Nerone

We had last heard from him with his "Maxtape" (2021), but in reality Nerone had already returned with the joint album “Brava gente” (2023, alongside Ensi), a high-intensity show where the two take turns on the mic to push their hardcore style to the limit. However, a proper solo album had been missing since 2019, so "Penkiller" is meant to tell us how rapper Massimiliano "Nerone" Figlia has changed—a black belt in freestyle, who in the past was perhaps less effective when it came to writing more conscious or otherwise more structured tracks. Here, he pulls it off, even ventures into pop-rap, without betraying his hardcore roots.

The opening cannon shot "Penkiller", with its pounding four-on-the-floor beat and rapid-fire bars aimed at everyone and everything, somewhat reminiscent of Salmo’s over-the-top crossover style, and the jagged trap of "Il più grosso" seem to signal that surprises will be few; "Big Show" bites hard too, thanks to the contributions of Gemitaiz & Ensi.
But then comes a more introspective turn, peaking with the bitter "Contronatura", a track that focuses on the hypocrisies of conservatives and moralists. Here, Nerone writes some of his most significant lines, worthy of a successor to Frankie Hi-Nrg.

Contronatura avere due madri?
Sono meglio le botte dei padri
Sono meglio due padri normali
Che due pazzi che si alzano sempre le mani
Contronatura come il cambio sesso, certo
Meglio suicida perché non sei mai tе stesso

The rest of the tracklist continues on these two tracks: the grim "Costolette" feat. Salmo & Jake La Furia, but also the sorrowful "Domani" feat. Heartman, with a touch of rap-songwriter style à la Dargen D’Amico; the dark trap of "Beh ok" feat. MadMan and the anguished reggaeton of "Mi Tieni".
The new twist, as mentioned, comes in songs clearly aimed at a more pop-oriented audience, like "Pezzi di Noi", worthy of a melancholic Ernia, or the retro danceability of “Loser” feat. Shari & Dani Faiv. Also part of this group is the vulgar silliness of “Che Palle” feat. Nitro & Jack the Smoker, fun but hardly unforgettable. These tracks don’t quite blend in with the rest, and perhaps they reflect the pressure to broaden the audience by delivering more accessible songs.

At times, Nerone risks blending in with other rappers, yet his growth is undeniable. Some of these tracks show that he’s much more than a freestyler or an aggressive hardcore mic-killer. But as is often the case, the result is a confused album that tries not to alienate anyone. The closing track “Acufene” (feat. Eddy Veerus), however, shows that he has plenty to say, with a sharp and intelligent pen, and that he has the potential to move beyond his more performative past.

22/06/2025