Growing up on the streets of Diboll, TX nothing ever came easy to Nehemiah Simmons. Throughout his life he was constantly surrounded by struggle and oppression while growing up in the mean streets of East Texas. Being the youngest child with two older siblings, Nehemiah always strived to gain attention from his family and peers, usually by “acting up” and lashing out. His mother had her hands full, with working a low paying job, and having to support a houseful of 3 children. His father lived in Houston, TX and would only see him on occasion, typically during the summer months when he would visit him. Times were hard. As his behavior grew more and more uncontrollable, his mother decided to move him to Dallas, TX to try and get away from the unforgiving streets of this small East Texas town. However, upon arriving to the Dallas/Fort-Worth area, Nehemiah was instantly exposed to even more chaos. With attention lacking on the home front, he turned to the gang life but quickly reconsidered after witnessing the murder of one of his close friends. Shortly thereafter, Mother and Nehemiah quickly realized that Diboll, TX was a much safer place for them to live and they returned home. As his childhood continued in Diboll, things seemed to start changing for the young man. As he always surrounded himself with an older crowd, he was exposed to a lot of things at a young age. One of these things was called “free styling”, which is an unrehearsed and improvisational way of rapping. As he remained quiet and listened to the people around him “free styling”, something had awoken in him. This was during the time when the Hip-Hop industry had some of it most legendary artists, such as, Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and even Notorious B.I.G. While these were some of his favorite rappers, and even role models, he started relating to what they were saying and how it was similar to the life he has lived. This musical connection actually helped the struggling teen. As his personality and confidence grew, he started rapping with some of the older kids, often using 2pac and B.I.G lyrics while putting his own personality into it. His popularity began to grow as he continued showing his peers this newly discovered talent that he possessed. Nehemiah began using his life experiences and heart-ache in his freestyles, which would captivate audiences and leave them in total disbelief. Thus begins the journey of Nehemiah “CHEF TALNT” Simmons… The artist known as “CHEF TALNT”, from Diboll, TX is a breath of fresh air into the Hip-Hop industry. With a flawless delivery and intense, heart-filled lyrics, he has quickly created a name for himself. In the earlier days of his recording career, his mother bought him a computer, consequently transforming his life and giving him the opportunity to pursue his dreams. He began submersing himself into his music. He found that by studying the ways of Hip Hop icons, and with a particular influence on Houston rappers, he could create his own unique sound that would differentiate him from everyone else. As his musical career continued to grow and evolve, CHEF TALNT ended up teaming with a childhood friend and created a rap group called “Y.N.R”. The two artists started recording mix tapes and releasing them in their community. The buzz of the group grew overnight, and people were having trouble believing that it was actually him on these mix tapes. His delivery, his style, his passion, and his dedication could rival some of the best in the industry and people were hesitant to believe it was him they were hearing. As they continued recording and releasing music, Diboll, TX began to embrace Nehemiah. With the buzz in the streets growing bigger and bigger every day, and his career starting to take off, Nehemiah had an epiphany. He realized that the music he was making was not just of his own personal experiences, but also of the people around him. His fans were becoming personally connected to him. He also realized that music could be a positive outlet for him, not just by connecting with his family and friends but also by keeping him out of the cold streets of Diboll. Mother was extremely supportive of this of his newfound talent, which some would come to say is Nehemiah’s “God Given Gift”. His notoriety quickly grew throughout East Texas. He continued to record music, and created multiple hits like “Finger Lickin Good” and “Money Dance”, which featured legendary Houston rapper E.S.G. He has opened up for artists such as Plies, Z-RO, Slim Thug, Trae, Chief Keef, and has released numerous mix tapes that can be found in local record stores and across the internet. As he continued to grow as an individual and an artist, he was introduced to an executive of a management company called A&BM (Above & Beyond Management, Inc). The management firm quickly recognized his talent and saw that his work ethic was second to none, making the partnership extremely lucrative. They quickly signed him to a management contract and started working together immediately. With the new partnership prospering and his horizons expanding, CHEF TALNT is creating some of his best work and also some of his deepest work. Nehemiah “CHEF TALNT” Simmons has truly become an inspiration all those around him, and has proven that hard work and commitment can change one’s life. His drive and dedication are more than commendable, and should act as inspiration for those trying to pursue their dreams. “You should never stop believing in yourself, because without yourself who do you really have?” – CHEF TALNT