In 2018, Toronto mourned the loss of Smoke Dawg, one of the city’s biggest rappers on the edge of international stardom. His impact in shaping Toronto’s rap scene was undeniable and was part of Regent Park’s Halal Gang collective. His senseless death was heartbreaking for fans but for childhood friend and fellow Halal Gang member Mustafa, the wounds cut deep three years on. Mustafa has always been the quiet one in Halal Gang and although he has big songwriting credits for artists like The Weeknd and Camila Cabello, he prefers to stay away from the spotlight. While the rest of Halal Gang artists like Puffy L’z, Safe, Mo-G, and Smoke Dawg were heavily involved with music, Mustafa continued to write poetry and work on different projects.
In 2019, Mustafa produced a documentary titled Remember Me, Toronto which features Toronto artists discussing the increasing gun violence in the city and the people they’ve lost. Bringing together rivaling Toronto rappers alongside Drake and 40, the documentary examined the systemic conditions working against them and how Smoke Dawg wanted to be remembered. This ability to spark these conversations would lead to Mustafa’s shift from poetry to songwriting. While he’s had demos floating around for years, it wasn’t until 2020 that he finally decided to compile them together into When Smoke Rises, a tribute to Smoke Dawg and Regent Park as a whole. Over the years, violence has claimed the lives of those close to Mustafa and he memorializes Ali, Ano, NSK, and Smoke Dawg on When Smoke Rises.
Mustafa has always been a poet so it’s fitting that When Smoke Rises sounds more like a folk album than a traditional rap or R&B project. With production from Frank Dukes, James Blake, and Jamie xx, the acoustic instrumentation gives off a more intimate singer-songwriter feel with Mustafa’s airy melodies. In particular, the influences from Sudanese and Egyptian music are prominent within the samples throughout When Smoke Rises. As Mustafa recounts tales of violence, gentrification, guilt, and revenge, there’s lingering existentialism for the future of Regent Park and his friends entangled in the city’s politics. Though he’s unsure of what the future holds, he prays that those still fighting will eventually make it out. Emotional trauma and grief are the cornerstones of When Smoke Rises but the most powerful moment is on “The Hearse” when the soft-spoken Mustafa seeks revenge by any means necessary. “They gon’ pay their price in blood and that’s on everything I know” he sings with anger in his voice. The contrast with the previous songs of regret and pain is striking and highlights how vengeance also plays a role in his grief. Throughout the album, Mustafa questions what it means to memorialize those who’ve passed, how to protect those we love, and the weight of growing up in the hood. While When Smoke Rises doesn’t offer a definitive answer to those difficult questions, it examines what it means to navigate emotional trauma and is a beautiful tribute to preserving the memories of those departed.
Must Listens: Stay Alive, Air Forces, The Hearse
