Quick Take: Zheani - the Line (EP) [NSFW]

Lie and Look

Recently, Australian rap artist Zheani has been making waves in the hip-hop community, with the tell all track, "The Question", in which she alleges that fellow rap artist Ninja of Die Antwoord acted out various abuses on the then only 19 year older rapper. The video is littered with "receipts", or  messages, that seem to support her story.

To some, it seems to be another case of "clout climbing", using controversy against a famous person to further your own gain, but I'm not here to decide who's guilty or innocent in this case. Sure, the timing was fortuitous, as it appeared to align with the release of her new EP, "The Line", but then again, so did the attacks AGAINST her. 

For now, one must accept that only those involved can know the truth, and hope, that one day, justice will be served. In the mean time, it has made for some very "hot tea" in the hip-hop community, and created an opportunity for one rap artist to open up in a very vulnerable, and intimate fashion...

Releasing March 7th, 2019, the album fell under fire for controversial (and self proclaimed) "ritual rap" themes (pertaining to witch craft and the occult), overt sexuality, violence, profanity, and most importantly defamation related to the group Die Antwoord. Additionally, funding for her release was largely procured through the money she earned from her NSFW Snapchat, and Patreon; all actions she claims are taking back power from the slander against her. Not for the feint of heart, I've described the album to non-fans as the Black Metal of hip-hop; not just for its screamed lyrics on "Cum Everytime" and "Maenad", but for it's handling of uncomfortable topics like violence and Satanism. "The Line" is an intimate look into the mind of a damaged artist coming to terms with not only mental manipulation, but physical/sexual violence at the hands of someone she admired, and empowering herself to face her demons. 

Besides being a little rough around the edges thematically, Zheani is facing legal action from the target of her more revealing lyrics, with Cease and Desist orders being filed, forcing the removal of much of her content on all major music platforms. For now, the visualizer for "The Line" [NSFW] is available on YouTube, and her previous releases can be found on Tidal and Apple Music, with Soundcloud being the only source for her new album.

Amidst all the drama, there is in fact a very adept release to be heard here, and it is a solid enough offering, that it deserves some reflection.

"The Line" in it's individual parts tends to be mistaken for the current trend of mumble rap, trap rap, emo rap, or...whatever the hell Die Antwoord is, but at the end of the day, while elements of these styles exist on "The Line", it isn't really any of these things. Zheani herself is known for what she calls Erotic Art, and she brings a lot of that intimacy to her music, but somehow, finds a way to make it ugly. One moment the listener may be sexualizing the young artist, and the next, they feel ashamed, as they have become the cipher for the predator she is describing. Enhancing the experience, the Visualizer that accompanies the album is a piece of art in it's own right. Swinging from sensual shots of implied sexual acts, to a jarring sequence of nude tribalistic thrashing and dancing. It's moments like these that allow Zhiani to communicate the complexity of her emotions, while bringing substance to tracks with lyrics about drowning her jealousy in Hennessy.

Final Score: 4/5 ⭐ 

This is a complete audio and visual experience, meant to be taken in all of it's forms to fully appreciate, but that being said, the album is more than able stand on it's own. Singles like "Lie and Look" offer her work a radio banger that people can have fun listening to, without disrupting the pacing of the album as a whole. Moody instrumentals ranging from electronic trap to industrial, push and pull the tone of "The Line" in a very organic eb and flow of emotions. Zheani's previous work "Eight", showcased her ability to execute cohesive composition, but felt mildly restrained, where "The Line" is a far more dynamic and avante-garde approach to her unique brand of rap. Lyrically, it has shifted away from more intricate word-smithing, in favor of atmosphere, and some listeners may roll their eyes at certain familiar cliches, but ultimately, the mood created by each song aid in painting a pleasurable sonic picture.