Ex-Crown City Rockers MC Raashan Ahmad seamlessly blends hip-hop and jazz with elements of funk and tribal/world music, and the results are damn impressive.
There's huge diversity over the course of the eight tracks on this 2019 effort, both in terms of lyrical content and musical style. The greatest contrast is probably between hard-hitting opener "No", with its impassioned, poignant, laid bare lyrics and its immensely effective use of jarring, discordant saxophone solos, and the carefree "Wonderful Fantastic" feat. Jonny2x which is a feel-good anthem if ever there was one, full of sunshine vibes.
Whilst there isn't a bad song on the album, special mention should be made of the other collab tracks which, again, add to the variety on offer here. "Breathe" with Object Heavy is heart-achingly beautiful, and has become a fast favourite. "The Day the Sun Came" with Keren Ann has this gorgeous brightness to it, and "Body Heat" is epic and chaotic, featuring Rhapsod-official & Mimi Diallo's vocals amongst the jazzy clamour. "Sea" feels mystical and, with T.I.E's and Ahmad's vocals sung in unison, is an intimate way to close off the album, although how you can end such a mesmerising piece so suddenly is beyond me.
That sudden drop back into reality is my only complaint though; this is a superb, thoroughly enjoyable, and very special record.
𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 / 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺:
Most of these songs have music videos and are well worth checking out: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mj1_tlm_OmqnNaRWcxYq_eS96XRksrY1g
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