iativos
The music and lyrics sound and mean the way the album cover looks (a mustachioed cowboy-knight brandishing a sword in some sort of psychedelic spirit realm, to ward off and kill any potential demons that may lurk ahead, in a kind of charming cartoonish way akin to the show Adventure Time, for example). The title, "Spirit Roaming," also seems to be perfectly apt for the theme/concept of the album
Favorite track: Upper Room ft. Armand Hammer (prod. by Messiah Musik).
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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
140g black vinyl version in 12" jacket featuring artwork by garçon dior and design/typography by GENG PTP. Includes a download to the digital version of the album. THIS IS A PRE-ORDER AND IS ESTIMATED TO SHIP IN APRIL 2023
Includes unlimited streaming of Spirit Roaming
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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Purchasable with gift card
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD in jewel case with 4 panel insert featuring artwork by garçon dior and design/typography by GENG PTP. Includes a download to the digital version of the album. THIS IS A PRE-ORDER AND IS ESTIMATED TO SHIP MID OF DECEMBER 2022
Includes unlimited streaming of Spirit Roaming
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Spirit Roaming is AKAI SOLO’s first full-length collaboration with Backwoodz Studioz. The new album arrives on the heels of his Body Feeling EP, building on its material and existential themes. Here, AKAI’s unique palette is applied to a bigger canvas, without losing the intimacy and the sardonic self-awareness that help define him as an artist—alongside a delivery and cadence all his own.
“Spirit Roaming is essentially self wandering through various self-engineered hells searching for the silver lining,” AKAI explains. “Not quite a shell but not quite full either; rather freshly devastated. I made a lot of foolish decisions and neglected even more important ones. The price for that is being paid in real time. Can I grow post payment or does the crater resulting from the transaction overwhelm me?”
Spirit Roaming features an eclectic group of producers, from vets like Preservation, Animoss, Messiah Musik and August Fanon, to emerging talents Theravada, ibliss, WifiGawd, Roper Williams and JUNIE. AKAI lends bits and pieces of his own production to the mix, but goes mostly dolo on the mic, with Armand Hammer as the lone feature arriving just in time for the curtain call.
Working amidst a renaissance in NYC indie rap, AKAI is both part of that wave and a man apart. The 27-year-old Brooklyn native has collaborated extensively with many of the scene’s stalwarts (including Pink Siifu, Armand Hammer, Navy Blue), but, true to his name, has always navigated his own course.
credits
released November 11, 2022
Recorded by Jackie “Wavy Bagels” Mitchell at Green Studio, NYC.
Tracks 2, 6, 8, 11 Recorded by Tevin Prince at The GreenHouse Recording Co.
Mixed and Mastered by Willie Green at The GreenHouse Recording Co.
Assistant Engineer - Adam Ben David
Cover art by garçon dior. Design & Typography done by GENG PTP
supported by 149 fans who also own “Spirit Roaming”
An album that was challenging at first but always thought provoking, painting pictures with rhymes over such harsh & strong instrumentals all throughout. Mystifying, gorgeous and intense melancholy all at once conveyed beautifully. I was typing a longer review before I realized it was too long, but this album from start to finish is a beautiful painting in each track. I'd list almost every track as my favorite if possible, so much good to say about the raps, beats, guest features. Great music. darksunq
supported by 145 fans who also own “Spirit Roaming”
Sardonyx is one of my favorite posse cuts from a Backwoodz Studioz project. These four guys (Elucid, woods, Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu) are some of the best in the game right now, in my opinion
Whole album is a banger, front to back iativos
supported by 130 fans who also own “Spirit Roaming”
this is a beautifully cerebral, abstract hip-hop masterpiece, woods and elucid are monstrous on this record, i am honored to own a physical copy from these hip-hop legends joshuassites
NoLa rapper streamlines his experimental style without sacrificing originality or freshness; guests include Eric Jaye and Quelle Chris. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 18, 2024