Nardo Wick

Biography

Nardo Wick is the performing alias used by 19-year-old rapper, singer, and songwriter Horace Bernard Walls III. Born on December 30, 2001, Horace rose to fame with the help of the viral hit “Who Want Smoke?” The track became a sensation on TikTok, with its lyrics, “Who want smoke with me,” and “What the fuck is that?” becoming frequently-used soundbites on the popular social media platform.

With just six songs out so far, Nardo Wick has already gained a significant following in the hip-hop scene. He’s even received a shoutout from Atlanta rap legend Future and has collaborated with Lil Durk, 21 Savage, and others.

Here’s everything you need to know about Nardo Wick’s life and career.

instruments played

vocal

Nardo Wick’s Origins

Horace was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He took an interest in music at an early age and released his first song at just 18 years old. Early tracks in Nardo’s discography were engineered by his father. Horace’s first releases as Nardo Wick earned him a record deal with RCA in 2021, and he’s been releasing tracks through the major label ever since. The accompanying music videos for his singles “Shhh” and “Aye Aye” helped him gain a following, with each earning several million views on YouTube alone. While YouTube helped Nardo gain a following, his main source of exposure was through TikTok. That’s where “Who Want Smoke,” his biggest hit, blew up in early 2021. The track was released via Flawless Entertainment and produced by Emkay. You’ll find more details about the production and release of “Who Want Smoke” in the paragraphs below.

“Who Want Smoke” Becomes a Viral Sensation

After making a name for himself with his early singles, Horace dropped “Who Want Smoke” on January 22, 2021. The song gained traction quickly thanks to TikTok, where it became the soundtrack for a popular dance. On October 8, 2021, Nardo released an official remix of the track featuring G Herbo, 21 Savage, and Lil Durk. The song’s accompanying music video for the remix was directed by Cole Bennett of Lyrical Lemonade, and it’s gained over 13 million views on YouTube. While the music video for the remix of “Who Want Smoke” became Nardo’s most popular on YouTube by far, it wasn’t the first version of the video to be released. Nardo had previously put out a music video for the original version of the song, which proved to be a source of controversy. The video was allegedly demonetized by YouTube because it featured too many guns. The remix of “Who Want Smoke” became Nardo Wick’s first entry in the US Billboard Hot 100 – the song peaked at number 17. “Who Want Smoke (Remix)” also made it to number 37 on the Billboard Global 200 charts.

How Nardo Wick Got His Name

The alias “Nardo Wick” was chosen by Horace based on a combination of a nickname and the word “wicked.” Horace’s friends have called him “Nar” for years, and, as evidenced by his Instagram bio, he’s a fan of referring to himself as “wicked.” Nardo frequently describes himself as a “wicked millionaire,” a nickname he’s given himself in reference to his desire to avoid the frivolous spending that’s often associated with hip-hop. In interviews, Horace has described himself as being disinterested in blowing his money at the club, on fast cars, or on designer clothes. Instead, according to Horace, the best use for his money is investing.

How Nardo Makes Music

In the studio, Horace has been described as a perfectionist. He’s known to record the same lines over and over again until they have the right cadence and flow for the song. He’s also a self-described shy guy, preferring to spend time in the studio rather than going out and partying. However, that personality isn’t always reflected in his lyrics. Now on the RCA Records roster, fans are getting excited to see what Nardo comes up with next. He’s already been featured on the companion album for Judas and the Black Messiah, a 2021 biopic about Fred Hampton of the Black Panther Party. Wick’s song “I Declare War” was featured on that record alongside tracks featuring the likes of H.E.R, Lil Durk, G Herbo, Masego, ASAP Rocky, and others. Wick’s upcoming work allegedly includes collaborations with Sonny Digital and Kid Hazel, two legendary trap producers who have worked with artists like Drake, Chief Keef, Future, and more. With the help of this production duo, it’s safe to say that Nardo Wick’s career could reach new heights of success in the next year. As of October 2021, “Who Want Smoke?” is still Nardo’s most played track on Spotify, with over 14 million plays. The remix of the song has over 10 million streams on the platform, and Nardo’s other singles have racked up millions more.