Bishop Nehru, the New York-based rapper whose throwback sound caught the ear of MF Doom when he was just 16-years-old, has announced the release of a new album, entitled Elevators. The follow-up to 2017’s Emperor Nehru’s New Groove, Elevators will again feature production from the elusive MF Doom, but this time a new name will appear in the credits as well: Kaytranada, who’s been appearing seemingly everywhere of late.
To plug the new album, Nehru has released a trailer featuring shockingly detailed, handcrafted action figures created by Raphael Truffi Bortholuzzi of himself and Kaytranada, with Bishop’s tiny avatar holding the titular elevator doors as Kay hangs out in a model hotel lobby. Bishop narrates the short clip with a spoken word piece describing a metaphorical dream representing the ups and downs of life. Elevators will be split into two acts over 10 tracks, with each act representing Ascension (Act I) or Freefalling (Act II).
The album will mark the second time Doom has linked up with his young protege on record, after 2014’s NehruvianDoom. To promote the album, the rapper is hosting a private, multi-city pizza party listening session tour along with pop-up performances and an elaborate, scavenger hunt-like campaign.
“This project is a collection of my feelings straight from my heart, all of my ideas were created specifically off of instinct and intuitive occurrences,” explains Bishop Nehru on Elevators. “This album is my answer to the question, ‘What would you say your music sound like?’ My answer to that would be ‘Grammy Rap.’ There’s ‘Mumble Rap’ and then there’s ‘Grammy Rap.’ With this project, I was largely influenced by music theory and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. This is my attempt at a ‘rap’ Pet Sounds.”
Elevators, Act I & II is due March 16th.
