Carolina Noise: Nigel Malone Delves into the NC Hip-Hop Sound
If you’re a fan of the Charlotte hip-hop scene, you’ve likely been touched by the imprint of Nigel Malone. Powerfully soft-spoken with a humility that carries the authority of experience, the multi-talented creative who’s also known as NXGXL could be described as a jack of all trades. As a rapper in his teens, Malone trained under figures that would rise to define not just Charlotte’s scene but the North Carolina scene at large. As an engineer, he has helped sculpt the sounds of multiple generations of lyricists ranging from Cuzo Key and Myles Harris to rising talents like Ahmir. As an educator, he has built programs in conjunction with Charlotte institutions like the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, where he’s taught an after-school music masterclass series throughout the spring.
With the release of his 2024 debut film “Carolina Noise,” Malone can now add documentarian to his long list of creative titles. The film asks a simple question that begs a winding, complex answer: Does North Carolina hip-hop have a sound? In search of an answer, Malone took his camcorder to interview a number of folks who play important roles in North Carolina hip-hop, including many with whom he has collaborated in the past. Sources range from storied Triangle-area producer Khrysis to NC A&T applied music lecturer Dr. Van Hall to Queen City emcee Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon.
Exploring the Sound of NC Hip-Hop
Throughout the 30-minute documentary, the answers are indeed as variegated as the interviewees. Ski Beatz — the Greensboro native known for producing artists like Camp Lo, Jay-Z, Bahamadia, Lil’ Kim, and more — argues that North Carolina’s sound represents our artists “staying true to the culture of hip-hop.” Mavi, one of Charlotte’s acclaimed young rappers, suggests that our sound is a mélange of aesthetics due to the city’s placement in the path of the Great Migration. Others like Charlotte artists Yung Bizzle, Verbal Van Gogh and Makeda Iroquois deny that North Carolina has a singular discernible sound altogether.
However, one theme emerges throughout the film’s interviews: soul. Boris “Bluz” Rogers, the master of ceremonies for so many Queen City hip-hop events over the years, is one of the first in the documentary to identify soul as the standout characteristic of the state’s scene. Charlotte’s shapeshifting R&B songstress Cyanca compares this soulfulness to the taste of her grandmother’s cooking. Cheryse Terry of Archive CLT suggests that the non-singularity of the state’s sound is due to its reflection of soul’s authenticity.
Nurturing the Charlotte Hip-Hop Scene
The Carolina Noise documentary is just the latest iteration of Nigel Malone’s work in the Charlotte hip-hop scene. He got started in his teenage years as an emcee and later trained under industry professionals in Atlanta before returning to Charlotte with a mission to build up the music industry in the city.
Throughout the years, Malone has documented the scene, mentored upcoming artists, and even launched music education programs for students as young as middle schoolers. His work aims to create a self-sufficient infrastructure for Charlotte artists to thrive and build a lasting career in the music industry.
Shaping a Brighter Future
Nigel Malone’s dedication to the Charlotte music scene is evident in his versatile creative pursuits. From filmmaking to education, engineering to emceeing, Malone’s work serves a singular purpose: to train, build, and facilitate the rise of the music industry in Charlotte. With his strategic vision and concerted efforts, Malone is laying the foundations for a more equitable and vibrant music industry in the Queen City.
Nigel Malone will host the next screening of Carolina Noise at beSocial Charlotte on May 30 from 7-9 p.m.