Hip-hop is steeped in inspiration from generations past, so it’s only right that Nardo Wick would look to a rap god like Eminem when crafting a song for his latest album, Wick. The Jacksonville, Fla. rapper shares what he’d say to Slim Shady if he got the chance to chop it up with him for XXL‘s No Filter series, in which artists reveal the conversations they’d have with famous figures they’ve never met before. In addition to Em, Nardo sheds light on no-filter convos with former President Barack Obama, actor Penn Badgley who stars in the hit Netflix series You, singer Ruth B, actor Wood Harris from Paid in Full fame, Lil Wayne and actor Chris Tucker.
In February, Nardo dropped his sophomore album, Wick, featuring a song reminiscent of Eminem’s classic 2000 track “Stan.” The 23-year-old rhymer chose to call his version “Drew,” drawing inspo from the ways in which Em’s bars dissected a wild fan’s behavior. Nardo’s track, also featuring a sample from one of his favorite singers Ruth B., follows suit with a crazy ending. “I probably ask him to listen to my song ‘Drew’ and tell him give me his honest opinion on it,” Nardo says of what he’d tell Marshall Mathers during a linkup. “I came up with the idea for my song ‘Drew’ from Eminem song ‘Stan.’ It was inspired by that because I always thought it was real creative to make that type of song to paint a picture like that and I wanted to try it and see if I could do it.” We think Em would be proud.
Having a convo with an esteemed president is something that has popped into Nardo’s mind. If there’s anyone in the political space he’d like to meet it’s Former President Barack Obama. “I just want to see how he talk,” Nardo explains. “Like did he have like a little bit of like where I come from in you, know what I’m saying, or is it just all like white collar, sophisticated. That’s really it. Like I wonder if he relatable.” After looking at his yearly list of favorite music selections, Obama’s tuned in to rap.
And while everyone has a series they’ve been glued to, one that may surprise even the most loyal Nardo supporter is that he really enjoys the Netflix series You starring Penn Badgley. He’d give the former Gossip Girl star his props on the show. “If I had something to say to Penn Badgley it probably would be just he a good actor, a real good actor,” Nardo says. “The reason I like that show is ’cause it’s like suspenseful, like thriller. It’s scary, but it ain’t scary, like his creepy and I like the way they got his character like he innocent, but he not innocent at the same time.” You know what Nardo will be doing on April 24 when the new season premieres.
Take a look as Nardo Wick reveals what he’d say to some fellow rappers and famous figures he’s hasn’t met yet, and listen to his Wick album below.
Watch Nardo Wick’s No Filter Convos With Eminem, Barack Obama, Actor Penn Badgley and More
Listen to Nardo Wick’s “Drew”
