Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, James McCall, better known by his stage moniker Nocando, spent most of his life rapping on the streets and honing his skills in the local scene, which really helped shaped his musical style.
Fast forward to 2016 and Nocando has built a reputable rap career with his regular appearances at The Airliner’s legendary weekly experimental hip-hop and electronic music club, Low End Theory (which he co-founded), affiliation with Project Blowed, and various battle rap performances.
He recently released a new video for the track “ER” and brutally honest single, “El Camino,” which shines a spotlight on his undeniable ability to write incredible bars. In the RAPstation interview, Nocando talks about his upbringing, how he came up with his moniker, and what he’s working on now.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): How did you get your start in hip-hop?
Nocando: Freestyling in the homie Jamar’s mom's van in Suisun, California one summer, which continued through high high school, but seriously, in Leimert Park in LA, then Project Blowed.
What initially attracted you to the genre?
I was a kid in the hood and became a teen in the ‘90s. I really wasn't into music at all. I just found that I had a knack for freestyling. I was a loser in many aspects of teen life and wasn't very passionate about anything. This was something I got positive reinforcement from and something I could do with friends and by myself. I fell in love with the art around the age 17.
Do you remember the first song you wrote? If so what was it called and what was the inspiration behind it?
[Laughs] I’d like to forget it. It was a song called “Deep Sea Diver.” [Laughs] It was a song about drinking produced by the homie Free the Robots.
How did you come up with your moniker?
I just made it up to sign on a battle list at a club ages ago. Back when battles were tournament style and over beats with mics. I changed my name every time, but the time I signed up as Nocando, I did pretty good, so I just kept it. It was lucky
What led to your relationship with Low End Theory?
A rapper named Subtitle introduced me to this dude who had an indie label. I signed with his imprint that summer. He asked me if I want to help found this thing with four other DJs in the fall. I was up for most suggestions back then. My relationship is co-founder and ex-host.
What is your favorite memory from one of your nights there?
My favorite memory is my last night there. I didn't even get to enjoy it, but in retrospect it was the best night because splitting from that collective was my first step to bigger and better records. That scene like all scenes hurt artist as much as they help and give people a false sense of accomplishment. Once I was out of the circle jerk and away from ‘yes men,’ my records got a lot better.
Your single "El Camino" is brutally honest. What sparked that song?
I'm the type of guy that avoids political conversations—in real life and online. I did a lot of self-educating in my early 20s. I got to travel a lot in my mid 20s. I'm an observant and analytical dude. I also try to see things from different sides. With all that I've taken in, I felt that my thoughts on a lot of subjects would be unpopular because I've experienced and taken in a lot of things that my homies and other folks I know haven't. So I bottle them all up so I don't sound like a know-it-all. When you bottle things important up like that, they can spill out.
Where did the concept come from?
I just started freestyling it and it wrote itself after that. This is cliche ,but the song is bigger than me.
What are you working on now?
I'm finishing a project and just working on random songs, covers, producing an artist named Los Moon Walker.
What do you think makes a dope MC?
I really can't say because it's MCing is art and it's subjective. What I think makes me good at my craft is honesty, my life experiences, a little wit, passion, sensitivity plus a rare, and unlikely group of influences.
