Raashan Ahmad Asks for Patience

I really don’t know where to start with this one. Raashan Ahmad, while moving back and forth between Boston and various West Coast destinations, worked as a member of Crown City Rockers – and presumably will still in the future (the group recently released a few digital tracks…cop it). But with the ever ballooning ability of any artist to record and properly release music, Ahmad has seen fit to head out on his own for the second time. Soul Power is the follow up to last year’s The Push. And while that first full length foray slipped past me, this one didn’t. Initially, though, I’ll say that I didn’t recognize the name, however, upon figuring all of this out, I’m glad I took the time.

Even with the Crown City Crew – who doesn’t really have a huge name in the game as of yet - behind him, this release hasn’t garnered too much attention for whatever reason. I suppose, residing in the East Bay, a fact repeatedly mentioned on Soul Power, there’s enough competition to make one additional release almost inconsequential. Amidst a sea of folks associated with the Hiero crew, SoulSides, Anticon or Living Legends – and those are just the underground acts – it’s going to be difficult for Ahmad to impact the area’s scene. And judging from his lack of live appearances around here, he might just be focusing on different markets despite his pretty obvious locale checking throughout the disc.

While the disc is overwhelmingly well produced, the one clunker – music wise - is “Lambada.” It sticks out pretty obviously from the rest of the pack with the more dancey/electro feel to it – but in an bio, Ahmad professed his one time love for raves and electronic dance music. The remainder of the disc, though, is given over to funk, soul and RnB production with the only drawback being an occasional sung hook here and there. Making up for any and all of this, though, is the appearance of Project Blowed affiliated emcee Aceylone. The breakneck beat of “Move” fits the flow of both rappers. Even if there isn’t anything heavy getting looked over amidst their couplets, it comes of better than most above round rap tracks – and even surpasses some of Acey’s own solo work.

Maintaining that same rapid step pace “Cornbread” sports some funky production as Ahmad again doesn’t say anything too heavy, he is able to get in a few heritage tinged lines while figuring that he’s Marley Marl. Mentioning a number of Bay Area cities, he talks about the interactions with other rappers and industry folks he’s had, which doesn’t make for the most interesting track. His flow and that persistent funk makes this one of the more enjoyable efforts here.

Like many emcees of his vintage, it seems that Ahmad keeps from getting into dense narratives. Instead he focuses on littering his raps with a post modern mash up of references that should please some of the left leaning folks out there. Soul Power’s definitely a decent disc, just not one that has too much heft to it.