The veteran emcee from Bangalore has volumes to speak about humanity in these times and he delivers all of it wrapped in perfect poetry.
Smokey The Ghost is a Hip-Hop veteran representing Bangalore. Having carried the city on his journey through Hip-Hop culture for a decade-plus, he recently took the matters into his own hands by establishing a self-funded, self-sufficient Hip-Hop Collective called ‘Wanandaf’ and is making sure that no voice is left behind in Bangalore. He has finally released his debut album – The Human Form – an insightful, complex stream of thought around the subject of humanity. Teaming up with Aerate Sound (an electronica duo from Bangalore) and Sahir The Magician – Smokey has brought to life the essence of rhythm and poetry. The album has been mastered by John Davis (whose track record involves artists like Gorillaz, Led Zeppelin & The Killers).
On his debut album, Smokey shines
Establishing his re-entry to the scene with ‘The Return’ – Smokey highlights the state of the industry that has stayed as is since ages. Attaching punchlines, metaphors, and a little shade to his former deals, to the track creates a perfect entry to the album. ‘
‘Shy Boy’ is an introvert’s perspective towards love and loss. It is poetry laid out in rap form. ‘Stigma’ is a trippy personification of flowers, which is a common factor throughout the album. Smokey uses these non-conformational metaphors with accuracy and intricacy while describing the human form with respect to religion. The next track has found its way to many playlists and is one of the standout highlights of the album – ‘South Indian Macha’. A wavy, uptune beat fused with South Indian instruments turns the vibe of the album 180°. Smokey goes all in, bar-for-bar representing his real roots with flows, unlike any other emcee. ‘When You Move’ is a soulful, funky track questioning if anyone even cares about race, caste
This album is a classic. It is unmatched in its depth and message and Smokey The Ghost is one artist that should always have a spot on the wall of excellent Indian Hip-Hop artists.
Check out the full album here:
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