Heems - VEENA (2024) [Hi-Res]

On VEENA LP’s intro track, we hear from Himanshu “Heems” Suri’s mother, the album’s namesake. She describes him as a “poet of Queens.” Throughout a decade-plus career, he has adapted tales of immigrant hardship and New York nihilism to the slang and cadences of core, traditional hip-hop. Fans lucky enough to follow both these threads will wring the most meaning from VEENA, which centers India and diasporic Queens while digging through hip-hop’s cult crates for guests we haven’t heard from in years, including Cool Calm Pete and Mr. Cheeks.

Tethering VEENA together are voicemail skits from a who’s-who ofIndia’s global creative community. No Doubt’s Tony Kanal, director Zoya Akhtar, frequent collaborator Riz Ahmed and more all check in, voicing admiration and concern for their eccentric friend. Moments like these are most revelatory on the project: open-door confessionals about family, addiction, depression, and other discomforts. “I ask my dad why my grandma’s so quiet, I ask my mom why my grandma’s not smiling, I ask my therapist why I’m always wilding,” he raps on “MANTO,” over wrenching drama-keys more serious than anything we’ve heard him approach in the past.

These elements—family, home, the play of language and brave musical choices—brim through VEENA, the rapper’s second effort this year. It arrives amidst a tear of productivity after years of stillness; VEENA also is the name of Heems’ new label, lifestyle brand, and editorial outlet. “Life is beautiful, I’m looking at flowers, I’m feeling like I got superpowers,” he raps on “Ratatouille,” and through glimmers of light on the album, we begin to believe him.

2024 VEENA SOUNDS/MASS APPEAL INDIA



Tracklist:
1. Heems - VEENA (02:26)
2. Heems - RATATOUILLE (02:17)
3. Vijay Iyer - MANTO (04:40)
4. Heems - BOURDAIN (02:53)
5. Heems - UNDERBELLY (01:53)
6. Heems - RAKHI (04:04)
7. Heems - FLOWERS (04:49)
8. Heems - JUHI (01:10)
9. Heems - DAME (03:28)
10. Heems - BANSHEE (03:50)
11. Heems - RIGHTEOUS (02:06)