Tahj Keeton's 'SARF' is a Risky and Psychedelic Rap Album Unlike Its Contemporaries
South Atlanta Rage Fest or SARF is a chaotic peak into the mind of the Atlanta native, Tahj Keeton. The appropriately named album is aggressive, grungy and versatile. Keeton raps over distorted bass and psychedelic instrumentation and never sticks to a single vocal inflexion or flow. His ability to change his delivery and experiment with different sounds, while maintaining a singular vision for his album is impressive to say the least.
The title track "SARF" sounds like a few tracks in one. One flow and idea seamlessly transition into the next while maintaining high energy and a cocky attitude.
The production across the album is futuristic, industrial and extremely hard-hitting. "SWANTON" exemplifies Keeton's style perfectly with a droning beat and demonic cadence paired with pitched vocals. "THE FUMES" is a slow burning psychedelic ballad that shows a different eerie side of Keeton as he sings across the track. "SUPERFREE" featuring fellow Atlanta newcomer Jelani Imani is dark and ominous, but still has Keeton's trademark trippy aesthetic with layered vocal refrains across the second half of the track.
The final track "HI-FI" is a defiant finish to a diverse, left of center, and dark album. Tahj Keeton's SARF is unlike any other rap album coming out today. SARF is risky and unabashedly itself. Tahj Keeton is likely to become another heavyweight in the ever-growing Atlanta scene that has found its strength in diverse and unique sounds.
Listen to SARF by Tahj Keeton below:
