Nature

Speak to the hip-hop legends of Queensbridge, and many will tell you that their paths of success were filled with temptation and evil spirits: devils on their left shoulders eager to fill the do-gooding angels on their right with six shots from a nine millimeter. These were the realities of this 49-acre housing project. Still are. So when one of the poverty-stricken community’s rhyme warriors makes it big, the community rejoices. First, they celebrate the fact that one of their own has safely reached the soundproof booth. Second, and of equal importance, they get excited because this accomplishment brings forth hope for aspiring MC’s still engulfed by the struggle.

22-year-old Jermaine Baxter, a/k/a Nature, knows this story. The talented rhyme animal has lived it. Seeing his fifth grade schoolmate, Nasir Jones, conquer hip-hop in arguably the shortest, but sweetest, coup in the genre’s history was inspiring to young Nature. A look of opportunity danced in his eyes, as the success of illmatic would open the door for Queensbridge’s third generation. That’s the nature of this housing project.

Nature’s rise was special though. Like an only child, the QB product was sheltered from the harsh realities of getting put on. He never had a demo. Nor did he have an expansive rhyme scroll. What he did possess was a reputation of destroying neighborhood ciphers. And word travels fast in QB. On the brink of completing his double platinum effort, It Was Written, Nas caught wind of Nature’s rhyme prowess and made him a regular at all studio sessions. In an effort to bring Nature to the mainstream, the two started ripping three-dimensional intro’s on DJ Clue mixtapes. Those mixtape sessions would set him up with an opportunity of a lifetime. Nature was being groomed to be the fourth member of the hip-hop superpower Firm crew.

Spearheaded by Nas, the crew, consisting of Foxy Brown, AZ and Nature, would take their self-titled album to platinum status with the help of Dr, Dre’s Precise Production. Nature shined on standout cuts such as the run-from-the-Feds escapade ” Phone Tap” and the radio favorite “I’m Leaving,” featuring Noreaga. Then his kick-off verse on Nore’s “Banned From TV” boosted the QB product’s reputation to new heights as the public was left thirsting for a full-length product.

Nature’s debut, “For All Seasons,” will quench the hip-hop community’s desire for vivid tales of everyday urban life. “For All Seasons is an album you can play every season of the year,” says Nate of his 13-track LP, which features production from the Track Masters’ Easy LP and LES.

“There’s no time barriers on there. It’s street and not too commercial. I’m not sitting up there kicking a million and one drug tales or a million and one murder stories. It’s just real hood occurrences mixed with some creative fiction stories.”

Nate takes fiction writing to Walter Mosely levels on “Young Love.” Over the gorgeous plucking of an acoustic guitar and the tick-tock of a club-friendly drum program, Nature narrates a deadly summer love triangle involving his significant other and a pretty side interest. And if you’ve ever been betrayed by someone in your immediate circle, “We Ain’t Friends” is sure to hit home. Nate also reunites with Nas on “The Ultimate High.”

Like top-of-the-line orange juice, For All Seasons, is free from unnecessary additives. It’s pure and to the point. Thirteen tracks rather than the industry minimum 16. “A lot of times you have guys whose albums sell well, but there’s a lot of fast forward action in there,” Nature laments. “I didn’t want to make an album where people are skipping through most of the songs and totally lost by what I’m saying. My music is easy to figure out. You can rock with me and say it with me.”

So regardless of rain, snow, sleet or hail, Nature has delivered compelling music For All Seasons.