List season is officially underway with the bigger accolades of them having already been handed out across the board, yet AKAI SOLO is that perpetual reminder that happens every single year in some shape or form to maybe wait a sec before hitting publish. Last year, the Brooklyn underground rapper released one of 2022’s best rap albums with Spirit Roaming and one of the best EPs with Body Feeling on billy woodz’ Backwoodz Studioz in regular fashion, but this year, he’s prolificity is throwing up not just one but two buzzer beaters with the LPs, Verticality///Singularity and Only The Strong Remain, with the latter being an Internet-exclusive first for the label, Break All Records. This is to say, there’s more than enough to keep your ears busy for the remainder of the year when the new release calendar tends to get pretty sleepy. “2 Meters Short (Pyre!)”, off Only the Strong Remain, is one of those must-hear highlights. Produced by the Queens artist, Wavy Bagels, it’s one of AKAI’s more ebullient listens, with his bars gliding over a tripped out brass sample and dropkicking any naysayers coming his way. “I’m the last stand, you the last pick,” he punctuates, knowing full well he picked his timing well to deliver.

Directed by: Gam

AKAI SOLO’s Only The Strong Remain is available now on Break All Records.