Steve Aoki has long been involved in hip-hop, both as a fan and collaborator, most recently partnering with Rich the Kid and iLoveMakonnen for the "How Else" remix. It should come as no surprise that his label, Dim Mak Records, is now focusing on fresh hip-hop talent, its latest signee being Philly's Bok Nero, who has come through with his debut project, Lorde of Legions, today. The release is a result of a partnership between Dim Mak and Tandem Music, an imprint run by Philly's best producer, Jahlil Beats, who's responsible for the production on two of the four tracks on Lorde of Legions.
Bok Nero is a bold, bracing presence on the mic, and its clear why he was of interest to Dim Mak, as his style is one that can be suited to a wide range of sounds. The previously released buzzing single "Hop Out Da Phantom," produced by Jahlil, is a club-shaking hip-hop anthem, and "No Problems" is one that finds the Meek Mill producer laying down a bonkers EDM beat, inspiring particularly enraged flows from Nero. Along with the melodic trap of "Jefe Papi" and the punishing lyricism of "Stoop Kid," Nero has offered a lot of variety across the 4-track EP.