Family, music and money 鈥� in that order.

That鈥檚 the mantra of Vernon hip hop recording artist Rory MacLeod, who raps under the moniker NOX. And it鈥檚 a formula that has paid off for the father of two, who recently signed with Bentley Records 鈥� an international record label with roots in New York City.

鈥淚 focus on being the best father I can be and leading by example, showing them that you can achieve things if you never give up,鈥� MacLeod said of the lesson he hopes to impart on his seven and nine-year-old sons.

MacLeod has been laying down tracks since graduating production school in 2003, striving to carve his own musical path along the way.

鈥淚 just had a bunch of tracks I figured where at the level I wanted them to be,鈥� MacLeod said. 鈥淚t feels great. It feels like a good step. Things are falling into place.鈥�

With hopes of gaining traction outside the ultra-competitive American market and instead focusing on Europe and Asia, MacLeod is stoked on signing with an international record.

鈥淚t allows me to reach out internationally and hopefully have it hit somewhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he songs are good. I think if people hear them, it will gain some traction.鈥�

Drawing inspiration from a variety of influences, MacLeod鈥檚 lyric-heavy tracks are backed both by smooth hip hop beats 鈥� demonstrated on his Nov. 29 single Nobody but You feat. Freysh 鈥� and deep rap grooves, prevalent on his Oct. 5 single Fire It Up.

鈥淢y end goal is to create something unique,鈥� MacLeod said. 鈥淚f you be yourself 100 per cent, you鈥檙e guaranteed to have something unique.鈥�

Produced by Mt. Pleasant, Fire It Up and Nobody but You are tracks MacLeod is excited about for their ability to showcase his hip hop flavour.

鈥淲hen I set out to write a song, I try to keep it real so there鈥檚 something for everyone,鈥� MacLeod said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e always felt that somewhere inside there is a hit song.鈥�

But collaborating with Atlanta-based artist Freysh on Nobody but You and working with Shane Bouthillier of fame at his studio in Armstrong on his way to crafting his masterpiece is half of the fun.

鈥�(I love) just getting together with right-minded people and seeing what can happen,鈥� MacLeod said. 鈥淚 just love the whole creative process of basically knowing that when you start, you don鈥檛 know where it will end up.鈥�

NOX鈥檚 third single, produced by Bouthillier, is slated to drop early 2018. And in the meantime, MacLeod plans on continuing to follow his family, then music, then money mantra.

鈥淚 like to keep it simple and focus on what鈥檚 important. Between being a dad and the studio, that鈥檚 where my time goes,鈥� MacLeod said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not a bad mix.鈥�

NOX鈥檚 Nobody but You feat. Freysh and Fire It Up are both available on iTunes and Spotify. For information on upcoming hits, follow NOX on and .