Natas (group)
| Company type | Hip hop group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Hip hop music |
Natas (an acronym for Nation Ahead of Time And Space, originally standing for Niggas Ahead of Time And Space, and also "Satan" spelled in reverse) is a hip hop ensemble originating from Detroit, Michigan, recognized for their contributions to the horrorcore subgenre. The lineup included Mastamind, T-N-T, and Esham. Following the passing of T-N-T in 2014, the group ceased regular activity, although Esham and Mastamind have sporadically performed under the Natas name since then.
History
Esham encountered Mastamind at Osborne High School, where Mastamind shared a demo tape that ultimately led to the formation of Natas alongside Esham's associate T-N-T. Their name represents "Nation Ahead of Time and Space" and is a reversal of the word "Satan." Their inaugural album, Life After Death, was released in 1992 through Esham’s label, Reel Life Productions. The album attracted controversy after a 17-year-old listener died playing Russian roulette while listening to it.
In 2002, Natas issued their sole album to chart, Godlike, which reached #35 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart, #45 on Heatseekers, and #56 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. This release marked their last collection of new tracks until FUQERRBDY. Previously recorded material was featured on 2006’s N of tha World and 2009’s The Vatican. In 2013, Mastamind revealed intentions to produce a new Natas album following his solo project The Ultimate Price, a plan supported by Esham and their label Lyrikal Snuff Productionz. By December that year, recording had concluded and mixing was in progress. The album FUQERRBDY officially launched on July 15, 2014.
Tragically, T-N-T passed away in a car accident on December 20, 2014. Subsequently, Esham announced that no further Natas albums would be produced.
In 2023, Mastamind and Esham performed as Natas at the Gathering of the Juggalos event.
Style and influence
Natas characterizes their musical approach as "acid rap," describing their lyrical content as akin to experiences induced by LSD. This style fuses hip hop rhythms with death metal-inspired lyricism. Esham has compared acid rap to contemporary blues or heavy metal genres. According to AllMusic’s Jason Birchmeier, Mastamind’s vocal delivery deviates from traditional rap techniques.
The group is noted for combining live musical instruments with dense sample-based production reminiscent of acts like the Bomb Squad and Dr. Dre. Their thematic focus ranges from topics involving women and violence to spirituality, with an overarching message promoting self-sufficiency.
Discography
Studio albums
- Life After Death (1992)
- Blaz4me (1994)
- Doubelievengod (1995)
- Multikillionaire: The Devil's Contract (1997)
- WicketWorldWide.COM (1999)
- Godlike (2002)
- N of tha World (2006)
- FUQERRBDY (2014)
Mixtapes
- The Vatican (2009)