NovaBlaq Shares Creative Process and Emotional Honesty in Music

Jephthah Nana Adjei Osei - Mensah
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NovaBlaq Shares Creative Process and Emotional Honesty in Music
Novablaq
In a revealing hour-long interview on 3Music TV’s Big Conversation, Ghanaian-American artiste NovaBlaq peeled back the layers of his creative process and his nuanced approach to infusing personal experiences into his music. The discussion showcased NovaBlaq’s journey from a producer crafting beats behind the scenes to a rapper commanding the mic, with authenticity and versatility as his guiding principles. His insights offered a window into how he balances emotional honesty with artistic boundaries, cementing his reputation as a multifaceted talent on the rise.
NovaBlaq’s musical odyssey began with production, a craft he considers the genesis of his passion. “Production is the core—it’s what drives me,” he told the hosts, tracing his roots back to his sophomore year of college when he decided to take music seriously after flunking his classes. Initially, he honed his skills by creating beats for other artistes, often giving away songs he’d produced. But a turning point came when he realized he could outperform those he collaborated with. “I was giving out songs, and as they were doing it, I was like, man, I could have done better,” he recalled. This sparked his transition to rapping, where he now treats his voice as an extension of the instrumental framework he builds. “Because I’m a producer first, I’m able to understand music and how I want to lay my lyrics,” he explained, highlighting how this dual role gives him a unique edge.
His creative process is distinct and intuitive, setting him apart from peers who prioritize penning lyrics upfront. “I go in and lay flows—humming, whatever the case is, gibberish—then fill it in with words,” he said, likening his voice to an instrument that shapes the melody before the message takes form. “It’ll sound like gibberish, but once I get the flows together, I can fill it in.” This method, he noted, contrasts with artists like Trip, whom he guessed might be a “pen type of guy” based on his rap style—a hunch Trip confirmed with a laugh. For NovaBlaq, this flow-first approach allows him to mold emotions into sound organically. “That way, I’m literally using it like it’s an instrument,” he said, a technique he’s seen others employ but adapts to suit his vision.
This process crystallized in his 2023 single TOO RISKY a track born from a fresh heartbreak and released on Valentine’s Day. “I had just went through a breakup—I was down bad, in my feelings,” he admitted with a raw honesty that resonated with the hosts. Searching for a sound to match his mood, he stumbled upon a guitar sample that clicked instantly. “I was like, oh, this is it,” he recalled. “The song just came like that—it was so easy because I was expressing how I felt at the time.” The hook—“Girl, don’t fall in love with a nigga like me, it’s too risky”—became a warning wrapped in melody, its emotional weight amplified by a laid-back vibe rather than dense lyricism. “I wasn’t trying to bar up crazy,” he noted, acknowledging the trade-off between intricate bars and fluid flows. “If you emphasize the flows, you can’t bar up like that—you have to find a balance.”
NovaBlaq’s willingness to bare his soul isn’t without limits. While TOO RISKY laid his heartbreak bare—a vulnerability mirrored by his ex, an artiste who responded with an entire album about their split—he draws a firm line at deeper, unprocessed pain. The recent passing of his father, for instance, remains a subject he’s not ready to fully tackle. “I respect the boundaries of other people in my life,” he said, emphasizing that his music won’t exploit those closest to him. “I’m still processing—I think once I have a full grasp of what this loss means, I’ll put it in words. But before that, I can’t.” This restraint surfaced in his upcoming album NIGHTCRAWLER , where one track lightly touches on his grief but veers elsewhere. “I was going in to record a grief song, but the beat took me somewhere else,” he explained, illustrating how he lets the music guide his expression rather than forcing it.
This emotional honesty extends to his reflections on oversharing. When asked if he’s ever regretted revealing too much, NovaBlaq was resolute: “No, never.” Even with “Too Risky,” where he warned the world of his romantic perils, he stands by his openness—partly because his ex’s album set the stage. “She did it first,” he quipped, noting their breakup became a creative back-and-forth. “I have a whole album on my name, bro—she was cooking me.” Yet, he harbors no fear of becoming “too real,” like artistes such as Eminem or DMX, whose rawness can stun listeners. “There’s a fine line,” he acknowledged. “I’m not going to pick up a pen and start talking about my pops passing just because—it’s about knowing what I can and cannot say.” This balance ensures his music remains genuine without crossing into oversaturation or disrespecting those tied to his story.
NovaBlaq’s versatility shines through in his genre-spanning ambitions. While drill and Afrobeats feel like home—“my vocals sit very well on them,” he said—he’s not confined by trends. “A good song is a good song, doesn’t matter the genre,” he insisted, a philosophy rooted in his eclectic influences: Ghanaian church music, Sarkodie’s prime, Eminem’s intensity, and even rock and indie explored in the U.S. His production background fuels this adaptability, letting him build beats from scratch to match his mood—whether it’s the heartbreak of TOO RISKY or the high-energy bangers of NIGHTCRAWLER. “If I’m doing it from scratch, I have an idea of how I’m feeling,” he said, a process that thrives on collaboration too, as seen in his work with artists like Jaleel Thomas on the upcoming album.
As NovaBlaq’s star rises, his authenticity—honed by years of trial, error, and self-discovery—defines his ascent. From his early days drumming in Ghanaian churches to producing in U.S. studios, he’s built a sound that’s both personal and universal. Tracks like FRODO BAGGINS (2021) and TOO RISKY have already won him fans across Ghana, the U.S., and Nigeria, while NIGHTCRAWLER—recently sent for mastering—promises to elevate his craft further. “I’m always trying to take it there, whatever shape it takes,” he said, a mantra that encapsulates his relentless drive and emotional depth.

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