Mishthi Music

Looks like rastafari Ras Ceylon has gone back to his Ceylon roots. I’ve built with this dreadlocked Oakland based rasta quite a bit - and it always surprised me how despite his name, he hadn’t spent a significant time in Sri Lanka. Well he’s doing that now and has been tweeting some amazing adventures. I’ve been living vicariously, pretending like the lime soda and egg hoppers were in my hands. IinIonanIsland? Is that a thing? 

He just sent over this video with some very familiar and gorgeous island backdrops - interesting to see how the trifecta of Jamaica, America and Sri Lankan influences come together in this Repatriation Time.It’s about time.

Just gotta say Mandeep Sethi and Ras Ceylon make me so excited about hip hop and the motherland and the fusion of the two. So glad to have built with them. Can’t wait to see what comes from the two of them in this filum.

Also - if you haven’t checked it out yet - be sure to stop by the Betti Ono Gallery in Oakland, CA to see the Kalakari Collective and Slumgods with one of the dopest art shows I’ve seen, highlighting what happens when the deshi motherland gets a mic: Word to Your Motherland The exhibit will be running till August 11th.

Big tings, big tings.

Ras Ceylon is off on a trip to his roots - but before jetting to Sri Lanka, he released a mixtape tribute to his motherland. In the short time I’ve known Ras, I’ve seen his lyrics go from Oakland local to hyphenated-Lankan global. Repatriation Time is rich with Sri Lankan and hyphenated references while sticking true to his decolonized message. My favorite though has to be the title track, Repatriation Time, where the beat and sound is clearly influenced by his time Jamaica last year.

Much like Mandeep Sethi had his sound shift after returning to the India to pursue Slumgods, I’m curious to see how Ras Ceylon’s trip to Sri Lanka will influence his music too. I kinda wanna go now. Eat me some hoppers, Rasta!