Nate Quest hasn’t stopped rapping since he began, back in high school. Now, the 30-year-old Las Vegan doesn’t just rap, he writes and produces, and has multiple records to show for his talents.
Many of those records were released under the project name POW Mindset, with Quest’s friend Nick Crucial. “But we also make solo projects,” Quest says. His latest album, Insignia, was released in 2020, and he has another, tentatively titled The Coming of Age, set to drop in March.
“I like talking about subject matter that other artists don’t dive into,” says Quest, who’s taking on the role of sole producer for his upcoming LP.
On Insignia, Quest tackled some emotional themes. Songs like ‘“Fade” focus on the prevalence of alcoholism in Las Vegas, with Quest rapping over ethereal beats and lush piano riffs. “It’s something that might be taboo to talk about—everyone goes out [or feels like] it’s no big deal—but I feel like stopping and observing and saying, ‘Maybe that’s not the best thing for everyone.’”
Insignia also focuses on protecting your energy. “One of my favorite lines is [about how people] ‘only seem to come around every time they need you,’” he says, referring to the track “Daily Concerns,” on which he raps with the hazy, Mac Miller-esque flow for which he’s known. “That’s another recurring theme.
“I don’t know if it’s necessarily just Vegas,” he continues, “but so many things are based on what you have, the glitz and the glamor of the Strip. There’s going to be times where people are more concerned with what you have than who you are, because of what the city represents. But the most beautiful thing about that is you find people who are the exact opposite, which is the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Quest’s own life is looking bright these days. He’s expecting his first child, and while he says “the pandemic is without a doubt a terrible thing,” he explains that it has allowed him and his wife to get closer than ever before. “We’ve gotten to spend so much time together. I used to work long hours at a bar. Being able to spend time with my wife and really recognize what is important has benefited our relationship in so many ways.”
The MC has also been able to focus on his art more than ever. “I love performing; it’s my favorite part of making music,” he says. “But it’s nice to take a step back from it, because it gave me the ability to make as much music as possible. I have another 20 or 30 beats in the vault.”
Quest says The Coming of Age centers on a willingness to evolve and mature. “It’s basically about growing up and taking on new tasks, just adapting and knowing what you want from life.”
NATE QUEST Instagram.com/natequest, Powmindset.com/nate-quest
