OnOurGame Entertainment
Mz Nokz
What's New?
In the Lab - Recording next album
Nokz is back in the lab, working on her second Hip Hop LP, as of yet, untitled. Stay tuned for updates, song samples and more!
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1 The Truth
When I wrote this, I was expounding on what it's like being an artist. On any level, you experience love, hate, jealousy, indifference.... People really do hate to see others shine. It's sad, because we all have our special, God-Given talents, and purposes, and because of selfishness, insecurities, etc... people often miss out on their purpose in life b/c they too focused on worrying about what everyone else is doing. The Truth - is not only a song about what I experience in the present - but what I know I will experience in the future - I see it everyday on TV and in the magazines - people love to hate - but it's mainly because they are unhappy with their own lives. So really, I feel sorry for them - and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). Adversity will always come - but that's OK. Even if I ain't ready - "God's Right Hand is Steady!"
2 Pop Tart Records (Skit)
These skits are based off of what I really have to put up with from labels and people who are interested in working with me. Instead of getting upset about it - I just laugh it off - and keep it moving... It's actually pretty hysterical - some of the things people have approached me with....
3 Love Me or Hate Me
The song title says it all - People either love me or hate me - and it's all good - you'll never please everybody. If you don't like me - fine - there's plenty of music that isn't my thing - but it's never based on their skin color! The majority of the hate I get is based off of the fact that I'm white. There's no disputing that I can rhyme - it's just some people don't like the fact that I do it. Well - if you're one of those people - get over it! Take it up with the Creator - because He is the one who gave me this gift - and I'm not going to waste it because people are salty over it, or think I shouldn't be doing it. If my music ain't your thing, I can respect that - everything isn't for everybody - it's all love... But I'm always going to do me - love it or hate it.
4 Sometimes
For anyone who thinks life is hopeless or that things or people can never change - listen to this song - really listen. I've gone through a lot of things in my life - and I've done a lot of stuff I'm not proud of - but I learned from it, and turned it all around. If I can do it - you can do it. Never let people hold you to your past - if they can't get past it - that's their problem. I don't know what you believe - but I know that thanks to Jesus dying for our sins - I'm forgiven - so what "man" thinks of me means absolutely nothing. I know who I was, who I am and where I'm going. Before you try and judge me - take a look at yourself first... (Luke 6:42) Besides - there are far greater things going on in this world to be concerned with than other people's failures or successes...
5 On My Game
This song's about being "On My Game". I take my craft seriously. What I can't stand is seeing people abuse their gift. All my real MC's stand up and never lose yourself to the machine!! You can bend - but never break!
6 Lose Control
Lose Control is like what a night out with me was like - back in the days! I've grown a lot since I did this track, but it's still part of my life experiences. The song is all about having a good time and letting loose, and although I wouldn't make some of the same decisions now that I did back then, I wouldn't take it back (even if I could), because everything we experience plays a part in who we become...
7 Too Raw
This track is all about skillz on the mic. Too many artists are out there that are only concerned with a paycheck... and don't get me wrong - I understand, we all wanna get paid - but you don't have to sacrifice your lyrical quality to do it. Know who you are - and stay true to that.
8 Another Planet
Another Planet is literally what I feel like sometimes - like I ain't from here or something... and a lot of times, people treat me like that too. This song is a funny story about how I became a Hip Hop artist - believe what you want to believe... LOL ... cuz no one seems to believe that what I do is possible...
9 Beautiful High Feat. JonBlaQ
Me and JonBlaQ just spittin' and murderin' cats on the track on this one... We're reppin' for the real MC's and Hip Hop lovers out there... who understand the intricacies of the art, who appreciate it - and have experienced that "Beautiful High" from it - whether you do it - or just love to listen to it!
10 Conclusions
A story that has brought many to tears. In high school, I actually wrote this as a short story for an English project -( and of course - I got an A!) One day I was vibing to the the track - and thought about that story, and was like, oooh, that would be hot to turn it into a rhyme. Just about every story I do has a moral to it, and this one is about jumping to conclusions - it can have consequences. Things aren't always what they seem - and life will get better - just stay strong - pray - do whatever you got to do to get through it - because you will be able to pull through - don't make a mistake that you may not even live to regret...
11 Pop Tart Promo (Skit)
Yet another example of what I've been approached about - it's all in fun - but for real - this was actually presented to me as a serious idea! I'm not down with the gimmicks!
12 I'd Rather
This song is talking about what "I'd Rather" do than conform to what the Industry and what the world thinks I should be like, what I should do, or sound like - Too many people sell out - even sell their souls for a little bit of change - please - you can't take it with you when you die anyway... and money don't make the man, it's unfortunate that so many people have been brainwashed to think that it does though. I love this music - and I ain't going to sell out just to get a deal!
13 Stupid Down
This is bar for bar a true song. In hindsight - an absolutely ridiculous relationship I was in. Young and dumb... and as "Stupid Down" as I thought the other girl was - I was really being the stupid one. Women - we need to learn to respect each other and ourselves ! Believe me - there's many many many men in the sea - and the one who's involved with someone else isn't worth getting involved with. You're the Stupid one if you think otherwise - I'm just glad I came to my senses and didn't try to take that any further - if they creeping on someone, I don't care who you are, they will most certainly do it to you - and besides - you know it's wrong - why are you doing it??? In my case, I may not have known at first, but I still chose to continue after I found out - the point is - no one wants that to be done to them, so why would you do it to someone else...
4 Rhyme Tuff
I'm repping for the real MC's in this song, tongue twista style. It's fun, bouncy and showcasing my versatility as a Hip Hop artist - but not at the sacrifice of my lyrics... ya feel me...
15 Let Go
Let Go - is something we all need work on doing - Just let it go - man! LOL. When we hold grudges - hate one another, etc - all we're doing is putting out negative energy and (like it or not) - working for the devil - who relishes every moment of it. Don't let the "enemy" have that kind of hold on you. It's easy to do the "wrong" thing. Only "real" men and women have the courage to do what's right - no matter what. There's a lot of crazy stuff going on out there - and it never ceases to amaze me how blinded people are... how easily they get caught it in the lies and bull that's being fed to them. Wake up world!
16 Don't Know All The Answers Feat. Bron G
No - I don't know all the answers - but yes - I do see the lies - Do you? This song is about Faith, and also about what's going on beyond the surface. And then Bron G comes in and drops a jewel of a verse for you, about a very personal life experience. We all know pain and suffering - no amount of money in the world will prevent you from experiencing it - it's just that we all experience it in different ways.
17 The Mental
Again, a song repping for the real MC's. You can't take away what's inside of me - you can't take away this gift - whether you like it or not. Don't like it - don't listen. It's as easy as that - cuz I promise you - I'm not worried about what you think...
Track by Track Analysis
Fun Facts
Who’s your hero?
Jesus!
Favorite Tv Shows
Supernatural, Smallville, Heroes, Bones, The Closer, House
Favorite Movies
All Super Hero Movies, Avatar, Fireproof, GI Joe, Twilight, Lord of The Rings series, Chronicle of Narnia movies, Transformers, The Matrix …I love movies… too many favorites to name.
Favorite Sports
UFC, NFL (Washington Redskins!!!), Boxing
Favorite Books/Authors
The Bible, Terry Brooks, James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Left Behind Series, Sidney Sheldon, Napoleon Hill, Behold A Palehorse by William Cooper, Love Languages, It Happens Every Spring series by Gary Chapman, Spiritual Warfare by Jerry Rankin… I could go on and on … I absolutely love to read
Who are some of your Favorite Artists
2pac, Big L, Nas, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Three Days Grace, Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G, Anberlin… a short list of many
What’s your Favorite Color?
My overall favorite is Blue, but I also like pink, different shades of greens and red
Do you like to cook?
Yes! And I’m pretty good at it too!
What is something you haven’t done yet, that you’d like to do?
Hmmm… quite a bit actually… leap buildings in a single bound, fly, moving things with my mind… save the world… But I’m working on all that – it won’t be long!
Any last words?
What? Is the end of the world coming and nobody told me?!
1. The Truth 3:05
2. Pop Tart Records (Skit) 1:50
3. Love Me or Hate Me 3:58
4. Sometimes 4:41
5. On My Game 3:20
6. Lose Control 3:42
7. Too Raw 3:51
8. Another Planet 3:43
9. Beautiful High Feat. JonBlaQ 4:47
10. Conclusions 4:47
11. Pop Tart Promo (Skit) 1:39
12. I'd Rather 3:35
13. Stupid Down 4:02
14. Rhyme Tuff 4:18
15. Let Go 3:48
16. Don't Know All The Answers Feat. Bron G 3:44
17. The Mental 3:47
20 Questions with Nokz
1. What are 3 words that would describe your Music?
Inspiring, Spiritual, Animated
2. What’s the name of your band?
Mz Nokz
3. What’s the origin of that name?
It is a play off of Mallory Knox, from the movie Natural Born Killers
4. How long have you been a recording artist?
Going on 13 years.
5. When did you write your first song? When did you write your first rhyme?
Hmmm, I’d say I wrote my first song when I was 10 or 11. I wrote my first rhyme in 1996.
6. What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
Hip Hop is my main genre as an artist.
7. Who are your major influences?
My major Hip Hop influences are 2pac, Biggie, Salt –n – Pepa, MC Lyte, Nas, just to name a few. I have always loved all kinds of music. My parents loved music and were always playing it - I grew up on classic rock and soul music.
8. Do you work with any other genres?
Yes, I’m a Songwriter/Composer, as well as recording artist. I write R&B, Pop/Rock, Christian/Gospel and Adult Contemporary, as well as Hip Hop music.
9. Are you signed to a record label?
I co-own an independent record label, OnOurGame Entertainment, (www.onourgame.com) which was started in 2001. So I guess you could say I signed myself!
10. Are you a member of any music organizations?
Yes, I have been a member of ASCAP since 2001, and I’m also a Publisher, HerWerdz Publishing, through ASCAP since 2002., and I'm also a member of Sound Exchange.
11. Who writes your songs?
Me and God
12. What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
My music and topics have evolved and matured over the years, but if I had to narrow it down to a theme, with where I am right now, I guess it would be Spiritual, Life, and telling stories, which usually have a moral and/or message of some kind.
13. Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
In a nut shell - For me, I usually like to listen to a track, and use it as inspiration as to what comes out of me. Sometimes I have a specific idea in mind, and look for tracks that match the topic or idea I have in my head, it really just depends. Once I’ve finished the song and memorized it, (which is pretty much right away) I just go to the studio and bang it out.
14. Has your music evolved since you first began doing music?
My personal, life experiences and what is going on in the world is generally what influences my music. So yes, I’d say it’s changed a lot. From topic to my overall sound. As I grew as a person, my music became more mature and I naturally began to develop a more, overall positive message. Once I stopped trying to conform to what others wanted or expected of me, I really got a chance to grow as an artist and develop my true sound.
15. What’s your ultimate direction as an artist?
Let me put it this way… There’s a Light Side and a Dark Side – and I’m rolling with the Light. And I want to promote that in my music. I may not do it in a conventional way, and of course, not every song is about that, but no one has just one side to them. I’m human, just like everybody else, and my music reflects that. I want to make you think, make you laugh, cry, make you mad, or inspired – whatever – I just love being creative and connecting with people on an emotional level.
16. Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Honestly, I just want to make a nice living doing music, I don’t have to be the biggest selling artist, and I can do without the fame altogether! I value my privacy. I just want a stable career, doing what I love to do, and reaching people through my music in ways I never could without it.
17. What is your most productive time of day for writing music?
I’m not sure I really have a most productive time of day, as much as a place. I tend to do a lot of writing when I’m driving – I know, sounds weird, but I get a lot done that way. I started it when I used to have to drive a lot for a job. I was so busy all the time, and didn’t have a lot of time to write, so I just started going through things in my head any time I had to drive somewhere, and before long, I was constructing full songs that way on a regular basis and have been doing it ever since. I have a freakishly good memory, which helps, and I still write with the good ole pen and pad, too.
18. What advice do you have for people who want to become a Recording Artist?
To persevere – Never give up. And work hard. Don’t wait for your “lucky break” or for someone to “discover” you, or you might find yourself waiting forever. And watch what you sign and who you work with – be absolutely sure it’s what you want. Take control of your career and start making moves to get you to where you want to be. It isn’t easy – it’s tough as nails, really, but you got to stick with it. Find ways to work smarter, not harder, and always work on perfecting your craft – which is an on going thing that will last forever, because no one is perfect, and as great as you may be, remember there’s always room for growth. And always, always, always be yourself! Don’t conform to industry – make it conform to you.
19. How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
You can find me on itunes, CD Baby.com, Amazon, Rhaphsody, Napster, Myspace, OnOurGame.com (Official Website for my record label) … to name a few.
20. Are you working on any new upcoming projects?
Yes! I’m currently working on my second Hip Hop album that I hope to release late summer or early fall. I’m excited about how it’s coming along. This album is really going to reflect my spiritual and personal growth, as well as my growth as an artist. I’m also working on a Pop/Rock project that I’m having a lot of fun with. It’s a different process, and with this particular project, I really get to stretch myself, try new things and get super creative. I've been keeping it on the low - so people are not going to be expecting it! Actually - I wasn't even expecting it! LOL! I demoed a couple songs for some pop/rock tracks I wrote, and that's how the idea for the project started. But first and foremost, my emphasis is my Hip Hop project - which is what I do best!
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