NIKO IS: The Man Behind The Hair (Exclusive Interview)

It’s around five o’clock Eastern time, the time right when everything seems to change. People are leaving work to head to their humble abode, the air becomes seemingly calmer, and everything just seems to be right. Your cold glass of merlot has started to condensate and the light aroma of a freshly lit blunt starts to fill the room –that’s the feeling you get when listening to Rio de Janiero native NIKO IS.

On our most recent trip to Atlanta for the A3C music festival, we had the honor of being next-door neighbors for our exclusive interview of the great legend that is NIKO IS. Laced up with a couple grams of OG Shatter, Chiefer Josh and I made our entrance into their culture –the Colours of the Culture that is.

Recognized by his shoulder-length, curly fro and laid back lyrics, NIKO IS is the definition of unique. From hanging around their hotel room all day (which they turned into a full blown studio), to grabbing Chicken Hearts at the local “spot,” NIKO was able to captivate my attention throughout the day with uncanny ability.

Not one time did the Talib Kweli-endorsed artist ever treat us like someone from the media or someone just trying to get at his name, he treated us like family; something that he preached to us throughout the entire trip. Throughout our endeavors, he always was quick to introduce us to anyone that came into the room, including fellow Javotti Media members DJ SPINTELECT, K’Valentine, and even legendary producer KHRYSIS. The love was unreal.

Like, have you ever met someone where it seems they are full of knowledge and priceless wisdom, with stories that seem to come from a book rather than someone’s actual life? Well, NIKO has that aura about him; he has that “IT” factor. His presence is as big as his hair and is as humble as his soul. It was truly an honor to meet him.

From our brief interaction, it was evident that NIKO was a visionary with a bright future amongst him. Among other things, we talked about his favorite food, his favorite brand of marijuana, working with Colours of the Culture family, and his forthcoming album, the Brutus LP.

You only have $20. Pick a city you would want to be in and what you would do with the money?

You can’t do anything with $20 really but let’s go, for $20 I would stay in Orlando, go to the Barizilian spot, food by the pound. I’d get two pounds of food. A medium rare steak, rice, beans, scalloped potato on the side, some chicken hearts. (Two pounds, 6.99 a pound.)I’d get a Guarana [drink] that’s $16 bucks. I have four bucks left; I’ll get en pasa tempo (Brazilian cookie), 6 packs of bubbaloo gum with the juice in it.

Since you’re a Daily Chiefer, if you had to choose one strain to smoke for the rest of your life what would it be?

OG [What were currently smoking on]

Since we know you like to eat good and we’re in ATL right now, what is the best food you’ve had here?

I love Gladys Knight’s. All day, it’s religious.

What did you get there?

Which time? I fuck with the smothered chicken heavy.  With the Mac, the yams, and the rice.

If you were on American Idol and you had to pick one song to sing, what would it be?

Freebird. That’s it.

What are your thoughts on Big Foot?

What is there to think about? That’s the homie. He be out there, he blurry. It’s like drunk vision. Big Foot is just a metaphor for drunk bitches.

If you can only eat one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

Medium rare Brazilian steak.

What about your sides?

Rice and beans. That’s what I eat every day. I already eat this one thing for the rest of my life.

Fuck one, marry one, kill one.  Mila Kunis.  Amber Rose.  Kim Kardashian.

I’ll fuck Mila Kunis…. no I’ll marry Mila Kunis. Kim K, murk her. Fuck Amber Rose. Who cares about Kim K, I don’t live in that world, that’s not my world. Salute, she’s [Kim K] with Kanye now so I have to like her. I can’t even hate on her it’s Kanye, that’s the homie. We love him so much, we have to appreciate him. He knows something we don’t.

How do you feel about Kanye’s rants during his shows?

It’s not my place to feel any way about it. I appreciate everything he does so it’s not my job to judge it. I salute what he does.

The first three things you do when you wake up in the morning, in order.

Coffee, blunt, mangos. That’s the best way to start it.

Since you have some crazy hair, what is one hair style that you really fuck with?

The fo hawk. I salute the fo hawk. There was a transitional period in my childhood that I rocked the fo hawk, it was colored, I had the red tips. We were out here real healthy with the fo hawk.

So you like the fo hawk with the red tips?

I don’t really like it but I salute it. There was a serious moment in my career ya know? Back in the day before NIKO was, we had the fo hawk. Never forget, the roots.

What are your top 3 favorite projects of all time?

I’m really listening to this album called the Redhead Piano Room by the Wiz Kids, Exactamundo Charlie, and Johnny Abichuela.

What is your favorite project out of your own catalogue?

I haven’t done it yet.

But it’s coming up?

Oh It’s definitely coming.

Is it on your album?

It’s something like that. It’s definitely coming though.

What would be your facial hair of choice?

I want the Rick Rubin beard. I don’t grow a beard like that or I would have the ill beard game. I get a little somethin’ somethin’, some stubble. It gets nice sometimes ya know, but I don’t get the Rick Rubin joint. He [Thanks Joey] could I think.

How do you think being friends outside of music helps with the fact that you and your team are all creating art?

It’s only music. I don’t talk to them outside of music. I just don’t really have time for it. I like to keep work separate. We’re here doing work it’s 9-5 we put in extra hours we’re on salary hasn’t been paid yet. We’re on salary by the universe.

Can I get in on that?

You can but they owe us a lot, so there is a lot of back pay.

The universe owes you?

Yeah. Not really, I owe the universe everything, but financially wise they owe us a lil somethin’ somethin’. It is what it is, they pay in other ways. They pay in currency; money is not the only currency, which people don’t get. Especially in the music industry. That’s why were able to do what we do. It’s a barter system really.

You’re stranded on an island and you can only have three things for the rest of your life. What would they be?

A woman. An unlimited amount of weed, so maybe seeds, some OG. A recording studio with an engineer. I can record music. I don’t have to release it.

Has working with Talib increased your motivation?

Way more. He works harder than I do and he’s an OG. He has thirteen albums and its very inspiring to see how he’s still killing it. He’s just getting better, he started off incredible but he’s just still getting better.

Whether it was him explaining the meaning of “Colours of the Culture,” or the way that he went about his business, NIKO IS is definitely a one-in-a-million character –along with every member of his crew. So, let’s scream GOOD BLOOD, grab some brewski’s and Chicken Hearts, and let’s CHILL out because that’s what NIKO would have wanted anyways!

Support NIKO’s brand new BRUTUS LP here, and stream the amazing project down below! Until then, it’s chill cosby.

Love, Joey.