Independence. What would you give for it? What is it? If you had it, would you even know what to do with it? For 23-year subtle savant Neako, independence is a road oft-traveled; frequently pardoned with pitfalls, it's salient in its success. With a saga as open-ended as his, it's no surprise that Neako now finds himself on the brink of super stardom, his only refrain being his own sanity.
The son of a poet mother and a drummer father, Neako's musical blood line extends beyond generations. His grandfather, a latter-day rolling stone, was a successful jazz musician in the tri-state area. This early inclination, mixed with an unexpected occurrence, led to an introspective flair reminiscent of history's greatest strugglers.
Born and raised in Newark, it was his formative years in East Orange's tough schools that introduced him to hip-hop. A blackout in the 7th grade led the weary young'n to a battle, which eventually, led to a career, and which will hopefully lead to history. "Seeing all those guys rap their own stuff – it was amazing," recalls Neako. "I ended up cutting school and hanging out in front of Def Jam and Rocafella."
Fifteen-hour stakeouts soon led to associations with industry insiders such as Clark Kent, Ramses Francois, and Lenny S; whose constructive criticism probably did more for the young mind that anyone could have fathomed: "I listened intently to what they said, who they liked – who they didn't. I just sat, listened, and absorbed." Observation soon led to participation, and Neako found himself attending every conference, every studio session, "every little event". After spending a summer in Philly with the Young Gunz, he found himself listening to early cuts off of Lil Wayne's The Carter 2, courtesy of the Heatmakerz. It was Wayne's breakthrough which led to Neako's epiphany: "I realized how close I was. Everything I'd wanted, I was so close to it, and that just made me put in that much more effort."
If life was a whirlwind then, it was the force of home that kept him grounded. Momma's boy and Poppa's prince was supported enthusiastically by both parents – a fact he holds dear and proud. "That's the smartest thing you've ever done – that's what my pops told me when he saw my home studio." A bombastic work ethic led to a fierce independence streak, and, after acquiring a bulk of production skill, led to a library of releases – each based on a sonic slant of enigmatic proportions.
"Each of my mixtapes was based on a certain vibe, a tone. The Red Edition (released in 2008, in conjunction with prominent NY DJ Sickamore) was very soulful, reflective. Like, how can I make everyone happy? The Green Edition (hosted by Green Lantern) was more futuristic – it was about love, betrayal, and aspiration. The Blue Edition was more mainstream," Hindsight being 20/20, nobody could've prepared anyone for the reasoning behind The Yellow Edition.
It's Neako's mastery of the mystery of myth that makes the aftermath of Yellow Edition so startling: the passing of his beloved father, a man who helped shape his style, his strength, and his world, yet also shook his foundation. Neako recalls the day with a surprising lack of trepidation: "I held onto his hand, real firm – and he held back, to let me know that he felt it. After a while, my cousin, I saw her crying…and I just went over and closed his eyes." Finding himself staring at the yellow nothingness of the ICU floor… "that's where the Yellow Edition came from. It's been my biggest project to date."
The bittersweet symphony of his Jordan year – 23 – is marred by loss, gain, fame, and fortune. With three fingers held up to the sun, two feet on the ground, and his eyes on the money, Neako's unparalleled rise from relative Newark obscurity to underground influencer has been as rapid as his output. "To be honest, I haven't stopped recording since my pops passed. I don't go to nightclubs, I don't chill – my life is 100% music. It's a vehicle for my success, to help the people I love to live in a better environment."
Momentum picking up steam, recent collaborations with upstarts Wiz Khalifa and Diggy Simmons has placed Neako on the short list for hip-hop dignitary. With the momentum of the Yellow Edition still steam rolling, and a steady stream of shows, there's no end in sight for Neako. That is, unless, you consider super stardom an end. Staying focused, though, is a key to Neako's success: "How can I get my fans, my supporters, to not only listen to, but to live my music? To really feel it?"
Judging by the evocative industry reasoning, and overwhelming critical response, it's almost certain that Neako's next Edition will be a galvanizing call to arms – Newark's homecoming, and Neako's coronation. "My projects, we call it 'the World'. They plan to keep us in, but our imagination is bigger than the world. They've trapped us, but it's bigger than the projects, our imagination is bigger than our surroundings. Newark is my home city, and I'm here to put it on the map – for good."
