Nero: Emperor

If not for the grace of IllRoots, I wouldn’t have any idea who Nero was. In an ever more startling confluence of web-geek and musician, the hip hop site has paired with emcee Nero to bring out Alive and Vibrant. The disc’s title alone points to the approach that the young emcee (pun not intended) takes towards the music. Additionally, that mix tape is due out on the 20^th of this month. And I would assume that it’s not a coincidence.

Nero, on the tracks that have been released thus far at least, seems most comfortable over laid back jazz, funk and soul tracks not too far removed from the jazz-rap that sprung up in the early ‘90s. For his project, he’s been working with Mike Waxx – one of the many contributors to IllRoots. That gentleman was responsible for the Doomed mix tape that came out a while ago.

The duo, who can be seen HERE in a video for “Buck ‘em Down” are found roaming around the city, hitting up the mall and listening to the beat that Waxx produced.

But the fact that two dudes that appear to be too young to frequent bars, points to the insane acceleration of culture that technology has given us. So far, they each have websites (at least one), have appeared on various tracks and now this video. Even if I wasn’t focused on the influence of a digitized America on hip hop, I guess it’s just cool that two guys made a video.

But having achieved this much so quickly, Nero and Mike Waxx have created incredibly high expectations. This first tape will surely please listeners, but what’s next?