The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.
Since 2018, prblm’s internet collective Nova Gang has had a slow-burning influence on rap’s underground, outlasting microtrends and copycats to build something long-lasting. Even as the rap internet was consumed by hyperpop, digicore, and rage, Nova Gang looked beyond their limitations, taking what worked about these sounds and leaving behind what didn’t. If you organized a gig with some of the guest artists from their discography — two official compilations plus songs and projects from NG-affiliated artists — it would be rap’s hottest ticket. Xaviersobased and Midwxst appeared on tracks several times before securing major label deals; quinn, FearDorian, d0llywood1, and Kuru, underground iconoclasts themselves, all brought their talents, too. And sure, the merch is on point, (“Bitch, I’m Novagang, you can see it on my shirt though,” Xav raps on the Nettspend track “idgaf.”) but the freedom Nova Gang preached outlasts any press cycle.
As a producer, prblm was the locus of Nova Gang’s energy. The 23-year-old Haitian-American artist’s beats could hit as hard as Working on Dying’s or stick to your heart like Pi’erre Bourne’s, but they had a melodic sophistication all of their own. prblm frequently sounded one step ahead of his contemporaries, just plain hungrier to make something that sounded new: 2022’s “Monkey Quest Freestyle” retools the then-nascent jerk revival into anxious techno arenas, while songs like “Castle Crashers” hinted at prblm’s comfort in spacious, avant-garde spheres.
Seven years since first forming Nova Gang, prblm now sounds like a brand new artist. His 2024 album Veire Dawf, released via N.Y.C. tastemakers Surf Gang Records, tosses a bleach bomb at prblm’s discography, melting the sounds together to form new ones. Four drumless freestyles comprise the project’s first half; for these DJ Premier-meets Sun Ra excursions, prblm compellingly flits between cryptic sage and oafish braggart. On opener “IN THE EAST, IN THE NAME FREESTYLE,” he mutters a frustrated lament that doubles as a summary for his musical approach: “Thought I had it figured out / Same shit, different day / Gotta take a different route.”
Occasionally, Veire Dawf indulges in immediately satisfying moments without sacrificing prblm’s heart-rending humanity and loyalty to his ancestral homeland. For “MEAN NUTHIN’,” prblm takes the distorted art-school trap of his occasional collaborator Edward Skeletrix and infuses it with some much-needed sincerity. And for “PUNCH,” prblm’s disassociated affect is almost as grim as the fire alarm-shrill post-rage beat. It’s the keen detail that unites all his various sounds, a tangible desire to be felt, if not wholly understood.
In an interview published last month, prblm revealed that he had offered all of the beats from Veire Dawf to other rappers before using them himself. “I’m tired of making the Carti beats for niggas… People don’t really see the vision.” There are signs that could change, though: next year prblm will embark on his first tour of Europe and Asia, and work continues on his next proper full-length after his unceremonious leaking of nine demos. Over email, prblm answered a few questions about his favorite music, internet habits, and more, and shared some photos from behind-the-scenes of his “PROBLEM” music video.
Describe the first show you ever went to
A 4resonance Rave in 2023. There were lights everywhere and I think I got drunk. It was a pretty sick venue too, I played the PS2. Tekken. Got whooped.
Who’s one rapper/producer you believe is criminally underrated and why?
A rapper I believe to be seriously underrated is Zephrxd or Renziro. Both of them are pure energy, especially Zephrxd. Me and Zeph’ have a contemporary/avant-garde drumless project in the works, some of his best work. He’s amazing, it’s kind of insane how under the radar he is. My personal favorites from him are “Infinite Motion,” “Black Angst,” and “Still Paranoid.”
A producer I believe to be criminally underrated: o0o. His entire discography is insane, he samples his own voice for most of his beats. To categorize him as a producer isn’t fair to me though, he’s an Artist.
What was the last movie you watched, and give a short review
Turning Red. I fell asleep, can’t remember much but it’s cute though.
Name the last three songs you played/streamed
Klein, “Rich Dad Poor Dad”
Eve Libertine, “SEA”
Boli Group, “8000”
Share something cool you recently found on the internet
Describe your last YouTube/Wikipedia spiral and what you were learning about
I was on Youtube watching numberphile videos because my favorite number is 800 and I wanted to see if I could find someone just like me :(. But I found something even cooler, I came across the numberphile youtube channel. It’s like sacred geometry shit but numbers and equations. Methodical almost. I was learning about Platonic Solids in their video “The Holey Monster (with 934 faces).” What does it mean to me? I don’t know. It’s cool though.
When I was a kid and my mom got deported. It shaped who I am now. She’s back in the US, though.
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
That I need to get a “real” job. I already have one.
Who are some artists your supporters might be surprised to hear you’re inspired by?
Björk, Dean Blunt, Florence Sinclair, Samba Jean Baptiste, Arca and Triad God.
What’s the last song you made that you’re extremely proud of?
“FOX LADY LAUNDRY 250 NE 167TH.” It’s about my best friend who passed away in 2023. I cry in the song. It’s a freestyle.
What’s the last thing you wrote in your Notes app?
“It’s not my real number.”
