Jermain Baxter (born December 5, 1972), better known as Nature, is an American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

, best known for his association with fellow New York City rapper

Nas Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones. Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to: Aviation * Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea * National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia ** Nas Air ( ...

and having replaced

Cormega Cory McKay (born December 3, 1970), better known by his stage name Cormega, is an American rapper who attained notice when he was shouted out by Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed 1994 album ''Illmatic''. The album was re ...

in the original QB group

the Firm The FIRM (stylized as The FIRM) is a brand of exercise videos and equipment currently owned by Gaiam. The original "The FIRM" videos are best known for popularizing a hybrid of aerobic exercise and weight training. History In 1979, Anna Bens ...

."Queensbridge's Nature Has Musical Knowledge 'For All Seasons'", '' New York Beacon'', November 15, 2000

Career

Baxter grew up in Queensbridge,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, and went to school with Nas.Dillon, Charlotte " Nature Biography,

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, retrieved 2010-02-11Wilson, Elliott (1999)
Nature: Organic MC
, ''

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down productio ...

'', June 1999, retrieved 2010-02-11 Nas introduced Nature to the public in 1997, as a member of his supergroup

The Firm The FIRM (stylized as The FIRM) is a brand of exercise videos and equipment currently owned by Gaiam. The original "The FIRM" videos are best known for popularizing a hybrid of aerobic exercise and weight training. History In 1979, Anna Bens ...

, whose members also included AZ and Foxy Brown. Nature was brought in to replace rapper

, who had a contractual dispute with Nas' manager

Steve Stoute Steve Stoute (born June 26, 1970) is an American businessman and record executive. Stoute is the founder and CEO of the Translation, a marketing agency, and the author of ''The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the ...

. The Firm's first and only album, '' Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature Present The Firm: The Album'', went platinum, and topped the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart.''The Album
', ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'', retrieved 2010-02-11 The group disbanded in 1997 to pursue various solo projects. In 1998, Nature was featured on

Noreaga Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names Noreaga and later N.O.R.E., is an American rapper. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop d ...

's single "

Banned from T.V. "Banned from T.V." is a song by American rapper N.O.R.E., Noreaga, released as the third single from his debut studio album ''N.O.R.E. (album), N.O.R.E.'' (1998). The song, Hip hop production, produced by then up-and-coming record producer Swizz ...

", alongside

Big Pun Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the ea ...

Cam'ron Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976), better known by his stage name Cam'ron, is an American rapper, record executive, and actor from Harlem, New York City. Beginning his career in the mid-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed to Lance "Un" ...

Jadakiss Jason Terrance Phillips (born May 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Jadakiss, is an American rapper from Yonkers, New York. He began his career in the 1990s as a member of the rap trio The Lox, managed by Ruff Ryders and signed with Bad ...

and

Styles P David R. Styles (born November 28, 1974), better known by his stage name Styles P (also known mononymously as Styles), is an American rapper, best known as a member of hip hop group the Lox, alongside childhood friends Sheek Louch and Jadakiss. ...

. After several delays, Nature's debut album ''For All Seasons'', was released in 2000 by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

and featured a guest appearance from Nas.Conaway, Matt " ''For All Seasons'' Review,

, retrieved 2010-02-11 It reached number 50 on the Billboard 200. He followed this in 2002 with ''Wild Gremlinz'', released on independent Sequence Records, which reached number 150 on the Billboard 200 but reached number 9 on the Independent Albums chart. Three of his tracks were included on the soundtrack of the film

Angels in America ''Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes'' is a two-part play by American playwright Tony Kushner. The work won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for O ...

in 2003. A third album, ''Pain Killer'', was released in 2008 with production largely handled by

Scram Jones Marc Shemer, (born November 5, 1977), better known by his stage name Scram Jones, is a producer, DJ and rapper from New Rochelle, New York. He has produced music for Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Styles P, Tragedy Khadafi, Jadakiss, Saigon, Dip ...

, Dub Sonata & Mes. Nature released a series of EP's titled Seasons Changed in 2013-2014 under DCM.

Discography

Studio albums

*''

For All Seasons ''For All Seasons'' is the debut studio album by the American rapper Nature, released in 2000 via Columbia Records. The album was produced mainly by Trackmasters. Critical reception Matt Conaway of AllMusic praised Nature for being "an exception ...

'' (2000) *''

Wild Gremlinz ''Wild Gremlinz'' is the second studio album by American rapper Nature. It was released on May 28, 2002 through Sequence Records. Recording sessions took place at Comfort Zone Studios, Soundtrack Studios and SPK Room Lab in New York, and at Heavy ...

'' (2002) *''Pain Killer'' (2008) *''Target Practice'' (2016)

Collaborative albums

*'' The Firm: The Album'' (with

) (1997)

Compilation albums

*''Seasons Changed'' (2015) *''Queens Classics'' (2016) *''Queens Classics 2'' (2017)

Mixtapes

*''The Nature Files: The Best of Nature Vol.1'' (2007) *''The Lost Tapes Volume 1'' (2008) *''The Ashtray Effect'' (2013) *''The Ashtray Effect Vol.2'' (2015) *''The Ashtray Effect Vol.3'' (2015)

Extended plays

*''Seasons Changed: Spring Edition'' (2013) *''Seasons Changed: Summer Edition'' (2013) *''Seasons Changed: Fall Edition'' (2013) *''Seasons Changed: Winter Edition'' (2014)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nature 1972 births African-American male rappers Living people People from Long Island City, Queens Rappers from New York City 21st-century American rappers The Firm (hip hop group) members 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American people