Bio
Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é. N8V ACE yinishyé. Tábąąhá nishłóó, Bíla’ashdla’ii báshíshchíín. Tódích’íi’nii dashicheii. Bíla’ashdla’ii dashinálí. ‘Ákótéego Diné hastiin nishłį́. Tsé Bit’a’í di shi’dizhchį́. Tséłichí’í dah ‘ázkání dę́ę́’ naashá. Bee’éldííldahsinil di shighan. ‘Ahxéhee’
Translation:
Hello my relatives & my people. I am called N8V ACE. I am of the Water’s Edge clan, born for the five finger hand people. My maternal Grandfathers are of the Bitter Water clan. My paternal Grandfather’s are of the five finger hand people. That is how I am a Navajo Man. I was born in Shiprock. I am from Red Mesa. I currently live in Albuquerque. Thank you.
N8V ACE:
I am a Diné (Navajo) Entrepreneur/Author/Videographer/Rap Artist who promotes culture, Native language preservation, and positivity to all. I was born and raised on the Diné / Navajo reservation till adulthood. I was raised by my Grandmother (who is a Diné / Navajo rug weaver) from birth and learned traditional Diné / Navajo ways from her (including the Native language). My movement is about encouraging people to be proud of who they are (especially the youth), to learn about culture / heritage, to keep tradition alive, and to preserve Native languages. I believe in the main philosophy of our Native culture, which is harmony and balance with the Universe. Thank you.
WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
My name is Ricky Nelson and I am called N8V ACE.
WHO RAISED YOU?
My Grandmother (Shimásání).
WHERE WERE YOU RAISED?
I was born and raised on the Diné / Navajo Reservation.
WHAT IS YOUR MUSIC ABOUT?
Thinking, planning, living, and learning. I promote culture, Native language preservation, positivity, and understanding for people from all walks of life.
WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO SPEAK THE DINÉ / NAVAJO LANGUAGE?
Shimá/ Shimásání (my mother/ my Grandmother).
USE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
Human.
WHAT IS YOUR MAIN BELIEF IN LIFE?
Harmony and Balance
RECORD LABEL:
N8V ACE Music
FAVORITE FOOD:
Meat
FAVORITE DRINK:
Tó (Water)
FAVORITE RAP ARTIST:
2pac.
FAVORITE SEASON:
Summer.
FAVORITE THING TO DO:
Live.
WHO’S YOUR IDOL?
I really don’t have one.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 4 YEARS?
Only time will tell.
FAVORITE YEAR:
The year I was born.
FAVORITE TIME OF THE DAY:
Sunrise.
MOST INSPIRING PEOPLE:
Family.
FAVORITE HOLIDAY:
New Years.
BEST FRIEND:
Myself.
WORST ENEMY:
Myself.
BIGGEST COMPETITION:
Myself.
WORST FEAR:
Having fears.
BIGGEST REGRET:
Having regrets.
ONE THING YOU COULD CHANGE OF THE PAST:
Wasting thought on how to change something I can’t change.
FUNNIEST MOMENT:
When someone told me that I couldn’t do it.
REALEST LINE HEARD:
“You want it?…. GO GET IT!”
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.” -Buddha
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLANT?
Corn.
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY?
Making Music.
DO YOU THINK LIFE IS FAIR?
No, I believe nothing is fair.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOU’LL LIVE?
Forever.
HOW LONG DO YOU THINK YOUR BODY WILL LIVE?
102 years from the year I was born.
GREATEST STRENGTH:
Believing.
GREATEST WEAKNESS:
Not believing.
FAVORITE WEATHER:
Sunny & partly cloudy with a very slight breeze.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH?
Yes. I believe in the circle of LiFe.
CRAZIEST THING EVER SEEN:
Change.
FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK:
Today.
FAVORITE COMEDIAN:
George Lopez.
FAVORITE BOOK:
Sheepherder Boy by Ricky Nelson
BEST BUSINESS MOVE:
Investment.
THE BEST DECISION EVER MADE:
Making my own decision.
THE WORST DECISION EVER MADE:
Allowing someone to decide for me.
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Smoke signals.
YOUR BEST ADVICE TO STACKING MONEY:
Stack it. Don’t spend it..
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RACISM?
I believe in respect, understanding, and peace between all human beings.
WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE GIVEN LIFE?
To Live it.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT OTHER RAP ARTISTS TODAY?
I have my opinions about some but I’m too wise to let my opinions over shadow understanding. So no comment.
IF YOU HAD ONE WISH WHAT WOULD THAT WISH BE?
A wish for more wishes.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH THE MUSIC?
By listening to the beat of my heart.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOW YOU GREW UP?
Happy. It helped make who I am today.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST POWERFUL THING IS?
Love.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE 2ND MOST POWERFUL THING IS?
Hate.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SAYING, “MONEY OVER EVERYTHING”….?
No. I believe in the saying, “Family over everything.”
WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN TO YOU?
I believe love is when you put someone’s happiness before your own & being happy from that.
DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN?
No, but I do like children. I have awesome nieces.
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE VACATION SPOT?
Hawaii.
WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE?
Red Mesa, AZ / UT.
DO YOU HAVE A RELIGION?
No. I see myself as spiritual, not religious. However; I do have respect for all religions & I always focus on understanding.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER?
I believe that Knowledge & Wisdom is power.
WHEN DID YOU START RAPPING?
When I was a teenager.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SHOT?
Yeah…by cameras. Haha
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN STABBED?
Yeah…when I was cutting mutton. Haha
WHAT DOES THE NAME N8V ACE MEAN OR WHERE DID IT COME FROM?
N8V is for Native. ACE is in memory of my Grandfather who loved playing cards and my friends called me that for as long as I can remember. N8V ACE also represents the 2 worlds in which I live...The Native world & the modern world.