Husalah Announces H, His First Full-Length Since 2007, Releasing April 6th
The Bay Area Legend and Mac Dre Protégé Shares the Video for the Sade-Sampling 2017 Slapper “Protect Your Soul” via FADER
03.30.2018
Critical Praise:
“As an artist, Hus’ music is both intuitive and deeply considered, a reflection of a man with an unending intellectual curiosity whose approach to hip-hop nonetheless reflects a tradition more dependent on capturing his in-studio energy, performing with an improvised, on-the-spot musicality, rather than aiming for rehearsed precision. He combines the bold, shocking energy of Too $hort with the syllable-dense percussive style of Kool G Rap, but those influences fall short at capturing the heavy, singular dose of style that makes Husalah an original.” – Noisey
“Husalah is one of the most underrated rappers of the 21st century.” – The FADER
The Announcement:
The prodigal son of mob music, Bay Area legend Husalah returns a couple times per decade to take the region by storm. Serving up his first full-length since 2012, Husalah announces H, his upcoming album. Packed with mob anthems of every stripe, tempo, and flavor, H‘s foundation lies in Husalah’s unbreakable cadence, elastic delivery, and larger-than-life personality. H finds reflecting on his past and present on standout tracks like “Cyan Stop Me,” “Don’t Die,” and “Pray 4 You,” dwelling on his childhood in the ghetto, his time spent in jail, and his future as a pillar of the community. In addition to the thematic heft, H also boasts raucous bangers like the critically acclaimed 2017 single “M.O.B.,” produced by Young L and praised by Pitchfork as “a bona fide slapper, triumphant and devilish all at once,” and the sidewinding, lothario-like “Bad Young Thing.” Featuring an appearance from Rydah J Klyde, a fellow member of the Mob Figaz, and a posthumous appearance from Mob Figaz chieftain The Jacka, H releases on April 6th.
Husalah is a legendary figure in the mythos of Bay Area rap. Rapping since childhood, Husalah got his start with the highly respected group, Mob Figaz, alongside the late great The Jacka, Rydah J. Klyde, FedX, and AP.9. Displaying his charismatic personality and athletic ability in his outrageous Ghetto Olympics videos, interviews, and music video appearances, Husalah quickly became a mainstay in the Bay Area scene. He further cemented his status with unforgettable feature appearances and collaborations with Bay Area legend Mac Dre. Expected to dominate the game alongside the Jacka and carry on Mac Dre’s legacy after his passing, Husalah’s momentum was put in a stranglehold when he was forced on the run by a federal drug conspiracy charge (cops found over 10 kilos of cocaine in a car he was a passenger in). After several years of evading the law and upholding the code of silence, Husalah was eventually charged with possession & intent to sell more than 5 kilos. He ended up in prison right after the release of his debut solo album, Dope, Guns & Religion. Despite his situation, his second album Huslin Since da 80’s was released while in jail, as well as the extremely popular “From The Hood,” both of which helped maintain his presence in the game. Emerging from prison in 2010, Husalah stayed quiet, performing at a sprinkling of shows and dropping a few strategic impactful records until he was spurred into action by the death of the Jacka, which reignited his torch to keep the MOB movement alive.
To accompany the album announcement, Husalah shares the video for “Protect Your Soul,” a standout track from the project. With audio released last year, “Protect Your Soul” reworks the classic Sade track “Bullet Proof Soul” into a fiery, apocalyptic mob anthem about the everyday struggle to survive. Premiered by The FADER, the video for “Protect Your Soul” is suitably incendiary, blending religious and violent imagery as Husalah leads a high speed chase and fires his AK. The dramatic, neon-lit video is an appropriately grandiose herald of Husalah’s return, providing the perfect visual accompaniment to Husalah’s depiction of the East Bay as both a land of opportunity and a tough place to live.
Pre-order H: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/h/1361387753?ls=1&app=itunes
Watch “Protect Your Soul”: https://youtu.be/bnw1w23N3ug
Check out the FADER premiere: http://www.thefader.com/2018/03/30/husalah-protect-your-soul-h-album
Please contact Michelle for more info.
The Background:
Raised in the El Pueblo Housing Projects in Pittsburg, CA, from a family of esteemed criminals, Husalahwas introduced to the trap at an early age. Now a legend in the Bay Area, Husalah first began rapping as a child, and caught his first break when founding father of Bay Area gangsta rap C-Bo, discovered him in 1997. C-Bo went on to start the Mob Figaz, whose members included Husalah, The Jacka, AP.9, Rydah J Klyde, & FedX. Since the release of the Mob Figaz first album in 1999, he has been a part of numerous compilations, singles, and featured appearances, staying relevant on the music scene. Husalah quickly became one of Bay Area icon Mac Dre’s favorite artists, and the two recorded many songs together. After Mac Dre’s death, he was expected to become the new torchbearer for the Bay Area movement.
However, before the release of his first solo album Harsh Reality (still unreleased), Husalah was a passenger in a car that was pulled over with more than 10 kilos of cocaine and became embroiled in a federal drug conspiracy case. After several years on the run, he was sentenced in 2006 and turned himself in. His first solo project Dope, Guns & Religion was released just prior to him going to jail and his second project, Huslin Since da 80’s, was released in April 2007 while he was incarcerated. Gaining his freedom in 2010, Husalah spent several years laying low, performing and releasing music strategically. Following the death of The Jacka, though, Husalah was pressured to release more music and keep the MOB movement alive. Finally, in 2017, he’s decided it is the perfect time to pick up the torch, and set fire to the game.
Links:
twitter | facebook | spotify | instagram
“Protect Your Soul”: https://youtu.be/bnw1w23N3ug
“M.O.B.”: https://youtu.be/
Huslin Since da 80’s: https://open.spotify.
Dope, Guns, & Religion: https://open.
Bio, photos, and streams available here: http://www.