The 90s welcomed some of the best musicians and artists of the 21st century including Canadian singer The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper, Ariana Grande and Martin Garrix, and amongst that list is the Eminem sound-alike, NF, who was born in March of 1991. But who are his parents?
The identity of NF’s parents remains unknown, though it is common knowledge that his mother passed away from an overdose when he was 17 and NF had been living with his father prior to this as his mother’s partner had allegedly physically abused him.
You can read more below about NF and the motives and inspiration behind some of the most touching, relatable hits he has written in his career.
Turbulence and Chaos
Turbulent and chaotic are both words that best describe the childhood the famous rapper NF had.
If anything’s for sure, it’s that growing up his life was very far from settled and stable – it was, in fact, quite the opposite of that. Rapping was his way out, his escape from what seemed to be the neverending struggles and hardships he faced as a young man.
When listening to NF’s songs, you’ll notice that virtually none of them breed happiness or positivity. If anything, his songs shout out with rage and anger which all festers from coming from a broken home.
NF’s parents divorced when he was young. To begin with, he lived with his mom and her partner but it wasn’t long before things turned sour and NF’s father had to step in to remove him from the home that was the site of the physical abuse he endured as a child.
Sadly, over 700,000 children are the victims of physical abuse each year in the US, and this type of abuse, as with other the other types can have a long-lasting negative effect on the victim’s health and wellbeing. As a survivor of abuse, you’re likely to experience mental struggles and potentially have a hard time building healthy relationships in the future.
A Life That Inspired Him
One can only imagine the challenges NF faced from his parent’s divorce coupled with the abuse he fell victim to as a child.
If there’s one positive to come out of a negative, it’s that his life, namely his experiences and his struggles in it, have been the inspiration behind his career in rapping.
In an interview with Numero’s Sophie Rosemount, when asked what his inspiration for his songs was he said, “My own life. I’ve released three albums that testify to what I’ve been through, particularly, Therapy Session, where I talk to myself like I was my own shrink. Perception is a new situation: I’m questioning myself about the future, I’ve got a key I’m not sure how to use… Which door do I open?”
Indeed, NF’s second album contains a single that is deeply personal as it narrates the agonizing pain he felt in relation to his mom’s tragic death.
Lyrics from the single entitled “How Could You Leave Us?” describe the torment and trauma attached to his mom’s passing. Read more below on these lyrics.
I got this picture in my room and it kills me,
But I don’t need a picture of my mom, I need the real thing,
Now a relationship is something we won’t ever have,
Why do I feel like I lost something that I never had?
According to Rapzilla’s David Daniels, NF reveals on his outro to Therapy Sessions (the album the above song appears in) “When I feel something, whether it’s anger, it’s a passion about something or frustration, like, this is where I go. This is … that’s the whole ‘nfrealmusic’ thing, man. This is real for me. I need this. This is a therapy for me.”