In his burgeoning career, Nesby Phips has established himself as an artist whose musicality is of the first order. He grew up living in both the New Orleans neighborhood of Hollygrove and the city’s Jane Alley area of the 3rd Ward, across the street from the Orleans Parish Prison. In addition to his dichotomous surroundings, Phips’s family is a musical one. The grand-nephew of Mahalia Jackson, he attended McMain High School with Lil Wayne, Curren$y, and Mack Maine, all of whom he would later record and produce. In 2016, Phips produced the soundtrack for Wayne’s video game, Sqvad Up.

A strong songwriter, Nesby’s sound draws from the jazz, rhythm and blues, and the rap traditions of New Orleans. You can also hear the influence of diverse global sounds such as Ethiopian jazz. On his latest album Therapy, the renaissance man combines all of his talents to present a jazz and blues-infused opus. The project was recorded at Inner Recess studios in New Orleans. It features all live production from Prospek and Able Chris.

We got a chance to speak to Nesby right before the release of Therapy. Given how eclectic his music is, we spoke on a wide range of subjects. Mr. Phips is nothing if not deep. Of course we touched on the music and more. You can pre-order Therapy here.

Your albums always have a strong theme if not an outright concept. What are you trying to say with Therapy?

Therapy is the result of a Creative exercise that Prospect and I were attempting in Inner Recess. We were fed up with our recent musical experiences with other artist relying on technology to make the music good. VST’s, plugins, autotune, drum machines, writing in phones etc. It got monotonous. So we grabbed a twelve pack, unplugged everything except the instruments. First note he played we kept. The first word I said I kept. We followed that pattern the whole way. We knocked out whole songs in thirty minutes from start to finish. It’s was therapeutic, henceforth the name. The title speaks to the process in which we came up with the songs, as opposed to that of the music itself. 

What were your goals musically while making Therapy?

The goal was to not force ideas. Rather get out what’s inside of us. Like a journal of random thoughts. We landed on our feet most sessions. Even flew sometimes. Like me singing in that blues tone on Long Road. Most people think it’s a sample. It’s all me.

I was incredibly moved by Black Man for Sale can you tell us about your motivations to make it and how you selected that cover?

It started with a random session with DJ Fu at A3C 2014. One of the two songs we recorded that night was Bang Bang. When I left we kept in touch. We both agreed we should make more records in that direction, given that we came from the same school of thought. So I’d spend a week or two in Atlanta for the following four months until we felt it was complete. The cover came not long after the title did. Three to four of the songs were already recorded. Then after sifting thru different imagery I thought that would be eye catching. I actually sold that artwork to a lawyer who has it hanging in his office at the New Orleans courthouse. Sparks hella convo he says.

What else do you have going on musically right now?

I’m a music consultant for the Marvel show Cloak & Dagger which is shooting their second season in New Orleans.

Could you explain your relationship to Mahalia Jackson,
does her legacy get enough attention as it deserves?

She’s my great-aunt. My great-grandmother is her sister. She’s well known as the Queen of Gospel, but I think she doesn’t get enough credit for being the American icon, and pure individual that she was. I’m going to, along with the rest of the board members of her estate, communicate that to the world thru a biopic about her.

Rapper wise who’s your all-time New Orleans top five?

Juvenile
Mac
Lil Wayne
Curren$y
Soulja Sim

Could you give us a non-New Orleans musical recommendation any new rappers you’re listening to?

Buddy
J.I.D.
Tree
Dope Boy Ra
Nipsey Hussle
Coz
I can name way more. I like what I’m seeing in the game right now.

Is rapping your greatest musical talent?

It’s what I’ve had the most fun with lately. I refer to my lyrical skill set as Fine Rap.

Do you think most music journalists understand hip-hop?

Only about 1/4 of them get the big picture. The rest are at the mercy of their exposure which dictates their taste.

What’s your biggest regret musically and your life in general?

Not putting out enough music when I first broke into the game. As far as my life, I wish I would’ve saved more money when I was 17 and 18.

Did you feel safe where you were growing up at?

I’ve always felt safe in New Orleans. Even in the midst of the chaos. Cool niggas were usually left alone. We just had an abundance of people putting in dirt. Mostly for reasons beyond their control. We’re the most uneducated and incarcerated city in the nation, and equally as cultured too. It’s interesting here.

How would you explain New Orleans lifestyle to someone who’s never been there?

Colorful and alive. All vibes. No pretentiousness. Raw. Loving. Sincere. But you gotta come see it, taste it & touch it to see what I mean. It’s like trying to explain what kissing feel like.

Why do organizations like the New York Times, ESPN, & Viceland 
frequently tab you as the voice of New Orleans that they want to put in their publications?

My ability to interpret our culture in a manner that the outside world can digest. It’s pungent here. I can break it down into layman’s terms to an outsider pretty easily.

What is something everyone should do at least once in their life?

Believe in themselves. Act upon that belief.

Can a white person ever legitimately say nigga/er?

Never. As Ice Cube said ‘it’s our word now. And y’all can’t have it back.’

Why do you think the American political structure is so afraid of black people?

Because it is run by arrogant white men who are aware that they are inferior. Regarding us as equals will only make it more pronounced, it’ll demonstrate exactly by how much. So they do their damnedest to keep us buried. They know the power they have is ill-gotten, so the have to wild out to maintain it.

If someone was unfamiliar with your music what should they go listen to right now?

My SoundCloud. I just uploaded all my tapes after I realized most of them were mediafire links that expired lol. Blog era shit bruh.

What was it like making the soundtrack for Lil Wayne’s video game?

Easy. Lol. The beats were made. They just picked some. But shout out to Cortez Bryant for pulling me in on it. I don’t think the world will ever hear the track I did for Spitta when he was with YM. It featured Tune and Mack Maine on it. So I’m glad I had some sort of release with Wayne. Tez is literally one of the best and most pivotal relationships I have in this industry. He always lets me in when the time was right. Always pays. I’ve known him since high school, and he’s literally the same guy. No Hollywood shit, not one bit.

How involved was he?

He ok’d everything on it. Showed me love at E3. Wayne’s always been solid with me. I love their whole team.

Which one of your verses or lyrics most impressed you personally?

Man, that’s hard. Most of them impress me. Sometimes I don’t be knowing what’s in me until I write. Or at least getting it out helps me see inside better, ya know. 

I loved your song with Chicago’s Tree, will y’all work together again?

Definitely. He’s on the new project and we finna crank up more new shit. He’s finally back in the lab. He’s more than a rapper to me. What he does vocally transcends the genre. 

Can you tell us about your artwork, what inspires you and where we can find it?

My artwork is an explanation of color and imagery right now. I can’t say that it has a narrative. I’m currently figuring my way through the process. I’m young in it (as in hours put in,) though I’ve been at it all my life. I’m currently loosely studying Ceaux Young from down here. He gives me hella game on approach. He’s a real dude whom I can relate to in the world or art. We speak the same language. In some ways I’m a student of him. Check out his latest series Dear New Orleans. I have some of my work on my site right now.

What’s harder making music or visual art, which do you enjoy more?

All creative processes look the same to me. Sort of like the scientific method. It’s how I approach everything. Mixed with a bit of intuition and ingenuity.