Nick Hook And Novelist Connect On The Massive “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
The song was recorded during a trip to New York.
Earlier this year Novelist took a trip from his native London and visited New York. The grime MC's plan was "laying some kind of foundation," he said via email to The FADER. He soon linked with Fool's Gold producer Nick Hook at his studio in the city. During their time together Novelist and Hook recorded "Can't Tell Me Nothing," which The FADER is premiering today. The song has a furious energy, complete with samples of dialogue from T.V. news coverage of the 2011 London riots.
Hook and Novelist also visited MoMA where they spent time looking at Picasso sculptures and paintings. "It brought me to the realisation that you can make your art any way you want," Novelist added. "I told Nick we ain't got no black heroes in the U.K. The music we make has only recently begun to be accepted on a larger scale than ever. It's only now the music has become a platform for us to say what we need to say to affect people’s lives for the better. It's fucked. When I make music it's been organic my whole life, but this time it was a movie."
Hook, meanwhile, was struck by Novelist's unwavering vision. "It was crazy to see a person that's 19 years old without any sort of creative fear. To be able to build on that relationship is why I continue to do this. Even when it gets hard and you look around and wonder if anyone else is doing this for the same reasons you are. When you get that it gives you endless hope."
Check out the video above, and see Nick Hook's upcoming live dates below.