Nickelus F is a rapper and contemporary R&B

Contemporary R&B

Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...

 writer from Richmond, Virginia

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. He is best known for being the Black Entertainment Television

Black Entertainment Television

Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...

 106 & Park

106 & Park

106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...

 "Freestyle Friday

Freestyle Friday

Freestyle Friday is a segment on BET's popular show 106 & Park where two aspiring rappers compete in a freestyle battle before the studio audience and the cypher and three celebrity judges . Each competitor alternates freestyling for 30 seconds in each of the two rounds...

" champion seven weeks in a row and being inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007. Nickelus F is also known for his collaborations with rapper Drake

Drake (entertainer)

Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....

. On Cut the Check, Drake and Nickelus F made a song "AM 2 PM" by FTP Productions, which was also included on Drake's mixtape Room For Improvement

Room for Improvement

Room for Improvement is the first official mixtape from Canadian rapper Drake. It was self-released in 2006. The mixtape was originally intended for sale only and had sold 6,000 copies in 2006...

.

Music career

In 2000, Nickelus F got his first break into the hip hop

Hip hop

Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...

 industry when he competed against 300 contenders in the regional Source Unsigned Hype Emcee Battle where he placed second despite having no formal recording experience. He was also named "Unsigned Hype" in The Source

The Source (magazine)

The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...

 in 2000 at the age of 17.

Nickelus F then went on to participate in BET's 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays where he was crowned champion after winning seven weeks in a row in 2007.

Drake

Drake (entertainer)

Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....

 has described Nickelus F as "one of the most gifted people I know at finding flows".

In November 2009, Nickelus F was featured in Complexs "Ten Most Underrated New Rappers".

Notable projects and discography

• Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better (2002)
• Pistols and Teks (2003)
• B stands for Burglars (2004)
• Cut The Check (2005)
• How To Build a Buzz for Dummies (2006)
• The Relapse (2007)
• For the F of It (2008)
• Rayni Day Entertainment Presents... Umbrella Up Volume 1 ft. Radio B (2008)
• Thank You (2009)
• Thank You: Version: Pi (2009)
• Heathen(2009)
• Go Time (2009)
• R.A.R.E. (Reliving A Real Experience) featuring Portishead (2009)
• Season Premiere (2010)
• Commercials (2010)
• Season Premiere HD (2010)
• Yellow Gold (Nickelus F & Ohbliv) (2011)
• Faces (2011)

Music videos

• "Nurp!/Toast & Jelly" (2005)
• "The Motions" (2008)
• "Everything That I Should" (2009)
• "Heathen" (2009)
• "The Beast" (2009)
• "You Too" featuring The Silverust (2009)
• "Aggressive Content" (2010)
• "What Am I Suppose To Do" (2010)
• "Take You With Me" (2010)
• "Crushin' Your Toes" (2010)