“On jail calls I get boys saying they heard my tracks on Triple J,” laughs Nasa. “I was tripping out. I was getting reaction videos and all that. I never even knew what reaction videos were. It was all new to me. So when I seen all the international people getting behind it...I figured I should give it a proper go.”
He would soon merge forces with Lowkee and sign to Biordi music. Nasa adds, “The music has not changed anything for us. It’s just given us more police attention.”
In recent months, NSW Police has been watching the area with close scrutiny over the postcode wars and serious organised crime. Nasa’s close friend, rapper Ay Huncho, has been the target of a series of police raids by Strike Force Raptor investigating the Alameddine crime family. There is no evidence of either rapper committing any of the crimes they have been accused of.
“I could tell you a thousand stories about the police attention. I don’t think the police like drill music. I don’t think they’re a fan of it,” smirks Nasa. “They say it promotes violence. But it shows violence. It’s real shit. Sorry if it hurts your feelings but it’s real. They don’t want people to see how it is out here.”
Last week, Nasa’s house was raided by police. It’s becoming a regular occurence. “I wasn’t home. They made a little mess in my house. It is what it is. I like cleaning...all that time in prison you grow to like cleaning.”
When Nasa raps, the dark undercurrent of the streets comes to light. A reality set in motion by social fractures and suppressed by police censorship. Those that blame Drill for inspiring violence need to start asking what inspires Drill.
“Sadly, it’s very relatable for a lot of people. [Drill’s] a problem because it’s street shit. And it’s real. It’s what goes down in the streets out here. When you hear the lyrics you think like true, true, true. You can relate to it. Some people can,” explains Nasa. “I’m just trying to show people what’s going on on my side of the story. I’m talking my shit. Whoever wants to talk their shit should be able to talk their shit. If they really do it.”