NICKTHEREAL has built a career by refusing to stay in one lane. As a singer, rapper, producer, dancer, director, stylist, designer, and curator of his own universe, NICK’s the kind of artist who doesn’t just release music, he builds worlds around it. Over the years, he has evolved far beyond the image many first knew, transforming from Nick Chou into a fully self-defined creative force whose work now feels more personal, intentional, and more fearless than ever.

For this month’s cover story with LiFTED, NICKTHEREAL opens up about his lifelong relationship with Hip Hop culture, the influence of his family, and what ‘realness’ means to him. He also talked about why creation itself is the thing that keeps him alive. At a time when many artists are chasing algorithms, NICKTHEREAL is creating the freedom to create on his own terms.

Honestly, it’s hard to pinpoint a single ‘aha’ moment. I’ve been obsessed with culture and music since I was a kid. I used to spend all my time in record stores, fascinated by every cover—especially the ones that looked cool or had graffiti on them. I’ve always been deeply drawn to B-boying, DJing, and graffiti culture. Simply put, I’m a culture junkie, a music head, and a lifelong Hip Hop fan.

People imagine I grew up in this typical celebrity household, but it wasn't like that. Sure, there was always music, cool gear, and trendsetting stuff around—that’s just our family culture and lifestyle. That’s just who we are. But my mom and I never actually discussed following this path. She never introduced me to industry uncles or aunties to pull strings. Her only real advice was, "Just be yourself." Honestly, my mom is so fucking cool. She’s a real artist—natural, no bullshit, and she really doesn’t give a fuck.

To be honest, it all started the moment I began to take over my own shit—when I started doing my own A&R, my own production, and taking full creative control.

I’ve never really thought of myself as just a ‘celebrity.’ I’m a creator. Every moment of creation feels real and natural to me. That’s just what I do. I write the song, then I produce it. After production, I direct the video, conceive the visuals, the art direction, and the styling. Then I design the album cover, plan the marketing, the stage, and the events. NICKTHEREAL is a brand that allows me to execute everything I’m good at. I need constant creation to feel alive.

I do Rock, I do Pop, I do Hip Hop. I used to get headaches from thinking I didn’t fit into one specific group identity. But I’ve realized that this is my existence. I am a creator. That is the realest version of me.

This was my first concept album, and it was a dream-come-true project. Everything revolved around the Rock vibes of the 2000s. That era influenced me so deeply. As a kid, I promised myself I’d make music like this one day. This album is about fulfilling that promise.

It’s in my blood, so the process felt incredibly natural and easy. That era had such a strong cultural resonance—rooms covered in posters, watching MTV, buying CDs at record stores, listening to MP3s on a Walkman. It was about skate culture and extreme sports. You heard that sound everywhere. If you lived through it, this album will trigger so many memories. If not, you’re about to experience the real Y2K, the blueprint for so many current trends.

From Nu-Metal to Alternative Rock, Pop Punk, Post-Hardcore, and Emo—these are the things I loved as a kid. Reimagining them now feels like taking my current self back to my student days. It’s funny because all the bands I loved growing up are making comebacks now, and Rock/Metal is blowing up globally again.

The album is titled LOVE RAGE HOPE. The atmosphere and melodies are much darker than my previous work, but within that darkness, there’s a very strong sense of hope. To me, that’s Rock—finding an exit through the release. This music guided me through those emotions. Much of my past work was about self-healing, and this darkness is a reflection of my current headspace. Because I’ve accepted it, I can face it. Releasing that energy through music is pure catharsis. It feels amazing.

This album is for the Millennials—a tribute to that beautiful era.

To me, a concert is a celebration of the work. It’s the ultimate expression of the creator’s original intent. I treat a concert as one massive piece of art. It’s where I showcase everything: my vision as a director, my styling, my aesthetics, my skills as a producer, performer, and designer. People expect my shows to be ‘fresh’ and ‘trendy,’ but those who attend are often more moved by the emotional side. Honestly, on stage, I am incredibly naked and real. My inner self is laid bare before you—even more so than in my daily life. That’s the key to making the live experience different.

Honestly, there’s no formula. Everyone has their own path. What’s more important is being clear about why you want to do this. If you take away the fame and the results, would you still want to do it? Because in this game, those who truly succeed are rare. You have to love the process more than the outcome.