“Love thy life,” Nauti says on one of his gritty new tracks, his smooth rap flow in full effect. And with a fresh EP, heavyweight collabs, and a tour across NZ and Australia this month, why wouldn’t he be feeling good?
For the prolific Tāmaki Makaurau-based rapper, it’s just another day in the studio. Hot off the heels of his debut album SL500, released just a few months ago, he’s back with CRASH DUMMY MUZIK, a brand new 7-track EP created alongside longtime producer and collaborator Roland Jones.
The collection showcases Nauti’s signature blend of his Haitian roots with Aotearoa street tales, delivering a sound that’s as raw as it is smooth. As he sharpens his craft, he’s lined up an impressive roster of international collaborators, featuring Memphis rapper Duke Deuce, Brooklyn’s CJ Fly from Pro Era, and a remix of “TOO SMOOTH” with US rapper HOODLUM.
On the EP, the title track brings the heat with its tight cadence, “HOOD MENTALITY” paints a picture of Nauti’s humble beginnings, and “LOVE THY LIFE” keeps him fully grounded in the present: “Who cares about the past or the future?” he spits with swagger.
Nauti has been proving his talent live too. Fresh from playing a huge show at Auckland’s Big Fan, he’s headed to Melbourne for his first-ever Australian performance this Saturday, followed by debut showcases at SXSW Sydney, and then wrapping things up with a show in Wellington at Moon at the end of the month.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ last caught up with Nauti when he dropped his Gotham EP last year, declaring him a rising talent to keep an eye on. At the time, Gotham was sitting at the top of the Official Top 20 NZ Albums Chart, holding its own against major acts like Coterie, Stan Walker, and Drax Project. Nauti was already making waves, with fans like Melodownz, Diggy Dupé, Eno X Dirty, and Bailey Wiley all giving him props.
In the two years before that, he dropped two more EPs – Voodoo Child in 2023 and Road to a Brick in 2022 – further cementing his spot in Aotearoa’s hip-hop scene.
With CRASH DUMMY MUZIK now out and his live shows on the rise, Nauti’s proving he’s one to watch on both sides of the Tasman.
