Nick Mira Cites Pharrell as His Introduction to Virginia Hip-Hop

Having grown up on alternative and post-hardcore rock before he dove headfirst into hip-hop, Internet Money's Nick Mira wasn't completely aware of his native Virginia's vital role in crafting rap's most innovative sounds. He got inspired to study up on the scene when he heard Clipse's "Mr. Me Too," a track produced by fellow Virginian Pharrell.

"Pharrell was definitely an influence for me coming from Virginia," Mira says in XXL's newest episode of Pay Homage, a series dedicated spotlighting the influences of rap's biggest producers. "When I was first starting out producing I didn't know that many people had come out of Virginia doing big things like that. I didn't grow up listening to Pharrell and Timbaland, so later on as I got into hip-hop and producing I had to culture myself and learn about the songs that they did. N.E.R.D with Missy Elliott and Timbaland and all that."

For Mira, "Mr. Me Too" was a track that stood out immediately. "The beat just bangs really hard the whole time," he says of the instrumental for Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury single.

He lists the beat as one of his five favorites, with other offerings coming from producers like Smokeasac ("Awful Things" by Lil Peep and Lil Tracy) and Maaly Raw ("Dark Queen" by Lil Uzi Vert)."

Check out what Mira has to say about his favorite beats by peeping the latest episode of XXL's Pay Homage above.

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