Taking it to the (Middle) East Side.

New York’s rap scene is littered with artists who want to bring hip hop’s golden era back; enter Karim, an Afghan-American lyricist and Renaissance rapper, who’s ushering in the black gold era with his latest record, “Middle East Side,” a rich and exotically infused multi-tonal soundscape, lush with middle Eastern samples, set off by Karim’s smooth, effortlessly nonchalant flow.

“Middle East Side” is a loosie, but you can watch–and listen for–Karim’s forthcoming project, Liberty City Storiez, which will be debuting at the end of July.