{{short description|British musician (born 1986)}} {{Notability|Music|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Nat Powers | image = Nat Powers, East London Sept 2020.jpg | caption = Nat Powers, East London, 2020 | image_size = | birth_name = Nathaniel Powers | alias = Mr Powers | birth_date = {{birth_date and age|df=yes|1986|6|4}} | death_date = | origin = Leicester, England | instrument = Vocals, Drums, Akai MPC, Keyboards, SSL Board | genre = Hip hop, rap, grime, soul, R&B, Motown, Neo soul | occupation = Songwriter, Record producer, Composer, Lyricist, Poet | years_active = 1999–present | associated_acts = {{hlist|Snoop Dogg|Sam Sneed|Spice One|Ghostface Killah|The Pharcyde|Run Dmc|Darryl McDaniels|Newham Generals|Leroy Burgess|Heartless Crew|Death Row Records|Maxi Priest|Professor Green|Danny Boy (singer)|Tray Deee|Tha Eastsidaz}} | website = {{URL|www.nat-powers.com}} }} thumb|Nat Powers Signature
'''Nat Powers''' (born '''Nathaniel Powers''' on 4 June 1986) is a British record producer and song writer from Leicester who has worked with hip-hop figures such as Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, Spice One and with a majority of the Death Row Records roster. He was mentored by multi-platinum rapper and producer Sam Sneed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broken-culture.co.uk/?p=4802#|title=Nat Powers Interview|website=Broken-culture.co.uk|author=Quinn, Max|date=November 2012|access-date=2013-02-01}}</ref> He has also been co-mentored by musician Leroy Burgess of the 1970s R&B group Black Ivory, who himself was mentored by Stevie Wonder when he was rising to fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/young-super-producer-makes-waves-worldwide-12363321.html?image=2704195&cat=33|title=Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide |website=Yahoo.com|author=Joseph Squellati|date=21 October 2013|access-date=2013-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022215533/http://voices.yahoo.com/young-super-producer-makes-waves-worldwide-12363321.html?image=2704195&cat=33 |archive-date=2013-10-22}}</ref> {{verify source|date=October 2021}}
==Early years== Nathaniel Powers enrolled in a local college course in 2003 and studied Music Technology, going on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Music, Technology and Innovation.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130216051715/http://hiphopfrathouse.com/nat-powers] </ref> During his university studies he began working with orchestras and choirs as a conductor, choir director and film scorer, before going on to establish himself as a record producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blatantlyblunt.com/interview-uk-producer-nat-powers-talks-working-with-public-enemy-run-dmc-working-on-nwa-movie-and-more|title=UK Producer Nat Powers|website=Blatantlyblunt.com|author=Blunt, Nick|date=20 October 2012|access-date=2013-02-01}}</ref> {{verification needed|date=October 2021}}
==''Doctor's Note''== In 2010, he began close a working relationship with the son of Dr. Dre, Curtis Young. Together they created an album, titled ''Doctor's Note'' with Young providing the vocals and Powers on the production. The album had a worldwide release in September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.popkiller.pl/2012-12-17,curtis_youngnat_powers_doctors_note_ep_recenzja|title=Curtis Young/Nat Powers "Doctor's Note EP" - recenzja|website=Popkiller.pl|author=Miedzielec, Pawel|date=17 December 2012|access-date=2013-02-01}}</ref>
==Explosion incident== On 31 August 2011, Nat Powers narrowly escaped being killed in an explosion that tore apart a kebab shop. A body was discovered in the wreckage by firefighters, and was later identified as employee Fiaz Ahmed Ansari. Six people – two men and four women were arrested by police shortly after the explosion, and in September 2012 two of the suspects were found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for eight years each.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-19734929|title=Leicester kebab shop fire pair jailed for manslaughter|publisher=BBC News|author=|date=26 September 2012|access-date=2013-12-17}}</ref> Nat Powers described seeing a flame ball shoot out and the metal shutters "flying across the road" to local media in a TV interview, and remarked that to avoid something as devastating as that, "someone was most certainly watching over them".<ref>[https://archive.today/20131217212904/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Mother-son-speak-kebab-shop-explosion-horror/story-13237444-detail/story.html]</ref>{{verify source|date=October 2021}}
==Career== ===2012-2013=== In late 2012 he began working with British Grime artist D Double E, Maxi Priest and produced more than half of an album for West Coast rapper Spice One. Other collaborations he has made include Yukmouth of Luniz, Three 6 Mafia, CJ Mac, The Manhattans, RBX, Akil the MC of Jurassic 5, Slip Capone, Danny Boy (singer) and Run Dmc. {{verify source|date=October 2021}}
In February 2013, he produced the official remix of "Fire Blaze" by British urban group The Rascals, featuring Professor Green, released on EMI/Virgin Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fire-Blaze-Powers-Remix-Explicit/dp/B00C3UZS7A|title=Fire Blaze (Nat Powers Remix) |website=Amazon.co.uk|date=3 April 2013|access-date=2013-04-03}}</ref> In the summer of 2013, he began working on new material for Ghostface Killah, as well as a collaboration with Young Dirty Bastard, first born son of the late Ol' Dirty Bastard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/young-super-producer-makes-waves-worldwide-12363321.html?image=2704195&cat=33|title=Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide |website=Yahoo.com|author=Joseph Squellati|date=21 October 2013|access-date=2013-10-21}}</ref> During the autumn of 2013, he began extensive work on an album for The Pharcyde.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.yahoo.com/young-super-producer-makes-waves-worldwide-12363321.html?image=2704195&cat=33|title=Young Super Producer Makes Waves Worldwide |website=Yahoo.com|author=Joseph Squellati|date=21 October 2013|access-date=2013-10-21}}</ref>
After not performing live for over 10 years whilst concentrating on his production career, Powers returned as a performing artist in late 2013, holding a concert in Paris in La Bellevilloise, followed by another at Le Petit-Bain on the Seine river.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanlifemalawi.com/hip-hop-producer-nat-powers-to-take-malawian-music-to-greater-heights/|title=Hip Hop Producer Nat Powers to Take Malawian Music to Greater Heights |website=Urbanlifemalawi.com|author=Samuel Chiwaka|date=17 February 2014|access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref>
===2014=== In February 2014, Powers announced the release of his debut solo single, titled "Napoleon Bonaparte". The single and official video were released on 25 March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanlifemalawi.com/hip-hop-producer-nat-powers-to-take-malawian-music-to-greater-heights/|title=Hip Hop Producer Nat Powers to Take Malawian Music to Greater Heights |website=Urbanlifemalawi.com|author=Samuel Chiwaka|date=17 February 2014|access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref>
After an eight-month break from music, and a two-month visit to Malawi, Powers returned to his career by producing a new single titled "Lovely Jubbly" for UK Grime artist D Double E. The song received a worldwide premiere on MistaJam's show on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1xtra on 4 October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DDoubleE7/status/518047359260180480|title=Lovely Jubbly|website=Twitter.com|author=|date=4 October 2014|access-date=2014-10-04}}</ref> On 15 October 2014, the official video for "Lovely Jubbly" was released by ''Noisey'' and ''Vice''. The video stars D Double E as a cockney mobster turned debt collector, with Powers co-starring as his 'right-hand man' and driver.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/d-double-e-video-premiere-lovely-jubbly/|title=D DOUBLE E HAS TURNED COCKNEY MOBSTER IN THE VIDEO FOR "LOVELY JUBBLY" |website=Noisey.vice.com|date=15 October 2014|access-date=2014-10-17}}</ref>
===2016=== On 26 February 2016, Footsie of the Newham Generals and Giggs released their single "Hot Water" which was produced by Powers. The single was released on Footsie's own Braindead Entertainment, and was heavily supported by Radio DJ Charlie Sloth and BBC Radio 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapondemand.com/footsie-ft-giggs-hot-water-music-video-footsie-link-up-tv/|title=FOOTSIE FT GIGGS – HOT WATER (MUSIC VIDEO) @FOOTSIE LINK UP TV|website=Rapondemand.com|date=24 February 2016|access-date=2016-03-17}}</ref>
Powers began actively working in the South African music industry, starting by working with platinum recording artist Lira when he produced "Let Go Sometimes" for her 2016 album ''Born Free''; released on 25 March 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i-classical.com/album.html?/born-free-lira/6009707430787|title=LIRA BORN FREE ALBUM INFO, i-classical|website=I-classical.com|date=9 April 2016|access-date=2016-11-17}}</ref> He continued his efforts in the South Africa territory by producing controversial single "The Man" for female rapper Nadia Nakai, released on 19 August 2016 on Independent label Family Tree Entertainment. The single also features the label's CEO and mainstream rapper Cassper Nyovest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysun.co.za/News/Entertainment/listen-nadia-nakais-the-man-20160822|title=LISTEN: NADIA NAKAI'S THE MAN!|website=Dailysun.co.za|date=22 August 2016|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref>
===2018=== In June 2018, Pay As You Go crew member Maxwell D released his single "Grimey Stuff", produced by Powers and featuring Tanya Cracknell (aka The Grime Violinist). The video premiered on SBTV on 21 June 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fabukmagazine.com/maxwell-d-grimey-stuff/|title=Maxwell D, Grimey Stuff|website=Fabukmagazine.com|date=6 June 2018|access-date=2018-09-29}}</ref>
===2020=== In September 2020, Powers produced a single for Grime icon D Double E featuring Kano titled "Tell Me a Ting".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thefader.com/2020/09/02/d-double-e-kano-tell-me-a-ting-video-premiere/|title=Watch D Double E and Kano's incendiary new "Tell Me A Ting" video|author=Salvatore Maicki|website=Thefader.com|date=2 September 2020|access-date=2020-10-26}}</ref> Shortly after, an official remix was released featuring rappers P Money, Frisco (rapper), Backroad Gee, and Novelist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thepitldn.com/pitnews/tell-me-a-ting-remix/|title=Tell Me A Ting Remix|author=Greer Ross-McLennan|website=Thepitldn.com|date=17 October 2020|access-date=2020-10-26}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons}} * [http://www.nat-powers.com Official Website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Powers, Nat}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Leicester