Nathan Guy knew he wanted to be an MC by the age of 13, when his cousin brought him onstage during a hip-hop show.

His cousin? Hip-hop mega-star Pharrell Williams, who has gained international acclaim as a member of the Neptunes production team and through his own group, N.E.R.D.

Seven years later at the age of 20, Guy, known in Pittsburgh hip-hop circles under his MC moniker, June, is preparing to record a video for his newest song, “Steel City.”

The video will be recorded at locations such as Heinz Field, Mt. Washington and the studios of WAMO 100.1 FM, and Guy said he hopes it will showcase both his talent and his hometown.

“In Pittsburgh rap, there's two types of artists,” Guy said. “There's the person who does a lot of gangster rapping, talking about drugs and things like that. But I'm more of the other type of person, the type who will rap more about the lives of those people doing the drugs. I try to tell the truth in everything I say.”

Currently unsigned, Guy has been working with the production team at ID Labs in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood, the studio where artists such as Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller recorded music that has put Pittsburgh hip-hop on the map in recent years.

Zach “SayeZ” Vaughan is an engineer and producer at ID Labs, who first met Guy in the early fall, when he scheduled recording time at the studio.

“His music has a lot of substance and a clear message,” Vaughan said.

“From what I know of him, he's worked very hard to get where he is today, and his music reflects that.”

In the same vein as Wiz and Miller, Guy said he is trying to move beyond what he called “local music,” and make “industry music.”

“I don't want to make a song if I don't think people are going to like it,” he said. “I've recorded plenty of songs that I haven't put out there.”

Guy said his focus on rapping about the life he has lived and seen means listeners won't find any rich-life fantasies in his lyrics.

“If I come up on a little bit of money, then I'll rap about having money,” he said.

Consequently, “Steel City” is peppered with sharp observations about poverty — “(People) live with their ma/Like it's all good/She's payin' for everything/You're acting like she should/I'm tired of this part-time/I can't get the job I want ‘cause I committed a crime” — with Guy's lyrics riding overtop a driving piano melody.

Guy has four music videos posted to his YouTube channel, where they have been viewed more than 115,000 times, and he plans to release the “Steel City” video around mid-November. The videos on Guy's YouTube page are part of his latest mixtape, “I Can't Wait.”

Guy said he hopes “Steel City” will carry his name far beyond the town for which it's named.

“Hopefully it's going to go viral, kind of like how Wiz's “Black and Yellow” (video) did,” he said. “I think it could definitely be the one where I'm getting my name out there and making some noise.”

Vaughan said Guy's local success is encouraging as well: “Steel City” is on regular rotation on the WAMO playlists after Guy won a song-submission contest.

“It's very hard for Pittsburgh artists to get exposure within … the city itself,” he said. “June seems to be changing that fact, since the local radio stations have embraced him and have his music in rotation. I think that speaks volumes in itself.”

Regardless of whether “Steel City” carries him to a record deal or beyond, it's clear Guy plans to keep writing rhymes.

“It's just a lot of fun,” he said. “I love performing in Pittsburgh, going to the studio, getting the vibe at ID Labs and making music in general.

“Mac and Wiz put Pittsburgh on the map, and I want to be the next one do to that.”

Patrick Varine is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7845 or pvarine@tribweb.com.

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