Ghais Guevara Picks Out Some Essential Winter Albums
Ghais Guevara is a student of the craft. A rapper whose lyricism has a poetic quality, he combines an awareness of art’s broader social meaning with a desire to express exactly what’s on his mind, at that precise moment.
Heavily-tipped, Ghais will release debut album ‘Goyard Ibn Said‘ through Fat Possum on January 24th. CLASH caught the American artist in London just prior to Christmas, heading up a stellar Fat Possum showcase at key East London venue the George Tavern.
Chatting afterwards, we found a humble spirit, and a true music fan. Using his festive down-time wisely, Ghais Guevara jotted down his key albums from 2024 – some essential New Year listening, in other words.
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SahBabii – ‘Saheem’
Might be annoying cause I’ve posted this album several times but like bro, it’s the one, what can I say.
Y’all gotta understand that I’m living in a crisis. A time where my favs are bowing out or being kicked out the game. The SoundCloud era brought us some staples. Carti and Sosa are doing well but I think that may be it lol. Thug got legal troubles, Durk got legal troubles, Migos broke up (R.I.P Takeoff), Keed passed, even Maco is in the ICU, Lil Yachty’s a cornball, etc. Trap and drill needed a soldier, a mythicized warrior to take the genre by its horns and force it back into the musicality, not the antics.
*sings softly* “belt boyz belt boyz belt boyz belt boyzzzz”.
Can you hear it approaching from a distance? Real music!
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Chat Pile – ‘Cool World‘
This album’s dangerous, man. Got some good lift sessions off this one. For all its heavy/foggy elements it’s like got this pop-like catchiness to it? “And the world was quaking open with all our fathers smiling”, hovers in my mind so fittingly. I don’t know if y’all peeped but I have an affinity for ear worms that stay lyrically dense. Music that says something and makes it stick so you can’t forget it. Such a good weapon to wield, glory be to the pen.
I’m tryna dig in my rock bag more, man. The original raw spirit, shoutout Little Richard.
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Beth Gibbons – ‘Lives Outgrown‘
So basically anyone who samples music knows who Portishead is. They kinda progressed that whole idea that samples and sampled-based music is indeed music lmao, I guess it’s only controversial when WE do it, but whatever lol.
Was super crazy to see her on a Kendrick record, was even crazier that she dropped this gorgeous body of work… like, wow. Take a shot for every instrument. Orchestrated music isn’t always for me but she takes the melodies to some impressive places.
My mornings aren’t the same without ‘Burden Of Life’. Reminds me that we’re never too good for a bit of existentialism. A good “nothing matters” day, or week… OK months lol.
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Rema – ‘HEIS‘
Another gym album! Real motherland music, big Pan-African. Technology is a wild thing, man. Synth basses and 808s are bridging the gaps. It feels like Atlanta but the chants and the melodies bring it back home.
He’s my age, I can tell we like a lotta the same shit. It’s real beautiful seeing that diaspora connection, I remember being African was uncool. Bring me a cocktail, let’s toast to barriers broken!
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Mach-Hommy – ‘#RichAxxHaitian‘
Double dose of diaspora, this time we goin Caribbean.
This dude’s elusive but he’s genuinely one of the best MCs out there but like on this album he doesn’t sound like your “favourite rapper’s favourite rapper”. He’s just your favorite rapper lol.
The lead single for this album was a bouncy ass title track. Mach’s literally like butter the whole track, there’s not a lotta dudes maintaining technique like that. Genuinely I believe he’s one of the most quotable rappers ever too. Idc, hiding the lyrics is 3D chess. It’s like navigating a dungeon for the gems, some Hylian type time.
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‘Goyard Ibn Said’ will be released on January 24th.
Photo Credit: Sam Resetarits
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