░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░██████████████████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░███████████████████████████▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░██████████ ███████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░███████░ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░███████ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░███████ V E T E R A N S ██████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░██████ ██████████ █████████ ██████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█████▓ ░░█████████ █████████ █████▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█████ ░██████████ █████████ █████▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█████ ░░█████████ █████████ █████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░█████ ░█████████ ████████ █████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░████ U R B A N ░░██████████████████ U N I T E D █████░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░█████ ████ ████ ░░████████████████ █████ █████ ████░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░█████ ░████ ████ ░████████████████ ░█████ █████ █████░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░████ ░████ ████ ░░██████████████ ░█████ █████ ████░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░████ ░████ ████ ░░████████████ ░█████ █████ ████░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░████▒ ░████ ████ ░████████████ ░█████ █████ ████░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░████ ░████ ████ ░░██████████ ░█████ █████ ████░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░████ ░██████████ ░█████████▓ ░███████████ ████░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░█████ ░█████████ ░░████████ ░█████████ ████░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░█████ ░███████ ░░██████ ░███████ ████░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░█████ ░██████ █████░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░███████ ░░████ ███████░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░████████ ░███ ████████░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░█████▓▓██ ░░██ ██▓▓█████░░░░░░ ░░░░░█████▓▓▓██ ╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ██▓▓▓█████░░░░░ ░░░█████▓▓▓█▓██ ║ r e l e a s e i n f o ║ ██▓█▓▓▓█████░░░ ░░▓████▓▓███▓██ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ██▓███▓▓█████░░ ░░████▓▓████▓██ ██▓████▓▓████░░ ░█████▓█████▓██ ▌Artist__│ Ankhlejohn & Big Ghost Ltd ██▓█████▓█████░ ░████▓▓██▒██▓██ ▌Title___│ Van Ghost ██▓█████▓▓████░ ░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Label___│ Shaap Records ██▓██▒███▓████░ ░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Genre___│ Hip-Hop ██▓██▒███▓████░ ░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Format__│ Album ██▓██▒███▓████░ ░████▓███▒██▓██ ▌Year____│ 2018 ██▓██▒███▓████░ ░░████▓█████▓██ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╝ ██▓█████▓████░░ ░░████▓█████▓██ ▌Time____│ 32:15 ██▓█████▓████░░ ░░░████▓████▓██ ▌Size____│ 77.61 MB ██▓████▓████░░░ ░░░░███▓▓███▓██ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╝ ██▓███▓▓███░░░░ ░░░░░███▓▓▓█▓██ ▌Source__│ Web Store ██▓█▓▓▓███░░░░░ ░░░░░░████▓▓▓██ ▌Quality_│ 320 kbps ██▓▓▓████░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░████████ ▌URL_____│ play.google.com ████████░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░██████ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀╝ ██████░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░███ ███░░░░░░░░░ ░░░ ░░ ╔═══════════════╗ ░░ ║ T R A C K S ║░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░ ╚═══════════════╝▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ░░ ░░ 01. The Night CafΘ 2:36 ░░ 02. The Yellow House 3:35 ░░ 03. Sorrow 2:38 ░░ 04. Two Crabs 2:08 ░░ 05. The Church At Auvers 2:14 ░░ 06. The Starry Night 2:30 ░░ 07. Almond Blossoms (Feat. Hus Kingpin) 3:15 ░░ 08. The Pink Peach Tree 2:23 ░░ 09. The Red Vineyard 2:29 ░░ 10. At Eternity's Gate (Feat. Lil Eto, Fly Anakin & Crimeapple) 4:26 ░░ 11. The Potato Eaters 4:01 ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ░░ ╔═══════════════╗ ░░ ║ N O T E S ║░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░ ╚═══════════════╝▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ░░ ░░ Big Ghost and ANKHLEJOHN are no doubt familiar names to those following ░░ the explosion of the lyrical underground scene over the last few years. ░░ The two have their hands in some of the finest pieces of hip-hop to grace ░░ the ears of rap heads, future classics already under the belt of each ░░ artist in a span of just a few years. Though traveling on separate paths ░░ until now, last Friday saw the two finally come together for a striking ░░ and eye-opening 30 minute venture into the depths of Washington D.C. ░░ Fueled by the artistic vision of Big Ghost and the iconic paintings of ░░ Vincent Van Gogh, Van Ghost is a cinematic collaboration between the ░░ undergroundÆs chief trash talker and the grimiest rapper south of New ░░ York. Strap yourselves in. ░░ ░░ ôI turned my idols to rivals in less than one year, bout to find another ░░ hustle, this rap game, ainÆt no fun here,ö rings ANKHLEJOHNÆs distinctly ░░ gritty voice on The Night Cafe, the ambitious intro track to Van Ghost. A ░░ two-part affair, ANKH begins by weaving a story of codefendants and ░░ corner hustling, rapping over an uncharacteristically soft piano sample ░░ served up by Big Ghost. Just after the minute mark however, the ░░ instrumental abruptly shifts to an industrial sound that would have ░░ easily found a home on the MCÆs February album Lordy By Nature. ANKH ░░ delivers an introduction to the duality of his existence, split between ░░ æSouthside PennywiseÆ and æKnowledge BornÆ, torn between the unforgiving ░░ streets of his home and a rap game saturated with ignorance and ░░ mediocrity. ░░ ░░ Peering into Van GoghÆs corresponding piece, parallels between the audio ░░ and visual depictions of the work quickly emerge. Antonia Lant described ░░ the painting as ôa shocking perspectival rush, which draws us, by the ░░ converging diagonals of floorboards and billiard table, towards the ░░ mysterious, curtained doorway beyond.ö ANKHÆs floorboards and tables ░░ might be graphic imagery and fearless raps, but they nonetheless ░░ accomplish the same task. As a lonely electric guitar-driven instrumental ░░ concludes The Night Cafeæs final moments, a grim air is left lingering ░░ long after ANKHÆs vocals fade away. ░░ ░░ Familiar gunshots and grinding bass serve as a welcome to The Yellow ░░ House, the recordÆs filthy second cut. ANKH shepherds listeners into the ░░ pits of his underworld, spitting graphic raps about how heÆll either rob ░░ you or else ôput all force in one punch, knock ya whole skeleton out.ö ░░ Big Ghost expertly manipulates the boards to build an ambiance similar to ░░ that of 2017Æs The Red Room, a powerful and effort highlighting the ░░ emceeÆs ruthlessness. While varied throughout the record, keen ears will ░░ catch that GhostÆs production never steers far from ANKHLEJOHNÆs usual ░░ soundscape, yet brings a newfound energy that pushes the rapper to go ░░ above and beyond anything heÆs ever dropped. The Yellow House is also an ░░ ode to his home of Washington D.C., a city split between the glitz of ░░ politics and the reality of decades of neglect to the needs of its black ░░ community. ôIÆm more Minnesota Ave, at the Yellow House,ö ANKH snarls on ░░ the very first bar, immediately bringing up images of the iconic ░░ breakfast joint just off the intersection of Minnesota Avenue and Benning ░░ Road. Much of the area still bears wounds from the drug epidemics thatÆve ░░ ravaged DC, its anger and desperation fleshed out in the form of gruesome ░░ metaphors delivered by a young man in a Shaap Records cap. ░░ ░░ As any rapper must do, ANKH take the time on Sorrow to emphasize to ░░ listeners that he is the king of all this. Growling but subdued ░░ percussion leaves plenty of room for the emcee to big himself up, ░░ reminding all the wack rappers that the work they put inÆs got nothing on ░░ him. Discarding the need for frills or flowery language, he hammers in ░░ his greatness with simple, cutthroat bars. ANKH sounds almost ░░ disinterested as he delivers rhymes about people trying to jack his ░░ style, fed up with the copycats consistently failing to steal his drip. ░░ If there was ever a song that could be so concisely summed up into the ░░ two words ôyÆall trashö, this would undoubtedly be it. ░░ ░░ Two Crabs introduces another track with clear parallels to Van GoghÆs ░░ works. Depicting a scene with (predictably) a pair of crabs, viewers will ░░ notice that one is on its back while the other is standing on its legs, ░░ one helpless and stuck while the other is free. The same rules apply in ░░ ANKHÆs world, the helplessness of being an overturned crustacean replaced ░░ by the trappings of drugs and poverty cycles. The emcee however states ░░ that heÆs given up the petty trappings of lesser men, and despite being ░░ born the same æcrabÆ, ending up on the floor is the last thing on his ░░ mind. ôIt isnÆt what you have, but what you do with what you haveö as the ░░ saying goes, and no amount of obstacles, interpersonal or institutional, ░░ are going to stand in his way. ░░ ░░ After a series of aggressive, industrial-sounding cuts, The Church at ░░ Auvers and The Starry Night act as a rest stop in the center of the ░░ album. Paying homage to the religious themes of Van GoghÆs work, Big ░░ Ghost laces the instrumentals of both tracks with dampened choral samples ░░ akin to something from a vintage Christian music CD. ANKHÆs bravado and ░░ sharp pen still firmly in control, the familiar themes of violence evolve ░░ into a more intricate depiction of the emceeÆs world. ôIt was written in ░░ Supreme Wisdom documents, I strive for opulence,ö he asserts on The ░░ Starry Night, further opening listenersÆ eyes to his world of Supreme ░░ Mathematics. Meandering, twilight-esque piano keys soften the tracks as ░░ Southside Pennywise makes way for the Knowledge Born, poetic narratives ░░ temporarily moving into the driverÆs seat. ░░ ░░ ôUh, itÆs Wavoö rings out Hus KingpinÆs voice as Almond Blossoms kicks ░░ into gear, the first track on Van Ghost featuring another artist. The two ░░ rappers go way back (relatively speaking), first coming together on ░░ Original Man on ANKHÆs debut album The Red Room. With a stringy bass line ░░ and snappy drums, the production sounds distinctly similar to Hus and Big ░░ GhostÆs 2017 masterpiece Cocaine Beach. The emcees sling rhymes about ░░ what they know best, Wavo flipping coke metaphors while ANKH ôbusts black ░░ heads like pimples.ö Whether youÆre having a late summer night sesh or ░░ relaxing by the ocean, Almond Blossoms is a fusion of lyricism and cabana ░░ vibes perfect for rap heads of all types. ░░ ░░ The Pink Peach Tree and The Red Vineyard see ANKH vent his frustrations ░░ at the rap game and his surroundings. At the same time, ANKH appears ░░ determined not to get hung up on temporary setbacks. He knows heÆs dope, ░░ even if some havenÆt come around to it yet. Through the passing of family ░░ members, slimy moves by fake friends, and the challenges holding back ░░ anyone trying to make it as an artist in the nationÆs capitol, emceeÆs ░░ emerged stronger and wiser, using painful events as stepping stones to ░░ grow rather than get pulled down. The Red Vineyardæs staticky ambiance is ░░ also a callback to earlier projects like Benning Shrimp Boat, once again ░░ demonstrating Big GhostÆs commitment to a familiar (albeit much more ░░ fleshed out) sound design. ░░ ░░ As the record begins to draw to a close, At EternityÆs Gate comes making ░░ sure youÆre paying attention. After all, whatÆs an underground album ░░ without a posse cut these days? Featuring contemporary underground ░░ powerhouses Lil Eto, Fly Anakin, and Crimeapple, itÆs a whose-who of the ░░ sceneÆs brightest stars. Each brings their own unique quality: AnakinÆs ░░ erratic flows, CrimeÆs constant stream of quotables, and EtoÆs gritty ░░ street lyricism yield a change in pace, further accentuated by a ░░ significantly more traditional boom bap instrumental. All coming together ░░ from different cities and scenes, the chemistry between the emcees ░░ throughout the track only goes to show that the modern underground era is ░░ perhaps the best weÆve ever seen. ░░ ░░ While generally containing himself to proclaiming supremacy over his ░░ city, ANKH expands his horizons on The Potato Eaters, the 11th and final ░░ cut on the album. Keeping many of the same braggadocious themes of past ░░ cuts, he makes it clear that he isnÆt content with just reigning over DC. ░░ In fact, itÆs the entire DMV that must now bow down to their king, a new ░░ age Roc Marciano of the Mason-Dixon line. Taking particular aim at the ░░ regionÆs breakout megastar Logic, ANKH rips into the regionÆs ░░ faux-conscious representative. Even the title acts as a subtle dig ░░ towards the fake deep rappers, both ANKH and Van Gogh attempting to ░░ depict the realities of life rather than mask them with surface-level ░░ glamor. ░░ ░░ As the credits roll and a familiar piano sample fills the final moments ░░ of the album, ANKHÆs chaotic world becomes slightly easier to understand. ░░ Pain and loss havenÆt broken him, instead serving as motivation to reach ░░ the very pinnacle of rap itself. A better rapper and a better album, ░░ youÆll be hard pressed to find. Isweartagawd! ░░ ░░ - The Crate Dig ░░ ░░ All tracks produced by Big Ghost LTD. All tracks mix and mastered by Big ░░ Ghost LTD. Cover art original painting by Big Ghost. ░░ ░░█ ░░███ ░█ ░░░░██ █▓█ ████░ ░░░░░██ y o o v e e y o o █████ █████ ░░░░░░██ g o t t h e ▒████░ ██▒▒██ ░░░░░░░█ ░ ██▓██ ▓█▒██ ░░░░░░░█ ███ ███ ███ ███ ███ ████ ▒▓███ ▒███ ░░░░░░░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ █░█ █░█ ░███████ ████░ ░███ ░░░░░░░█ ░███░███░█ █░███░███ █████████▒ █████ ██ ░░░░░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░░░█ ██████████████ █████ █ ░░░░░░██ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ ██████████████████ ████▓ ░░░░░██ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ ████████████████████▒ ░░░░██ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ ▓██████▒▒▒▒███████░ ░░░██ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ ▓█████▒███████████ ░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ █████▒▒░████████ ░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░█ ██▓██▒██▓███▒ ░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░█ █░█ ░░░█ ██████████ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄ ░░░█ ░█ ░█ █░███░█ ░███ ▒███████ /─────────────────────────\ ░░░██ ███ ░| shouts 2 all the groups |░ ░░░░██ ████ ░| putting out |░ ░░░░░██ █████ ░| quality music |░ ░░░░░░███ ████▒ \─────────────────────────/ ░░░░░░░▓▓█████████████▒ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀