Pharoahe Monch has announced a sequel to his classic debut solo album Internal Affairs, which is set to arrive sometime next year
Titled External Affairs, the Queens-bred lyricist revealed in a teaser trailer on Thursday (July 27) that the project will pick up where his 2011 LP W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) left off.
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In the futuristic clip, which follows a masked traveler and his robotic pal as they navigate a sci-fi world, Idris Elba’s opening monologue from the “Warning” intro on W.A.R. is cut up and played towards the end.
“July 27, 2023 … classified information that changes everything that I believe,” the haunting message begins. “If you are hearing this you have been ordained or genetically predisposed to receive this information. What you are hearing… is a warning,” concludes Elba.
Watch the teaser trailer below:
Of the album’s theme, Pharoahe Monch revealed to Rock the Bells that with time — over two decades — has come wisdom, an evolution of sorts that has inspired him to tackle more complex topics in his music.
“I thought it would be a challenge to try to follow up or conclude the fan favorite Internal Affairs for various reasons. The main challenge is the landscape and ideology of the planet has completely changed from how music is disseminated and consumed, to where the bar has been reset in terms of elite MCs. Twenty-five years wiser, I’m prepared to explore more existential topics that effect our very humanity on all levels with External Affairs.”
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In 1999, the Rawkus Records-backed talent released Internal Affairs, marking his first project since parting ways with his Organized Konfusion co-founder, Prince Po. Notable collaborators on the album include Method Man, Redman, Lady Luck, Busta Rhymes, and Prince Po.
The project includes smash single “Simon Says,” which peaked at No. 97 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 3 on Hot Rap Songs, and No. 29 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
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Since then, Monch has released three additional projects including Desire (2007), W.A.R. (2011), and PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (2014).
More recently, he teamed up with famed drummer Daru Jones and renowned guitarist Marcus Machado to form a trio called TH1RT3EN (Thirteen). In 2021, they released their first LP, titled A Magnificent Day For An Exorcism — a melding of rock and rap, chockfull of socially conscious lyrics.
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The squad is reportedly working away on their second release. Though, an arrival date has not been released.
