From Portsmouth kitchens to studios with Rap Royalty. The real story of Jonas Perrin / Nef
In an industry obsessed with overnight going viral, clout, and clicks, Produced by Nef has taken a different path. A longer one. A quieter one. And without question:
A realer one.
This isn’t the story of a lucky placement or a TikTok fluke.
This is the story of how a chef from New Hampshire climbed into New York City’s inner sanctum of hip hop royalty—not by asking for a seat at the table, but by building his own.
Welcome to the long game.
Watch the full convo:
Dover, NH: The Origin of the Obsession
Before the plaques and podcasts, before the features and foreign tours, Nef was just Jonas—a relentless creative with grease on his apron and beats in his head.
He worked the line as a chef in Portsmouth while living in Dover. By day, he crushed tickets. By night, he mixed vocals, chopped drums, and dialed in sessions for whoever showed up. No clout. No budget. Just hunger.
"There was no higher to go in New Hampshire. I had to become the small fish again."
That drive didn’t come from fame chasing. It came from strategy. Chess nights with his father taught him the value of every move. Painting critiques taught him how to listen. By the time he hit his 20s, Jonas was already a tactician—even if no one outside of his block knew it yet.
Then came the porch moment.
A quiet conversation with his friend Mark Crandall. French press in hand. Eyes watering. A decision made:
"New Hampshire has nothing left for me. I’m moving to New York."
No back-up plan. No industry co-sign. Just a bag, a beat library, and belief.
Year One in NYC: Bootcamp of the Humble
NYC doesn’t hand out passes.
When Nef landed, he didn’t pull the classic rookie move: walking into studios bragging about who he knew or what he could do.
He listened. He watched. He learned.
He swept floors at Statik Selektah’s ShowOFF Studio. He showed up to every event, handing out beat CDs and business cards. He cleaned, he cooked, he drove. Not because he lacked skills—but because he knew enough to earn his way up the right way.
“I didn’t say a word the first year. I just soaked up the game.”
And it wasn’t just discipline. It was advice that changed his lens.
“You’re in a new place. Start over. Be humble. Just soak it in.”
—Rich Medina, NYC OG DJ
That wisdom, delivered casually outside a club, stuck with him. And so did the lesson:
In silence, he gained something more valuable than viral attention: trust.
And that trust opened doors.
Year Two: The Respect Era Begins
With his presence solidified and his discipline proven, year two was when Nef began turning heads.
He built tight bonds with artists like Ren Thomas and Dirty Sanchez, not through DM slides or money—but through shared grind.
"These were deep-rooted friendships. Real brotherhoods. Not features—family."
He wasn’t just dropping beats. He was helping engineer full records, recording in high-pressure sessions, and showing up with consistency most industry vets couldn’t fake.
His circle began to reflect his value. And his name started circulating in the right rooms.
Year Three: The Tag Starts to Matter
If year one was observation and year two was integration, year three was ignition.
Nef started putting out collaborative projects and began gaining industry recognition. His producer tag—"By Nef"—stopped being an identifier and started being a seal of quality.
Then came a defining moment:
Lil Fame of M.O.P. and Nef connected at a Q-Tip party. That connection led to Lil Fame asking Nef
"Yo, what are you working on? I want in."
That conversation sparked what would become Tabula Rasa, a defining project that Nef wasn’t even sure he was ready for—until the universe said he was.
"I lied. I told him I had a project started. I didn’t. But that moment made me go start it."
From there, it was green lights:
The grind didn’t stop. But the game leveled up.
Building With DJ Premier: A Masterclass in Consistency
One name kept surfacing.
DJ Premier.
The GOAT. The reason Nef learned how to make beats and engineer in the first place.
After Premier spun several of his records on the radio (not knowing Nef produced them), Termanology passed along his name as a potential engineer.
Nef didn’t chase it. He stayed patient. And when the call came?
He showed up.
"It wasn’t a big break. It was a small ask—show up. So I did. Again and again."
That turned into:
Stream the interview here on Spotify
The Birth of the Gentleman’s Board
Everything Nef learned in silence, in sweat, in studios—he wanted to give back.
But not like the content creators he sees online.
"Most of these guys have never been in a real industry room. They teach from YouTube videos. Not experience."
That’s why he launched The Gentleman’s Board:
A platform for aspiring producers and engineers to learn real game
Weekly YouTube content on mixing, business, and career growth
"You can't pay to be in the rooms I've been in. But you can learn the moves that got me there."
The first module? How to Act in the Room. Because sometimes, that’s the whole game.
The New Chapter: Partnering with Scale to Sale Consulting
After nearly a decade of grind, Nef made a strategic move to partner with Scale to Sale Consulting—not just to market his work, but to turn it into a self-sustaining ecosystem of digital assets.
Led by long-time friend, mentor and entrepreneur Mark Crandall, the collaboration focuses on helping Nef:
Optimize his leased beats and exclusive beat store
Launch the Gentleman’s Board with automation, content, and asset-first strategy
"I saw the work you did on other projects, and the growth you had along the way blew my mind every time."
— Nef, on signing with Scale to Sale Consulting
This isn’t just about more plays. It’s about long-term brand infrastructure.
Together, they're building something few artists ever do: a business that runs as strong as the music.
What "By Nef" Really Means
But the real product? His reputation.
"By Nef" isn’t a tag.
It’s a statement.
That beat was built by someone who earned his way into every room he’s in.
That mix was done by someone who studied under the legends.
That song? It didn’t come from YouTube. It came from years of unpaid labor, of humility, of mastery.
So when you see "By Nef" in the credits?
Know that it's real. Know that it's rare. Know that it was earned.
Some of Nef's Projects
Lost and Found:
Radio Days
Tabula:
Gentleman's Board:
