. What's your process of picking or finding your samples?

Nicatyne: The sounds i choose go back to me being me and not wanted to be like anyone else. Don't tell anyone… but i hate going through sound banks so i use stock sounds ALOT

RNR: Really??? Wow...the sounds you use are really good quality. I can tell you are a very creative guy and have a strong passion for what you do just based off your song titles LOL Do you decide your song titles for your tracks before, during or after you create a track?

Nicatyne: I usually make the instrumentals first and about 88.9898989% i just go with the title of the beat. The titles i give usually match what me or the crew writes about.

RNR: LOL very precise! So, what's your story how and when did you get into music?

Nicatyne: Long ass story lol It dates back to embryo days. I came out the yuss with drum sticks. lol i grew up in the C.O.G.I.C. church; it all started with drums at the age of 2 and from there i just expanded. My father is a master pianist so it was inevitable that I picked the keys up, I did that and next thing i know i have a yamaha djx keyboard and I'm making my own bootleg albums on 2 cassette decks and making my action figures fight to my soundtrack.

RNR: ahaha I LOVE IT! You I'm sure you had some killer fights with those action figures! And lmao @ "yuss". Were you a producer first or rapper first? And which one do you enjoy most?

Nicatyne: Ill say I'm a musician first but i guess making beats goes along with that. I picked up rapping a lot later than i did instruments but Ill be damned if they aren't equally fun. I might even say rapping is even more fun since i dropped the pen.

RNR: Yeah, getting on the mic is a whole different feeling. Tell me about Fly High? What's it all about and who are the players involved?

Nicatyne: Fly high is a family. It consists of my brothers, cousins, and sisters Xuice/Illiecism, Joel, Jvthys, Papes, Yarlton Bank$, Tiernan, DAGthy, Tonethy, Roccy aka diamond league big ganja, Bonnie Freetown, our women and children and other hell more family members.

RNR: That's what's up...keep it in the family for sure. What would say about how many hours a week on average are you in the stujo?

Nicatyne: LOL i tried to recall but i lost count at 168 hours. Sorry

RNR: No I totally understand, I know you put in work. How many songs do you think you have in your arsenal? Approximately...

Nicatyne: I have no idea, its a lot though. If you count stuff with my voice on it I don't know and if you count the ones i produced i really can't tell you, and its not even because i don't want to.

RNR: Yeah, it's something like an unsolved mystery ha! What's your favorite track that you produced? I really like Ghasp, Unpossible, Real Talk Deaf Star and One Morning to name several LOL Oh and your rap style delivery is versatile too, which is a plus for me...I like the unpredictability.

Nicatyne: Im just going to say Time Machine on Nicatyne Addiction or Undress on The Insomniaks Who Sleeps Anymore. I have a million more favorites


RNR: Who and what are some of your musical influences?

Nicatyne: Oh shit. Prince is that nigga fuck what the homophobes say, Stevie wonder, Curtis Mayfield, Parliament Funkadelics, Timbaland, The neptunes, Dr Dre, Madlib, Dj Hi Tek, Enya, Daedelus, Daft Punk for that tron soundtrack, Kanye West, and Fly High or Die is the main one. I can really keep going for lifetimes. Im all over the place though.

RNR: I love the assortment of flavors...it definitely shows in what you create! If and when you aren't creating music what do you like to do?

Nicatyne: I just like to create my mind is constantly creating something so If you're with me and you see me pull out the mac and start tapping you know what's happening.

RNR: Where do you see yourself & Fly High in the next two years?

Nicatyne: Lol two years ago my answer to this question was in LA rich ballin with hoes. Now I'm in LA for school, Im far from rich and i have no hoes. So when i graduate I'm taking my ass back up north to [be] rich balling and with hoes. Ill have a yondo(condo) in LA though.

RNR: I have to ask what's your weapons of mass destruction? What do you use to make your slaparellis?

Nicatyne: I am a die hard propellerhead user. Im on reason all day if i have a choice and logic for the tracking. Im not restricted though ill make a slap on anything. Im that guy that will grab a baby's toy press the button for music to play and slap it to stop the music and that will be the start of a beat.

RNR: Nice! I'm a Reason user too...kewwwwl...What projects have you worked on in the past, and what are you currently working on?

Nicatyne: Im currently working on FHOD PRESENTS THE BEST VOL. 2 thats all i want to speak on lol

RNR: ahaha I can dig it. What is one piece of advice you wish someone would have told you when you first started producing?

Nicatyne: My advice to anyone who wants to do anything is: (drum roll) be yourself(We already have 1 lil wayne/dr dre we don't need another one). Second Be self conscious but not in a bad way and most of all believe in yourself. That applies to anything you want to do. Oh yeah I almost forgot; STUDY the game.

RNR: Yoooo, that's great advice. I hope the viewers grab all that and hold on to it! You are wise beyond your years! Where can the viewers find your music and keep up with all things Nicatyne & Fly High?

Nicatyne: WWW.WEAREFLYHIGH.COM start there and trickle your way through the FH web of insanity.

RNR: Thank you soooo much for allowing me to tap into your mind for a moment! You are appreciated, oh and F.H.O.D!!!! 

Nicatyne: THANK YOU MORE!!