Former Das Racist rapper Heems has announced his first new solo album in nearly a decade. Lafandar arrives February 16 via his own label, Veena Sounds, in partnership with Mass Appeal India. The follow-up to 2015’s Eat Pray Thug is led by the single “Accent,” featuring Saul Williams. Listen to it below.
Billed as a collaboration with Indian American producer Lapgan, Lafandar finds Heems working with a number of guests and fellow rappers. Features include Kool Keith, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Your Old Droog, Fatboi Sharif, Blu, Sid Sriram, and the Cool Kids’ Sir Michael Rocks, among others.
Heems formed Veena, his new label that also functions as a magazine and brand, to merge music with his other life interests. The name is a nod to his mother. “My world was one of graffiti and golgappas, skateboards and saris, music and Mughals, and so on. This is what my music sounds like,” he explained in a statement.
Das Racist broke up in 2012. After pursuing a solo career, Heems linked up with Riz Ahmed shortly afterward to form Swet Shot Boys. They released one lone full-length album, Cashmere, together in 2016. Bookending the LP were the EPs Swet Shop in 2014 and Sufi La in 2017
Lafandar:
01 Heems / Lapgan / Sid Sriram: “Stupid Dumb Illiterate”
02 Heems / Lapgan: “I’m Pretty Cool”
03 Heems / Lapgan / Your Old Droog: “Sri Lanka”
04 Heems / Lapgan / Saul Williams: “Accent”
05 Heems / Lapgan / Sonnyjim / Abhi the Nomad: “Going for 6”
06 Heems / Lapgan / Lee Scott / Cool Calm Pete: “Bab Ganoush”
07 Heems / Lapgan / Kool Keith: “Obi Toppin (Darling)”
08 Heems / Lapgan: “Kala Tika”
09 Heems / Lapgan / Sir Michael Rocks / Open Mike Eagle: “Yellow Chakra”
10 Heems / Lapgan / Blu / Quelle Chris: “Porches”
11 Heems / Lapgan: “Bukayo Saka”
12 Heems / Lapgan / Fatboi Sharif: “Yo Momma”
Source : Pitchfork
