Nino Paid is only going up in new FADER doc

Nino Paid doesn’t accept any limitations. Speaking to The FADER as part of his recent GEN F profile, Paid discussed his rise from foster care to becoming one of the DMV area’s most introspective and thoughtful rappers.

In a new FADER doc for our GEN F presents series, the Maryland rapper gives insight into what’s coming next. That includes working with country artists as well as experimenting with jazz and rock music. No matter the type of beat, though, he assures fans his music will remain as candid and unguarded as ever. Sitting in New York City’s Bryant Park, he talks about the importance of sharing his life experiences. Later on we see him and his boys as they hit a high-end store to check out a collection of watches and Air Jordans. Read on for an interview with Nino Paid, and watch the documentary above.

The FADER: What are your early music memories?

Nino Paid: I listened to a lot of old school music and gospel and pop music growing up. Like Ed Sheeran, Adele, Marvin Sapp, Charlie Wilson, like that. Them just artists I came up listening to, you know, like anytime I was going through something, I cut on that. Like one of them, one of their songs, or something like that, you know?

Have those influences shaped your own music at all?

I recently transferred, started doing a lot of country beats. I’m currently in the works with a couple country artists.

Was there a particular moment that inspired you to be an artist?

Nah it wasn’t a particular moment. It really just was like, me hearing music and hearing the beats and being like, “oh, I can rap, I can sing on this.” So that’s where the music came from. I started writing music.

What was your first career moment?

It was “Pain & Possibilities.” “Pain & Possibilities.” That was my first video I dropped, not my first video, but the first video I dropped in a long time and it went crazy as soon as I dropped it.

Your fans really value your candidness in your music.

My city supported me first then the internet came in. My first show in the DMV was Union Stage and it was sold out. And it went crazy. That was my first show ever in the DMV and they went super crazy. My first show ever was in Atlanta. So it was like, it was a whole ‘nother city that booked me. It’s always been like this. Thing is, you can go as far as you can and find any song I ever made and it’s always been like the same message. The same direction I’m going with the message and the same type of music.

Who are some producers that helped you enable that authenticity?

Producers like FENDIMADEPRADA, wegonebeok, Sparkheem, Deyflo. And I’ll still work with the same producers til this day.

What allows you to be vulnerable in your music?

It’s always been the same message, it’s always been the same amount of vulnerability in my music. It usually comes from like real life events, so if like something just happened, if I’m mad or sad enough, I’ll start writing right there. Then the song will come from there. If I write it I go over it a hundred times before I actually take it to the studio.

What should we expect from you over the next year?

A lot of switch ups. I’ma be going from pop to country to rock, jazz, blues, you know. I’ma be doing all type of things.

What comes as a surprise in your artist journey?

The amount of love I’ve gotten and as quick as it came. I wasn’t expecting for the world to fuck with me as much as it did as soon as it did.

What keeps you going?

The love for music, the money, the friendships I make, and the fans, I ain’t gon lie, I love it all.

What’s a day in the life of Nino Paid look like?

Day in a life, wake up, drugs, music, hit the studio, females, you know, and laughin with the guys. I be chillin most days. I’m a regular guy. I’m adopted. I started sharing my life experience through my music and my music just blew up. And ever since then my life been, you know what I’m sayin, on a trajectory where it’s going up, up, only, you know. I love it.