Jersey-based hip-hop rapper Nathaniel Cartiay knows the difficulty of putting out music and getting it heard by a wide audience, but unlike other struggling musicians, he has prevailed. His new project, The Center, has racked up over 80,000 well-deserved total track views on Soundcloud in just two months, no doubt because of Cartiay’s fast-paced lyrical wit, quick-tempo hooks, and sizzling beats, courtesy of eight hand-picked killer producers.

Even though Cartiay has been bumping this genre since he was 11 years old, he has only released a few official projects, despite him sounding like he’s been pumping out chart-topping records since he was in preschool. The overall feel of The Center is thick with instrumentals, heavy with clever lyrics, and dripping with aggression, wit, and talent. Opening track “Who Would It Be”, produced by Basquiat, is a stadium anthem right off the bat, a repetitive, fierce track with in-your-face rapping, followed by the quirky, echoing “Action!”, produced by Drum N’ Cheek, where we’re introduced to Cartiay’s smooth vocals and quick flow. Later, “I’m Me”, produced by Xavior Jordan, is a galactic club theme, as Cartiay raps “We don’t make a lot of noise in the V.I.P./Celebratin’ what I doing, what I D.I.D”. Easily, the sultriest, most interesting track on the record is “None Of My Business”, another song produced by Basquiat, a softer-paced track with slower rhythms but even quicker rapping, sampled with dialogue from The Notebook and a spoken-word poem by Rudy Francisco, combining the over-the-top romanticism of media with Cartiay’s own unconventional love songs, masked by his powerhouse hip-hop.
The Center is a collection of swirling, pounding club beats, one-of-a-kind representations carved out of media samples, sharp lyricism, and rap expertise, showcasing Nathaniel Cartiay’s unique talents and utter mastery of hip-hop, executing entire collections of high-energy, lyrically brilliant anthems that demand to be played on repeat.
Read Buzz Artist’s exclusive interview with Nathaniel Cartiay below and keep scrolling to connect with him on social media:
Buzz Artist: First, can you tell Buzz Artist a little about yourself and your music?
Nathaniel Cartiay: My name is Nathaniel Cartiay. I’m an aspiring artist originally out of New Jersey, now relocating to Virginia. I have been traveling all over state by state, show by show, to promote and push my latest hip-hop project The Center which has been received very well by the general public. My music is a direct reflection of everything I have been through, especially in the last four years. The Center has motivated and inspired many and I plan to continue this style of motivational, uplifting sound in future projects to come.
BA: What is the music scene like in New Jersey and how has it influenced your music?
NC: I never noticed a trend in the New Jersey music scene… it’s a lot of people that come out and try to do it. There are some good ones, but only a handful that actually have “it.” Most of the time you can tell who has what is being sought after. My mission was to never be local, and so far I have done that with performances and shows across the East Coast, South and Midwest. All of this has influenced my music because I want a message to get across.
BA: Can you talk about the production process behind your new EP The Center?
NC: (laughs) It really came to me by surprise. I put up a few tweets that said I was looking for beats and got a huge response! Some of them were… not good, but a few of them just stuck out [and] made the writing process so easy. After listening to hundreds of beats, I made my choices, and I think I chose wisely. The ten songs showed that there is some great talent for producers, and it may show I can pick out some good ones.
BA: The record features several different producers on each track… can you tell us about the team you chose to help produce The Center?
NC: Nizzy had a beat that I had found on YouTube doing some digging. Shoutout to him on “Ya’ll Know It.” Same with Drum N’ Cheek for “Action.” Chris Wheeler, who produced “On Me” has a lot of fantastic work and I will be working with him a lot more closely in the coming months. Xavior Jordan Produced “I’m Me” and he is another one that will be on my next project. Those two I think are my favorite ones to work with. They always bring the heat. The Honors Club gave me live production for “Reinvent Yourself” which I think is the best instrumental on the EP. Code Muzik is a friend of mine from school. I hit him up about the project and the beat he gave me for “Some Slight” hit me. That sparked the motivation for the rest of the project. The pen just started moving from there. Intangible Beats though… wow. He threw me a good one for “Get It.” I tried to use a different producer for each one but the energy he gave on “Changes” could not be denied! And that leads to Basquiat:“Who Would it Be” rocks crowds every time it comes on. Great energy! But then he hit me with the beat for “None Of My Business” which was a surprise. I normally get stuck on one sound with producers, but he threw me that. It was good working and finding all of these guys.
BA: How have online music platforms like Soundcloud and social media sites helped your music at all?
NC: Soundcloud is my biggest platform to date, a lot of hits, lot of plays. I honestly did not think I would get as many hits as I did, but I put a link up and people really liked what I had to offer. That has been the only one I have really used. Datpiff and Spinrilla have been okay but nothing compared to Soundcloud. I personally think Soundcloud will be the premier mixtape site in time.
BA: What has been your favorite part of performing live and getting gigs?
NC: The journey. None of this happens overnight. As I am answering these questions, I just left from doing two shows in North Carolina. I did not think I would be traveling and performing
as much as I have been this year. That is the best part, to know that you will get your shine, you will get your time. It’ll feel like it’s out of nowhere but it was always planned. Live performances gives you a chance to express the real energy. The booth limits it to an extent, but live, you get the entire feel of what the artist is trying to do and say.
BA: What do you love most about hip-hop?
NC: Simply: Expression. I have a way to express how I am feeling through lyrics. I don’t have to rely on negative vibes and actions to work on myself and get through my sufferings. Hip-hop is that necessary expression I need.
BA: If you could collaborate with one musician, who would it be and why?
NC:Miles Davis. I feel that if I can pick some of his brain of how he played, it would lead to some crazy sax and brass loops. Add an 808 and my god! It would be a party. Yeah, I know, not an expected answer!
Buzz Artist: Finally, what’s next for Nathaniel Cartiay?
Nathaniel Cartiay: I am booking a few college tours at the moment: Some to include homecoming performances at some premier colleges in Virginia. Nothing confirmed yet, but it is in process. My new project, Redemption, is set to be completed by January 2016 with no release date set in mind yet. Honestly, I am having so much fun with The Center and pushing that project, that I may not release Redemption for a while. My website will be launched in 2015 also. Further, there are still many shows that I’m booking.
To connect with Nathaniel, send an email to

NCartiaymusic@gmail.com or connect with him on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat at NCartiay, or Facebook. - Buzz Artist

WHO IS NATHANIEL CARTIAY?

From Edison, New Jersey, Nathaniel Cartiay is an aspiring hip hop artist with much to offer the world of Hip Hop. He started at the age of 11, reciting and remixing the lyrics of some of his favorite songs from Nas, Jay-Z, B.I.G and other influences. From very humbled beginnings, Cartiay has looked to take his talents to new horizons, having entered numerous showcases and making appearances on various unsigned artists mixtapes, including one hosted by The Drama King, DJ Kay Slay.

In March of 2015, Nathaniel Cartiay released his new 10 track EP, “The Center” which on Datpiff.com has gained over 25,000 views in the weeks of it release. His first single off of the EP “I’m Me” has gained over 20,000+ plays from his website page on soundcloud.com. For the past 6 years, Cartiay has pushed his music in the streets and through social media. Cartiay has built an audience through social media which reaches to over 100,000 people through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms.

Nathaniel Cartiay loves hip hop. He is happy to be a part of the culture and affect some of the ways that people perceive hip hop and music altogether. His goal is not for the vanities that most artists fall in love with, but to make a positive impact in the world through good music and getting fans away from their life stresses, even for a brief moment.
QUICK THREE

Do you feel as a rapper in today's music industry with the reach of social media and tools like Soundcloud and Bandcamp that you need to attain a major label record deal to be successful? N: Absolutely! Honestly, record labels control intense distribution. Yes, There are great tools at the disposal of any artist who wants to get attention. Social Media goes as far as you and your team can take it. Think of all of the websites, flyers, and other forms of advertising the artist. Record Labels have money to put you out there, usually more than the average artist has to start up. The artist and the team around you get you to the door, the record label gets you to places unimaginable. Any artist who is serious about making an major imprint in the industry needs a major deal to become relevant and stay that way.

'The Center' album is really dope. When someone hears it for the first time, what do you want them to take away from it? N: I want them to take away excitement. I want the person listening to know that this project is for them. The music, the fans, the enjoyment, all of that is "The Center" of attention. I'm focused on the hip hop lovers, more importantly, the Music lovers. I ask they Take with them the passion i have for the fans and for the music and that the tell others about that same love and passion.

How has your upbringing in Edison, New Jersey influenced your music? N: Edison allowed me to tell a story, and tell it my way. It gave me an audience that accepted my story and gave me the confidence to expand. But It wasn't all Jersey, it was the surrounding areas and various other places. Of course, New York right next door, you can't help but capture that culture being a part of you. Virginia, another place where music breathes, gave me a lot of experience. I was never a person to stay local, I like to experience and travel outside. New Jersey taught me a lot, New York, taught me a lot, even Virginia, my current residence taught me a lot. So many things were part of my music upbringing, but it started with my hometown.

What's next for you? N: Me. A lot. The Center is the First step, a very good one at that from what I have been told. I will continue to push and push and push. I want it in every hand, heard by everyone, posted by every website I can, until I come back to this website and I'm interviewed as an internationally known artist. My hope is that you guys continue to watch me... There's a lot more DOPEness to come.

Connect with Nathaniel Cartiay: Facebook Twitter Instagram
- See more at: http://www.dopecausewesaid.com/nathaniel-cartiay/#sthash.LYL07Ql7.dpuf - Dope Cause We Said

Nathaniel Cartiay hit me with his music submission a while ago, checked through it and liked what I heard from the beginning of his mixtape bumping “Who Would It Be” this joint is pretty cold. Gotta give my man his props.



Email: NCartiayMusic@gmail.com

Twitter: @NCartiay

Instagram: @NCartiay

www.facebook.com/NCartiay

http://www.datpiff.com/embed/me50fd90/

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Here at U&U, we tend to focus mainly on alternative rock and the various subgenres it has produced, but when Nathaniel Cartiay sent me his mixtape, The Center, for review consideration, I promised to feature him on my next Who You Need To Be Listening To write up. Partly because he was so nice, and partly because the mixtape was just flat out amazing.

He started out at age 11, remixing his favorite artists (among them Nas and Notorious B.I.G.) and history basically wrote itself. Just from my brief interaction with him (and near constant listens of The Center), I can tell this is a guy that’s passionate about his music, about the world of Hip Hop in general.

Even if you don’t quite like the genre, give Nathaniel a chance. He’ll more than likely change your mind. - Unsigned and Unleashed