Meet the Artist: Cleveland rapper Nova the Rebel has been dropping releases at a staggering rate over the past few years, including more than a half-dozen mixtapes since 2009. "It is definitely important for me to stay busy," he says. "As an artist, you find different things that trigger your writing. I write just about every day."
Happy Hump Day: Most recently, Nova released Rebel Wednesday: The Soundtrack, a collection of tracks that debuted on Facebook and Twitter every Wednesday for 30 weeks straight. Impressive, no doubt. What's even more impressive is the consistently high quality of the cuts.
Making an Impression: Nova says he likes to think about crafting a song from the perspective of a painter, with beats acting as the main inspiration: "If I hear the music, then I can envision the kind of portrait I can paint. Once I can see that portrait in my mind, I can craft my masterpiece."
Why You Should Hear Him: Nova isn't just prolific — he's eclectic. You'll hear everything from Houston chopped-and-screwed to Diplo-influenced electro to dusty boom-bap soul samples. His way with words keeps it all moving — from quickly quotable punch lines to image-laden narratives.
Where You Can Hear Him: novatherebel.net
Where You Can See Him: At Earth Night Club on Friday, May 11.
— Matt Whelihan
