Growing up in Inglewood, California, Natia learned early how to navigate an environment where everybody seemed to know everybody. A mixed-race kid of Samoan and Black descent, he often felt like the only person from his background in the area. His upbringing was far from easy, but those experiences would eventually become part of the story behind his music.
Home was not always a stable place for Natia. As a teenager, he was frequently kicked out, eventually experiencing homelessness from the age of 16 through 25. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his home life, he found ways to stay active and keep moving forward. He played sports, including freshman basketball, while also becoming what he describes as a dedicated “skate rat,” spending time at local spots like Rogers Park, Westchester and Venice Beach.
Those places became more than somewhere to hang out. They became spaces where Natia developed his creativity. He would write rhymes, practice his flow and use whatever was around him to work on his rhythm, sometimes beating on desks or turning everyday surroundings into a makeshift drum.
His interest in music started early. At 12, he discovered Eminem, and hearing his technical ability opened the door to a deeper interest in hip-hop. From there, Natia began studying the craft for himself, eventually becoming heavily focused on battle rap and technical wordplay. Artists like Big L, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah helped shape his early style.
Around 16, Natia also became involved in tagging culture, joining crews including JDI, J Crew and PIE. While he was a late bloomer in that world, it became another part of his teenage years and his connection to the streets and creative culture around him.
As he got older, Natia began expanding beyond Inglewood and exploring different parts of Los Angeles, including Santa Monica and Hollywood. His experiences continued to shape his perspective, while music remained one of the few things that stayed consistent.
Over time, his approach to music began to change. What started with battle raps and technical lyricism eventually evolved into something more complete. Natia realized that being an artist meant being versatile—not just proving how well he could rap, but creating songs that connected, carried emotion and had their own identity.
That evolution was also influenced by the people around him. His manager Freddy and engineer Adrian played important roles in helping him refine his sound, make better production choices and grow into the artist he is today.
Natia officially began building his catalog with projects like Newport Diaries in 2016, followed by 10k Hours in 2017 and Summer Reign in 2019. He returned with Newport Diaries 2 in 2022 before releasing his latest project, 2WICE AS GOOD 4 HALF AS MUCH (DELUXE).
Throughout the journey, records like “We Want Mo’,” “LIFE’S A GAME,” “SHAKA TEE,” “TADAA,” “Movin’ Fast,” “BxR,” “Renaissance Forever” and “HIGH SPEED” have helped document different stages of his growth.
Now, Natia continues to push his sound forward with his latest single, “BOP IT,” featuring G Perico, currently available on all streaming platforms.
