Awich, whose work continues to expand with a global outlook, has completed an international album fully produced by RZA of the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After first meeting a few years ago and quickly connecting, the two deepened their musical and spiritual bond by visiting each other’s home grounds—Okinawa and the Wu Mansion—while moving forward with the production of this album.
As symbolized by "Wax On Wax Off," which rides a beat sampling Meiko Kaji’s "Jeans Blues" and features A$AP Ferg and Lupe Fiasco, the album fuses Eastern aesthetics with the DNA of New York hip-hop. In addition to RZA, it features Joey Bada$$, Westside Gunn, and new-generation rappers 454 and MIKE. Awich’s primarily English rap brings an extraordinary sense of drive, created together with top-tier rappers at the forefront of the scene.
The album also beautifully balances thematic depth and poetic expression, with tracks such as "Fear Us (feat. Joey Bada$$ & RZA)," which carries a strong will to overcome the difficulty of changing the world and move toward the future; "Ghosts of the East," which squarely confronts the grave, generational impact of war and genocide; and "Noble Lies," which poses philosophical questions in an era where truth has lost its power. Closing out the record, "Wax On Wax Off -Japan Remix-" showcases a lavish mic relay featuring R-Shitei, NENE, Chinza DOPENESS, and C.O.S.A.
It vividly demonstrates how the DNA of New York hip-hop has undergone its own unique evolution and development in Japan, now crystallizing into a new level of scene maturity.
