Nef The Pharaoh is a rapper in the finest Vallejo tradition, making music that simultaneously pays tribute to and transcends his regional ancestors. History doesn’t weigh Neffy down, it drives him: “I’m the closest thing you’re going to get to Mac Dre,” he boldly announces on the intro to “Drought,” from new tape Mushrooms & Coloring Books. Line up their music on the same playlist, and it’s easy to make an argument that Nef is the heir apparent, but he also seems primed for stardom beyond his home base.
Regrettably, the latest tape shows growing pains, mostly due to the potential blockbuster tracks flat-lining. Take the single “High Voltage”: Guest rapper Tyga’s voice scrapes off producer DTB’s creeping beat like sandpaper. Worse still, Tyga’s cretinism seems to have infected Nef, who makes transgender people a punch line and drops dumb lyrics like, “Even when I’m at the house I’m paranoid/I don’t trust you if you don't fuck my boy.” “Rockstar” finds Nef envisioning big-time living—dodging paparazzi, clashing with label executives, and that’s before you get to the sex and drugs—but the fantasy deflates over a soft music-box beat. He sounds like he’s trying to force a breakthrough hit, and it dims his usually strong instincts.
But when you block out the misjudged moments, Mushrooms & Coloring Books features some Nef’s most exhilarating songs yet. Nef shouts out his favorite liquor store and calls out the local cops over DJ Fresh’s Cali funk on “South Vallejo.” And the star quality he has been searching for is all over “Love Got Us Beefin,” with Nef shuffling through vocal styles to decry a collapsing relationship with his high-school sweetheart over a glittering beat that recalls Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.” You can just feel how eager he is to break out nationally, and you can’t help but want it for him. Maybe next time he will dial down the impatience and keep his heart at home.
