Ayah’s Sun - Ice Karim

“The role of the artist is a crucible for the emotions of a people.” These are the words we hear delivered by Imam Johari Abdulmalik ibn W Seale before emcee Ice Karim ever graces the mic on debut solo effort Ayah’s Sun. The album’s slew of introspective and reflective lyrics begin with a hypothetical: “What if my momma had never gave birth to five children? / What if she had pursued her passion in fashion?” (“My World”) To think that Ice Karim was fifteen at the time of writing those bars shows the kind of wisdom the young man carries. Other such topics like family dynamics, social interactions, economic ethics, justice or lack thereof, and even so-called “death” come up on the project. Somehow, Karim finds a way to fit all of this and more in a time frame that just exceeds a half hour. Of course this would not be possible without the intricate and emotional soundscape provided by Chicago music guru outwestINC, fka Shafeeq Beats at the time of the project’s release in May 2021. Whether it be the soothing affirmations of “Cedar Drive Flows” or the electric wails of “Free Souls”, the project has a sound that is both cohesive and complex. It has been said to invoke a feeling of nostalgia and euphoria. This results not only from outwestINC’s footprint but Karim’s. Throughout the project there is sparse negativity–”Talk less, smile more lately what I been about / I picked up that from watching Hamilton with my youngest brother sitting on the couch / Elevate & Motivate, we about to make a Tidal wave / So you know why I feel like Jay, and this is just my Reasonable Doubt” This is clearly the perspective of someone who is trying to chase joy despite being chased by many of its opponents. As we learn through this project though, music is medicinal for Karim. It is more than just empty words on a blank canvas. The blank canvas is the sound of music without words; Karim simply uses his pen like a paintbrush so his words act as the splatter on the page. This is a colorful album. From days of elementary school recess and little league football, to the responsibilities of a young adult and wrestling with identity, Karim clearly holds a lot of weight on his shoulders. Especially in the position he occupied when this project dropped: a high school student-athlete, a Muslim, a Black man in America, a family man, and a dreamer. The project and its inner workings aim to display all of Ice Karim, but also tell the world who we was before hip-hop. Before sixteens and hooks, Ice Karim was Anwar Falah Abdul Karim. Before hip-hop, Anwar Falah Abdul Karim was Ayah’s Sun. He still is. He always will be. He could tell you that himself, or you could listen to him rap it on a modern classic rap EP. The choice is yours.