Goya Gumbani Warlord of the Weejuns (Brown)

Goya Gumbani loves getting dressed, guided not by stylists or trends but by his own research and self-expression, an excitement for fabrics, fits, and fundamentals. The Brooklyn-born, South London-based artist approaches Warlord of the Weejuns, his first LP on Ghostly International, after years of acclaimed self-releases with the same mentality. Borrowing the album title from a magazine headline once placed upon Mile Davis (given how well he wore the iconic Weejun loafers), here he channels not just that storied style from the king of cool but an artistic ingenuity and timeless sensibility, redefining his recording project with rich, full-band arrangements. Goya outfits his flow between London's new jazz generation and New York City's hip-hop storytelling legacy, a shared musicality that welcomes various players and guests, including Fatima, lojii, Seafood Sam, Yaya Bey, and many others. Marked by unguarded ambition and introspection, Warlord of the Weejuns is a triumph of taste, heritage, and pride from one of rap music's most dexterous talents.