Blending Hip-Hop and Racing
Von Barz isn’t just making music; he’s breaking barriers and rewriting the narrative of what hip-hop can represent. His latest single, “Nazcar,” merges his love for music and motorsports, creating an anthem that’s as dynamic as it is meaningful.
Inspired by his upbringing in Georgetown, SC, and his experiences working at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Von Barz has crafted a track that speaks to resilience, ambition, and determination.
The UrbanSound Team Interviews Von Barz
The UrbanSound team spoke with Von Barz to explore the themes of “Nazcar” and the deeper messages behind his music.
In “Nazcar,” you mention crashing billboards. Is this a metaphor for success in your
music career? How does it reflect your ambitions?
I see NAZCAR being a Billboard charting track. I feel this song sets a precedence for
me and my team displaying our true talent exploring more than just hip hop. We plan on giving
the fans much more than what yall would anticipate. We reaching deep in the bag to bring yall
that saucy s***. We want our music to be remembered decades from now and not just seasonal.
Once the tone is set you never know, I want to stay in a lane or explore my hybrid talent. It just
depends on the flow and response, ya know. The beauty of it is, we can make the adjustments
in any direction needed. I know this project will be a special one.
How did you come up with the specific lyrical flow and cadence in “Nascaar”? Did it take
any time to find the right rhythm or style for the track?
The lyrical breakdown derives from my geechie roots, the main premise of my flow. I
then tied that into the cowboy feel of the Nascar brand.
Lyrics:
“I bet you won’t pass me, it seems I know magic, full throttle I’m blasting pit stop and I’m
mashing.” What do you think that means outside of literal race jargon?
I’ll do whatever it takes even pull a hat trick to make sure I cross the finish line. I’m going as
hard as I can to be number 1 at whatever is placed in front of me. Pit stop is a short break that I
must go through and it may help or it may hurt but once I make it out, I’m going hard (full
throttle). Life comes at you fast. NAZCAR is deep, for my mature fans you will understand the
breakdown. Trust me it’s all natural. “Think I need a lock box, see I got a fat knot” (I now feel like
I have to watch my back and protect mines. Who or if I can trust anyone, I think I need a lock
box.) I featured myself on my own song. Vs 2 is Barz no Von (the climate of the music changes
in this vs) “Swear it came hard for the hood, lost a lot of dogs in the hood, pray we get out of the
hood, I would take em all if I could.” “I ain’t gone switch the game just cause they play us, man
we rep the hood better than our own mayor!” Its intense, I flipped the switch. I’m expressing how
few make it out but I’d like to take as many as I could if I could. I wont switch up on you just
cause I made it, I’ll represent more meaningfully for you than the mayor of the town. I feel you
vs seeing you. We know as you elevate that your circle changes but it doesn’t mean lose
awareness and safely maximize outreach to those who matter to you. Nazcar wraps into real life
subliminally like a King Cobra which makes it so dynamic.
Can you walk us through the process of producing “Nazcar”? Did you collaborate
with any producers or musicians on this track?
Shouts to Tampa my producer on this track. I gave homie an idea, gave him a sound
and a feel. The guitars, keys and instruments were all a collab of ideas and displayed his
creativity. Tampa put this track together for me and we built stems and sounds around my
vocals. We knew in the studio we were cooking up 1! We went back and forth a few times
adding subtracting and finding that sound vocally etc. We vibed to get the tempo and sound I
envisioned. Eventually things fell into pocket, and we hit the mark. Sometimes you know you got
a hit and often you don’t know you just making music. We knew this the track was gonna be
special! Shouts to Tampa Boi Beats & Fire Dept. Studios out of the homie Alex Lilly.
The song’s themes of determination and resilience are clear. How do you balance
these themes with your desire to entertain and connect with your audience?
I appreciate music as an art because you can express yourself through messages and
lingo. There is obviously struggle in the song and it’s disguised, giving a automatic cohesive
balance. All for the love of the music we can talk pain and joy all in one. Sharing perspective
through the wire and pen is special. You never know who it’s hittin, timing and how.
In “Nazcar,” you talk about being the “voice for your people.” What does that mean
to you, and how do you hope your music impacts your community?
As I take you through NAZCAR, when I say I want to be a voice. It’s different from like
how Durk calls himself the voice of the streets. Shouts to Smurk, you know, I hope homie come
out of his situation, butyou know he’s living that life he raps about. When you from the trenches
you learn to love it and it becomes hard to break free in a weird way. One thing about struggle,
you must respect it! It makes you appreciate the wins more and typically you learn to stand on
certain morals from it. Yall know the slogan, live by the sword die… So that’s why it’s hard
because in music we want to promote what we know and where we come from, because we
want realness right? So, authenticity for us is being and living what and who you say you are.
Some of us feel we have to be a certain way especially when you are a product of your
environment. Somebody like Durk is what we would call loyal to the game but not loyal to
himself. You gotta salute homie, but he’s in a jam. Not everybody who is with you for you.
Hopefully he comes out of it and makes the best of a second opportunity.
In life there’s predators and prey. Imagine being the prey, you could care less what happens to
predators. If you are a predator you sympathize with the predators, same rules apply on the
other end. That’s the beauty about life, your come from determines your sense of direction
typically. You have to understand full spectrum. I want to support communities, churches,
businesses and not just take care of mines. I want people to
understand I’m not doing this for me but us and humbly. A voice where people feel comfortable
communicating positivity and strength from within without its judgment you know.
Shouts to artist like Jay -Z, Nas, J Cole, Kendrick, Nipsey, Pac, Simba and many others spitting
knowledge in their music also. We gotta keep it up.
What do you want listeners to take away from “Nazcar”? Is there a specific
message or feeling you hope they walk away with after hearing the track?
I want the fans to know that I’m a regular guy. I want them to know that I’ve
accomplished many things before the music. I’m integral, I want to stand for being real, I want
you to know I am who I say I am. I’m black to the core. I come from poverty, I come from
success, I come from pain and struggle, I come from knowledge and wisdom. Most of us have
seen too much at tender ages. Appreciate the wins, we come from losses, humble beginnings. I
come from hard-working people, I come from all that and witnessed my family’s resiliency.
We are strong people my little brother worked his way through average jobs to becoming a
district manager with a high school degree, that special! My sisters, they hustlers, both of em.
One doing well in the medical field and the other is a business owner. We all have our ups and
downs, but we all were raised to be ambitious and never lay down. My mom came from working
in clinics to running them and becoming successful, obtaining multiple degrees furthering her
career! My step pops managing most of his career to transitioning into the medical field and
being successful. He took a risk and changed careers as an adult which is scary. You know and
being successful at it! I’m used to seeing people win after losses so I know it’s how you finish
not how you start! And last but not least my dad being ex-military and battling the obstacles of a
young black male in corporate America in the 80s & 90s, he just brought the trauma home
with him. I mean seeing other kids with their dads in the stands at games fishing on vacation, at
school, weddings, birthdays. You know I just don’t have many of those. Me being able to
understand what he was saying when he was saying it, even though I didn’t feel it then and the
tough love and things like that was a challenge as a kid. He transformed into being a much
easier going person to deal with as he got older and I appreciate that part. I missed so many
years though and now he’s gone. So, my advice is to love your people while they are here. My
family going through a lot of things right now, you know, I dont let people see it. I hold it
down, keep a smile on my face because I’m resilient, but a lot of people get bogged down,
thinking the world revolves around them when everybody else got problems too! The thing is no
one’s problem is bigger than your problem. You have to have the answers yourself. That is my
determination and me as a man, that’;s my character. So I want the people to know that you
know a lot of the time, we glorify things like getting shot, jack boys, hustlers, killings and get
back, sex, woman, dope boys. Why don’t we glorify the good pastors, the good mothers, the
great politicians, the motivational speakers, investors, the integral athletes and real life winners?
The media popularize what drives sales and doesn’t emphasize what makes you stronger
internally that influences generational wellbeing. there’s no reach one teach one! it’s all about
legacy and wealth not money and pride! you win at life, behave ignorantly go to prison then
people call you stupid laugh and mock you. Contrarily when you do good you’re a sap or soft or
whatever judgement is cast upon you. Get your money buy property, build sustainable wealth
have options and teach others how to do it and stay free along the process! GOD blesses you
take it and run it up don’t f*** it off. don’t get tricked out your spot! I know people want to hear
the real, we like that, we live for the underdog glory stories. I’m some of that I live it and love it
too. In life there are victories and then there are moral victories, they hit Different. I wont sit up
here like most and act like I’m gangster drug lord of the year. I’m an educated businessman with
plenty of experienced in life on both sides. I want people to know that it’s nothing wrong with
being street savvy and being respected, but it’s also cool to be legit with benefits and seasoned
at life. Think about it like this, if I teach my sons to be criminals and thugs, they gain the world
and its typically taken away by death or law because its illegal or fraud. If I teach my sons to
earn it they own it and can pass it on to the next. Power up!
Stay Connected with Von Barz
Von Barz’s journey is a testament to resilience, ambition, and the power of blending diverse passions. From Georgetown’s quiet streets to the adrenaline of the racetrack and the energy of the music stage, Von continues to inspire and innovate.
Don’t miss out on his latest single, “Nazcar”, now available on all major streaming platforms.
Stream “Nazcar” now: Spotify Link
Follow Von Barz for more updates, music, and behind-the-scenes content:
- Instagram: @VonBarz
- Twitter: @VonBarz
