Shimanta Jalil’s debut rap album is a misogynist’s dream
Shimanta Jalil, who made headlines last week for saying men would be tempted to rap about women if they wore "indecent" clothes, made another U-turn this week and released his latest album "The Burqa Boys: As A Brother".
"The Burqa Boys: As A Brother", as it is, may go down in history as being one of the most eye-opening and educational rap albums of the past decade. And all this without even the slightest hint of a face tattoo.
The album's first single is titled "Let a brother talk", which is actually a treatise into how the newly-minted rapper's mind works. Shimanta does not hold back on his bitter truths and sets the tempo from the start: this will be an uncomfortable but revealing insight into the mind of a man possessed by the holy spirit.
"Let me tell you as a brother, you look hella thick in a skirt. As a brother let me tell, them jeans make me wanna flirt," he raps, explaining how what you wear can change people's perception about you. "Dress for success, don't dress for a sex. I'm obsessed with women's clothes, what do I do next," he goes on to say.
The first track comes with a G-funk sound and a listener can be forgiven for thinking they are lost in some West Coast fantasy world from the late 80s to the early 90s.
The song is followed up by "The Warning", which many consider a Notorious B.I.G homage he never really wanted.
"If you are rapist, get ready, I am about to ruin you. Desecrate your female family members, to show you that they are humans too," he begins, sounding out a note of caution to any wannabe rapists.
Shimanta holds back no punches and goes right for the jugular, telling anyone who will listen that he has taken a stance against both rap and rape, but may promote either depending on the circumstances.
"An eye for an eye, beloved brothers. Dishonour for you, before you die, beloved brother," he continues. Within the rhyming lines, Shimanta lays bare the politics of rape itself, explaining how rape is actually more dishonourable for the men associated with someone who has been raped.
"It's not just about you, it's about us too. You shouldn't have gotten raped, now how can we trust you?" he says.
Another stand-out track in the 5 track album is the single "The Dress Code", which takes you on a journey on what women should ideally wear. Many have called for the gems in the verses of this song to be formally included in the national dress code.
"Cover your hair, your hands, your legs, your chests. Don't stress over stares, cover your eyes too, that's best. Wear ear-plugs so you can't hear the teases. In fact wear a space suit, so you catch no diseases," he raps.
But instead of just explaining to women what they should wear, Shimanta does them the favour of explaining why too. "As a man and a brother, I know temptations. Real men don't rape, but they still feel sensations."
The album is set to launch the actor's career in the musical world. "I was inspired by how many people reacted to what I, an absolute idiot, had to say about such an important matter. I also loved the background music I included in the video and all the encouragement my fans gave me about my possible rapping career," he said. Collect your copy now if you don't want to miss out on the best musical experience the country has to offer today.