Music Monday: Imran Khan

I have a special place in my heart for the international hoodnicity of this man.

I don't know what it is. I've never been to Pakistan so I don't know if there is legitimately this kind of aspirational urban scene there--it wouldn't surprise me if there was. I mean, I know tons of Southeast Asian folks like this back home in the USA, but that's a different issue entirely.

I just know that somehow, this is everything familiar about ratchet American R&B that I hate to love AND totally unfamiliar and exotic at the same time.

I mean LOOK. Look at him being chased by the cops in an overly expensive car. Look at him strutting through the club from Belly in a shirt that looks like he bought it at Target but probably costs more than a plane ticket to wherever he lives. Look at him, surrounded by a sea of women waaayyyyy hotter than him.

Look...at his total lack of rhythm and body motion consciousness at 2:42 of the above video. Or any moment in which he tries to catch the rhythm, really. Guess you can't win them all.

A Saudi friend I knew back in the UK introduced me to this artist and she didn't know anything about him either at the time. A quick conference with Professor Google says that Khan is actually a Dutch citizen, born and raised in The Hague. Having been there briefly, I can tell you he came by his styling legitimately, but I'm still confused as to why one of his Surinamese bredrin never pulled him aside and taught him how to bop TO the beat, rather than around it.

Anyway, this is what I play when I want to hear something low key, RnB and club-worthy without getting hit over the head with a bunch of open misogyny, hood rich posturing, and low self-esteem in a musical sock. I'm sure all of that's in there, but I can't understand it, so I can enjoy it without accidentally catching a lyric and getting all mad.

One thing, though...I am not here for Mr Khan's slow jams at ALL. Observe:

Nope. Peace, beautiful people!