NF, born Nathan Feuerstein, is an American rapper and songwriter born in 1991 in Michigan. He identifies as Christian but does not define himself as a Christian music artist: his albums, like Perception or Hope, deal with depression, grief, and mental health for a mainstream audience.
Nathan John Feuerstein was born on March 30, 1991, in Gladwin, Michigan. He grew up in a household marked by his parents' separation and his mother's opioid addiction, before being raised by his father. Music became an outlet for him early on: he released a first album under his real name, Moments, in 2010, then adopted the stage name NF in 2012 when he signed with the Christian label Xist Music. His first two albums under that name, Mansion (2015) and Therapy Session (2016), took him to the top of both the Christian and rap charts.
In 2017, the album Perception marked a turning point: driven by themes that were more personal than religious, it debuted straight at the top of the Billboard 200 and made NF a mainstream rap figure. The single Let You Down, certified platinum, cemented his lasting reputation. NF has affirmed his Christian faith in several interviews while refusing the label of Christian music artist, explaining that he wants to reach a wider audience than just churches. His following albums, The Search (2019) and Hope (2023), continue this exploration of anxiety, grief, and mental health.
- Origin
- Gladwin, Michigan, USA
- Style
- Mainstream rap / hip hop (formerly Christian rap)
- Active since
- 2010 (as NF since 2012)
- Good to know
- He identifies as Christian but refuses the label of Christian music artist; his single Let You Down is certified platinum
How did NF get started?
The oldest of three children, Nathan Feuerstein grew up in an unstable environment: his parents divorced, and his mother, addicted to opioids, left behind a difficult household before he was taken in by his father. Writing and music became a way for him to express that pain from his teenage years on.
He released an independent first album under his own name, Moments, in 2010, then signed with the Christian label Xist Music under the stage name NF in 2012. His first two albums under that name, Mansion and Therapy Session, topped the Christian charts and laid the groundwork for a career built around emotional honesty rather than an explicit religious message.
What makes NF distinctive?
NF writes introspective music about anxiety, depression, and grief, especially the loss of his mother in 2009. He openly affirms his Christian faith but refuses to be boxed into the Christian music category, explaining that he wants to speak to a wider audience than just churches. This stance, rare in the industry, makes him a case apart: an openly Christian artist who works in mainstream rap rather than the CCM (contemporary Christian music) scene.
Where should you start with NF?
Perception (2017) remains the most natural starting point, carried by songs like Let You Down or Mama. For a more recent introduction, the album Hope (2023) extends that introspection with a brighter tone.
songs
HOME
An introspective song from the album Perception, about loneliness and the search for belonging.
MAMA
Written about his mother, who died in 2009, this song looks back on a relationship marked by addiction.
FEAR
A track that explores anxiety and inner fears, recurring themes for NF.
Discography
- 2023Hope
- 2019The Search
- 2017Perception
- 2016Therapy Session
- 2015Mansion
- 2010Moments· First album, released under his real name before he adopted the stage name NF
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Frequently asked questions
Who is NF?
NF, born Nathan Feuerstein, is an American rapper born in 1991 in Michigan. Known for albums like Perception or Hope, his lyrics deal with mental health, grief, and anxiety. He identifies as Christian but does not call himself a Christian music artist.
Is NF Christian?
Yes, NF has affirmed his Christian faith several times in interviews, while refusing the label of Christian artist. He explains that he wants to reach a wider audience than just churches, which sets him apart from artists in the CCM (contemporary Christian music) scene.
What is NF's most famous song?
Let You Down, released on the album Perception in 2017, remains his most streamed song: certified platinum, it reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Where can you listen to NF?
His music is available on all the usual streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer) as well as on his official YouTube channel, where his videos and audio tracks have racked up several million views.
Why doesn't NF make traditional Christian music?
NF has explained in interviews that he wants to write for a wider audience than just churches, without denying his faith. His lyrics stay very personal, centered on mental health and family wounds rather than a direct gospel message.
What is NF's most recent album?
His latest studio album, Hope, came out in 2023. It carries on the themes of his previous records while taking on a brighter, more hopeful tone.