Crowned Brooklynâs âBest Rap Alienâ by Noisey in 2019, Taphari has continued to nurture the detachment that drew him into the spotlight. In an interview earlier this year, the rapper shrugged off any affiliationâwith Brownsville, Brooklyn, even New York City in generalâthat might force him into dialogue with the past or position him within a clear-cut lineage, pledging allegiance only to âthe eternal present and the evolution of the self.â Taphari wears his alienation like a badge of honor, basking in a deep serenity that seems to defy human origin. Blind Obedience winds back the clock on his otherworldly mystique. Part airing of grievances, part origin story, Taphariâs debut album is a blood-stained portrait of the forces that transformed him into the unbothered loner emerging from the void on the cover. The icy soundscapes of a five-producer team led by XL Big Alex complement the introspective mood as Taphari reveals a war of emotion raging beneath his cool exterior. Wading through illusions in search of an even higher self, he lashes out at friends, lovers, and himself with a blend of cautious vulnerability and venomous lucidity.