 Prepare to hear an artist that encompasses every aspect of what defines real Hip Hop. He goes by the name of Ness Lee, and he's unlike any Southern artist you've ever heard. One listen and you will agree that he is the truth as Hip Hop has ever known it. And if you don't agree, scroll through the catalog because there's something for everyone guaranteed! Ness Lee’s main goals is to show that contrary to popular views, there are many true lyricists that make great music in the South, despite what the industry deems marketable.
Ness’s work exemplifies the importance of keeping art and originality in rap music. This is especially important in a time where many artists have shifted focus on material gain while abandoning the craft. Atlanta's HOT 107.9 DJ Griffy2Trillion was given his mixtape on the street while Ness was on his job and both him and Rashan Ali proceeded to speak on how talented Ness is on air for two days, even during an interview with Rick Ross and then Def Jam President, Shakir Stewart. HOT 107.9 morning show producer Akini the Black Mac has put his parody song called "Aint Buyin No Dranks" in regular rotation on their morning show, a T-Pain flip where Ness did all the singing. Ness represents the REGULAR dude with a 9-5 job. He just happens to be an exceptionally talented all around musician.
Ness Lee has a long history in music including a Showtime battle rappers reality series called "Interscope presents: the Next Episode" [Fall 2003], 2 songs on NBA Ballers and 3 on NBA Ballers Phenom, an independent 1st album with a $200 budget [Summer 2003] that is considered an underground classic that has sold 7000 copies 'out-the-trunk' and online. He knows the game well, has been on the brink of commercial success but got knowledge that made him step back and take the much harder independent route. He's performed continuously at over 30 clubs in Atlanta and and will soon be traveling state to state. His upcoming 2nd album updates his fans with a chronological account of real life events following “Its Just Me”, while making sure to stick to his battling and soulrul roots by delivering hard-hitting lyrical content on his self-produced, sample-free tracks. He is now working on his 3rd solo project "Everybody Loves Ness" with his New Jersey production team "Cafe Society". Cafe Society has produced for the likes of Jadakiss, Styles p, Swizz Beats and many more hip hop and pop artists.
Once Ness Lee has set his mark worldwide, he will be predictably unstoppable in his pioneering movement to bring true talent back ‘in style’. Ness has been performing non-stop, producing hot tracks, and staying true to his God-given genius. He remains determined in his efforts by persevering through adversity and staying thankfully humble. Ness hopes to help open doors for his talented comrades on the underground/independent scene who negate generalizing stereotypes placed on Southern rappers. Ness has taken on the task of returning the reminiscent sentiment surrounding the original Hip Hop movement to the forefront.
 Exclusive Audio
(Download) Come With Me Girl
(Download) On My Way To Work
(Download) Roaring 20's (Feat. Poodie D'byz) (Produced By Ness Lee)
(Download) The One
(Download) Downstairs (Feat Poodie D'byz & Knowel Da Visionaire (Produced By Ness Lee)
What up Ness Lee? Introduce yourself! Born in Albany ga and raised in errrwhere. My pops was in the army so we was in and out of everywhere. Thas why I don’t sound like a “traditional” southerner u dig me.
Where did your name originate from? Man….lol. I went form Elliot Ness to Nasty Ness, to Nessessary. And one day I said some random line when I was freestyling. Something like “I’m chocolate and spit bars..try and crunch ness lee”. My man Rockwell used to upload all my music online at that point. He loved that line and was kept uploadn all my stuff as “ness lee” and it just stuck.
What is a typical day like for you? I wake up next to a beautiful lady that raps better than most dudes (we’re more than likely spooning), she goes to work, I cut on a beat and start writing. My new jersey fam might send me a beat I have to work on so they’ll stress me with that shit until whenever I get it done. I eat a bunch of shit, now a days more healthy shit. I’ll sign online and get harassed by two hundred and sixy three people about getting on a song or making a beat with them. I more than likely have a show later on so I’ll clean up nice and hop in the shower. By this time that beautiful lady is off work. I call her beautiful and grabs her butt and we rolls out to whatever show I have
Other then music what do you do to make that paper? I strip on Thursdays and Saturdays
When did you first become introduced to hip-hop? I was in Germany and Salt and Pepa “push it” came on. I was like “how these chicks get these deep ass voices and shit?” I aint know anything about scratching and dj’s n shit. That’s the first time I remember real hip hop. First rap I ever heard was Rodney Dangerfield “no respect”. My parents used to rock that shit on the record player all the time. Yall too young to remember that shit u dig me
Coming up who were your influences in music? Man my niggas around the way put me on. I listened to the folks in my city. Other than that when I first started doin what I does, I was rockin jay, wu tang, canibus, outkast, the bums, funkdoobiest, milkbone, emcee eiht, lords of the underground, kriss kross, redman, these lost and found Atlanta niggas “90mph”, and whatever else I could get my hands on u dig me.
What artists/people in your life intrigued you to get into the business? Man I gotta give it to my man Rockwell and my old squad Kontraband. Dude was so dope when we met that I just wanted to impress them. Impressing them turned into making albums. Making albums turned into wanting to push them. That lead into whatever else I got into. I just ended up being good at this shit and it grew its own legs
How would you describe your style? I got that bruce lee water, shapeless, formless shit u feel me. I pretty much use everything I hear and put it into one artist. U might hear an influence from Gucci in one bar. Next bar you hear some Pharoahe Monch…and everything in between. When u take all that shit and throw it into one black ass, southern, diverse, package…..you get that ness lee
What artists are you currently working with? Too many. My man Laws from florida, Sonny Bamboo, Hemisphere, Jarren Benton, Illmaculate, Passwerds from Oakland, my girl Lyric Jones, too many people from Grindtime and too many folks from around town. Got a joint comin out with Stylez Peezie. Check for that soon I just did a song with Oprah and Dr Phil singing backup u dig. Jerry Springer produced that bitch. U never know who I’ma pop up with u feel me
Who would you enjoy to work with? Man I really wanna rock a joint with Pun. I feel like that was supposed to happen. I need a song with Shawn Jay from field mob. I need a joint with Elzhi. I’ma really really need a joint with Jay Electronica over some of that Dj Khaled drama u feel me. I need a joint with this dude Greg Laswell…youtube him. And b4 I die, I’ma need to do an album with Michael Buble.
Tell us about your current projects? Man, too many to name. I got THE ILLNESS EP coming out with Illmaculate soon. I got Black Power Rangers with my twin Bic Rec….oh my, that’s about to be some drama. I got the project with Hemisphere, Sonny, and Jarren coming soon. Got an EP with Laws coming very very soon. But what I’m most excited about is the new album. EVERYBODY LOVES NESS. It’s a tribute album to everyone that’s helped me over the past couple years. Autobiographical and from the soul u dig
What one reason would your fans say separates you from the norm? My hat game. Nobody’s rockin the hats like I rockem. I got this new joint I’m about to bring out. I got my man Hemisphere’s mom balled up on top of my head rocking yellow and black. Who’s doin that? Thas that new new era u dig me
What shows do you currently have lined up for this summer? I just had a crazy show with my team IMA in Atlanta last Friday. It was the tail end of a string of shows so I’m about to call it for a while and create a little. If its not a tour I’m more than likely not gonna rock it
What would you say makes you different than your average Artist... I’m me
What's currently in your CD player? I’m rockin Drake real heavy, Royce, Michael Buble, Greg Laswell, Amy Winehouse, a bunch of my local folk
What’s your formula, how do you come up with the concepts for your material? I don’t use a formula. I just try to let it come to me. Whatever the beat tells me is what I write. Might take me an hr, might take me a month|
Where do you see yourself in hip hop in the next 5 years? On my third major release in someone’s mom’s kitchen cooking breakfast naked
Where do you see hip-hop in 5 to 10 years? “hip hop” is gonna be its own animal again. Wont be a cash cow like it used to be but it’ll be ours again. “rap” is pretty much going to rule the mainstream. As artists we need to figure out how to do both. Do what pleases you and open your mind enough to want to be heard by the masses. Either that or rap like Marvwon and hate yourself forever
What final words do you have for our community and the prospects of hip hop? Rest in peace Point Game and rap isn’t for everybody.
 Nesslee
Nesslee Beats
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