Nitty

The infamous Fort Apache neighborhood in the Bronx holds the potential to steer someone toward a gangsta path when hip-hop culture shapes daily life. Yet rapper Nitty, raised amid a solid family foundation and a household defined by respect along with firm ethical values, deliberately avoided the area's more destructive pull. From childhood onward he gravitated toward artists such as Will Smith, Heavy D, and Young MC, performers whose positive messages paired skillful delivery with strong entertainment appeal. Seeking his own foothold in the hip-hop scene, Nitty affiliated with the Du Brothers, a group of aspiring rappers, singers, DJs, and dancers based on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The association strengthened his commitment to an upbeat rapping style and convinced him that the genre would thrive with greater emphasis on fun rather than gangsta attitudes. Many rap listeners evidently concurred, given the rapid success of his 2004 single "Nasty Girl," which became an instant smash hit across urban and rhythm radio.