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░█████▓█████▓██ ▌Artist__│ Raashan Ahmad & Rita J ██▓█████▓█████░
░████▓▓██▒██▓██ ▌Title___│ Black Koala ██▓█████▓▓████░
░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Label___│ B Sides ██▓██▒███▓████░
░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Genre___│ Hip-Hop ██▓██▒███▓████░
░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Format__│ Album ██▓██▒███▓████░
░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Year____│ 2020 ██▓██▒███▓████░
░░████▓█████▓██ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╝ ██▓█████▓████░░
░░████▓█████▓██ ▌Time____│ 38:47 ██▓█████▓████░░
░░░████▓████▓██ ▌Size____│ 78.22 MB ██▓████▓████░░░
░░░░███▓▓███▓██ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╝ ██▓███▓▓███░░░░
░░░░░███▓▓▓█▓██ ▌Source__│ Web Store ██▓█▓▓▓███░░░░░
░░░░░░████▓▓▓██ ▌Quality_│ VBR kbps ██▓▓▓████░░░░░░
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░░ ╔═══════════════╗
░░ ║ T R A C K S ║░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░ ╚═══════════════╝▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
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░░ 01. Blackout (Prod. Mez) 2:22
░░ 02. Buggin Out (Prod. Mez) 4:12
░░ 03. Step Up (Prod. Mez) 3:33
░░ 04. Moving (Prod. 20 Syl) 3:55
░░ 05. Hard Times (Prod. Mez) 4:36
░░ 06. I Want To (Feat. Destani Wolf) (Prod. Mez) 4:13
░░ 07. Mosaic (Feat. Wes Restless) (Prod. Mez) 4:45
░░ 08. Nothing Is Sacred (Prod. 20 Syl) 3:13
░░ 09. Ride On (Prod. Mez) 3:08
░░ 10. Vibing (Feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow) (Prod. Mez) 4:50
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░░ ╔═══════════════╗
░░ ║ N O T E S ║░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░ ╚═══════════════╝▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀
░░
░░ Raashan Ahmad is an emcee probably best known for his work in the Oakland
░░ group Crown City Rockers. In recent years, heÆs been based in Santa Fe
░░ and working more as a solo artist. However, not that long ago, while he
░░ was touring Brazil and France, he kept crossing paths with Chicago emcee
░░ Rita J. In doing so, they kept talking about how they should do an album
░░ together. Fortunately, this wasnÆt just tour talk, and they soon met up
░░ at a farm in southern Oregon to work on the album, which is now released
░░ as Black Koala.
░░
░░ For the album, Raashan Ahmad and Rita J started looking for beats from
░░ all over, but settled with the majority of the tracks coming from Vienna
░░ producer Mez, along with two more beats from French producer 20Syl. The
░░ overall feeling that they help to create is this laid back jazzy R&B
░░ vibe, just smooth and sunny beats for days. This works perfectly with
░░ Ahmad and Rita J on the mic, who both come with this cool
░░ spoken-word-meets-jazz influenced flow that makes the music reminiscent
░░ of groups like Digable Planets. As you work your way through the ten
░░ tracks, youÆre mostly just getting two friends having a good time trading
░░ verses and creating the soundtrack for your summertime hang (you know,
░░ maybe next year when itÆs safe again). We also get a few choice guest
░░ appearances, with Destani Wolf, Wes Restless, and Georgia Anne Muldrow
░░ adding some flavor and kicking things up a notch. The only thing holding
░░ this album back from reaching the next level is that it lacks a real
░░ specificity to help you connect as a listener. Most of the time itÆs just
░░ some good time music, but on a couple of tracks like ôNothing is Sacredö
░░ and ôMosaic,ö which begin to have a serious talks about appropriation and
░░ romantic relationships respectively, it feels like they walk up to the
░░ edge of getting real and intimate and specific with these discussions,
░░ but then step back and talk in generalities. What your left with in these
░░ cases are still enjoyable on a basic level, but both songs feel like they
░░ should have been much more powerful moments that would have elevated the
░░ album, but instead leave you just a little flat.
░░
░░ Black Koala is a solid album from a coupe of hip hop veterans in Raashan
░░ Ahmad and Rita J that is a lot of fun to listen to. It might not be as
░░ good as it possible could be, but hopefully theyÆll come back for round
░░ two and just push themselves even harder to knock it out of the park.
░░
░░ Free on the web. WAV to scene standards.
░░
░░ https://raashanahmad.bandcamp.com/album/black-koala
░░
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░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░███░█ ░███ ▒███████ /─────────────────────────\
░░░██ ███ ░| learned from vets |░
░░░░██ ████ ░| and they |░
░░░░░██ █████ ░| ain't pet doctors |░
░░░░░░███ ████▒ \─────────────────────────/
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