The artist Heems, previously part of Das Racist, recently made a comeback with his solo album Lafandar after being out of the scene for nine years. Following that, he is set to release a new album titled Veena LP later this month. Ahead of the album release, Heems has dropped tracks like “Manto” featuring Vijay Iyer and “Dame.” Now, he presents another single.
Collaborating with fellow artists from Queens, Pavvan and Ajji, Heems releases “Rakhi,” marking his second collaboration with Pavvan. In the past, they worked together on “Choothay Lare” from Heems’ 2012 mixtape Nehru Jackets, where Pavvan was among a group of high school students from Richmond Hill, Queens.
“Rakhi” showcases Heems, Pavvan, and Ajji delivering distinct styles over a dynamic beat. Producer Evergreen Univerze mentioned that Heems specifically requested a “tumbi drill beat.” Heems expressed:
This is an example of how community work can lead to success. Starting as a high school student around recording equipment to becoming a successful Punjabi artist representing New York… This collaboration involved cultural engineering and my experiences in multicultural music collaborations, centered around an instrument shared by two cultures.
Listen to “Rakhi” below.
Veena LP will be released on 8/23 under Heems’ Veena Sounds label.
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