Nesli

by Evan C. GutierrezBorn in Senigallia, Italy, Francesco Tarducci and his brother Fabrizio were both destined for hip-hop greatness, though not together as a unit as some might expect, but completely separately, creating and sitting atop their own individual hip-hop thrones. The younger Francesco watched his brother take his first steps toward MCing at age 17, followed quickly by the recording of his first demo in 1995. Over a few short years Fabri Fibra (Fabrizio's stage name) had racked up a number of well-respected underground releases. In 1999 Francesco (under the name Nesly Rice) followed in his older brother's footsteps, recording the demo Fitte da Latte in collaboration with producer and beatmaker Lato. The recording was a big success, showcasing Nesly's rapid-fire, complex lyrical style. Lato and his brother Fabri formed the influential duo Uomini di Mare, one of the many well-respected Italian hip-hop units with whom Nesly collaborated. In addition to his brother's group, Nesly was invited to work with rappers Kaso and Maxi B, Marya, Mente, Sottotono, and more. His metrically complex flows and creative wordplay were featured on important mixtape-style releases like Dinamite (2000) and Cactus (2001). With a few years and a number of successful singles under his belt, Nesly released his debut solo record, Ego, in 2003. Unsupported by the Uomo di Mare crew, Nesly's first time out was produced by Myke, who encouraged Nesly to use live instrumentation to create a unique sound rather than rely on samples. His live hip-hop approach was praised by many, but seriously disliked by purists. His 2004 follow-up showed up on the opposite end of the spectrum, a joint venture between Nesly and Bassi Maestro entitled Busdeez Presenta: The Remedy Tape, Vol. 1. Nesly's next solo project, Home, drew on his brother Fabri and old friend Maxi B for help. The record was much more universally liked, put on heavy rotation across nation. Using the name Nesli, his 2007 release La Verita Noscoste was widely regarded as his most mature release to date. Produced by Universal, the album earned Tarducci his first significant presence on international hip-hop charts.