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Hip hop has
largely been networked between three metropolitan cities: New
York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. It's a triangle that
has stood, arguably, over the last ten years. But with so many
urban hotbeds trying to make names for themselves between the
lines, this triangle will likely spawn a few new sides over the
coming years. Right now it's hard to say which city will
become the next point on the map, but with Chicago having birthed
so many quality artists as of late, many could contend that it
will become the new epicenter of hip hop music.
One of
these emerging artists from Chi-town is Nico B. Nico began
writing rhymes in '93, he's been recording and doing shows since
'98, and 2001 was the year he started to take his music
seriously. Now, in 2002, he has finished two projects, one of
them being an EP, with producers The Record Playas, called Flo
Products. It fuses together the old and new school
brand of hip hop, never taking itself too seriously or trying to
do too much with its sound or scope. This is what makes Flo
Products a good listen, but also what magnifies its
shortcomings.
Nico starts
us off with "Ear Faint," fronting a lethargic beat that
stands out like a sore thumb on Flo Products. The
track is a decent introduction, but there is a lot of better
material awaiting. Check out "On Deck" (Busco
Remix) and you'll find a perfect example of that buttery hip hop
which slides through your ears. Lyrically, its intentions
are not totally focused, but the vibe is constant
throughout. On the other hand, "Company Time"
presents much more relatable material as Nico describes his
experiences with his day job, while "Cicero Keystones
Pt.1" has him narrating a hot box attempt gone bad.
"Music,"
featuring Jesus and Noble, closes Flo Products appropriately,
asking, "What's this music for?" The emcees list
a number of possible answers, but the ultimate realization should
point towards personal happiness and satisfaction more than
anything. Everything on Flo Products is presented
very nicely, but if there's anything that might detract some,
it's Nico's flow. As with so many emcees that aren't
blessed with an exhilarating voice or creative delivery, their
lyrical presentation can wear thin after a while. Nico's
varies from sounding tired and out of place to perfectly and
effortlessly embedded in the production. Achieving the
latter aesthetic for an entire album could definitely prove Nico
as one of Chicago's best emcees, but for now, Flo Products is
a great introductory listen.
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