"Music is Emotion....
Feel Better"
~Xero Nonce
About me
My story, my voice, my music
Washington, D.C. native, Xero Nonce (He/Him) started out collecting records as if they were
comic books. Then in 1994, he found his calling as producer in the midst of sharpening his skills
of rhyme. After joining the Homeless Society collective, he set out to prove himself amongst his
peers; not only as a formidable emcee but as a respected producer.
It was his mentor Kokayi that set him on his future path by saying “your attribute ain’t on no fortune cookie, slim!” It was then XERO NONCE was solidified.
He had become an independent producer in his early years, creating music in various genres, be it Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, House and Ballroom.
After enduring a stroke, he had almost given up on life until he was reminded in speech therapy that if he could still create a tune, he could still produce music.
He has since then released six albums and timeless singles, including “April Showers”, “Thundercat Ha!”, “Here comes the Hurricane” with Kevin JZ , “The Drive” with Philadelphia’s own King Jay and The "James Baldwin's Shotgun" project with Tim'm West and Da Mad Hatter .
His music is featured in Cambur Production’s “Intercambio” , Zack Fox's set on Amazon Music's Camp Flof Gnaw 2025 and A. Diggs “Ask The Coach” podcast.
“Music is Emotion...Feel Better”® ~Xero Nonce
"I make music 'cause my soul's got a story to tell" ~ Xero Nonce
My discography
James Baldwin's Shotgun
(2025)
James’ Baldwin’s Shotgun is a collaboration between Hip Hop vets Xero Nonce and Tim’m West (formerly of DDC). Wrestling with good faith in U.S. democracy and its betrayal
Americans who voted in November 2024, the voice and legacy of acclaimed icon James
Baldwin provides clarity and conviction through his powerful foreshadowing of America’s
reckoning for failure to reconcile its history of slavery, Jim Crow, and efforts to dehumanize its
Black and other marginalized citizens. As Black gay/queer/same gender loving men Xero Nonce
and Tim’m West, Baldwin’s unapologetic influence as among the first public figures who affirmed
both his blackness and queerness, serves as a lighthouse for these Gen X, Golden-era emcees
to navigate the current darkness. Historically, Hip-Hop's not so thinly veiled glass ceiling has
prevented gay (male) emcees from securing the commercial backing, with Frank Ocean and
more recently Lil Nas X being artists who’ve had formidable mainstream success, if dismissed
as purely vocalists or entertainers over and above lyricists and emcees.
The Phantasm Truth
(2022)
Xero's first musical offering after a much needed hiatus, started as a healing and therapy project and later became the shovel he needed to dig himself out of the headspace of doubt.
A Night At The Movies
(2024)
A Night At The Movies is a mixture of some of the most influential movies from Xero's upbringing combined with his musical orchestration. In turn, creating track after track of artistic beauty. With Da Mad Hatter adding his instrument to Soundz (All Deez) this offering is definently worth listening to.
Music Videos
"Music is what I know more than people. And what I've learned is, People need good music like they need good water"
~Xero Nonce on The Thundercat Ha!