Heems announces first solo album in 9 years, shares “Accent” ft. Saul Williams
Heems, formerly of Das Racist and also of Swet Shop Boys with Riz Ahmed, has announced his first solo album in nine years. It’s called LAFANDAR and it’s due February 16 via his own Veena Sounds in partnership with Nas’s Mass Appeal India. The album was entirely produced by Veena-signed artist Lapgan, who laces it with South Asian samples, and it features appearances by Kool Keith, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Your Old Droog, Saul Williams, Blu, Sid Sriram, Sonnyjim, and more.
The first single is “Accent” with Saul Williams, which finds Heems firing on all cylinders. Check it out below.
For more on Veena, a press release reads:
Suri is also formally launching his new magazine and brand, Veena. An ode to the collision of his South Asian heritage and New York roots, Veena is dedicated to and named after his mother, and explores the implementation of self-care through Heems’ passions – fashion, flows, and food. In celebration of its launch, Veena is releasing a product offering encompassing all three of its core tenets — Sounds, Wears and Naturals — including physical editions of both 2010 Das Racist mixtapes Shut Up, Dude and Sit Down Man, which are being made available on vinyl for the first time. Veena is also releasing two tees designed by Himanshu Suri and Peter Chung (Supreme, Polo) and 100% organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil made in India.
Speaking on the connection between his music and his new endeavor with Veena, Heems says, “My world was one of graffiti and golgappas, skateboards and saris, music and Mughals, and so on. This is what my music sounds like.” Now he invites you to experience the rest of the world he is building.
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Tracklist
1. Stupid Dumb Illiterate – Heems, Lapgan, Sid Sriram
2. I’m Pretty Cool – Heems, Lapgan
3. Sri Lanka – Heems, Lapgan, Your Old Droog
4. Accent – Heems, Lapgan, Saul Williams
5. Going for 6 – Heems, Lapgan, Sonnyjim, Abhi The Nomad
6. Baba Ganoush – Heems, Lapgan, Lee Scott, Cool Calm Pete
7. Obi Toppin (Darling) – Heems, Lapgan, Kool Keith
8. Kala Tika – Heems, Lapgan
9. Yellow Chakra – Heems, Lapgan, Sir Michael Rocks, Open Mike Eagle
10. Porches – Heems, Lapgan, Blu, Quelle Chris
11. Bukayo Saka – Heems, Lapgan
12. Yo Momma – Heems, Lapgan, Fatboi Sharif