Hip-hop recording artist, Rasheed Jamal has released his highly anticipated album titled ‘Sankofa’ with the hope that people will get to know him better through his vulnerability. Photo via Rasheed Jamal's Bandcamp page. 

Rasheed Jamal has been saying for a while now, that he would release the follow-up to his 2012 project ‘My Beautiful Ugly’ when ‘the time is right’—and now, it’s here.

Jamal, who’s based in Portland but hails from Hot Springs, Arkansas released the 13-track project titled 'Sankofa' this week to heavy anticipation.

Anchored by singles ‘Urban Decay,’ ‘Dope Tape (VLR),’  and ‘Condolences’-- a song dedicated to Jamal’s late father--the Hip-Hop writer says the album was stemmed from the phrase ‘don’t forget where you came from.’

 “I wanted to allow people to get to know me for who I am. To give people a way to distinguish Rasheed from other artists who have similar messages,” says 28-year-old Jamal. “I also needed to let go of a lot of pain dealing with my father, feelings of rejection from my family and friends, and also to display why I feel like I'm one of the best to make rap music basically. Not only here in Portland, but on Earth. I don't have a regional vision for myself. I'd appreciate it if people could respect and support that about me.”

To listen to and purchase ‘Sankofa' visit Rasheed Jamal’s bandcamp : http://rasheedjamal.bandcamp.com/album/sankofa

Jamal will be headlining a concert Friday, March 19 at Kelly’s Olympian. Tickets are available for $8 presale at: http://rasheedjamal.bpt.me/