He was a hearter. If you know nothing else about Nico, know that. He was a hearter. He spent almost two years on hitrecord giving us hearts for the artwork we created. His personal record count numbered only six, but he hearted 2,309 records. That amounts to more than 3 records per day for almost two years.

Nico said goodbye to the sun on May 23^rd.  He left behind a family, friends, a woman who loved him. And he also left behind a community here on hitrecord - a community who loved him and was lucky enough to receive his 2,309 hearts, 2,309 bits of encouragement, positivity and love. 2,309 bits of Nico.

It has been said that art is a way to circumvent mortality, a way to leave a piece of yourself behind in this world after you’ve walked gently into that good night. Nico would be the first to tell you that he was not an artist. But with respect to Nico, I disagree. I like to think that every time you heart a record here on hitrecord, you’re giving the community a little piece of your own heart, a piece that resonates softly, but never silently.

We have 2,309 pieces of Nico’s heart here on hitrecord. And those pieces will never be silent.

Stop and listen.

I bet you can hear them ringing. Wherever you are, be it Hawaii, Florida, Great Britain, Russia, India – I bet you can hear those 2,309 hearts ringing like wind chimes caught in a gentle breeze on a quiet summer night. And however loud it might get, however dissonant the chaos might clang, if you stop and listen, they will always be there.

Because, you see, hearting was Nico’s art.

He was a hearter.

Niko's last words to me were 'this is some sexy shit'.

 Day before yesterday.

fuck.

Thank you Niko.  Up and Onward.

In my heart I'm the life of the party,

But on my own I sit.

Seeing Winter draw near, Autumn's eyes turn to Summer.

This saddens me, people here are not supposed to pass, they are supposed to stay here and support the community. I do not know honeyboy but I do know he supported my art and was eternally kind, I have a tear in my eye for a community member and I appreciate all the kindness being expressed. He was recording right up until the end of his life and he was as alive as he could be and appeared to be so thankful to all of us. I had no idea, but the fact that he was recording up to the end makes me really happy, so much support. Matthew

how do i miss someone that i've never met?
why do i feel his pain and all of yours as if it were my own? 
i've always wanted my heart to break when someone else's does
and it seems that all the hearts he gave to you
are the very reason your hearts are so broken now

we can write, draw, sing or paint
but if we cannot love,
it is all meaningless
mother theresa once said,
"we cannot do great things,
only small things
with great love"

this is written with love
by a girl over in canada
who is sad with all of you today,
who is more familiar with loss than she'd like to be,
who lost her dad to cancer five years ago 
and her mom to a drunk driver when she was only nine years old

sending heaps & heaps of comfort
to honeyboy's family & those who love him most
to the broken-hearted
who were once hearted
by a really special guy