We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathaniel Clemetson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nathaniel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’m Forever Taking Risks. That’s a big part of what Delusionalpath truly means.
Risk is a quintessential element of business, especially creative business. It can’t be avoided and it is a waste of energy to fear it.
High risk = High reward right? That’s just leverage.
I think risk is exciting, especially when often the high risk decision is the best decision because it forces you to grow, perform, and execute on a higher level.
I feel like *not* taking advantage of a high risk opportunity is complacency.
I have multiple times in my journey had to take a loan, or sell my car, or use my last dollar to invest in myself, and every time I turned out even greater.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think what really sets me apart creatively is my versatility.
I have a lots of high-performance skills and I actively wear a lot of hats.
I started my [digital] creative journey making youtube videos when I was in elementary school. I think I was 6 the first time I posted a video (circa 2007).
Eventually I started making anime edits on my phone when I was 11 or so. (circa 2012)
I full sent into that and was editing at least 8 hours a day (that or watching anime lol)
But, thanks to that scene I got realllyyyyy into underground hip hop. I’ve been bumping X & $uicideboy$, Xavier Wulf, Denzel Curry and all of them for yearsssss. I remember when Bbno$ had 4,000 soundcloud followers because he made a track prod. one of my goats SLIGHTbeats back in 2016.
Eventually I got bored of it and wanted to created more of my OWN content, not repurposing someone else’s footage, so I doubled down on my YT and got my first 1,000 subs making skits with a tripod and a couple friends.
Around this time I started my clothing brand (and learning graphic design for it) and it blew up fast, one of my growth strategies blew the page up over 10k followers out the gate. (@DLSNLSOCiETY)
With all of my creative endeavors, I chose to leave public school my junior year to focus on creating. During that year I finished my credits for both junior and senior year, and reach so many new levels as a creator.
With all of my newfound free time I started getting into making beats, and started posting on soundcloud and getting immersed in the community, but it took me 3 years to really dive deep into the game.
I fell in love with making underground hip hop, so I took a break from clothes for a bit while I learned how to audio engineer and rap (and do digital marketing) so I could make certified hood classics with the homies and getting my skills to a level that I could monetize.
I’ve been dropping beats, tracks, and mixes consistently since the end of 2019.
I produce/engineer as @delusionalpath and rap as @GEMiNiTHEALCHEMiST
As of today July 22nd, 2022, I have over 250,000 combined streams before I count plays from features.
I like to think of myself as a super producer, especially now that I’m back into making content, dropping merch again and editing music videos.
On top of music I also own a Social Media Marketing Agency called Clarity media (over $400,000 in client results), a multimedia company/clothing brand called Delusional Society, several e-commerce stores, and a discord server where I teach other’s how to replicate my results.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Haha see the easy answer is my crib because that’s where the studio is at.
The thing I love about DFW beyond specific spots is all of the dope underground events that we have goin on every day.
We’d definitely have to slide to a dirtbeats event, or meetmeundergroundtx when we want to step out.
Other than that catch us at Denton Town Square, shopping the galleria, or at my super secret thrifting spots when we aren’t out in nature swimming at Lake Ray Roberts, or sliding on the casino in Thackerville.
But 80% of our time is destined to be in the studio, my padnahs and I don’t play, all we know is putting in that work ya digg.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of people love to claim to be “self made” and of course in a lot of ways that’s always true right? We have to choose to put in our own energy to anything we do, but without the right coaches, and collaborators, we wouldn’t even know how to apply ourselves.
I learned the fundamentals of music in band in school. I played the trombone from age 11-18 and performed at such a high level that I was winning competitions and getting recruited for elite bands in my state thanks to awesome instructors who really pushed me to excel and to be the very best.
I am eternally grateful for the work of Ramsey MacDonald, Mike Pickrell, Scott Dupree, Jason Bird, Matthew Cho, & Gary Phillips.
These five gentlemen cultivated me into a world-class musician and ultimately a more disciplined man.
I apply that same tenacity, that same frequency, the same dedication that I learned in band to all of my endeavors.
I’d also like to shoutout my stepdad Steve for his contributions to my journey. He has always seen what I’m capable of and always done everything he could to make accomplishing my goals possible,. He made space for me stay in his home when I was a young producer and business owner still learning the game, up til late hours of the night making beats loud asf and watching ecommerce videos. On top of creating space in his home, he also has helped me out when I’ve encountered financial binds in business (and was too young to utilize credit). S/O Steve man, he’s my biggest supporter.
And last but not least, I’d like to shoutout my love Sierra Rose. She’s been by my side through some of the most difficult phases of my life, she’s kept me grounded and kept it real regardless of the circumstances. She’s even bought merch from my clothing site (www.delusionalsociety.us) just to be the first one to cop from the drop (even though I would have gladly just given it to her and she knew it). Being so close to my biggest fan makes it really easy to stay motivated and to deliver the highest quality that I possibly can whether it be clothes, music, etc. Regardless of what I’m dropping, no one fans my flame like she does, and you always gotta give the people what they want.
Website: delusionalpath.com
Instagram: instagram.com/delusionalpath
Twitter: twitter.com/delusionalpath
Youtube: youtube.com/delusionalpath