| With the respect of rap’s old guard and a legion of devoted fans across the nation, Nef The Pharaoh is the leader of the Bay Area’s new school. Pulling up in his all-white Mercedes, Nef takes over the United Kingdom with fellow East Bay star G-Eazy in “Born Leader.” Filmed during the London stop of G-Eazy’s When It’s Dark Out Tour, which featured Nef as an opening act, the video finds the pair relaxing near the River Thames before performing a sold out show. Featuring a glowing spoken introduction from Nef’s mentor and Sick Wid It Records boss E-40, “Born Leader” is a shimmering West Coast party anthem about embracing influence and achieving a grand destiny. Premiered today by The FADER, “Born Leader” is the latest step in Nef’s ascension to the top of the Hip-Hop world. Explains Nef to The FADER: “This was the first song I ever made with G-Eazy, and I just wanted to do something different. Everybody knows we’re hyphy and turnt up spirits. I wanted to let people know some of our inner thoughts and some of the assumptions we get from people. We made it on tour. It was all a blur. We shot the video during the London stop of the tour. It was my first time in London.” Nef The Pharaoh followed up his breakout 2015 with an even bigger year in 2016, converting thousands of new fans and garnering praise from the press. In January, Nef dropped Neffy Got Wings, a full-length collaboration with acclaimed producer Cardo. Neffy Got Wings earned much acclaim from music critics, with Stereogum naming it Album of the Week when it came out, and FACT Magazine placed the album at #3 on its list of the 20 Best Rap Albums of 2016. In late August, Nef released Fresh Outta Space 3, an album as sonically diverse and funky as the Bay Area itself. Featuring tracks like “Everything Big,” the project’s P-Lo-produced and FADER-premiered first single, a valedictory track about Nef’s ability to provide for himself and his family and live a life of luxury at the same timeand a spiritual successor to Nef’s 2015 breakthrough track “Big Tymin’,” Fresh Outta Space 3 suits all moods. Nef also kept a high profile as an in-demand featured artist throughout the year, appearing with D.R.A.M. on E-40’s “Slappin’“ which has nearly 600,000 views on YouTube, interpolating Shaggy’s immortal “It Wasn’t Me” on “H.B.I.C.” from Bay Area producer Juneonnabeat‘s solo album, joining fellow rising star Rexx Life Raj for “Moxie Java,” and teaming with Casey Veggies for the DJ Mustard-produced “Stupidly Crazy,” stealing the spotlight from Future on the highlight from DJ Esco‘s E.T.: The Esco-Terrestrial. Nef reflects on his successful 2016 and looks to the future: “I made it to top 20 on the Billboard charts, I did a show with Beyonce. DJ Khaled brought me out. I got to freestyle and rap for Kanye West. I’ve met all my favorite rappers. I just had a dope year. Next year, I’m just staying on the gas. I’m not letting up. My album, Big Chang Theory is coming in 2017. It’s going to be dope. Check out The FADER’s premiere: http://www.thefader.com/2016/12/20/nef-the-pharaoh-g-eazy-born-leader-video-premiere Buy “Born Leader”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/born-leader-feat.-g-eazy-single/id1188140701?ls=1?at=1001l3Iq&app=itunes |
