Saafir is an MC of the nineties. Although he once lived with 2Pac, played small supporting roles in various American films, founded a production collective and rapped himself, he now seems more like a wallflower in West Coast rap. Nevertheless, his debut album ‘Boxcar Sessions’ is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – reason enough to rewind the record and put it in the spotlight.
“Boxcar Sessions”, as the title suggests, sounds anything but like wallflower rap. The flow of the album remains constant. Just a few tracks, like “Just Ride”, stand out from the album’s sonic pattern, which is increasingly pieced together from the hip-hop beats of the time. With influences from jazz and Saafir’s gentle way of rapping, he creates an unobtrusive atmosphere on “Boxcar Sessions”. Unlike the rap albums of the same year that we still honour today, such as Biggie’s masterpiece “Ready To Die”, Saafir’s work remains an insider’s tip for connoisseurs. While Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube or Thug Life are the self-runners of the hip-hop universe, curiosity about those outside the spotlight is growing.
People want to hear something different, even if it’s created in a similar sonic environment, but in return they vehemently defend the niches that come out of the underground. And that’s exactly what makes albums like Saafir’s all the more exciting and approachable today.
Boxcar Sessions
