NF Is Taking Over the World

NF's breakout single, "Let You Down," earning RIAA platinum certification for total consumption in excess of 1 million singles sold-combining equivalent traditional sales and on-demand audio and video streams. The song has more than 500 million worldwide streams.


2017 saw a seven-year upward success story pay off in a big way for Michigan rapper NF, punctuating his unassuming rise to becoming one of hip-hop's household names. The rapper just surpassed one billion total streams across his career, including more than 700 worldwide streams for his latest album, Perception. "Let You Down" staked out a spot in the Top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100, signaling another first for the artist. It simultaneously hit #2 on Shazam's Top 10 as well.

Next up, NF takes Perception on the road with the 2018 Perception World Tour beginning January 23. 36 of the 44 dates have already sold out, with remaining tickets going fast. Fans can visit nfrealmusic.com for the Perception World Tour tickets.

"Let You Down" has served as a gateway for countless new fans to experience NF's third full-length album, Perception, which bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. Upon arrival, it sent shockwaves throughout the culture at large as chronicled by Forbes, Billboard, New York Times, Rolling Stone, and many more. The song has reached platinum status in the United States, Sweden (3x Platinum), The Netherlands (2x Platinum), New Zealand (2x Platinum), Ireland (2x Platinum), Canada, Australia and Italy.

In addition, five album tracks have already exceeded 7 million Spotify streams each as he regularly averages over 20 million monthly listeners and emerges among the "Top 60 Most Listened To Artists in the World" currently on the platform.

As part of his quiet culture infiltration, NF (a.k.a. Nathan Feuerstein) has fast become a streaming phenomenon due to overwhelming fan support. Thanks in part to that same fan movement, NF's third studio album, Perception, exceeded expectations to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200, marking not only the rapper's first chart topping release, but also his first release to debut in the Top 10 and cementing Perception's accomplishment as a genuine underdog victory. With more than 35 career syncs to date, including looks on ESPN, FOX, Monday Night Football, VH1 and more, NF and his Real Music movement are here to stay.

Remedy Drive Featured in TN Hyundai Promotion

Remedy Drive is currently featured in Middle Tennessee Hyundai Dealers' "Music that Drives" promotion. "Hyundai Presents Music that Drives with Remedy Drive," a video of the band cruising through Nashville, including a stop at celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart's studio. The video is featured at musicthatdrives.com, along with Remedy Drive's "Love Is Our Weapon," from their latest recording, Commodity.

"We've had a blast doing the video and being part of the Hyundai 'Music that Drives' promotion," said Remedy Drive founding member and frontman David Zach. "We were able to share our heart in the video, as well as to revisit some of our favorite hometown locations which brought back special memories. Hopefully, people who are introduced to us by the video will be drawn to learn more about our music and our motivation for what we do."

The band's latest recording, Commodity--inspired by their ongoing commitment to fight human trafficking--featured the #1 title track which remained atop national Christian rock charts for seven weeks. Music from Remedy Drive has been utilized on NBC, SpeedTV and VH1, while the band's song "Daylight" was featured in the feature film "The Perfect Summer."

Scott Stapp to Record Single About His Mental Health Struggles & Talks Creed Reunion

Scott Stapp tells Billboard he'll hit the studio during December to record "Up From the Ashes," which will be released in January as part of an initiative with the National Alliance For Mental Illness "to really raise awareness and try to fight the stigma of mental health." The song is part of Stapp's recovery from a meltdown last fall, which saw him post a series of alarming social media messages claiming to be broke, homeless and under government surveillance.

Entering treatment, Stapp was diagnosed as bipolar and manic depressive. Shortly after, he reconciled with his wife, Jaclyn, both of whom went on to appear in the current season of VH1's Couples Therapy With Dr. Jenn.

"I'm excited about this campaign," Stapp says, "and I'm excited that I'm afforded the opportunity to speak out about this epidemic we have in our country, to help fight stigma and hopefully connect with others who are suffering out there in silence, and families that are suffering in silence, not knowing what to do with a family member who's in the throes of mental illness, and really point them in the right direction to where they can get help. Hopefully we can be a catalyst to help someone who's suffering to feel like it's OK to ask for help. I think it's also part of my healing process to feel like this all has purpose and that I can pay it forward."

Stapp says the "Up From the Ashes" song "comes out of this experience directly and sums up my experience of the last year in one song."  It's also one of a number of songs he's been writing for a follow-up to his second solo album, Proof of Life.

Stapp plans to be rocking when he heads out on tour, starting with three dates in South Africa during December and then a 17-date North American tour that heads out Jan. 14 in St. Petersburg, Fla. This will be his first public run since his breakdown, and while Stapp is "horrified" by what happened, he's also pleased to have finally been diagnosed.

"There's most definitely a sense of relief, especially knowing that it can be treated and I don't have to suffer anymore and that I actually have a plan of action in terms of how to maintain my health and not ever go back to those dark places that I've been battling with for 20 years," says Stapp. The plan includes not only medication, but daily 12-step meetings, intensive physical workouts, meditation and prayer. "I've spent the last year really working on myself, reconnecting with my wife and my kids and just focusing our attention on healing and rejuvenation to get to a healthy place and move forward. It's been a difficult year but also a very healing year. It's like coming to the end of a really difficult 20 years, and it feels good. It feels like there's light and a new chapter and a new beginning."

Stapp is also hoping for a fresh start with his band Creed, which has been dormant since 2013. He participated in a golf tournament with drummer Scott Phillips, during which the idea of a reunion was discussed -- and not ruled out.

"The consensus is we'll address it once we've all finished with the projects we have scheduled over the next year and a half or two years," Stapp says.  "The Creed conversation will come up again in a couple of years and we'll see how it goes. It's kinda up in the air. Right now what me and Scott Phillips talked about and bounced around was possibly the end of 2017 as being the first little window of opportunity that might work for Creed, but nothing has been set in stone."

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Needtobreathe Performs 'The Heart' on VH1's "Stop/Watch"

Last time Needtobreathe was in New York City they were invited into VH1 for a Stop/Watch performance. The mission was to record one of their songs in just 60 seconds - take a peek at our condensed version of "The Heart" below, or at VH1.com.