Moving all over the world from the cities of Germany to the towns of Oklaho… Read Full Bio ↴Moving all over the world from the cities of Germany to the towns of Oklahoma, listening to everything from blues and country to rock and hip-hop, and performing in everything from punk rock bands to underground rap groups, one could say McNastee has just about seen it all, heard it all and done it all.
But how does this average white kid, raised a military brat, living in Lawton, Oklahoma of all places, manage to make quite the impression this underground rap musician has? Years and years of hard work, dedication and a passion to create music have made it virtually impossible to ever let go of his dream. For McNastee, music isnt just a hobby; its a way of life. Born Christopher McDaniel on August 23, 1978 in Germany, McNastee has lived all over the United States eventually landing himself in Lawton, Oklahoma where he has lived most of his life. Growing up, he listened to an extensive amount of all kinds of music, but the music and musicians that he claims to have inspired him the most were Dr. Dre and the whole west coast rap movement from 1992 to 1996.
I remember hearing The Chronic for the first time, and I could just imagine myself being on stage performing those songs or even performing my own music on stage, says McNastee. However, I never really came across that opportunity to do so until about six years ago.
By the time he was 20, McNastees musical talent and interest landed him a position as front man for the Doozers, a local punk foursome that held steady for four years, released one album, and even toured across the Midwest for a brief period before eventually calling it quits in 2001. I really got into music being the lead singer for the Doozers, says McNastee. It enabled me to find the outlet that I had always been looking for that I couldn't find in art, drinking, or other distractions. The band gave me the opportunity to vent my frustrations and became a stepping stone in the direction I wanted to go.
Since the Doozer days, McNastee has gone back to his roots and been able to pick up the music he grew up on: rap. Since having taken on the rap underground, he has released four full-length solo records, been featured on a variety of compilation albums and has had the opportunity to perform as a guest artist on numerous tracks for rappers all over the world. He has also had the pleasure of working with producer Mike E. Clark (Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock, George Clinton), Fritz the Cat, Spice 1, Proof of D12, Marz, and many up and coming artists throughout the United States.
Id have to say my most successful collaborative effort has been the Heavy Hittaz mix tape; we sold out in less than 5 weeks, says McNastee. The mix tape introduced me to my partner Menacide and his fan base and really helped to establish me in the rap underground.
Besides creating his own music, McNastee has also teamed up with good friend and fellow rapper, Koolaide, to create an independent imprint of their own, helping others just like themselves to get their music and their name out on the streets. As of September 2004, Shofiya Records has already released a few albums of its own.
I fell in love with recording years ago after messing with a 4-track and an Aiwa tape deck doing rap songs over old school instrumentals, explains McNastee. I'm very good now with song structure and the quality of my recordings improves all the time being my own engineer and producer. Now Im able enough to produce and engineer for a lot of local acts in my own town and even have acts coming from Dallas and Houston to record with me.
Currently, McNastee is promoting his latest release Bootleggin' 2004, while continuing to work on his next full length, Pieces of a Broken Man. Hes even scored a soundtrack for the independent film Houston scheduled to premier in eight film festivals throughout Autumn 2004.
I try to stay as honest as possible in my music, but sometimes you just have to entertain people, exaggerate the truth a bit, or even tell someone else's story in the first person, says McNastee. Everyday life really influences my music and the more people I interact with, the more stories I can tell.