When will Pharoahe Monch’s album come out? It’s been eight years since 1999’s Internal Affairs, and nothing but promises since. In 2001 there was the “Agent Orange” single, which was supposed to kick off a Rawkus album that never came out. Then there was talk about him signing with Def Jam (or was it Aftermath? Can’t remember). Then he signed with SRC/Universal, and dropped “Push” last year as the prelude to the long-awaited Desire. Nearly two years in the making, it’s already been pushed back numerous times.
In the meantime, Pharoahe is keeping the rap heads chattering with an Internet-only video, “Gun Draws.” It’s written from the viewpoint of a bullet, but that’s nothing new: remember the mid-90s trend when rappers used to personify guns? (See Nas.) But hey, it’s Pharoahe, and it’s a nice track.
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The video, co-directed by Pharoahe and Mr. Complex, is filled with scenes of famous assassinations (John Lennon, MLK), shootings (Ronald Reagan) and shooters (Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry). At the end, a message from Pharoahe reads: “We have undoubtedly been desensitized to death through senseless violence, whether perpetrated by or committed against us. This is my effort to help awaken the unconscious and nourish the youth.
The current release date for Desire is May 1. Keep your fingers crossed.
