NF | |
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![]() NF in 2016 | |
Born | Nathan John Feuerstein March 30, 1991 Gladwin, Michigan, U.S. |
Occupation | Rapper, singer, songwriter |
Years active | 2010-present |
Bridgette Doremus (m. 2018-present) | |
Musical career | |
Genres | Hip hop |
Labels | Capitol, Capitol CMG, Xist |
Website | nfrealmusic |
Nathan John Feuerstein (; born March 30, 1991), known professionally as NF (stylized as ?F), is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He released an EP in 2014 with Capitol CMG, NF, which was his breakthrough release on the Billboard charts. He has released three studio albums: Mansion in 2015, Therapy Session in 2016 and Perception in 2017, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts. His single "Let You Down", from the album Perception, brought him worldwide fame, charting internationally and going triple platinum.
NF was born Nathan John Feuerstein,[1] in Gladwin, Michigan on March 30,[2][3] 1991.[4] His parents divorced, and he was raised by his mother until his father had to take him away when her boyfriend abused him.[5] His mother overdosed in 2009 which led to him dedicating the song "How Could You Leave Us" to her.[6] He graduated from Gladwin High School in 2009, and was on the basketball team.[7] NF started his career at the Fine Arts Festival organized by Connection Church in Canton, Michigan.[8]
Feuerstein stated that, during his childhood, rap was an escape for him. He would record songs on a karaoke machine, recording the instrumentals on one microphone and his raps on the other. In November 29, 2010, Feuerstein independently-released his debut studio album Moments under his real name. In 2012, Feuerstein's work attracted the attention of Xist Music. The release of a self-titled EP, NF, was advertised but a label dispute with Xist caused them to part ways and the production of the EP was postponed.[9][10] Despite this, NF featured his song "Only One", featuring Shuree Williams, in Xist's compilation album, MOVE Vol 1. He released a single, Beautiful Addiction, on November 4, 2013 under the alias Nate Feuerstein.
Feuerstein signed to Capitol CMG in 2014, before the release of the EP, NF[10] This project was his breakthrough release on the Billboard, as it charted on the Christian Albums chart at No. 12, on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 4, and on the Top Rap Albums at No. 15.[11][12] This extended play was reviewed by Jesus Freak Hideout and New Release Tuesday, receiving two three-and-a-half-star reviews.[13][14]CCM Magazine reviewed the EP and awarded it four stars.[15] His first studio album, Mansion, was released on March 31, 2015 by Capitol CMG.[16]
His song "Intro" is included in the video game Madden NFL 16.[17] NF's songs have been played on ESPN, VH1, Showtime, NBC's Chicago P.D., Grimm, Shades of Blue and in the season finale trailer of Fox's Empire. His music video for "Intro" premiered on MTV.com's homepage, and the video has also appeared on MTVU, AbsolutePunk, 2DOPEBOYZ, Raps & Hustles and The College Dropouts.
His second studio album, Therapy Session, was released on April 22, 2016.[18] "I Just Wanna Know" was released as a single on April 8, 2016 and "Real" was released on April 22, 2016.[19] His style has been compared to that of rappers such as Logic and Eminem. "Warm Up" was released as a non-album single on September 8, 2016.[20]
On October 6, 2017, NF released his third studio album, Perception.[21] The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making it his first chart topping album and only the second artist in 2017 to release a number one album without having charted on the Hot 100.[22] The next week, "Let You Down" became his first single to chart on the Hot 100, debuting at 87.[23] It became a sleeper hit, taking 17 weeks to reach its peak at number 12.[24] After the success of Perception he announced he would begin touring mid-2018 with rappers Logic and Kyle.[25]
In 2018, NF released non-album two singles, "No Name" on January 19 and "WHY" on June 18.[]
Feuerstein has credited Eminem as his prime influence in hip-hop, claiming that at one point that was all he listened to. NF's style has been compared to that of Eminem, Logic, and Machine Gun Kelly. Although he found his musical upbringing in Christian hip-hop, Feuerstein has denied his label as a Christian rapper, saying "I'm a Christian, but I don't make Christian music. You're not going to reach everyone with just one point of view. I write about things I'm actually dealing with. You don't have to be Christian to relate to them."[26]
In 2013, Feuerstein appeared on Christian hip-hop artist Flame's album Royal Flush on the track, "Start Over". In 2015, his feature on TobyMac's This Is Not a Test track "Till the Day I Die" gained him fame and recognition in the Christian hip-hop genre. Feuerstein's 2017 collaboration with Futuristic, "Epiphany" enhanced his career in the secular rap industry.[27][28]
In 2016, Therapy Session won the Dove Award for Best Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year.[29] The song "I Just Wanna Know" was nominated for a Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year.[30] The song "Oh Lord" won the 2017 Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year.[]
NF is a Christian, but does not consider himself a Christian rapper. He was signed to a Christian record label, and his music is popular among the Christian music scene.[31] Despite this, he calls himself "just an artist who makes music for everybody".[32] Feuerstein married Bridgette Doremus in early September 2018.[33]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [34] |
US Christ. [35] |
US Rap [36] |
AUS [37] |
BEL (FL) [38] |
CAN [39] |
DEN [40] |
NLD [41] |
NOR [42] |
SWE [43] | |||
Moments (as Nathan Feuerstein) |
|
-- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
Mansion |
|
62 | 1 | 9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 136,000+[22] |
Therapy Session |
|
12 | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | 43 | -- | -- | -- | -- | 122,000+[22] |
Perception | 1 | -- | 1 | 73 | 108 | 14 | 8 | 82 | 10 | 22 | ||
"--" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US Christ. [11] |
US Gospel [11] |
US Rap [11] | ||
NF |
|
12 | 4 | 15 |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [47] |
US R&B /HH [48] |
US Christ [49] |
AUS [50] |
CAN [51] |
IRE [52] |
NOR [42] |
NZ [53] |
SWE [54] |
UK [55] | ||||
"Intro" | 2015 | -- | -- | 26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Mansion | |
"Wait" | -- | -- | 28 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
"All I Have" | -- | -- | 39 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
"Intro 2" | 2016 | -- | -- | 17 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Therapy Session | |
"I Just Wanna Know" | -- | -- | 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
"Real" | -- | -- | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
"Warm Up" | -- | -- | 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | non-album single | ||
"Outro" | 2017 | -- | -- | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Perception | |
"Green Lights" | -- | -- | 11 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
"Let You Down" | 12 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 6 | |||
"No Name" | 2018 | 82 | 35 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | non-album single | |
"Lie" | 48 | 19 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | Perception | ||
"Why" | --[A] | --[B] | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | non-album single | ||
"If You Want Love"[66] | 2019 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
|
Perception |
"--" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |
Notes
Title | Year | Peak positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Christ [49] | |||
"Start Over"[68] (Flame featuring NF) |
2013 | -- | Royal Flush |
"Till the Day I Die"[69] (TobyMac featuring NF) |
2015 | 29 | This Is Not a Test |
"The One with My Friends" (Marty featuring NF, John Givez, Wordsplayed, Kaleb Mitchell and Fern) |
-- | Marty for President | |
"Epiphany"[70][71] (Futuristic featuring NF) |
2017 | -- | Blessings |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
---|---|---|---|---|
US Christ [49] | ||||
"Wake Up" | 2015 | 49 | Mansion | |
"Mansion" (featuring Fleurie) | 30 | |||
"I'll Keep On" (featuring Jeremiah Carlson of The Neverclaim) | 19 | |||
"Notepad" | 44 | |||
"Grindin'" (featuring Marty of Social Club) | 2016 | 19 | Therapy Session | |
"Therapy Session" | 19 | |||
"Oh Lord" | 20 | |||
"How Could You Leave Us" | 23 |
| ||
"Got You on My Mind" | 29 | |||
"Lost in the Moment" (featuring Jonathan Thulin) | 33 | |||
"Statement" | 38 | |||
"All I Do" | 39 | |||
"I Can Feel It" | 43 | |||
"Wish You Wouldn't" | 44 |
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NF doesn't call himself a Christian rapper, but others do. And it's easy to see why. He's signed to the biggest Christian music label in the USA, and often mentions faith in his lyrics ("I live for the King", he raps in 'All I Have').
I don't know what a Christian rapper is. I'm just an artist who makes music for everybody.