My Inspiration: NE-O – Dem Ones

Newcastle-based rapper NE-O releases his brand new single Dem Ones. The track, produced by longtime collaborator Xaatu, will serve “as an energetic trappy banger to carry him through winter”. And will be accompanied by a video produced by Caviar Productions.

Dem Ones sees NE-O continue his fine form with its effortless flow, moreish rhythm and confident swagger. 

We catch up with NE-O to find out what inspired the track…

Just before I wrote Dem Ones, I had been considering quitting music for quite a while. I was feeling like I’d lost my mojo and I couldn’t do it anymore. Then Eyeconic asked me to be part of his set at the Cluny for ‘No Delay 2’, we had a cypher at the end of the show, and I got wheel up after wheel up.

I was driving home from the gig and had to pull over because I suddenly had an idea for a track, and I knew I’d lose it if I kept on driving. I wrote the majority of Dem Ones there in my car outside of the One Stop in Wallsend.

I guess this is a roundabout way of saying that Eyeconic massively inspired this track, because he brought me along to perform with him when he knew I wasn’t feeling at the peak of my powers, and I ended up writing my favourite song to date because of that.