Beloved in his region, Bay Area rapper Nef The Pharaoh floods his city with hopeful, optimistic hip-hop. • The website Thizzlier crowned Nef the “Bay Area Freshman of the Year” in 2014. He’s considered the protégé of local legend E-40. • His self-titled 2015 EP includes the breakout hit “Big Tymin’”, which would go on to be remixed by YG and Ty Dolla $ign. The track was an ode to the New Orleans rap duo Big Tymers and bounce music. • In 2018, he released his debut studio album, The Big Chang Theory, featuring Dej Loaf, OMB Peezy and Cuban Doll, among others. • The rapper stayed motivated to finish 2020’s HereYee HereYee despite the horrific murder of his sister and nephew in February of that year.