Nitty Scott, MC Offers Smooth Vibes On ‘The Art Of Chill’

“Born in Michigan, made in Florida, paid in New York.” Nitty Scott, MC brings a different perception into the life of a female rapper. As a self-proclaimed progressive hip-hop artist, Nitty Scott talks about more than shoes and shopping as she states are part of the “pretty girl syndrome.” With a new wave of socially progressive young artists rebelling against the standards and norms of society becoming popular amongst teens, The Art of Chill, is an album that provides that message but from her point of view.

When first listening to The Art Of Chill, one’s first impression may be that this is just an look into the mind of a troubled young lady. Well, this is somewhat true. Nitty Scott MC, opens up about a lot of her past issues including being sexually abused and having clinical depression. In the song “Still I Rise” she talks about a possible step-father and her “stolen innocence.” What people may miss is the thought-provoking lyrics Scott puts out in her music. Here, not only are you given insight into her life, but also the issues she's been contemplating with. Further, she refers to a lot of eastern philosophical beliefs and theories throughout the album, often referring to the third eye.

The idea of the third eye is that is allows perception beyond ordinary sight. In her lyrics, she allows her audience to go deeper than the surface and experience life with this inner eye. In the song “Apex” featuring TDE rapper, Ab-Soul, she talks about being elevated to another level. Many surface listeners would take this as almost a cocky idea or attitude, but Scott is referring to this inner eye and thinking on a different consciousness than the norm. According to Scott, this way of thinking has brought her inner peace, tranquility, and healing and this is what this album is about, healing.

In “Gone Girl” she samples the classic Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Durr's song, “You Can’t Blame Me,” which was also sampled by Wiz Khalifa in “When U Find.” Another interesting sample that Scott provides is by stand-up comedian, Bill Hicks, in the song “Generation Now.” In this sample, Hicks talks about the idea that we are all one consciousness creating imaginary physical appearances. This sample alone gives light to the specific messages Scott is sharing with her listeners. It speaks upon the idea that life as we know it, or how society presents it, may not be what it seems.

The LP provides exactly what the title suggests: the art of chill. It's smooth relaxing beats that keep the mind in tranquility. Scott gives us a little bit of bounce with “Knowbody Knows,” which adds more excitement here. It allows the listener to not only engage in deep thought through her lyrics, but also vibe with the beat. Although we would have liked to see more songs like “Knowbody Knows” that perfectly capture her style, The Art Of Chill satisfies Nitty Scott's growing audience.—Raven Cherisse