The Unstoppable Nandi!
If you knew Left Eye, you'd know she mentored and managed other artists with her through out her time in the industry - whether it be girl groups, boy groups, male singers, male MC's, or female MC's like Nandi (Inga S. Willis) herself, who was actually signed under her company Left Eye Productions. You may have heard Left Eye shouting her name out along with a list of other people in the alternative version of "Let's Just Do it", or seen her name in the writing credits of some of the songs Left Eye touched under 'I. Willis'. We were able to reach out to Nandi, and get an exclusive interview with her for us fans! She talks about how she met TLC, how she became one of Left Eye's protege's, writing with Left Eye on songs like "U Know What's Up" and "Let Me Live", working with TLC and Blaque, what she's been up to lately, and many of other topics that may definitely peak your interest!
Where were you born?
Southwest Atlanta, born and raised.
How did you get your name?
Every year, my father would give me black history posters and african history books, and Nandi was one of the queens. I chose that name, and it stuck with me. She represented the type of woman I hoped to become.
Who influenced you to become a rapper?
First of all, I was an MC, lol. Anyone can rap, very few can master the gift. I was a writer, and music was another medium for me.
Some of my early influences were MC Lyte, Rakim, Queen Latifah, Slick Rick, KRS One, Monie Love. Female MC's showed me it was a real thing and that I could have a voice in it.
Songwriting just naturally happened.
Where did you get your first break in the business?
When I met Lisa, she got me signed to LaFace Records pretty quickly. I performed for LA Reid on a rooftop at LaFace, and that was it. It happened really fast.
Prior to that, I had been working the talent show circuit in Atlanta, which is what we all had to do to get noticed. She had heard of me from there.
(TLC with Nandi, Jena-Si-Qua, and an actress at TLC's 'CrazySexyCool' album release party December of 1994)
How did you meet TLC and what was the experience like?
It was at a Juneteenth event in Atlanta hosted by V-103 at Grant Park. My sister Stephanie worked in radio station and she let me ride in the limo with them to the event. I had my notebook with me and I just stayed quiet. I was 16. Later in the day, Lisa said she head I was an artist and that she was looking for one. She wrote her number down in my notebook and told me to call her. She drew an arrow to the left and an Eye, and her phone number. I called the next day and she answered. She gave me her address and told me to come over. I drove my little bucket out to she and Andre's house and we talked about my dreams, listened to music and that's where it all began. I saw her pretty much every day after that.
(Nandi with Lisa at LA Reid's Birthday Party in 1996 in the top row, center photo is them at Un's Birthday Party in 1997, and Nandi was a background dancer for Lisa along with Lisa's other artists and friends she used to go clubbing with.)
How did you become one of Lisa’s proteges?
Honestly, we just clicked. I understood her and she understood me, creatively and spiritually. We became friends, and she would share with me what she was learning and going through in the business. I would share with her about college life and she would come visit me. We spent a lot of time together. She took me on the road. We recorded a lot of music and really got to know each other. It was really organic and she was the type of person that if she loved you, she would do absolutely anything to help you get closer to your dream.
Were you attending Howard University when you met TLC?
I was still a junior in high school when I met TLC. I think the first trip I took with them was right after I graduated. We went to Los Angeles for a few weeks. It was amazing. I started Howard that fall.
I read that when you met Lisa was at the same time Drip Drop and Jena-Si-Qua were around as well, and when she passed them to different people for management, she held onto you. Is that true?
Not really, no. She was actually doing very early production deals, so Drip Drop had the first deal at SAVVY records, I was at LaFace, and Jena Si Qua signed to Columbia Records, and later Blaque as well. I never really had management and didn't know it was something I should seek out until later. Lisa did as much as she could herself for everyone and was super involved in the Jena-Si-Qua project. She didn't pass anybody off, we were a deeply loyal family. Left Eye Productions was a unit. I was in school, so I took it upon myself to learn the business. She was a great teacher.
What was it like being at Left Eye Productions and what did you learn from your experiences there?
It was exposure to the music business at the top. TLC was breaking through as an iconic group, and I got to witness it and grow within. I learned the business, good and bad, and developed my work ethic in order to compete at that elite level. It was certainly an industry curriculum.
Did you ever fulfill your desire of being a Film Director?
I've consulted on some film projects and it's far from over.
Can you tell us about when you signed with Dallas Austin as a songwriter?
Dallas called me one day and said he wanted me to come work with him and I said yes. That was after I did the Donell Jones record.
Is that when you decided to write for Lisa?
It wasn't a conscious decision, Lisa was surrounded by artists at all times. She was a great writer. I just knew her brain and how she thought and I would just throw her ideas or write in the session while she was recording, and eventually, she picked something she liked. We had been writing together for years.
Were you in the studio when Lisa decided to do “U Know What’s Up?”
Hah, no. She called me and told me to meet her at the studio and I got there about an hour or two before she came. I heard the track, they looped it, and I went in the booth. When she arrived, I had referenced the verse and she absolutely loved it. She flipped it around a little and the rest is history. Next thing we knew, we were shooting the video and it went number one.
Was it the same with “Space Cowboy” with Nsync?
Exactly the same. We had gotten into a writing rhythm and she wanted me to grow as a writer because artistry wasn't always promised. I would go to the studio and vibe to the record and then she would come and make it her own, or she'd call and i'd go meet her wherever and see what I came up with. It was a fluid process that I was grateful for. She really didn't need my help, but she gave me opportunity. That's the type of person she was.
We noticed you helped write “Head to the Sky” and “Let Me Live”. What was it like being apart of the process and getting those songs done?
It was easy. The vibe was always beautiful and I just made my contribution to what was already brewing. Karriem from Jena-Si-Qua worked with me on both of those songs. We just did it. It was like being in an artist camp and you brought your A game to the booth, because you knew the person coming in after you was going to kill it. It was a friendly competition.
Are there any other songs you helped write on for Lisa?
We have a lot of unreleased songs. Absolutely.
Are there any other artists you've worked with?
Carlos Santana, Anthony Hamilton, Blaque, K. Michelle, Rick Ross, Monica, 2NE1 in Korea, and TLC always.
What are your favorite songs from ‘Supernova’?
My favorite is Let me Live. It gave me peace and felt full circle. I'm proud of that work.
Where were you when you found out about Lisa’s passing?
I was living in New york, up in Harlem . I got a message on my 2-way pager. I felt it coming.
What did Lisa teach you as not only as a mentor, but as a friend?
To be loving, loyal, and committed to those who love you. To fight fiercely for what you stand for and to never compromise the truth for the business. To diversify my business platforms to be more than music. To create no matter what, and to see the world from all angles.
On behalf of Left Eye’s Eyenetics, we thank you for being a Film Consultant for ‘Last Days of Left Eye’! I cannot imagine how tough it must have been help putting that film together.
It was my duty as her friend to do my best to contribute her truth. It was tough.
I did the same with CrazySexyCool for VH1.
What is your favorite TLC album?
Crazy, Sexy, Cool for sure. Fanmail is a close second.
Do you still keep in touch with the girls?
I do, Tionne and I are still good friends and always will be. She is family to me, and has always looked out for me. We've done some other business together. She's a creative powerhouse. I see Rozanda sometimes. It will always be all love. We did a project for Japan a few years ago.
What else have you been working on since Lisa’s passing? I noticed you worked with Trey Songz, Polo Da Don, and Keri Hilson too.
I own a business consulting agency (The Mogul Group) that I started years ago, and a financial services firm (Mogul Insurance Brokers) in Atlanta. I still broker deals, book overseas tours, and do political consulting as well. On the Mogul Insurance Broker side of things, I set up retirement and investments for creative entrepreneurs. We often have nothing set up for life after music, so I created a business to fill the void. I enjoy it.
I used to do a lot of concert booking for several artists including Trey, and I worked on his management team for a few years. Polow and I grew up together in the business. I've known Keri since the 90's, she was in a group called Pretty Tony at the time and I wrote for the rapper. We are all still close friends. It was an era in Atlanta when everybody was working, signed and growing. It was a tight community and we did a lot of work together.
We heard that you linked with Blaque at the Left Eye Music Festival and was managing them at the time Natina passed. Is it true?
Actually Hope Shumpert and I were managing Blaque at that time. We were never UNlinked, lol, it had just been a minute. Hope actually helped originally form the group with Lisa, and called me to join her for the last project. We were actually working on a new album when we lost Natina. That part is true. Shoutout to Hope, she's managing Kodie Shane now, Brandi's little sister, and she's a star.
Besides that moment, and “Head to the Sky”, is there any other moment you worked with Blaque?
We never stopped. I've known the girls since Lisa formed the group. I remember the first day they came to sing for her at the house, they were super tiny. I watched them grow into young women, and they are like my little sisters. I adore them. Yes, when they signed to Elektra, Natina called me for help, and I was a part of it.
We are still in touch.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the fans and let us all know about you and Lisa?
She would be humbled, honored and grateful that you and all of the fans still celebrate and remember her, and I am still making the dream happen on her behalf. She's be overjoyed to see the number of thriving women entrepreneurs in music and beyond. We both love all of you.
If you are curious to hear how Nandi sounded as a MC, here's a verse for you to hear. Click the link below:
https://soundcloud.com/eyenonymous/vega-let-me-get-it-take-it-2-da-streets-mix-featuring-nandi