It’s rare for rappers to come onto the scene and already have a strong sense of artistic identity. Rapper/producer Ghais Guevara happens to be one of the rare ones, having dropped his debut album, Goyard Ibn Said, out via Fat Possum. A project that Guevara has been building up to for quite some time—down to the title of his last album, Goyard Comin: Exordium—Goyard Ibn Said is anthological in structure, tackling different issues and sharing personal experiences made grand by the songs. Both a concept album and a mirror to reality, it’s clear that Goyard Ibn Said is Guevara giving it his all, using the titular protagonist as a way to explore themes not often discussed in hip-hop or music at large.

Individualistic production

As a rapper and producer, Guevara knows how to tailor-make beats to his liking, with the results speaking for themselves. Similar to how “The Old Guard Is Dead” kicks off the album, “4L” properly sets the tone for the second act. While containing some of the same hallmarks of other songs, the unorthodox beat works in Guevara’s favor, preventing the tracklist from bleeding into one another. The electronic flourishes, which never clash against the hi-hats, take over in the second half, falling into a hybrid between hip-hop and dance music.

On what might be one of the most out there beats on Goyard Ibn Said, “I Gazed Upon The Trap With Ambition” sounds reminiscent of something you might hear on a retro Nintendo soundtrack with a rap twist. But much like his unique voice, Guevara makes it work in the context of his music, an impressive feat considering matters could have quickly gone sideways before or after the beat switch.

Balancing the personal and the fictional

The album’s narrative reflects Guevara’s rise in music, albeit with far more twists and turns. The concept is hardly limiting, allowing him to stay honest in his lyrics while exploring hypotheticals close to reality. The previously released “The Old Guard Is Dead” is Guevara’s declaration for Goyard Ibn Said going forward, firing off with an intensity consistent throughout the two acts.

At the same time, he manages to find the time to throw in one-liners that speak to his songwriting and is equal parts preacher and emcee. In a reflection of his age and interests, he delivers lines such as “Feelin’ like Bean in ’04” to describe a low point and plays off other pop culture references like “Tryna hit Houston and find me a Whitney.”

He also bares his soul in the second act of the album. To the sound of piano keys, Guevara takes on an introspective angle on “The Apple That Scarcely Fell,” describing what feels as though everyone and everything is turning rotten. As expected, he throws in some one-liners, notably “Will Smith, I smith the will of those who talk out of tongue.” But unlike some of the other material, he comes with a message, bluntly stating, “Every single promise feeling’ more like a threat.” It’s that level of paranoia and caution that shows how Guevara tells his truths through the music.

Unmatched confidence

While he considers this his debut project, Guevara is already more fully formed than others who have been around longer than him. The soul sample that opens up “Camera Shy” smoothly transitions into a traditional hip-hop beat that Guevara wastes no time rapping over. Aside from his flow, which never slows down for a moment, the confidence he exudes goes to show how zeroed in he is, going from topic to topic in a stream of conscious style fitting for the track. Even though the production itself is simple, Guevara uses that to his advantage, taking up most of the attention so his words hit harder.

On a beat slightly inspired by boom-bap, at least in structure, “You Can Skip This Part” is an untrue title considering how stellar Guevara’s delivery is on the track. Like other songs time and time again, he wastes no time in getting to the core of problems, this time questioning the powers that be in lines like, “So what happens to the fact that we be stuck in a contraption that’s created by these crackers” and “My legacy determined by white hands.” But above all else, he says the quiet part out loud, proving how far he’s willing to take his music artistically and politically.

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Words: David Sosa

Visit Ghais Guevara on his Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tickets to potential shows.

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