ARTIFEX - CD NAK & NICHOLAS CHEUNG ARE ARTIFEX

Popis - NAK & NICHOLAS CHEUNG ARE ARTIFEX:
My name is NAK, and this is Nicholas Cheung. Together, we are the Hip-Hop duo, Artifex. Thank you for the giving us the opportunity to share with you our project. The story of NAK's rap genesis: 'I started recording music during my Junior year in High School. At the time, I was heavily influenced by the likes of hardcore independent underground artists such as Immortal Technique, Jedi Mind Tricks, Canibus, Company Flow, etc. 'We're Famous' by El-P & Aesop Rock, 'Animal Rap' by Jedi Mind Tricks, and 'Industrial Revolution' by Technique were literally, my anthems. Under their influence, I felt 'awakened' to the ignorance that surrounded me amongst my peers in High School and I looked down upon them for subscribing to 'mainstream' Hip-Hop culture and the 'hypebeast' mentality. I used this shallow philosophy as the basis of my career. In order to make myself become known and learn more of my disillusioned identity, I had to make music that defied popular 'mainstream' Hip-Hop culture. Hence, from this ideal came forth the most grotesque, most sinister, and the most evil lyrics that had ever emerged from my heart. Empowered with a gift of strong delivery combined with this new brand of lyrical evil, recklessly entering into countless rap battles, diss tracks, and crew beef, I did exactly what I had set to accomplish: make a name for myself. Today, my intentions are radically different. God met me where I was and I- though reluctantly- gave my art and talents to Him. He changed me completely. So much to the point that I became a completely different person- night and day, black and white, off and on- over a relatively short span of time. My mission and purpose now lies on the opposite end of the spectrum from which it originated. Now, I seek to share with my listeners the love of Christ through music, subsequently aiming to inspire, empower, encourage thought, catalyze progression, and provide hope. This is the Lord's music for what I create is merely a response to what He has done in my life. This music and this artist were meant to be nothing more than the medium in which He uses to love others and to bring Glory to Himself. ' The tale of Nicholas Cheung's inception in rhythm and beats: 'Although I began learning piano and became fascinated by music at a very young age, I became a Hip-Hop head in Junior High. My primary artistic influences are: Bone Thugs, Nujabes, Cunninlynguists, Joe Hisaishi, DJ Premier, Mew, and Sigur Ros. Genre-wise, I was heavily influenced by: trap music, jazz, classical, rock, ballads, movie scores, and more recently, Caribbean/Latin music. I always had trouble really getting into Christian music because of stylistic preferences rather than lyrical ones. Very few bands/artists create a style that is able to captivate me as well as the secular influences listed above. I notice that there is very few musically-based Christian Hip-Hop (there are lyrical ones, and trendy ones, but few that are musically progressive and multifaceted). My ultimate goal is to transcribe my God-given feelings, ideas, and musical identity into sound that is not infiltrated by a certain standard, norm, or a trend, so that I (along with NAK), can create holy, pure art to be enjoyed not just be lyrical enthusiasts or the Christian consumer, but also to those who love music for music.' But What Does the Word, 'Artifex' Mean? - In the context in which we use it, the word 'Artifex,' in Latin, is defined as an artist, author, craftsman, or master of a craft or art. It is a term that denotes excellence and skill. - The actual word itself is 'art with effects' of (His) affection: thus is also rhetorical and pronounced as “art effects,” which is a symbolic and literal deion of how God created us with excellence, like works of art; His masterpieces. Like how His love and masterful creativity 'effects' us with life, we wield our art masterfully to effect others with His life and love as well. Our Mission and What We Believe - We believe that music is art, and art, a God-designed and inspired creation. - We believe that music and art should be a response to God's absolute dopeness. Therefore, we believe that our response should be nothing short of our best, our most excellent, our most sickest, and masterful. - We believe that life is evidence of God's artistry, and that life was born out of love. Therefore, we imitate and respond by creating our art- in our own individual, unique manner- out of love for others and love for the Man upstairs. That's worship, homie. Our mission is based off of this simple belief: art should inspire, encourage, build up, provide hope, and love anyone who partakes of it. And we believe you deserve the best of what we got. If you identify with our vision, you are ARTIFEX too. We Are Artifex. Are You?