Multi-platinum artist GASHI reunites with JIMI BANKS for The Killah Whales of Gotham 2, released April 10th via Orca Sound Records.
For the Brooklyn-raised artist with a legendary backstory, born in Africa to Kosovo Albanian refugees, raised across 24 countries before settling in New York, this album represents something significant: his final hip-hop project.
Entirely produced by GASHI and Dom Casella, the 10-track album spans just over 40 minutes of jazz rap, heavy production, and deeply personal verses. The album builds on the foundation of the original The Killah Whales of Gotham while serving as both the continuation and closing chapter, paying homage to the East Coast culture and lived experiences that shaped GASHI's artistic identity.
The whale narrative continues from the first installment, creating beautiful and picturesque storytelling. The concept of whales in Gotham (inspired by the album cover) proves genuinely creative and charming, providing a thematic thread throughout the project.
The album opens with "Angels Don't Swim Here", while the next track, "Dinner With Scorsese," is a defining track where GASHI feels genuinely free to immerse himself in the genre and make bold statements. It's clear he's comfortable in this territory and perhaps needed more time to create within it before moving on.
Lyrically, the album moves beyond personal reflection to explore the duality between hip-hop street culture and a high-fashion lifestyle.
Lines like "Yo I'm handing out turkeys with a Chinchilla on" and "Born sinner I was baptized in Chanel" capture this tension between community and luxury that defines much of GASHI's worldview.
A 70's-inspired jazz interlude, "Roll N Roaster Interlude" breaks tension effectively, featuring orcas prominently while a narrator declares "Real beats real raps / None of that AI mess." A valid and pointed statement about authenticity in an era of increasing technological mediation.
This leads to one of the album's most interesting moments: "Red Eye to Kosovo."
Taking listeners on a journey through the Balkans, GASHI declares himself "the greatest Albanian artist that's still alive." The verses weave together references to Albania, Kosovo, traditional food "pita," Miley Cyrus, Calvin Harris, and Dua Lipa, connecting his heritage with his collaborations across pop's mainstream.
The closing track, "Say Goodbye to Gotham," completes the full circle.
GASHI bids farewell to Gotham in what might be his best vocal performance on the album, escaping usual rap paths to experiment with his voice in ways that feel genuinely exploratory.
While the album delivers strong personal statements, it occasionally feels repetitive and uneven, with transitions that don’t always flow smoothly. Still, that rawness feels intentional; an album made for art over metrics, closing the Gotham chapter on GASHI’s own terms.
For an artist who's earned 12 gold records, 3 platinum plaques, and over a billion streams through collaborations with Sting, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa, and DJ Snake, stepping away from hip-hop represents genuine artistic courage.
After departing RCA to launch Orca Sound Records and establishing himself as Music Creative for fashion powerhouse KITH, GASHI has proven he's more than any single genre.
In The Killah Whales of Gotham 2, the best moments highlight what's missing. It's a fitting farewell to hip-hop from an artist ready to explore whatever comes next. Stay tuned!
