Lafandar
| Lafandar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Heems and Lapgan | ||||
| Released | February 16, 2024 | |||
| Length | 33:33 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Lapgan | |||
| Heems chronology | ||||
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| Lapgan chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lafandar | ||||
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Lafandar is the second studio album by American hip hop artist Heems and Indian-American producer Gaurav Napgal, also known as Lapgan. It was released on February 16, 2024, through Veena Sounds and Mass Appeal India.
Background[edit]
Following a six-year break from music, Lafandar sees a return for the rapper under his newly found label Veena Sounds.[1] The album is a collaboration project with Indian-American producer Lapgan, whose project History previously marked the first release on the label.[2] The producer incorporated various "cinematic South Asian samples" on the record that are set to compliment Heems' trademark "laugh-out-loud wit".[3]
Lafandar features guest appearances by Kool Keith, Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Your Old Droog, Saul Williams, Blu, Sid Sriram, and Sonnyjim.[4] On January 23, 2024, the rapper announced the album alongside the release of the lead single "Accent" featuring Williams.[5] On February 6, the rapper released the second single "Sri Lanka", a collaboration with Your Old Droog that sees them trading "punchlines".[6]
Critical reception[edit]
Pranav Trewn at Stereogum awarded Lafandar the accolade "album of the week", saying that the collaboration resulted in Heem's "most focused performance" since his Das Racist days. The rapper is not "sending up the genre" but brings "it back down to earth" and, as a result, delivers "the ideal" record he had been striving for "since 2008". Trewn sees Lafandar as "a landmark in the growing wave of Indo-Western hip-hop" as well as a "quintessential New York rap album". The editor also cites a broad soundscape with songs that "draw from across continents" as a work born from "requisite ambition", praising the production by Lapgan in particular.[7]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stupid Dumb Illiterate" (with Sid Sriram) |
| 2:18 |
| 2. | "I'm Pretty Cool" |
| 2:22 |
| 3. | "Sri Lanka" (with Your Old Droog) |
| 2:07 |
| 4. | "Accent" (with Saul Williams) |
| 2:29 |
| 5. | "Going for 6" (with Sonnyjim and Abhi the Nomad) |
| 3:16 |
| 6. | "Bab Ganoush" (with Lee Scott and Cool Calm Pete) |
| 3:46 |
| 7. | "Obi Toppin (Darling)" (with Kool Keith) |
| 2:09 |
| 8. | "Kala Tika" |
| 2:41 |
| 9. | "Yellow Chakra" (with Sir Michael Rocks and Open Mike Eagle) |
| 3:02 |
| 10. | "Porches" (with Blu and Quelle Chris) |
| 3:07 |
| 11. | "Bukayo Saka" |
| 2:36 |
| 12. | "Your Momma" (with Fatboi Sharif) |
| 3:40 |
| Total length: | 33:33 | ||
Personnel[edit]
- Heems – vocals
- Lapgan – production, programming
- Ryan Rajagopal – mastering
- Daniel Lynas – mixing
References[edit]
- ^ Darville, Jordan (January 23, 2024). "Heems announces new album Lafandar, shares song". The Fader. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Schube, Will (January 23, 2024). "Heems Announces Return with Lafandar LP, Shares Single "Accent" Featuring Saul Williams". Flood. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Slingerland, Calum (January 23, 2024). "Heems Returns with New Album Lafandar, Brings Das Racist Mixtapes to Vinyl". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (January 23, 2024). "Heems announces first solo album in 9 years, shares "Accent" ft. Saul Williams". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Corcoran, Nina (January 23, 2024). "Heems Announces First Album in Nearly a Decade, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (February 6, 2024). "Heems – "Sri Lanka" (Feat. Your Old Droog)". Stereogum. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Trewn, Pranav (February 13, 2024). "Album Of The Week: Heems & Lapgan Lafandar". Stereogum. Retrieved February 13, 2024.